When I started trying to lose weight, I limited myself to 1700 calories a day. And I rarely was able to maintain it. After a month of not losing much, I lowered it to 1500 calories a day, which, with some work, I was able to maintain easier. But then I started having trouble reaching that, and would sometimes eat an extra apple or drink some juice. Now that I'm at (actually below) my goal weight (and I DO NOT want to lose more) I can't seem to eat enough. I swear, more often than not, there's some sort of food in my mouth, and it isn't always healthy. I'm a 5'5" 121 pound girl (age 13) and I don't want to lose more weight.

My exercise is currently 1 day of basketball practice (it's a light workout...mostly shooting), 2 days of 30 min cardio (2 miles, run 1 and walk 1), and a lower body strength workout (4 machines, about 3 sets each) and 2 days of that cardio with an upper body workout (about the same). And the 4 days I do strength and cardio, I do abs.

I should probably take in 1800 or so calories a day (maybe more...), but I can't seem to. I'd like some help with my exact target calories, what to eat to reach that, and how I can shove more food down my throat (seriously...I eat more for lunch than any sane person should, but it's a lot of "rabbit food" with my sandwich).

Also, what am I to do when track season starts? Everyone usually makes it, so I know I'll be on the team. I'm throwing (my friend is my trainer, haha...I'm really bad, too), but the entire team has to run miles a day. I'll need to eat more than I can even imagine to balance it out (because basketball will be over, but I'm not given up my gym workouts...well maybe cut back the cardio to 1 mile, but the strength training stays no matter what).

find quality foods, there has got to be foods that you love and resisted when dieting, like I dunno

nuts
peanut butter
dark chocolate
cheese
banana

all "high" calories and good quality and excellent nutrients for your body

start there, you'll probably have a post soon that'll say: help, can't control my calories anymore!

can you get advice from your coach on this? just a suggestion in addition to advice from people out here.

What jessipoo said.

There's HEAPS of choices that are both healthy and IMHO, YUM.

I have the same problem sometimes - good choices are tuna, protein shake, PB on whole wheat bread, glass of milk, nuts... Just keep eating, and try to keep the choices as healthy as possible

MAN, I'd LOVE to have this problem, but I don't want to start pumping ma-iron to justify it, soooo---I keep on counting them beanies...

I've been doing better the last few days by adding a 100 calorie pack in with my lunch, a half of a peanut butter sandwich after school, and a banana in with breakfast, as well as taking an extra helping of veggies with dinner (okay that might only add 50 calories or so, but veggies are yummy!). Thanks guys!

I just have one other minor problem. I'm a sweets (fruit more than candy...that's TOO sweet)/carb addict. I try my best to stick to whole grains (though we all know that it isn't 100% possible, especially as a teen who doesn't buy the food). I was wondering if anyone can recommend me some foods that are sweet/bread-like but lower carb?

I have this problem too.
I try and keep my target to 1400 but I have trouble even getting to 1200 a lot of days... I don't count each thing I eat exactly anymore tho, I can guess pretty well.

>.<

I'll try adding a couple extras to my daily diet, nuts and bananas! Thanks Jessi poo

Not really...it's a rec team, and he doesn't care about the "benchwarming team" (as my 3 friends and I have named ourselves...8 people on the team, and at any given time, 2-3 of us are on the bench).

im glad you are doing better but as far as your coach-have you asked him or are you just assuming he wouldnt help?

im not sure how to help in terms of low carb/sweet foods. i know of only high carb sweet foods. you might want to google - glycemic index-that might help.

I've found there's a ton of calories in trail mixes, the kinds with nuts, raisins, and chocolate pieces are my favorite. There's like 300 calories in a quarter cup. If you eat a cup of that a day you've added 1,200 calories to your diet. I don't know about you but it's easy for me to eat a cup of trail mix.

I like Splint's idea. I make my own trail mix and I eat is as a treat. I combine almonds, dried cranberries, dried dates, cashews and Reese's Pieces. It's very sweet and you can just adjust the amount you eat to fit your calorie requirements. A little snack bag will give you 300 calories easily. It would also be helpfull for you to add a protein drink after your resistance workouts. Whey protein (maybe 20 grams + or -) mixed with some Gatorade. It works best to drink it right after you lift. The sugar in the sports drink helps your muscles absorb the protein.

Congrats on your loss it seems like you only started a short time ago.

The following is obviously not for everyday, but an occasional treat, especially after a hard day.

... I had that kind of caloric headroom, and still had youth on my side, I'd definitely supplement with penne in homemade Italian marinara sauce with high-quality italian sausage and homemade meatballs. (The sausage and meatballs are cooked in the great pot of sauce.) Plenty of garlic. Grated pecorino romano cheese. Fresh ground black pepper. Mangia!

I used to chow down on a couple of plates of this after coming back from a 6 hr windsurfing sessions. Helped me put on about 60 lbs. Looked like I was on steroids, but all it was was genuine hearty Italian cuisine. Helps to have a mother in law of Sicilian descent. As long as you are going to be getting the serious exercise of which you talk, and you are growing, you can vaporize a meal like this once or twice a week.