Hallelujah! Eat more to lose more - 100% converted

rsj206

Wow. I was on WW for about five months - I lost ten pounds and then plateaued at 164 for what felt like a lifetime. I did some research, I read up on the "<3 support group for women eating 2000+ calories per day " message board, and I realized that I was eating far too few calories to fuel all the exercise I was getting each day. It was with ENORMOUS trepidation that I started eating more. Like, 1200 calories a day more. I was truly scared that I would gain weight and get stuck at an even higher plateau.

Well, HOLY CRAP! I'm 100% converted to eating more. It's been ten days and I'm down *six* pounds!! Nothing else out of the ordinary happened, no TOM water weight, no change in exercise, nothing. If you told me that this would happen with me eating up to 2600 calories a day, I would have laughed in your face. I feel AWESOME, and I really want to thank all the strong ladies on here who convinced me to lose my fear of eating and embrace what I earn by working up a hard sweat every day!

This is truly life-changing for me.

yeaforme

That's exactly what happened to me on WW. At 162 I couldn't lose anymore. People kept telling me that it was my body saying it was at a good weight and to stop trying to lose. that is my biggest fear. I will get to 160 again and not be able to go any lower. So you increased calories at the plateau instead of cutting more? That's like the opposite of WW. Very interesting! Congratulations!

JWeaser

I just switched to maintenance mode which upped my calories from 1300 to 1910 and that number freaked me out so I lowered to 1770. I am down another 4 pounds. I am nervous about eating 1910 a day but I want to stick with 1770 for a few more weeks and see how it goes.

_GlaDOS_

Yay! We are so happy to have converted you! I hope to experience similar successes, and I hope more women on here read this and look through our other thread.

Congrats! :flowerforyou:

WeighAhead

I have recently adopted this philosophy and it is working great for me too! It is really crazy to me that more people don't adopt this way of eating it is so much easier to maintain and there are fewer plateaus! I have seen multiple nutritionists now and none of them have ever thought eating more to lose weight is a good idea, I just don't agree it seems like common sense not to starve yourself!

Peep_chic

Thats great!!. I also wish others would realize that starving isn't the way to loose. I'm glad ur embracing a healthy lifestyle.

reddcat

bump

ChelseaRW

I have to admit...I've been looking through the thread you mentioned...and am one of the scared to convert! If anyone would like to look through my diary and give suggestions to move towards that goal or if I should be doing anything. I am 5'3 and between 122 and 124 lbs depending on the day. I cannot get to a gym ...nor do I own weights.


Btw...Congrats on your loss and successes!

xLyric

I have recently adopted this philosophy and it is working great for me too! It is really crazy to me that more people don't adopt this way of eating it is so much easier to maintain and there are fewer plateaus! I have seen multiple nutritionists now and none of them have ever thought eating more to lose weight is a good idea, I just don't agree it seems like common sense not to starve yourself!

I would have to agree with the nutritionists. Yes, you do have to eat at a deficit to lose. That's what they're saying (I assume, I wasn't there for the conversation ).

The thing is, when you're exercising so much, 2000+ calories IS a deficit. Does that make sense?

sweetxsour35

It's hard to believe that eating more can lead to losing more. For 6 weeks I ate 1200 cals a day and 3 of those weeks, I lost nothing. I upped my goal to 1400 cals (I will throw in a cheat day every so often), and finally went under 189 lbs. Granted, it was barely a half lb, but it's only been three days, and my weight has been cycling between 189-192 for the longest time. Can't wait till the next weigh-in!

WeighAhead

xLyric,

Let me be more specific MFP calculated 2400 cals/day for me to lose 1 lb a week my nutritionist wanted me to eat 1800 cals. This is crazy to me that's 600 cals a day less than I eat now, and I am losing weight safely. And yes, in the past I have exercised however I have been unable to exercise for the past two weeks, and I am still losing weight!

xLyric

xLyric,

Let me be more specific MFP calculated 2400 cals/day for me to lose 1 lb a week my nutritionist wanted me to eat 1800 cals. This is crazy to me that's 600 cals a day less than I eat now, and I am losing weight safely. And yes, in the past I have exercised however I have been unable to exercise for the past two weeks, and I am still losing weight!

I stand corrected then, haha. Good for you!

tracyolson23

bump

LorinaLynn

Yay for another happy convert! :flowerforyou:

sassylilmama

Working for me too!

ElizabethRoad

Can I ask what your net calories are? I assume you are exercising quite a lot with this?

hottottie11

Wooo hooo for real eaters! I don't see the point of starvation diets. I can't eat less then 1700 cals a day. Most days I eat 1900 to 2000 per day. I work out alot so I still have a deficit.

ysamatar

I wil try to up my cal intake. Thanks for sharing.

arispawild

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

hottottie11

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

psych101

This post made my day

I'm so glad to hear that our little thread helped you

Xx

TonnaJai

I lost 13lbs and hit the wall then I increased my calories and boom the weight started coming off, that 1200 diet isn't for everyone and I don't exercise all the time 3 to 5 times a week, but right now 7. Best Wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lesliecs

This post really hit me tonight. I've been reading many many posts about the pros and cons of upping your calories and I am ONE OF THOSE who is afraid if I increase my calories or even eat my exercise calories I will stop losing....or worse, start gaining. For some reason, this particular post has made me decide that I, too, am going to try it and see what happens. Yup.... I'm scared.... but what the heck! If it helps in the long run, it will be worth it!

Thanks everyone... :happy:

rainbowbow

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

How low is low? My bmr is 1290.I started off at 135, I'm now 120 but haven't lost ANYTHING in 6 weeks. 1200 calories a day, excersizing. It's really really hard because I'm 10 pounds from my goal. I am DEATHLY afraid of upping my calories!

arispawild

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

I'm around 5'4 1/2 and I'm young. I'm like 166-117 pounds. I mean I lightly active... but I dunno. I'm trying to maintain.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

How low is low? My bmr is 1290.I started off at 135, I'm now 120 but haven't lost ANYTHING in 6 weeks. 1200 calories a day, excersizing. It's really really hard because I'm 10 pounds from my goal. I am DEATHLY afraid of upping my calories!

Your BMR is 1290...you multiply that by an activity factor of at least 1.2 (sedentary) and your MINIMUM burn is 1548 a day.

In 6 weeks you've lost nothing while keeping a minimum deficit of 350..more if you get any exercise at all. I'd recommend upping your calories to 1600-1800 a day since you're so close to goal. In addition to that you might want to workout 4-5x a week to burn 300-500 calories a session. Incorporate weights into your regimen and interval training as well because it will elevate your metabolism by increasing the calories you burn post workout (EPOC) and maintain your muscle mass (which burns more calories at rest).

arispawild

What about me??

hottottie11

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

How low is low? My bmr is 1290.I started off at 135, I'm now 120 but haven't lost ANYTHING in 6 weeks. 1200 calories a day, excersizing. It's really really hard because I'm 10 pounds from my goal. I am DEATHLY afraid of upping my calories!

You are pretty lean. You should try for a deficit that is about 250 or less and you gotta eat your exercise cals. The last ten lbs will always be the hardest. Have you considered switching strength training and cutting inches instead of a reaching a number on the scale?

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

I'm around 5'4 1/2 and I'm young. I'm like 166-117 pounds. I mean I lightly active... but I dunno. I'm trying to maintain.

I assume you meant 116 and not 166?? I think you should give 2000 calories a shot. you said you're young...so you have age on your side. You can try it for a month...the most you'd potentially gain is a pound and a half...assuming your maintenance intake is 1800 MINIMUM....30 days of eating in excess by 200 would be less than 2 pounds. It's worth the "risk." I don't think you'll gain on 2000 anyhow...aside from food weight in your stomach that is. You can expect the scale to show a minor gain when you up your calories for that reason alone.

hottottie11

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

I'm around 5'4 1/2 and I'm young. I'm like 166-117 pounds. I mean I lightly active... but I dunno. I'm trying to maintain.

Set your MFP to maintain and be sure to eat your exercise calories. Yor sure maintain your current weight. If you see consistent weight loss or gain (not daily fluctuations, but a consistent loss or gain over a period of time), adjust your calories according.

hottottie11

I'm not sure if I could manage this. Opinions? I don't get to exercise much

The key is getting enough calories for your size, activity, and exercise level. I work out A LOT! So I need to eat to accordingly. 2000+ cals is not for everyone, esp if you are small and not very active. Its about not undereating. Calculate your activiy levels appropriately and set an appropriate calories deficit (i.e. 1200 cals is not appropriate if you have 10-15 lbs to lose, unless your BMR is really low)

I'm around 5'4 1/2 and I'm young. I'm like 166-117 pounds. I mean I lightly active... but I dunno. I'm trying to maintain.

I assume you meant 116 and not 166?? I think you should give 2000 calories a shot. you said you're young...so you have age on your side. You can try it for a month...the most you'd potentially gain is a pound and a half...assuming your maintenance intake is 1800 MINIMUM....30 days of eating in excess by 200 would be less than 2 pounds. It's worth the "risk." I don't think you'll gain on 2000 anyhow...aside from food weight in your stomach that is. You can expect the scale to show a minor gain when you up your calories for that reason alone.

^^what she said lol