Eat more to Lose more, explained.

SiltyPigeon

When you say 1200 or you talking about 1200 net or 1200 total calories? Or are you saying it 1500+ depending on your exercise for the day, just as long as you net 1200 calories a day?

Net. The more you exercise, the more calories your body requires to preform its day to day activities.
Now, I do not think there is a magical number that works for everyone. Everyone has different body shapes, sizes, and requirements. To be safe I don't think anyone should regularly go below 1200.

Your BMR can give you a good indication of how many calories you should be netting. MFP calculates your goal by taking your BMR and subtracting 500 with a minimum of 1200.

PS.... Those who are larger or more active (or both) can experience problems and plateaus at 1200 calories because their bodies require more than 1200 calories to preform their day to day activities.

spgabby86

When you say 1200 or you talking about 1200 net or 1200 total calories? Or are you saying it 1500+ depending on your exercise for the day, just as long as you net 1200 calories a day?

Net. The more you exercise, the more calories your body requires to preform its day to day activities.
Now, I do not think there is a magical number that works for everyone. Everyone has different body shapes, sizes, and requirements. To be safe I don't think anyone should regularly go below 1200.

Your BMR can give you a good indication of how many calories you should be netting. MFP calculates your goal by taking your BMR and subtracting 500 with a minimum of 1200.

PS.... Those who are larger or more active (or both) can experience problems and plateaus at 1200 calories because their bodies require more than 1200 calories to preform their day to day activities.

Cool...thanks so much...I plan to eat TOO MUCH this weekend :flowerforyou: I'm out of town on vacation visiting my brother...

Yori1

Bump

Mike523

Fantastic post Mickmelie. This information should be required reading for users of this site. So many people just don't get it, and they starve themselves thinking that is the way to lose weight. They slow down their metabolism, hit a plateau, get discouraged and give up, and then gain back everything they have lost as soon as they start eating again.

I have been at this since January of this year. I have been consistently eating plenty of food, much more than I ever thought I should, eating back all my exercise calories, and have not hit a single plateau. I've lost 65 pounds of fat in 7 months doing this. I've even INCREASED my calories multiple times along the way, and still continued to log a loss each week. I'm eating a NET of 1750 now, when combined with my workout calories equals about 2300-2500 calories per day, and still losing about a pound per week.

People, you need to EAT!!!!

aj_rock

I think the important part that you kind of glossed over is that it's a process that happens OVER TIME. You don't under eat for one day and start to exhibit starvation symptoms. It takes weeks or months, depending on how severely malnourished you are.

That being said, far too many people blame plateaus on starvation. If you really think starvation has happened, bump up your calories to maintenance levels for a week or so, and then back to normal.

Rae6503

Your BMR can give you a good indication of how many calories you should be netting. MFP calculates your goal by taking your BMR and subtracting 500 with a minimum of 1200.

Isn't it

BMR + activity level calories - 500 = net?

Again with a minimum of 1200.

sabified

hmmm this is a great topic that answers a question I just asked abt eating back my exercise cals. This definitely has me rethinking what I'd decided!

kysue1029

Thanks for the great post!

So, I have some (probably pretty dumb and constantly asked) questions.

~Does it matter what I eat? I am a VERY picky eater, so it's hard for me to switch things up. I am eating a lot of bland salads with grilled chicken on it, some grilled meat with a veggie and bread side, or something like that. So, if I continue to eat that way, is it going to be a huge problem?

~So, if I continue to eat the 1200 + most of my exercise calories, I shouldn't hit much of a plateau?

robpett2001

Thanks for clarifying this!

Mathisfun

Great post.

tanksmom104

Thanks for the comment. I have been told I don't eat enough but it was never explained to me in a way I understood. It was always medical mumbo jumbo to me.

SiltyPigeon

Your BMR can give you a good indication of how many calories you should be netting. MFP calculates your goal by taking your BMR and subtracting 500 with a minimum of 1200.

Isn't it

BMR + activity level calories - 500 = net?

Again with a minimum of 1200.

Yes. Most BMR calculators (at least that I have used) take your activity levels (sedentary, fairly active, active) into account.

SiltyPigeon

Thanks for the great post!

So, I have some (probably pretty dumb and constantly asked) questions.

~Does it matter what I eat? I am a VERY picky eater, so it's hard for me to switch things up. I am eating a lot of bland salads with grilled chicken on it, some grilled meat with a veggie and bread side, or something like that. So, if I continue to eat that way, is it going to be a huge problem?

~So, if I continue to eat the 1200 + most of my exercise calories, I shouldn't hit much of a plateau?

It stands to reason that the better quality foods you eat the better off your overall health will be. Better quality = better nutrition = better health. It's like choosing which grade of gasoline to put into your car. If you have a nice car and want to keep it that way, you go for the more expensive fuel. On the other hand, those who have a rusty blue '91 Geo Metro with one red door and a yellow hood probably are putting in the lower grade fuel.

You are what you eat.

I, personally, don't buy into the whole natural, clean, anti- genetically modified, nothing artificial craze. I'm an everything in moderation kinda girl. But many people here on Mfp do really get into that and swear by it.

As for weight loss, though, I've done just fine making sure I eat more veggies than twinkies and by sticking with my calories.

SiltyPigeon

I think the important part that you kind of glossed over is that it's a process that happens OVER TIME. You don't under eat for one day and start to exhibit starvation mode symptoms. It takes weeks or months, depending on how severely malnourished you are.

That being said, far too many people blame plateaus on starvation. If you really think starvation has happened, bump up your calories to maintenance levels for a week or so, and then back to normal.

Yes. It certainly does not happen over night. It doesn't happen by skipping one meal, or being 5 calories under one day. It took over a month of being at 300-900 calories 6/7 days of the week for me to get where I wasn't doing so well anymore.
Once you do get to that point, it also doesn't fix itself over night. It took about 2 weeks before my body realize I was going to consistently feed it again. It's been 4 months and I my nails are still brittle and weak. That might not seem like a big deal, but I take it like I take the check engine light on in the car. That little light doesn't seem like a big deal... but it's an indicator that something is amiss under the hood.

Gosh.... I can liken anything to a car issue!!! You'd think I was mechanic or something! Hehhee.

asalikin

This is the best post I've read on any of the forums! Actually, I've been reading them for a few weeks now, and this is the first post thats rated a reply from me.

Great info!! Its so true.

ambermichon

BUMP

mynika

Very nice post, Thanks

deb54

Thanks for posting !!! Great info... Bump

saltorian

Great post!

The brain slow down thing probably explains why the chronic under-eaters are so adamant on continuing.. It's because their brain isn't functioning well enough to understand the problem! Oh my, what a vicious cycle.

*SNORT!* :laugh:

RoseBlanc

original post

I agree in full. But as a disordered eater with friends that are likewise disordered to varying degrees, I've seen more than just a few girls and guys at the brink of death from doing what we do to our bodies. Myself? No, my eating disorder is morein my head than physical if that makes any sense. But I can TOTALLY back the logic in all that. :] Well written! And THANK you!

RoseBlanc

Great post!

The brain slow down thing probably explains why the chronic under-eaters are so adamant on continuing.. It's because their brain isn't functioning well enough to understand the problem! Oh my, what a vicious cycle.

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that those of us with restrictive-type eating disorders are exempt from that list of 'chronic under-eaters' =/

LorinaLynn

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that those of us with restrictive-type eating disorders are exempt from that list of 'chronic under-eaters' =/

Actually, I think that's one of the more horrifying aspects of eating disorders. When you eat less food, you crave less food. Your brain stops sending the signals to eat. And it's not even just about people with the body image issues, or people trying to be thin like we often think of it, or even people at all. I've known PETS with anorexia.... for whatever reason they stop eating, whether it's a sore tooth or upset stomach, and will literally starve themselves. Saw it all the time when I worked at an animal hospital. Senior citizens, too, get a kind of anorexia where they keep eating less and less, but insist they're full.

It's a physical problem, but the physical aspects have psychological effects.

kynichol21

BUMP

RoseBlanc

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that those of us with restrictive-type eating disorders are exempt from that list of 'chronic under-eaters' =/

Actually, I think that's one of the more horrifying aspects of eating disorders. When you eat less food, you crave less food. Your brain stops sending the signals to eat. And it's not even just about people with the body image issues, or people trying to be thin like we often think of it, or even people at all. I've known PETS with anorexia.... for whatever reason they stop eating, whether it's a sore tooth or upset stomach, and will literally starve themselves. Saw it all the time when I worked at an animal hospital. Senior citizens, too, get a kind of anorexia where they keep eating less and less, but insist they're full.

It's a physical problem, but the physical aspects have psychological effects.

I was more referring to the sarcasm I sense in is post.
Also, eating disorders are psychological diseases with physical effects. It all starts in the brain and then ricochets back and forth.

fiberartist219

I find that now that I'm counting calories, I don't want to eat as much. I am frequently pushing away my plate before I finish what's on it, and before I started MFP, I ate everything in site. However, I will still track my 1/2 eaten food as just that. 1/2 instead of the whole item. I still find it quite easy to hit 1200 most days.

However, I wanted to note that most of these symptoms listed are also symptoms of hypothyroidism. Last fall, I was eating quite a bit, but my cells could not convert the food into energy, and I had the dried up skin, flaky nails, hair falling out, sleeping all the time etc. Now that I'm on the right dosage, my hair is growing back, but it's frizzy. My nose isn't bleeding all the time, and my nails are growing back in. Although, my nails do still have some serious ridges on them, but I'll take any improvement I can get. I can stay awake now for an entire 16 consecutive hours without requiring a nap. It's awesome.

It seems that whenever your cells and organs do not get enough energy, it's more or less the same issues.

ido10612

FINALLY!! Someone explained it! You always hear "EAT MORE" but now i get it! My calorie goal is 1200. sometimes i dont even hit 900! Im going to up my calorie goal now. Thanks

MrsSmith1112

I am bumping this for awesomeness and planning to read it EVERY time I feel like I need to stay under that silly number! Thanks!

dawnmichelea

Very well said! Thanks!

Cricket039

Thanks for the post - I NEEDED to read this today!

graysmom2005

As scary as it was to try it. This is absolutely true. I was teaching twice a day and probably eating around 1200 calories many days, with the occasional binge of carbs etc because my body was craving calories. I did this for almost two years with no movement in the scale or clothes. Once I bumped up my calories to 2000-2300 (after workouts) I started shedding fat and inches. It has been so eye opening...and so life changing! I'm not thinking about food all the time because i'm satisfied. Eating clean has made all the difference too...not totally clean...but I can eat a TON if it's not processed! :-)