Not Getting Enough Calories

I've worked soooo hard to get my levels up. I honestly spend the entire day working on me. I set a timer and this is what a typical day looks like for me. 7am pre breakfast - protein drink 26 grams protein; 115 calories 8am breakfast - a scrambled egg 6 grams protein; 70 calories 9am water, iron and vitamin c 11am water and calcium 12pm lunch - 3 oz tuna fish 6 wheat crackers 23 grams protein; 215 calories 1pm water and multi vitamin, b complex 2pm protein drink 26 grams protein; 115 calorie 3pm calcium and water 4pm water and multi vitamin 5pm water and iron and vitamin c 6pm dinner 2 oz pork chop 10 grams protein 75 calories 7pm protein drink 26 grams protein; 115 calories 8pm water and vitamin A, D, E and zinc So my totals run: Protein - 117 grams Calories - 705 Water - the "goal" is 20 oz per water time, but honestly I get in about 10 - 15 so I'll average it out to 12 oz per time for a total of 72 oz I just can't seem to get in enough calories. Now that I'm working out five days a week, I probably should be getting in even more then 1000, but how???? I don't want to go to high cal foods (usually junk), but I can "feel" that my body is wanting more. I see in my diet a lack of good carbs (veggies, fruit)... but I'm so STUFFED eating on this schedule. I try to sneak a bite of lettuce in now and again, but it's sooo hard. Anyone got some hints as to how to up the calories?????? Laurie

What about adding some cheese? High in calories. We scramble eggs with some cheese in there. Keeps it moister and tastes better. Nibble on a cheese stick say between your 2 pm shake and 6 pm dinner or between breakfast and lunch - you've got a 4 hour gap there. I wouldn't worry about stopping drinking 30 minutes before eating. I'd make it shorter. Actually, I drink up to my meal and try not to drink during it or right after. Just a thought! Kathy

Thanks Kathy - yes I often will eat a piece of cheese with turkey wrapped around it for lunch, but I've gotten out of the habit of adding cheese to my eggs and other foods. I don't really watch when I stop drinking or start drinking. But it takes me a while to get down my water cuz I really don't like it. Hugs, Laurie

I eat a lot of cheese, too. Sometimes for bfast I'll eat like 4 cheese sticks (28 protein/320 calories) or 2 eggs with 2 slices 2% American cheese in it (260 calories/24 protein). As far as water goes, how about Propel or any other flavored, low calorie water? Something with some flavor? I am not so concerned with drinking before I eat, but I find that if I don't drink a little while before (like 15-30 minutes before) then I can usually eat a little more. I had an upper GI done not too long after the surgery and I watched that barium just drain out of my pouch almost immediately! I mean, I can drink about 24 oz of liquid within 20 minutes or so. But after I eat, I try to wait at least 30 minutes before I drink - if it's something particularly heavy, I may even wait longer because of the same principle. If the water is flowing right out of my pouch, then the water is pushing the food right out of my pouch and I will get hungrier faster (not to mention it usually hurts me - it doesn't everyone, but it does me). Michelle

You could add peanuts, that has a good kind of fat in it too. If you google peanuts nutritional data, it comes up with info on the good ole peanut. Or even taking 1 or 2 TBS of peanut butter.