Help with next 5 pounds.

MsElphaba

I hit my goal of being "normal" weight and now I am going for 5 more "insurance" pounds. I changed my goals to lose only .5 pounds a week, which jumped my calories from 1200 to 1420. I haven't changed my workouts, so each day I get about 300-400 extra calories to eat back. At the 1200 mark, I was doing good with this, but at the 1420 I am usually coming up a few hundred calories short each day. If I keep this up will I go into "starvation mode" if I am burning more calories than I can eat back?

L

erickirb

You won't go into "starvation mode" as long as you are getting around 1200 plus exercise calories. By not eating all 1420 you may lose a little faster than 0.5 per week. Try adding peanut or other nut butter, eat full fat versions of food that you eat (sour cream, milk etc) add avocado to salads, have a handful of nuts or seeds, substitute one glass of water for juice add olive oil to soups and sauces.

You don't have to eat more in quantity of food to eat more calories, you just have to make more calorie dense choices. Once you go to maintenance your calories will again increase by another 250/day to about 1650 so you will eventually need to get the extra calories, use the tips above to help get you there.

SouthernBell86

I agree with erickirb, you will do fine if you just add back to your diet a few more calorie dense foods. Obviously not junk food, but just some healthy things that will bring up to the mark you want to be at.

Great job on getting to your goal weight!!!

MsElphaba

So Eric just to clarify, I should at the LEAST be eating 1200 plus my exercise. So if I burn 300 calories, my minimum intake for the day should be 1500.

Thanks!