Eating enough...?!

[Doc2029]

Ok, here is my problem I am planning meals everyday but I come up short on calorie intake. The problem is I can't seem to eat large enough meals and still want to eat three hours later. I am eating about 300 to 400 calories a meal. Currently I am cutting and I am 237 pounds. Today's work out is lifting and about 35 to 40 min cardio. So I'll need in the to take in like 2300 calories and that may be short changing myself some.

I love veggies but man they can be filling all that fiber. I am trying to eat balanced meals and not eat too much stuff out of a box and I am not going to get caught up in the supplement trap.

So people help me out here what do you suggest?

Here is an example of a typical day:

.25 cup Old fashioned oats (cooked)
30.4 g Whey protein in the oats
.25 cup Egg starters (egg beaters)
.25 cup red belle pepper
.25 cup "baby" portabella mushrooms
6oz dannon light and fit yogurt

meal 2

4.5oz chicken breast
3oz baby carrots

meal 3

4.5oz Mahi Mahi
1oz raw almonds
1/2cup raw Broccoli ~ Flower Clusters
1 gala apple

meal 4
cliff bar (pre workout)

meal 5

4 to 6oz lean beef, fish, chicken
.5 to 1 cup of veggies
.25cup brown rice
3oz salad greens

meal 6

1/2 cup cottage cheese


As I recall meals should get smaller as the day progresses... that is my other problem... so help me oh wise ones!

[Lady C]

Your meals look great. I would consider eating more at meal 6.

Are you hungry throughout the day or only at specific times?

If you are hungry around the workouts it may mean you need more food pre/post workout. If at some other time, I would try "drink a glass of water" when hungry, wait 30 mins and if still hungry, eat. See if that makes a difference.

[Doc2029]

Thanks Lady C. I'll try to add more calories at meal 6. But am I correct in my thinking meals should get smaller as the day progresses with breakfast being the largest? Or is current though back to equal meals?

[.V.]

So you can't eat enough at one sitting and want to eat again after 3 hours?

Where's the problem? That's easy...just eat your small meals every 3 hours. If you are hungry then it's time to eat. And if you have to struggle to get enough calories in then fat loss is going to be a breeze for you.

And there is no rule that says you can only eat 6 meals a day. If you need them...have 8.

[Doc2029]

No, I eat and I am not really all that hungry in 3 hours. But I need to get a few more calories in. I am wondering if the idea of breakfast being the biggest meal and they get smaller as the day progresses is still the way to go?

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by orkydoc

I am wondering if the idea of breakfast being the biggest meal and they get smaller as the day progresses is still the way to go?

That only works if you workout in the AM. If you workout in the PM then your meals should be larger around the workout, regardless of clock time.

All my meals are the same caloric size but different types of carbs and fats depending on the workout time. Late in the PM fiberous carbs early in the AM starchy carbs. This is because I workout in the AM.