I thought the "eat more food" people were crazy
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I'll chime in as another one who was on a serious plateau, about 2-3 months, with MFP set to 1 pound per week. I finally took the plunge and nervously set MFP to 1/2 pound per week and IMMEDIATELY started losing. I didn't change my activity level, exercise, or anything. And I've been steadily losing ever since.
I don't know if I would label it the "starvation" mode like some would, but there is definitely something to it; eating too few calories does tend to stall one's weight loss at a certain point. There are too many posts, here and elsewhere that I've seen, along with my own experiences, to believe otherwise. Maybe not for every single person, but it's definitely not just an obscure fluke.0 -
why you cry?/weep0 -
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Everyone has different experiences. And everyone here is glad that your plan works for you. Grats on your success!
If everyone on MFP were more like you, this would be a much better place. Way to many people here think their way is the right way and the rest are just idiots.0 -
Everyone has different experiences. And everyone here is glad that your plan works for you. Grats on your success!
If everyone on MFP were more like you, this would be a much better place. Way to many people here think their way is the right way and the rest are just idiots.
you know what is even funnier? many haven't event tried their "own way" before telling others what the best way should be...0 -
This.Just some observations from having been around here for a couple of years. It seems to me that when people have very large deficits, they tend to not really get adequate nutrition and are lacking in certain nutrients and end up with hormonal imbalances which cause weight loss issues. When they up there calories to a more reasonable deficit, their nutrition improves and their hormones balance out and their body's start working correctly and they start losing weight. I would also add that many people also see an improvement in the level of effort for their workouts and tend to just move more in general.
Of course, eat more doesn't mean that you eat above your TDEE....I think that's where people get confused when you say eat more to lose...you still have to be at a deficit. It just tends to be more reasonable which lends itself to greater dietary adherence in many cases as well as a better overall nutritional profile which helps the body just work better.
Too often people see the words "eat more" and it makes no sense to them, because they are misunderstanding the concept. Eat more than 1200 calories, or whatever far-too-low number they have been struggling to stay under. My goal is to eat as much as possible while still losing weight (or more importantly - FAT), and I've done this by maintaining a small calorie deficit rather than a huge one.
For me, this has meant eating 1800-2000 calories a day (and I'm a 46 year old chick - you young guys out there trying to get by on 1500 need to eat more!), and I haven't had a single set back, "plateau", or struggled to stick to my plan. The fat and inches have steadily come off, I am well-fueled for workouts and daily life, and the best part is this is sustainable! I have plenty of room for dinners out, a drink a couple of times a week, desserts, holidays, vacations, etc.
Life happens, and I intend to enjoy it AND stick with my healthy lifestyle. And I've been able to do just that since calculating my TDEE, taking a 10-20% cut from that and eating to goal on a daily basis. I exercise too - 5-6 days a week, about 60 minutes on average - three days I run, and the other three I do workouts with dumbbells in my living room. I'm slimmer, stronger and healthier in my 40's than I ever was in my 30's! :drinker:0 -
I'm not saying this is the case for the OP, but sometimes when people "up their calories" it really equates to finally just logging their calories properly.
It's not uncommon for a person to think they're eating at a much bigger deficit than they really are. Then they're told "eat more" to lose, they start accurately weighing, measuring, and logging in order to get in more food, and viola, they think they're losing by "eating more" when they're actually eating less, but logging more accurately.
Otherwise I agree with this:^^^ what he said
well fed people move more. they do better workouts. they fidget more. they move around more when not exercising. they feel warmer, their bodies generate more heat, more energy goes to non-essential functions... some of this is increased activity due to feeling more energetic, some of it is adaptive thermogenesis. but the upshot is, if you eat more (i.e. a moderate deficit compared to an extreme deficit), your TDEE tends to go up as well........ lots of people find that when they raise their calories for bulking, that they dont' gain weight right away, they sometimes have to raise their calories again, and again, before they start gaining weight, because of their TDEE going up due to these issues. Your TDEE isn't a static number, your body's in a constant state of flux, adjusting to what's going in. Of course, there are limits in both directions, because your body can only adjust so much, and so people can become obese or starve to death. But the body is more adaptable than people give it credit for.
Additionally, I just want to repeat the point that "eat more" does not mean "eat over your TDEE" it means "it's better to have a moderate deficit than an extreme deficit"0 -
I'm not saying this is the case for the OP, but sometimes when people "up their calories" it really equates to finally just logging their calories properly.
It's not uncommon for a person to think they're eating at a much bigger deficit than they really are. Then they're told "eat more" to lose, they start accurately weighing, measuring, and logging in order to get in more food, and viola, they think they're losing by "eating more" when they're actually eating less, but logging more accurately.
Otherwise I agree with this:^^^ what he said
well fed people move more. they do better workouts. they fidget more. they move around more when not exercising. they feel warmer, their bodies generate more heat, more energy goes to non-essential functions... some of this is increased activity due to feeling more energetic, some of it is adaptive thermogenesis. but the upshot is, if you eat more (i.e. a moderate deficit compared to an extreme deficit), your TDEE tends to go up as well........ lots of people find that when they raise their calories for bulking, that they dont' gain weight right away, they sometimes have to raise their calories again, and again, before they start gaining weight, because of their TDEE going up due to these issues. Your TDEE isn't a static number, your body's in a constant state of flux, adjusting to what's going in. Of course, there are limits in both directions, because your body can only adjust so much, and so people can become obese or starve to death. But the body is more adaptable than people give it credit for.
Additionally, I just want to repeat the point that "eat more" does not mean "eat over your TDEE" it means "it's better to have a moderate deficit than an extreme deficit"
I agree that probably happens a lot.
But I'm a bit OCD, I weigh and log everything.0 -
I'm not saying this is the case for the OP, but sometimes when people "up their calories" it really equates to finally just logging their calories properly.
It's not uncommon for a person to think they're eating at a much bigger deficit than they really are. Then they're told "eat more" to lose, they start accurately weighing, measuring, and logging in order to get in more food, and viola, they think they're losing by "eating more" when they're actually eating less, but logging more accurately.
Otherwise I agree with this:^^^ what he said
well fed people move more. they do better workouts. they fidget more. they move around more when not exercising. they feel warmer, their bodies generate more heat, more energy goes to non-essential functions... some of this is increased activity due to feeling more energetic, some of it is adaptive thermogenesis. but the upshot is, if you eat more (i.e. a moderate deficit compared to an extreme deficit), your TDEE tends to go up as well........ lots of people find that when they raise their calories for bulking, that they dont' gain weight right away, they sometimes have to raise their calories again, and again, before they start gaining weight, because of their TDEE going up due to these issues. Your TDEE isn't a static number, your body's in a constant state of flux, adjusting to what's going in. Of course, there are limits in both directions, because your body can only adjust so much, and so people can become obese or starve to death. But the body is more adaptable than people give it credit for.
Additionally, I just want to repeat the point that "eat more" does not mean "eat over your TDEE" it means "it's better to have a moderate deficit than an extreme deficit"
Why the assumption that as they ate more, they likely simultaneously started being more meticulous with measuring the food? Why not just use the existing process and add a couple hundred calories? I know you just expressed a hypothesis, just wondering what's the basis for it.
Assuming that they're being honest in follow up posts, why not report that they found that they were actually eating 2000 calories per day before rather than 1200, and actually dropped to 1800?0 -
I think there is a sweet spot for weight loss -- not the greater the deficit the greater the results, which would seem to be the issue if CICO were strictly applied. I can't tell you the reason for it, though I suspect it has something to do with the body's various hormonal processes -- cortisol, leptin, insulin, etc. I hope one day they'll figure out how it all works, or how it best works for individuals, but that research seems to be in its infancy.
I know that when I started IFing -- creating the bulk of my weekly calorie deficits through 2 days of fasting, my weightloss seemed the most consistent. It broke through a 6 week plateau I had and has continued since. My weekly deficits have been almost always the same, but with IFing, it's continued to come off and I haven't hit a long plateau. According to CICO, it really shouldn't matter, but I've seen so differently in my life and have heard of many people with similar experiences, so I figure there must be more to it than just CICO. Studies have shown that IFing increases insulin sensitivity and IGF-2 levels. It wouldn't surprise me if they found out that IFing or hitting a certain sweet spot for any given individual lines up the hormonal responses that result in optimal weight loss.0 -
1500 calories a day seems like way too little for a guy.
Good for you and when and if this stops working play around with your calories until something else works!
YAY!0 -
Could you please tell me what TDEE means? I see it on a lot of posts but do not understand what you are referring to. Thank you!0
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Could you please tell me what TDEE means? I see it on a lot of posts but do not understand what you are referring to. Thank you!
Total Daily Energy Expenditure -- basically all the calories you burn in a day from everything -- basal metabolic activities, exercise, non-exercise movement, etc.0 -
Ummm, no. Not a single thing here is true.Don't underestimate the power of metabolism. When you eat too little your body down shifts into starvation gear, burns less calories to keep you alive longer. Keep your body thinking you're fine by distributing your calories throughout the day--5-6 small meals are better than 3 big ones. Also, people think if they drink a lot of water they will bloat up. Wrong. The opposite is true and you can sabotage your weight loss by not drinking your water (8 or more cups per day). Water, lots of it, washes your fat away. Fat weighs something--it's heavy. Keep at it. You'll soon see the pounds disappear and then you'll be hooked on MFP. Good luck.0 -
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HAAA snark monsters!:laugh:0
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OP- I'm curious how long you were eating at 1500 and losing 1 lb. a week.0
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I'm not ocd about weighing and I've noticed that for days the scale is stuck and then whoosh, a lose several pounds. I also notice days where I'm releasing water because I never go that much and I'm not drinking more than usual, but now I will have times were I'm in the bathroom several times a day and releasing a lot of water.
Weight loss is not a steady process. It is a metabolic process and the body is working in lots of complex ways. keeping up our end of the bargain works, you know keeping within our limits and if we go over not extremely.
I've had a day where I went over by 4 hundred calories in the 2 weeks I've been on the program, and a couple days I was close to 100 over, and it hasn't stalled my weight loss as far as I can tell.
But I have given up sugar and I eat whole foods for the most part and I'm vegan now. I'm happy you are losing weight.
You are clearly doing it right.
You don't have to be a control freak perfectionist to lose weight, but if that works for some people, more power to them. No criticism here. I just need to be more mellow with myself.0 -
you know what is even funnier? many haven't event tried their "own way" before telling others what the best way should be...
(giggle)0 -
Ummm, no. Not a single thing here is true.Don't underestimate the power of metabolism. When you eat too little your body down shifts into starvation gear, burns less calories to keep you alive longer. Keep your body thinking you're fine by distributing your calories throughout the day--5-6 small meals are better than 3 big ones. Also, people think if they drink a lot of water they will bloat up. Wrong. The opposite is true and you can sabotage your weight loss by not drinking your water (8 or more cups per day). Water, lots of it, washes your fat away. Fat weighs something--it's heavy. Keep at it. You'll soon see the pounds disappear and then you'll be hooked on MFP. Good luck.
So water won't wash my fat away?0 -
I believe that the effect is similar to a cleanse. You aren't loosing fat, you are simply ****ting out the crap that is in your intestines. I'm just guessing that when you are eating 12-1500 calories that you aren't getting enough roughage in your diet(unless you are eating a lot of vegetables) and combined with the fact that most tend to be eating protein rich foods which causes long term constipation. I get the same effect by simply upping my fiber and vegetable intake for 2-3 days in a row once a month.0
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Glad to hear your progress!! Great move by you to up your calories.0
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Bump0
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Here is a good explanation as to why you are losing though eating more: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sclark60.htm
As long as you are eating below TDEE you should continue to lose weight, but if you were eating well below TDEE (more than 20% deficit) your weight loss may stall for reasons in the above article. Eating at a rate closer to your TDEE for a day or so every few weeks can kick start metabolism and increase weight loss.0 -
I have just raised mine also and had the same thing happen. I find it confusing but I will take what I get 0
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I'm not saying this is the case for the OP, but sometimes when people "up their calories" it really equates to finally just logging their calories properly.
It's not uncommon for a person to think they're eating at a much bigger deficit than they really are. Then they're told "eat more" to lose, they start accurately weighing, measuring, and logging in order to get in more food, and viola, they think they're losing by "eating more" when they're actually eating less, but logging more accurately.
Otherwise I agree with this:^^^ what he said
well fed people move more. they do better workouts. they fidget more. they move around more when not exercising. they feel warmer, their bodies generate more heat, more energy goes to non-essential functions... some of this is increased activity due to feeling more energetic, some of it is adaptive thermogenesis. but the upshot is, if you eat more (i.e. a moderate deficit compared to an extreme deficit), your TDEE tends to go up as well........ lots of people find that when they raise their calories for bulking, that they dont' gain weight right away, they sometimes have to raise their calories again, and again, before they start gaining weight, because of their TDEE going up due to these issues. Your TDEE isn't a static number, your body's in a constant state of flux, adjusting to what's going in. Of course, there are limits in both directions, because your body can only adjust so much, and so people can become obese or starve to death. But the body is more adaptable than people give it credit for.
Additionally, I just want to repeat the point that "eat more" does not mean "eat over your TDEE" it means "it's better to have a moderate deficit than an extreme deficit"
Why the assumption that as they ate more, they likely simultaneously started being more meticulous with measuring the food? Why not just use the existing process and add a couple hundred calories? I know you just expressed a hypothesis, just wondering what's the basis for it.
Assuming that they're being honest in follow up posts, why not report that they found that they were actually eating 2000 calories per day before rather than 1200, and actually dropped to 1800?
A lot of times people don't even realize they're inaccurately logging. You see it here all the time with the "I'm barely eating but I'm not losing" crowd. People will think they're eating at this severe deficit, but as is common with dieters, they're underestimating their food intake.
Did you ever see an episode of that UK show Secret Eaters? Where every week they followed a family who swore they couldn't lose weight, even though they weren't overeating? I remember one woman was eating around 3000 calories a day while swearing she was eating around 1200. If she logged accurately and "upped" her calories to 2000, she might lose. If Secret Eaters didn't reveal to her that her 12000 really equalled 3000, she might go on believing that upping her calories to 2000 was the trick. I've seen that happen on this board before.0 -
I'm not saying this is the case for the OP, but sometimes when people "up their calories" it really equates to finally just logging their calories properly.
It's not uncommon for a person to think they're eating at a much bigger deficit than they really are. Then they're told "eat more" to lose, they start accurately weighing, measuring, and logging in order to get in more food, and viola, they think they're losing by "eating more" when they're actually eating less, but logging more accurately.
Otherwise I agree with this:^^^ what he said
well fed people move more. they do better workouts. they fidget more. they move around more when not exercising. they feel warmer, their bodies generate more heat, more energy goes to non-essential functions... some of this is increased activity due to feeling more energetic, some of it is adaptive thermogenesis. but the upshot is, if you eat more (i.e. a moderate deficit compared to an extreme deficit), your TDEE tends to go up as well........ lots of people find that when they raise their calories for bulking, that they dont' gain weight right away, they sometimes have to raise their calories again, and again, before they start gaining weight, because of their TDEE going up due to these issues. Your TDEE isn't a static number, your body's in a constant state of flux, adjusting to what's going in. Of course, there are limits in both directions, because your body can only adjust so much, and so people can become obese or starve to death. But the body is more adaptable than people give it credit for.
Additionally, I just want to repeat the point that "eat more" does not mean "eat over your TDEE" it means "it's better to have a moderate deficit than an extreme deficit"
Why the assumption that as they ate more, they likely simultaneously started being more meticulous with measuring the food? Why not just use the existing process and add a couple hundred calories? I know you just expressed a hypothesis, just wondering what's the basis for it.
Assuming that they're being honest in follow up posts, why not report that they found that they were actually eating 2000 calories per day before rather than 1200, and actually dropped to 1800?
A lot of times people don't even realize they're inaccurately logging. You see it here all the time with the "I'm barely eating but I'm not losing" crowd. People will think they're eating at this severe deficit, but as is common with dieters, they're underestimating their food intake.
Did you ever see an episode of that UK show Secret Eaters? Where every week they followed a family who swore they couldn't lose weight, even though they weren't overeating? I remember one woman was eating around 3000 calories a day while swearing she was eating around 1200. If she logged accurately and "upped" her calories to 2000, she might lose. If Secret Eaters didn't reveal to her that her 12000 really equalled 3000, she might go on believing that upping her calories to 2000 was the trick. I've seen that happen on this board before.
THis is an extreme case. I do agree that many of us can't really get an accurate logging and overeat but seriously, 3000 vs 1200? isn't this a bit an insult to other's intelligence? If it's the same database we all are using, and similar method, I don't see how some are feeling "more superior" than others when it comes to logging. I am tired of seeing posters judging others “lying to themsevles” as if they themselves were perfect loggers.
ps, I didn't mean to attach you although I directly quoted wha you posted. I just made a general observation. :drinker: 0 -
THis is an extreme case. I do agree that many of us can't really get an accurate logging and overeat but seriously, 3000 vs 1200? isn't this a bit an insult to other's intelligence?
Unfortunately study after study shows that dieters have a tendency to underestimate their intake, sometimes quite severely.If it's the same database we all are using, and similar method,
That's the thing, a lot of people don't use the same methods. They profess to calorie counting yet you discover they don't weigh their food every time, or do a lot of guesstimating.I don't see how some are feeling "more superior" than others when it comes to logging. I am tired of seeing posters judging others “lying to themsevles” as if they themselves were perfect loggers.
ps, I didn't mean to attach you although I directly quoted wha you posted. I just made a general observation. :drinker:
Thanks, because I don't even calorie count to lose weight. Still I know that many, many people just don't truly know what they're eating. It's so very common.0
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