Eating more.... but worried about gaining

jo_marnes

Hi everyone,

I reached my weight goal a fair while ago now and have been working on my fitness. I'm still eating generally less than I could. MFP says I should be going for around 1400 per day - I tend to aim for 1200 (not been so good lately!!) and don't often eat my exercise calories. My bmi is 19 and I have a low body fat %. What I'm strugglng with is how to learn to eat more without gaining?

My dietician says I need to gain a few kgs, but I'd rather stay where I am..... I struggle to get my head around putting ON weight. But I am aware that I'm still leading a weight LOSS lifestyle... even though I don't actually seem to lose much.

This is a bit of a ramble, but I'm wondering if anyone has similar experiences or tips for me? Feel like I'm losing direction. I don't want to gain, but don't want to be pushing my body too hard. As it is my periods have become irregular... my dietician says it could be my weight loss but I don't feel I am TOO thin/ underweight enough to cause that. But I used to be every 28 days without fail..... it's now been 7 weeks since my last period (and no, I'm not pregnant!!). I'm pretty sure I don't eat enough calories for the amount of exercise I do - anyone else have an opinion? My diary is public, although the festive season has not been kind! Feel free to browse and give any tips.

Much appreciated!

Jo xx

Edestiny7

Oh hon, you should eat your maintenance calories. I reached my maintenance weight in September and switched from the 1200 calories each day plus my exercise calories to the recommended amount for my weight plus exercise calories. I have not gained any weight since switching. It is extremely important for you to be feeding your body what it needs to not only survive, but to thrive. The fact that your period is faltering is a sure sign that you are not consuming enough. Perhaps make an appointment with a dietitian/nutritionist to put your mind at ease. Please take care of yourself. :flowerforyou:

sallyLunn

You're worried about gaining and I'm a little worried about you. The desire to lose weight can take over your brain and become an obsession. If your BMI is 19, your doctor is worried and your periods are irregular, you already know deep down you need to eat more but secretly you would like to get your BMI to 18 maybe lower, wouldn't you?

Don't do it. Get hold of yourself and eat sensibly. You aren't loosing much right now because you don't have that much to loose. See a intuitionist if you must. You need to get this under control before you look in the mirror and see a walking skeleton. Do it because you love yourself and your family.

Good luck.

erickirb

Add an additonal 100 calories to 1300/day for a few weeks(3-4) (plus exercise calories), then add the final 100 to the 1400 plus your exercise calories. This way your body will get use to the added calories slowly and will be less likely to gain.

cuppycake22

I have been maintaining my weight since Sept witch is an extra 500 calories and I haven't gained any weight! I was worried at first but you shouldn't worry until you actually try it! And the fact that you know you can lose the weight if weight gain does happen is a good frame of mind so have at her and eat the calories given to you

jo_marnes

Thanks for the replies. I'm really not trying to lose any more... it is just alien to me to want the scales to go in the other direction. It's good to hear from those who are also at their goal weight - well done and thankyou for giving me a little confidence that eating more won't make me pile it all back on. You just hear so many stories about those who lost it all, only to put it all back on and more. I don't want it to be me!

I think I need to do a trial period of eating more. Anyone got any idea of what kind of timeframe I should use?

jo_marnes

Just switched my 'goal' to maintain current weight and my allowance has jumped to 1690! Wow, that's WAY more than I'd usually eat. If I ate that would I really need to eat my exercise calories?

Robin1117

Hi there--I'm so with you on these obsessive feelings while on maintenance. I too struggle with how much I need to eat to maintain and do not want to gain. I have my goals set to somewhere around 1400, but then eat all my exercise calories. I believe I have inched up a little in weight over the last 7 months, but I received some good advice from some friends at MFP. When I became obsessive about any little variation in weight a few months ago, these friends gave me the advice to stop weighing myself. Within just a few days, my head became so much more free and clear of anxiety about gaining. Did my new size pants still fit? Then all was A-OK. Do I look in the mirror and feel good? Yes...than that's good. No worries over .5 lbs here and there.

So what did I do? After about 2 months of being perfectly happy, feeling thin, with clothing that fit, I pulled out the scale (this was about a week ago). I saw that I gained 3 lbs or so. Now I'm obsessing again! I know deep down that I look the same, everything is good, keep doing what I'm doing....but once you know the numbers, the worrying begins. The scale went back in the closet.

What I'm thinking is, maybe you could do something similar--do what the others said and make sure to eat all your exercise calories--that is so important. And up your daily calorie goal that MFP recommends at least partially. And then use your clothing as a guide and try not to worry so much about the numbers. Because if you gain a few lbs as your dietitian recommends, but your clothes still fit and you feel you look good, it's win/win.

Good luck with everything!

zumba66girl

BUMP

Edestiny7

Just switched my 'goal' to maintain current weight and my allowance has jumped to 1690! Wow, that's WAY more than I'd usually eat. If I ate that would I really need to eat my exercise calories?

When I eat just 200 calories less than my total daily and exercise calories combined, I begin to lose weight. I really HAVE to eat all of my daily and exercise calories to MAINTAIN my weight. It is shocking to see the higher amount when you first switch to maintenance, but your body really needs those calories to maintain your current weight. And If you do not eat your exercise calories, you are dieting again. Fuel your body and focus on building more muscle. It is good for your bones and joints.

jo_marnes

Thanks for all the replies folks.... am going to try and give it a shot! Will weigh in today (don't have my own scales) and go from there xxx