Can anyone help me with this? I'm having problems getting a decent amount of calories during the day and often have only 300 or 400...I just can't seem to eat any more, it makes me feel like I'm gorging and I feel over-full afterwards...I think my body is going into starvation mode as my weight has stopped shifting. At the moment I've been gorging on rice in the evening just to bump my calories up, which just makes me feel horrid. Any ideas what I could be eating to get a decent amount of goodness in me without feeling like I'm gorging? Right now I'm eating apples, corn cakes, cooked vegetables, omelettes, any fruits on sale (I'm short on cash so cheap things always appeal!) and fish when I can afford it.

Add olive oil and nuts to dishes, I do.
If you are short on cash, get ramen noodels. It's loaded with calories and SUPER cheap.

Also, you don't have to eat all at once if you feel "over full". Try like 6-8 mini-meals to get the most calories out of your day.

300-400 calories is certainly not enough, and your body will fight back. I agree with Ashley to eat more times during the day, that way your blood sugar levels will remain the most constant throughout the days and you won't feel like you are gorging. Here is a sample of what I eat during a random day...just a random entry from a food journal. All of it is good for you, you get the vitamins you need and and none of it is very expensive.

7AM - Oatmeal w/flax seed - approx 300 cal.
10AM - Apple - approx 125 cal
1PM - Tuna Salad w/vinegar & oil dressing- approx 300 cal
4PM - Fresh veggies and 1 serving of almonds - approx 200 cal
7PM - Chix breast, couscous, veggies - 400 cal
TOTAL: 1325 calories

Also, remember that not all calories are created equal. Gorging on rice may get your calorie levels up for the day, but don't forget to ask yourself what else that is giving you in the way of nutrition.

Hope that helps, and good luck with your goals!

Jennie

I would suggest, as above, eating more meals.... shoot for 5. Even at small meals, that should out you in "safe" territory, where 400 is definitely not.

And perhaps eat breakfast. Eating first thing in the morning stimulates you metabolism. Especially (I think) if it contains protein. And try some slow burn carbs like oatmeal or bran cereal because a) they have calories, but burn slowly so less likely to become a surplus and b) fiber. It's not so hard... a SlimFast and a small bowl of cereal is 400 calories or so, and contains fiber and protein.

Do it early, because the extra calories in that meal will burn (slowly if you pick the right carbs). Eating rice at the end of the day is not a good idea. You need those calories, but altho you're still at a deficit you could actually gain weight because your metabolism slows down and you take in these calories at the end of the day. Sumo wrestlers work their 800lb asses off all day, but gain weight by eating late at night. I got to 370lbs by eating fast food right before bed for years. I am a big believer in eating early and reducing as the day goes on. Bedtime calories are bad news.

400 calories a day is definitely not a good way to live. I eat that many in most of my 5 meals and still lose weight. It might be hard for you (I've hit a wall myself and had to do it so I know how hard it is when you have been losing) but you need to eat more. I know that sounds weird, but altho I am guessing at your situation I'm almost certain it will turn out to be true in your case. When I started losing weight, I was eating 1-2 meals a day, and still getting fat. It was hard to start eating 5 when my whole life I had focused on 1-2 big meals, but I did it, got used to it, and it worked.

Good luck.

Joe is right. I understand being short on cash as well. I would encourage you to focus on getting some more protein if you can. Almost all the foods you listed are carb laden. Eat a reasonable amount more and make sure that you are getting the nutrients and minerals you need.


Jeremiah

All good advice above... Nuts (Almonds / Walnuts) have an extremely high calorie density. Also a GOOD source for necessary fat.

Thank you for the advice all I've bought some nuts and oatmeal today, working towards a similar meal plan Jennie W suggested. I suppose it's just a case of getting into a routine to live by and sticking to it, right? University is no excuse to be in a terrible eating routine!