Increasing Calories - What to expect & why you need patience...
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fab!:happy:0
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i have vowed to read this every day for the next 4 weeks.
Mostly because this morning I weighed in 6 ..yes 6 !!! pounds heavier than friday. Friday i started eating 1600-1800 a day (instead of 1400-1500) AND have been to 2 weight lifting classes and one cardio AND started walking at lunch.
The 6lb gain makes me 2lbs heavier than when i first logged on to MFP in January.
I almost cried..but said no..you read there would be a gain..keep at it.
For some reason my pants and bra are too tight today as well (and nope, i don't think i had more sodium than usual - if anything i am drinking a lot more water!).
But..my body needs to adjust. I need patience. So..I will keep doing what I have been doing for the next 3 weeks. After all what I did for the last 20 years didn't help me get healthy either so what's 3-4 weeks?
Thanks again for my new daily read!
xo0 -
i have vowed to read this every day for the next 4 weeks.
Mostly because this morning I weighed in 6 ..yes 6 !!! pounds heavier than friday. Friday i started eating 1600-1800 a day (instead of 1400-1500) AND have been to 2 weight lifting classes and one cardio AND started walking at lunch.
The 6lb gain makes me 2lbs heavier than when i first logged on to MFP in January.
I almost cried..but said no..you read there would be a gain..keep at it.
For some reason my pants and bra are too tight today as well (and nope, i don't think i had more sodium than usual - if anything i am drinking a lot more water!).
But..my body needs to adjust. I need patience. So..I will keep doing what I have been doing for the next 3 weeks. After all what I did for the last 20 years didn't help me get healthy either so what's 3-4 weeks?
Thanks again for my new daily read!
xo
Please also keep in mind, to gain one true pound that is 3500 calories...I know for a fact you didn't consume an additional 21000 calories...so that means it is probably water weight. Also I know when I first upped I had a hard time with sodium...that is something to track if you aren't already. Set it for 2500 and try not to go over. I shot up a couple pounds because of my weekend...I know I didn't eat 7000 extra cals so it has to be water retention. And let's not talk about sometimes a 5lb gain from TOM...so yes, be patient...:-)0 -
Very well written and I understand all the concepts but I don't think Im doing something right. I think my confusion still lies in my BMR and how many calories i should be eating and what type of food combinations. I have set my diary like Lucia and have been making myself eat more often and incorporating breaks but not sure if I'm still doing it correctly. I understand every person is different and Im only in week 3 so I will keep plugging along and hope that my body gets me....right now, Im pretty sure it is confused LOL. thanks for this post, it was very informative!
Hey Katlou, hope the email cleared things up for you via the email. I will check out your diary and give ya some tips on what I see. Have you gained or are you the same??? Fill me in.0 -
I literally own a library of books that support this, from Adele Davis (who wrote her nutrition books in the 1950s!), to Dean Orish's Eat more, weigh less...
... and I am still scared.
I can honestly claim that I dieted my way UP from 170lbs to 282lbs... all by cutting calories and trying to exercise it off. I spent most of my life undereating (with bouts of bingeing, of course, as my body reacted), and never really feeling like I was normal, as I just gained weight.
In my head, I KNOW that eating enough is important - critical - to being healthy, and the body releasing un-needed fat. In my head. Sub consciously, it's scary as hell to eat 1800 net cals a day (my current setting) - or more - on purpose.
Thank you for being here. I'm hoping to get through this.1 -
It's crazy how we are all brain washed into thinking we need to eat like mice to be thin. I remember when I was 2 lbs away from hitting my goal weight in 2006 and I just couldn't do it anymore. I didnt know where to cut calories and where to increase my burns without committing myself 5-7 days a week at the gym.
Needless to say, I've been starving my body and yet gaining weight.
After reading all these posts (love this group and Lucia's posts!!), I'm being brave and taking the challenge. I am on day 2 of eating 1800 cals per day. Haven't had. Big burn yet, but when I do, I will make sure to NET out as close to my BMR as possible.
Day 1 was like a party, eat healthy but more! Wow! How can I say no? My body was in heaven! My mind was worried. Am I doing the right thing? Will this work or is there something really wrong with me?
Day 2 (today) was so strange...I was getting hungry more often (already?). I brought a slightly bigger lunch but broke it down in two feelings. I also changed my diary settings so that I eat more, but smaller meals...I guess about 300 cals avg every 2 or so hrs...so today I had 6 feedings. Actually, my breakfast was smaller so I ate the rest of my cals for dinner...should try to reverse that!
I have to be careful not to fall in a trap where I'll eat any type of calories....moderation and a variety, as healthy as possible.
I want to believe in this and I will give it at least 4 weeks but in my mind, I'm still scared sh1tless.....I understand the theory, but then I think, but how can it be?
I will be back on these posts and sharing my journey. A few of my other MFPals are having plateaus and are waiting to see what happens with me before upping their calories! No pressure
Oh, one final comment (I know I'm rambling on)....upping my cals to 1800 has lifted the stress of dieting which has ALWAYS been on my mind. I feel liberated and no longer a victim of woe is me!1 -
Like many other posters I'm going to give this theory a try. It makes total sense but I'm scared *deep breath*. I have to admit I've been feeling rather deprived lately, and I think I need to eat more calories. I'd like to think that my body wouldn't be screaming, "FEED ME" after a full day of food if it was enough.
Looking back over the last 30 days I've been around 1300-1600 calories and depending on the calculator (oh yes I tried 3 because I didn't believe it should be so high) I should be eating around 1700-2300. There are numerous days that I netted under my BMR (about 1450) so I bet that explains why was I was so hungry. I'm nervous, but excited. I think this plan is something I can stick to (once I get used to it) so I REALLY hope it works for me!
I upped my calorie goal to 1710 and I'm going to try to eat back my workout calories. After a couple weeks of this I think I'll give it another bump up to 1850 or so. I'm hesitant to increase my calories drastically so hopefully this step up approach is okay.
Mainly I'm excited to have more peanut butter in my life :happy:0 -
I am giving this a shot. Recently have been eating between 1700-1900 calories a day. i have had it with binging. i am so tired of having days where i am doing well with 1500-1600 and then all of a sudden i binge like 1000 calories. at least i know why now. my body needs more fuel. so i am trying to stick with 1700-1900 for several weeks and see what results i get. i am determined to not freak out if i gain a few. thanks for this post, it really helps. i did some calculations and did others to do calculations for me and i'm coming up with 2000 for my TDEE. I think I could eat at 2000 but i am doing a slow adjustment so that it's easier for my body to adjust to more calories.0
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Thanks for such an informative and well-written post.
Now I know what to expect, and as the saying goes "forewarned is forearmed"0 -
I think I have finally got this TDEE/daily calorie goal stuff figured out. I'm officially setting my calorie goal tomorrow for 1800. I have had my goal set at 1600 for a week, and with eating my exercise cals back I've been averaging about that much already. So... I'm gonna do it. 0
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I think I have finally got this TDEE/daily calorie goal stuff figured out. I'm officially setting my calorie goal tomorrow for 1800. I have had my goal set at 1600 for a week, and with eating my exercise cals back I've been averaging about that much already. So... I'm gonna do it.
That is great!0 -
Thanks for this, I really needed it. Although it all made sense, I was started to become frustrated with the scale, however, I decided to stick this out because I know it makes sense. I'm gonna put the scale away for a while and just stick with the plan0
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Bump1
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Bump to read later. Thanks0
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I'm thinking about trying this. I have realised by joining MFP that I'm maybe not eating enough? The goal set by MFP is 1300 calories, which is supposed to be a reduction of 500 calories - yet I've managed to hit 1300 cals (net) once in a week, the rest of the time I've been under - and I've put on weight this week! This isn't a diet this is just what I normally eat. I walk 6km a day to work (round trip) swim twice a week (currently about 30 x 25m per session), dance once a week and have now started going to the gym on my lunch hour three times a week, so I am eating more calories than 1300, but the exercise obviously up's the requirement and I don't seem to reach that amount. My weight is fairly stable, but I'm not sure I need to eat less or exercise more! This is starting to sound like a more sensible approach.....1
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Ok. Almost two weeks now and I KNOW war to expect (thanks Lucia) but my inner voice I panicking a little. I'm up 1 lb and I'm so nervous that my body I abnormal and I won't lose this way. It's like it's too good to be true. I will persist. I will keep nurturing my body with several small healthy meals to a total of 1800 cals per day (or as close as possible, min amt is my BMR of 1560). Gotta hang in there!0
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Hang in there, Naonah!
Just think, what if you were at your goal right now, and wanted to return to "regular" maintenance eating? It would be the same process. If you are not at maintenance, the gain is not "real," just an adjustment. It is quite the storm, and you will have to ride out the wave, but calmer waters are ahead.
I know it's hard, girl, but keep your head up...0 -
Thanks for posting this.
I also got the same ideas when I recently got the same book (New Rules of Lifting for Women), and my eyes jumped out when I read the author's list of "signs you may not be eating enough" and saw that two of the items he listed were 1) amenorrhea (I haven't had my period since mid-January), and 2) feeling cold after eating. I'll admit it's scary but everyday I'm coming around to the idea that more food does not necessarily = weight gain.0 -
This post is wonderful! I shared it with many friends that are finally going to take the "plunge" and eat more! They all found it very helpful 0
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Thanks for this! I'm in recovery from an eating disorder, and it was hard for me to go from 200 calories a day to 1200 calories a day! And then yesterday, I moved up to 1400! Hopefully, soon, I'll be able to have a healthy amount of calories for my weight and height, and this has definitely inspired me! Thanks so much(:0
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wow, thats made more sence why i have gained on my 1st week, ill carry on, i just paniced when i weighed in this morning, thanx.x :flowerforyou: :bigsmile:0
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I am definitely going to read your blog that you provided the link to. Yes you are very eloquently made the case for sticking it out. I feel my self getting emotional now that I found this group. I have felt alone upping my calories for one. When you see all these people losing weight on little calories while you are upping yours it makes you feel like you are copping out instead of hlding true to your conclusion that this is the healthy way to lose. I have started upping my calories a few weeks ago but I have taken it a step at a time. I have just formulated in my mind my current problem. How do you find maintenance calories for yourself when you have been "maintaining" on less than maintenance calories. I went up to 1600 1st and I found that I lost my highs and my lows. I went up another hundred and this process of settling on a weight and not gaining and losing the same pounds continued. However I felt I need to reset my metabolism not just find a more reasonable deficit to lose at. So I calculated my maintenance and went up and I saw one of my old highs again and that was scary. Reading more I recalculated and went down just a bit but still up from the 1st two settings by 200. My calorie goal is set at 1900. I was just going to see what it says about BMR and TDEE hear and I saw this thread at the top. I can't believe how much time I am spending on this whole thing. I can't believe I am in the this position. I only wanted to lose a pound a week which is suppose to be healthy. However the 1 pound a week setting on here I think was too low but I mistakenly decided it was too high since I am older. I think it was too low since I had already been exercising and I had so much to lose. I am in my 3rd week and it seems I have more to learn but I hope now I won't feel so alone. I have been reading some threads that have been mentioned here but it still feels like I am the only one once I am not checking out the latest post.0
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Ok so if my bmr in 1294 and my tdee is 2006 i should am for 15% less =1700 calories a day and just never go below my bmr? I have been told like many that to beat this stall lower my cals. Ive already tried 1200 with cardio and i just was dead. I just cant imagine eating average 1700?0
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Ok so if my bmr in 1294 and my tdee is 2006 i should am for 15% less =1700 calories a day and just never go below my bmr? I have been told like many that to beat this stall lower my cals. Ive already tried 1200 with cardio and i just was dead. I just cant imagine eating average 1700?
That is exactly correct. You should never eat below BMR...you are not giving the body enough to just breath...it slows your metabolism way down. You will be amazed, fueling will revv up the metabolism and get you losing again. Make sure to read what to expect when upping calories...it is at the top of the topic list on this forum.0 -
Great, changed my mfp settings... been at this weight for 4 months with no change!! 0
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thanks0
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I did write this on another board but haven't had a response and not sure I posted it correctly:
I have been fascinated reading this thread, but am still a little confused. I am 5ft 3 and weigh 150lbs my goal is 120lbs. not only do I want to lose weight (the healthy safe way) but I want to tone up my wobbly bits and be able to see some muscle definition (but NOT be muscly/bulky I want a soft yet defined body) I currently do at least 30 minutes a day of 30DS (on day 6 of level one) plus at least 2 times a week I will do Zumba for between 20 - 45 minutes plus most evenings I do some work on my arms with weights (only 2.5lbs weights) plus ab work. I have been fighting with the same 2-3lbs for the past few months now, so need a kick start, and thought this may help IF I know what to do properly.
MFP puts me at 1200 a day, but when I work out my BMR is states 1360. I have also worked out my TDEE I was not sure what activness to put as Mon - Fri I am sitting at a desk all day, so I worked it out for little or no exercise and that was 1743 (*0.8) 1394, light exercise was 1990 (*0.8) 1592 and moderate was 2243 (*0.8) 1794.
In all of your opinions what would you recommend I do? Apologies if this is a repeat of what somebody else has asked, I am pretty new here and getting slightly confused lol Jen x0 -
I did write this on another board but haven't had a response and not sure I posted it correctly:
I have been fascinated reading this thread, but am still a little confused. I am 5ft 3 and weigh 150lbs my goal is 120lbs. not only do I want to lose weight (the healthy safe way) but I want to tone up my wobbly bits and be able to see some muscle definition (but NOT be muscly/bulky I want a soft yet defined body) I currently do at least 30 minutes a day of 30DS (on day 6 of level one) plus at least 2 times a week I will do Zumba for between 20 - 45 minutes plus most evenings I do some work on my arms with weights (only 2.5lbs weights) plus ab work. I have been fighting with the same 2-3lbs for the past few months now, so need a kick start, and thought this may help IF I know what to do properly.
MFP puts me at 1200 a day, but when I work out my BMR is states 1360. I have also worked out my TDEE I was not sure what activness to put as Mon - Fri I am sitting at a desk all day, so I worked it out for little or no exercise and that was 1743 (*0.8) 1394, light exercise was 1990 (*0.8) 1592 and moderate was 2243 (*0.8) 1794.
In all of your opinions what would you recommend I do? Apologies if this is a repeat of what somebody else has asked, I am pretty new here and getting slightly confused lol Jen x
Hi Jen,
If you're doing 30DS, then I'd pick light or moderate exercise. I think it's better to start higher, and then later, drop if necessary. The reason is because the simple act of eating more will increase your metabolism, as your body has to adapt to higher eating levels the same way it adapted to the lower levels. Then as you re-evaluate, and see how your body is responding, you can either stay where you are (if after a few weeks the scale/measurements begin to cooperate) or you can lower by 100 cals or so, and see if you see movement there. The *raising* of the cals in the first place will cause the *lowering* of them to work again, once the body has stabilized, and is accustomed to higher cals. Plus, you won't have to drop them nearly as low. Your goal is to be able to eat the *highest* amount possible, and still lose. Not the opposite, as we often try to do. This gives you much more leeway on your journey, and as you plateau.
BTW, we are a similar height, and I was the same weight as you, (and now, typically hover around 118-120) so it CAN be done. :flowerforyou:
Hope that answers your question?
Kiki0 -
Thanks for that light works out at 1990 then times by 0.8 is 1592 and moderate is 2243 works out as 1794 so I was thinking I could aim for between 1600 & 1700 each day (on my work out days I will use up more??) I usually have a base of 1200 on hereAlso I just looked back on the pasy 8 days food diary and I am a bit confused about the "net" calories For example
Mon: FOOD 1474 net 1316
Tue: FOOD 1150 net 926
Wed: FOOD 1263 net 1044
Thurs: FOOD 1134 Net 901
Fri: FOOD 1476 net 1257
Sat: FOOD 1524 net 1524
Sun: FOOD 1461 net 1149
Mon: FOOD 1589 net 1149
What says FOOD is what has actually passed my lips but the "NET" is that figure minus the exercise calories, is that correct? If lets say my calorie goal is 1650 a day, is that what I am aiming to get as my "GOAL" calories and NOT my "NET" calories? Get into a bit of a muddle lol x0 -
BTW, we are a similar height, and I was the same weight as you, (and now, typically hover around 118-120) so it CAN be done. :flowerforyou:
Hope that answers your question?
Kiki
Kiki
How long has it taken you to get where you want to be? Or to see a difference! I have NEVER been 120lbs or lower (well I probably was but not since I was a kid lol) I normally get to 136 - 143 but never any lower! x0
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