how does this work?

kk_140

So, I've decided that I am happy with my current weight and want to start maintaining. I have lost 24 pounds by sticking to a very strict 1,200 calories a day.

Now I have a question, do I just start eating 1600 calories a day (low approximate maintenance for my height and weight) and work from there? Or should I up my calories a little at a time? Any suggestions?

SezxyStef

I would suggest upping your calories by 100 a week until you hit maintenance.

Linnaea27

I would suggest upping your calories by 100 a week until you hit maintenance.

I am soon going to be maintaining as well and am wondering about this ^. Forgive the stupid question, but does this mean literally eating 100 calories more per week, or adding 100 calories to each day's intake for a week? (Embarrassed to ask but it is unclear to me.) :blushing:

queenbea77

I'm not at the maintenance phase but I would assume 100 calories per day. All you can do is try it and after a week see where you are

lavender_fairie

I think they mean increase your daily budget by 100 calories each week. So if u r at say, 1500, once u hit maint. u start eating 1600 cals/day. And then the next week if all seems well, increase to 1700 cals/day.

And don't be afraid to see up to a 3-ish pound fluctuation bc that is glycogen/water coming back.

suziepoo1984

Increase calories by 100 per week and if you are still losing, increase by another 100. If you see a gain before you reach maintenance calories, just wait it out until it stabilizes. Do not cut down calories seeing the gain, because some fluctuations can be expected while slowly increasing calories.

MBrothers22

I would suggest upping your calories by 100 a week until you hit maintenance.

I am soon going to be maintaining as well and am wondering about this ^. Forgive the stupid question, but does this mean literally eating 100 calories more per week, or adding 100 calories to each day's intake for a week? (Embarrassed to ask but it is unclear to me.) :blushing:

They mean by 100 per day for a week (I'd say 2 weeks) and move up by 100 every time

nicolemontagna22

I am not officially at maintenance but I seem to be maintaining my weight. I eat 1200 calories a day most days of the week then on the weekends I usually go over by about 200 -300 calories each day. (I prefer to eat more freely on weekend) . So that's about 500-600 calories more a week than my plan allows. Sooo....that's pretty similar to adding an extra 100 a day. I plan on getting strict with my 1200 to lose again for a whole but when I want to maintain I'm going to add more onto weekends. Alot of people post that to lose they created a weekly deficit as allowed to a daily deficit. So I guess it makes sense that you can put these calories back in anywhere throughout the week so at 100 a day you can put in 700 a week! And if u workout you probably will want to eat half of those calories back. Well...half if you use MFPs exercise calorie tracker. Since they overestimate calories burned working out.

Linnaea27

I think they mean increase your daily budget by 100 calories each week. So if u r at say, 1500, once u hit maint. u start eating 1600 cals/day. And then the next week if all seems well, increase to 1700 cals/day.

And don't be afraid to see up to a 3-ish pound fluctuation bc that is glycogen/water coming back.

Thanks for answering my stupid question. :happy: I appreciate it!

Presumable while one is going through this slow increasing process, one will continue to lose a bit of weight, which will help counteract the few pounds of glycogen/water gain.

Snow3y

I'd recommend you start eating approximately +50 calories a week until you reach your maintenance level. This will prevent you from gaining excessive weight from suddenly increasing calories greatly. By doing a slow increase in calorie allowance like I've mentioned, your metabolic rate will also be able to adapt to the slow increase.