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

Laurie, you sure work hard! Can you eat chicken? One drumstick is 190ish calories and 23/26 (cant remember) grams of protein. If you want, I'll email you my food log. I get in 100+g protein, 10 or less g of carbs, 30ish g of fat and around 800 cal. I know that you want at least 200 cal more but I don't eat a whole lot.... nor do I eat but every 3 hours to get in what I do. So there's room for you to eat a little more than I do, but less than you do know, and get in what you need to. Let me know if you're interested. I don't know if it'll help but it might be worth a shot. Sheryl In the Zoo 369/314/???

sure Sheryl email it to me. I love to see what others are doing!!! Laurie [email protected]

I was thinking if you add cheese to some of the stuff you are eating it could boost the calories. Like with your egg. Add mayo to your tuna. Maybe some nuts. They are good for you and high in calories. Take care, Fran

Laurie; If you pulled out only the food in your regime you will notice that you are really not eatting that much! Your food consist of an egg, tuna, cracker and pork chop. You need to concentrate on your food as much as you are concentrating on your water. Your body can't survive with fuel from food. Just my two "outside looking in" two cents worth!

exactly Tami - and I'm full!! That's the problem. I need to EAT more. I just can't seem to fit more food in. As soon as I slack on the water - I'm dehydrated, my body needs it. But the more I concentrate on the food, the less water I get in........ ugh!!! I've just not been able to come up with a good balance since I've been sick. Laurie

I agree with Terri...you need more than just protein at this point. Maybe for breakfast you could skip the protein shake and try adding in some fruit and yogurt, add some cheese and veggies to your egg. At lunch, eat a tuna sandwich instead of the crackers, add the mayo, some relish or onion or dill weed for flavor and put it on a piece of high fiber bread. Brownberry makes some really delicious whole grain/high fiber breads (ive got german dark wheat and it also has 5 grams of protein). I also agree with the idea of drinking your veggies and fruit. A little V8 or OJ in the morning is a good energy booster. You need to move away from the protein drinks and start replacing them with actual food calories. Talk with your nutrionist if need be. Just don't be afraid to eat. If you make healthy choices, you will be fine. And by all means, eat a potatoe once in a while.

Laurie, Maybe you could try "juicing". If you got your fruits and veggies into a liquid form they wouldn't take up so much room (so you could get more in) and the vitamins/minerals from them would be readily digestable so you could absorb more. I know I had a terrible time remembering to eat or being able to eat for the first six months, but it does change with time. Good Luck! Mary

I agree with Tami. At 9 months post op your intake needs to be much higher. You are eating at starvation levels. Protein drinks are ok as a supplemet but should not be used in place of food. That is fine in the beginning, but as far out as you are you need food. Carbs are not the enemy. Carbs are a very important part of our diet. You get quik energy from them. Exercising 5 days a week, eating as little as you are, and not including carbs will kill you. If you work out you should be be eating more carbs than those who do not. There have been studies on this. You can google it, and I gurantee you will find info supporting what I am saying. Potaoes are an important source of potassium. Even better than bananas. Where are your salads with meat and cheese? There is no fiber in your diet at all. The calcium intake is non-existant. Vitamins cannot replace those essential vitamins we get from food. Eating food less dense will allow you to eat more. Throw in some peanut butter on a banana for a snack. Try some high fiber cereal in some FF low sugar yogurt. I love vanilla yogurt over a cut up banana with granola on top. There is nothing wrong with this choice and you will not gain weight I assure you. I see so many people who seem terrified of carbs. Where does this come from? They encourage high protein in the beginning as we get so little. That is not meant as a forever way of life. It is not healthy and you will find very few nutritionists that support that kind of diet. Do not be afraid of food. You have had so many problems. Eating will make you healthy. What you are doing now is only hurting you. Take care, Terri

Dear Laurie: I see you are drinking good...Please try this.....They are called Slim fast low carb diet shakes....they have 190 calories.....20 grams of protein...it is low carb so the carb count is 2 total carb...made with splenda so there is only one gram of sugar in them....If you add that just one a day...it will bring your calorie count up to close to a thousand....the chocolate ones are really good....no whey protein,...so it tastes just like chocolate milk...You know how much i struggle with protein shakes....this one i really like and will not do any others.... Take care and good luck.... Rae