Taking the Plunge!

AniMarieSt

I've only lost 0.2 of a lb since the 16th of June.

While I upped my calories for a few days I got scared and moved them back to the 500 calorie deficit.

After reading this (http://fitnesswithnatalie.blogspot.com/2011/05/most-dreaded-word-in-weight-loss.html), I'm going to go ahead and take the plunge for the next two weeks - not just a few days. I'm going to go ahead and up my calorie intake to 1220 for a deficit of 250 calories instead of a 500 calorie deficit.

No worries I actually eat 1300+ everyday due to exercise calories. Eating anything under 1200 is unacceptable so I make sure to get some cardio in each day to get my nutritional needs met.

Wish me luck!

For those that have done this calorie increase stuff, how long did it take before you started losing weight again?

~ Joanna

kykykenna

When I upped mine, I never gained. How, I dont know (the whole thing is mind boggling to me....lol)....but I just paid attention to what I stuck in my mouth. Good luck!!

LindseyDD

When I uped my calories I lost over 5 pounds in less than a week. I have maintained my 1400-1800 intake and am almost at a 30 pound loss, I average 3-4 pounds a week! Eating more is so worth it! Good luck!

CaptainMFP

I'll speak for my wife here first...she had surgery recently and had to drastically reduce here activity. I strongly encouraged her to up her calories during the two week recovery to stave off hunger. (Figure, you'll lose at least a little and if you manage to go under it'll be fine too...) She lost around six pounds during this interval and plans to keep her calories higher until she can get back to full activity.

For myself, I shift calories when I hit a plateau. About 1 1/2 months ago I hit a plateau from undershooting my goal too much. I increased my calories and saw a big drop (> 2 pounds) the following week.

Starlage

Well joanne- as u know I staryed for the first time this week zigzagging calories; so one day I'll have the normal deficit, somtimes a little more depending on my burn and the next I eat all calories back, sometimes more again depending on my burn. That juist means one day I'm eating about 1300 cals (I'm not paying attention to net calories) and the next I'll eat about 1700 so I'm getting about 3000 over two days. So far it's working! Lost three pounds this week. I also changed my exercise routine to about 60 to 80 minutes a day: half high cardio i.e. Jillian michaels( and next week I'll be doing tracy andersons dance cardio) then 30 to 50 minutes muscle toning (tracy anderson). Working for now! Hopefully it keeps working and my metabolism will get better and better and eventually I'll be able to not have to zigzag. It's hard to ignore MFP's recommendations for my food diary (getting easier and easier though!) And just using it simply to count my calories to guide my zigzagging but it's hard to ignore how many people zigzagging works for! Plus it's so nice eating a little more every other day )