Reverse Dieting

fitchocolatechip

First off, huge thank you to everyone who has responded to my forum posts I did not expect so many responses and y'all have helped me so much!!:happy:

OK, on to the question now

So I am actually trying to gain weight. And have been for a really long time. But about a few months ago I completely gave up. I was so sick of eating junk foods and not putting on any weight, or putting on a few pounds and then losing them, that I gave up and ate whatever, whenver. Which was not enough at all (1200-1500 calories a day).

Now I realize what I did to my body was really bad and I want to fix it and gain some weight!! But first I know I seriously screwed up my metabolism and I wanna fix it!:) I was thinking of increasing by 50 calories per week, so my first net calorie goal was 1450. However, I really haven't been hitting that and it showed yesterday when I got weighed and lost about a pound. Uh-oh spaghettios!!

SOOOO now I really really REALLY want to get back on track and increase my metabolic capacity so I can be healthy, and then increase my calories so I can gain weight and be even healthier. Does this sound like it will work? Also how many net calories ultimately do you think I'll be able to maintain on? I was thinking 1600:) THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!:)

P.S. I am 5'3

SLLRunner

I'm not sure why you think you've damaged your metabolism. In reviewing your food diary on the days you logged (you have not logged in the last few days), I notice that you are eating plenty of calories but not up to your calorie goal.

It really is not easy to damage your metabolism.

If you want to gain weight, you simply need to eat more than maintenance. Have you entered your information into MFP to indicate how many pounds per week you want to gain?

burtnyks

I did a reverse diet after cutting. Was eating a little under 1600 calories and upped it by 100 per week until I hit what I thought would be my maintenance of 2000 cals. You can do 50 calories, but its on the conservative side. I would guess your maintenance is going to be more than 1600. If you are active, a good estimate is 15 x bodyweight. If you aren't working out regularly you could try 13 or 14 x bodyweight as a first estimate of maintenance.

If you aren't hitting you calories try eating calorie dense foods like nuts, nut butters, whole milk dairy, avocados.....

MyChocolateDiet

First off, huge thank you to everyone who has responded to my forum posts I did not expect so many responses and y'all have helped me so much!!:happy:

OK, on to the question now

So I am actually trying to gain weight. And have been for a really long time. But about a few months ago I completely gave up. I was so sick of eating junk foods and not putting on any weight, or putting on a few pounds and then losing them, that I gave up and ate whatever, whenver. Which was not enough at all (1200-1500 calories a day).

Now I realize what I did to my body was really bad and I want to fix it and gain some weight!! But first I know I seriously screwed up my metabolism and I wanna fix it!:) I was thinking of increasing by 50 calories per week, so my first net calorie goal was 1450. However, I really haven't been hitting that and it showed yesterday when I got weighed and lost about a pound. Uh-oh spaghettios!!

SOOOO now I really Really REALLY want to get back on track and increase my metabolic capacity so I can be healthy, and then increase my calories so I can gain weight and be even healthier. Does this sound like it will work? Also how many net calories ultimately do you think I'll be able to maintain on? I was thinking 1600:) THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!:)

P.S. I am 5'3

FIFY.

jofjltncb6

In...

...for...

...honestly, I have no idea why. Let's just say, I have a feeling this thread will go places...and I want to be able to say that I was there on page one.

SLLRunner

It is impossible to damage your metabolism unless you ingest poison somehow.

Metabolism goes with the flow.

Eat a lot of calories, it will store the excess as fat.

Eat too few calories, it will burn off fat stores.

Eat a diet very low in protein, it will break down your own protein for amino acid precursors to make necessary protein.

And so on and so forth...

No, Steve. Eat at a calorie deficit and you will lose weight, eat at a calorie surplus and you will gain weight. Low protein has nothing to do with losing or gaining weight.

Trechechus

Have you tired gaining muscle, or just fat? I would suggest trying to continue to eat healthy and not down a whole bunch of high-calorie, low-nutrition foods. Lots of protein, lifting, eat more than you burn.

__freckles__

Uh-oh spaghettios!!

For some reason I love you because you said that.

Here you go love:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Input your info and choose clean bulk. That should give you a starting point.

Cranquistador

INteresting

QuietBloom

In...

...for...

...honestly, I have no idea why. Let's just say, I have a feeling this thread will go places...and I want to be able to say that I was there on page one.

I'm in too.

SLLRunner

It is impossible to damage your metabolism unless you ingest poison somehow.

Metabolism goes with the flow.

Eat a lot of calories, it will store the excess as fat.

Eat too few calories, it will burn off fat stores.

Eat a diet very low in protein, it will break down your own protein for amino acid precursors to make necessary protein.

And so on and so forth...

No, Steve. Eat at a calorie deficit and you will lose weight, eat at a calorie surplus and you will gain weight. Low protein has nothing to do with losing or gaining weight.

I didn't say that.

Read the post again.

I was just illustrating how the bodies metabolism adjusts to whatever it has to deal with.

I see that now, Steve. Thanks for the clarification.