Up your calories and see results!!!

dgbiggz

That's great! That has never worked for me. Sometimes I think my body just works opposite of the way it should!! lol! If I do that - I gain BIG. This is my 3rd week on mfp & I've weighed in twice & lost 2.5 lbs both times, so I'm cool with that for now. I can't imagine eating that much on purpose! I would be a BALLOON...been there/done that. My former trainer used to tell me I had to eat so when I did it his way for 2 weeks & gained 5.5lbs., he told me to STOP. ha!

Keep it up!

Alicia_Monique

I just upped my calories this past week and I am doing just fine, as well! Who knew?!

jpsgrl

Wow, this is all so interesting, I wish it would work for me. I am working out with a personal trainer 2-3 days a week, doing cardio the other two days and following 1390 calories a day. I haven't lost a pound in a very long time, like 2 weeks maybe. As a matter of fact as soon as the scale says I have lost one pound, the next weigh in says I have gained 2.5. Anybody have any ideas what I am doing wrong

mandi108

My brother was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (really tragic since he's only 21) and they put him on an 1800 cal diet. I decided to join him, even though it was a little more calories than I was used to eating so he would have some moral support, and I've actually started noticing a tiny difference as well. I've only been doing this for a few days and I try not to look at the scale every day so I don't stress out but my clothes seem to feel better. So I'm going to stick with it. Maybe I'll finally get the results I've been wanting!

kokaneesailor

Bump

beeka2ked

Thanks for the warning that there may be an initial gain. Ive heard its best to eat more to lose more but must say Im still a little afraid. Maybe I'll up it just a little from 1300 to 1500 and gradually increase it.

spynoodle

I'm gonna bump it up to 1400 from 1200. It makes me very nervous, but I'm willing to give it a shot!

ercarroll311

I was on weight watchers before I found this site and discovered once I added the calories instead of points that I was sometimes even below 1000 calories/day. I got on this site and started eating more, around 1500 on days with exercise, and for the last 6 weeks the weight has come off really steadily. Definitely cutting the calories, unless you're eating a lot and not well, isn't always the answer to losing the weight. This website does shoot a little low on protein though, so I'd recommend more of that in the morning and afternoon to help weight loss (and stay more full).

chiera88

i just upped mine to 1410 (set it to lose 0.5lb a weeks since i have less than 15lbs to lose. haven't gained any weight and i feel so much better. not starving all the time and more energy. i'll up it more after i test this awhile

ercarroll311

I'm looking over your diary and a lot of things look good. I'm not seeing what you're doing on your workouts, but that might be helpful. Try to log those as best you can so you know what you're burning. I often eat a little more on those days, but not everything I've burned. Are your clothes fitting better? You could be gaining muscle. Sometimes it better to ignore the scale and focus on that. I would say stick around 1500 calories/day if you're working out and don't eat out for a lot of those--sometimes those nutritional facts/serving sizes can lie. It looks like you're getting a good amount of protein, so keep doing that. As long as you're getting both plenty of cardio and strength stuff your workouts should be good. It looks like maybe weekends can mess you up a little bit, so maybe try to take one off and see if that changes your results at all (it might not--I'm not always good on the weekends and I haven't found it to be hurting me).

Feel free to check out my diary, I try to keep it as updated as I can. Hope this was helpful!

i_miss_donuts

I struggle with this as well. With a small weight loss goal of 6lbs (from 139 to 133lbs) and at 5'9" I was initially eating too few calories (1200 and not eating exercise calories back) and not losing. Upped my calories to 1500 + some of my exercise calories and lost 2lbs which I then gained them back the next week. Oye. Then went on vacation and gained 5 and immediately lost 4 (water weight). Bottom line - nearly 2 months in and zero weight loss.

I really am at a loss as to how much to eat and how many of my exercise calories to eat back. I work out 5 days per week a mix of running, walking, and heavy lifting with circuits. My Fitbit registers anywhere from 7,000 to 17,000 steps per day depending on if I am biking, running or just doing normal activities - but I have a desk job. I don't know where to put my calories - am I sedentary? I don't think so - but I don't want to double log my exercise calories which a few of the pinned newbie threads warn against. My goal is to lose about 5 lbs so that I can have better definition.

Due to my total and utter confusion, I am mow I am just trying to focus on eating 1400 per day, eating it clean and low sodium (fewer prepared "diet" foods, more healthy fats, higher protein), lifting heavy and eating more if I am hungry at the end of the day. I am going to trust in the process and try to let go of the scale numbers since I do like the way I am looking from the exercise.

newve

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taylmarie

I am new, so please forgive my ignorance. Just so I am clear:

When you say increase your calories, does that mean going over the goal that MFP has set for me? For example if is set at 1200 (and I don't workout that day), eat 1400 instead? Or does it just mean to eat back all of my exercise calories as opposed to trying to maintain a larger than necessary deficit?

Thanks! in advance for clarification!

kdiment

This interests me a lot. I've been eating ~1200 a day, and I haven't seen much in the way of changes. I think I'm going to bump it up to 1400 and see what that does!

I'm pretty active, so the lack of calories would probably explain why I've been so tired lately.

stryfe101

i'm seeing the same thing, mine has been in conjunction with me actually exercising...specifically jogging and running. I saw a 2lb weight loss in a day, and a noticeable difference in my belly size.

spynoodle

This interests me a lot. I've been eating ~1200 a day, and I haven't seen much in the way of changes. I think I'm going to bump it up to 1400 and see what that does!

I'm pretty active, so the lack of calories would probably explain why I've been so tired lately.

This is an interesting tool.
http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

Aleara2012

Congratulations! I think I iwll follow your example and up my cals a bit although I am really scared to do it...

SirBeechBum

If I get stuck, I might give this a try. I have read other posts that validate that this works specifically when you are not eating enough...

olong

BUMP

kdiment

Ah! Thanks for that link.

I'm confused though. Do I eat the BMR number or the number from the chart at the bottom? The BMR is 1303 and the chart at the bottom said 1913. Thanks!

ShannaB83185

Just this pass week I upped my cals but not sure I am doing it right! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

I was eating 1270, I am now at 1510. When I don't exercise I eat pretty close to all 1500 of my cals, when I do exercise I eat about half my calories burned back. So for example yesterday I burned 443 calories and I ate 1522 calories. My net was 1079... ok I can see now that I didn't eat enough lol I actually only ate 1079 in food, not enough right?

sarahlauren18

I believe you want to be around 1510 after working out.

dancerman

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dojomama

So glad I found this thread! Upping mine from 1320 to 1620.. slight hesitation, but am enjoying the extra calories. Time will tell!

1yellowdog

After six weeks of 1200 calories I had lost a total of 1.8 pounds, AND I was exercising 5 times a week. I "upped" my calories the last two weeks to 1500, decreased my exercise to 4 times a week, which was more manageable, and I have lost 3.4 pounds in the last two weeks. A fitness friend of mine suggested I add in the calories, and it worked! I'm not sure why, but I'm thrilled that I can eat more and lose more. I'm planning on sticking to the 1500 calories unless the weight loss slows.

jennkess

I am new, so please forgive my ignorance. Just so I am clear:

When you say increase your calories, does that mean going over the goal that MFP has set for me? For example if is set at 1200 (and I don't workout that day), eat 1400 instead? Or does it just mean to eat back all of my exercise calories as opposed to trying to maintain a larger than necessary deficit?

Thanks! in advance for clarification!

MFP does simple math based on what you give it as your weight loss goal... if you request to lose 2lbs per week it will take a 1000 calories deficit per day - the lowest setting it will allow you to go is 1200. even if that 1000 calories would technically put you below. MFP will give you recommendations however it can't say "don't go below your BMR!" as then it would be giving you advice and open itself up to lawsuits.

google BMR and TDEE - check other message boards. even your BMR as calculated by MFP is a good base. the BMR is what your body needs if you were to lay in bed, if you were in a coma what the doctors would feed you, to make sure your vital organs are taken care of, going below this number is really not recommended.... as I said please read up and decide for yourself where you need to be. :flowerforyou:

personally I am 5'3" 180lbs desk job, I have my calorie goal set at 1600- when I stick to it and eat a healthy 1600 calories I average 1lbs per week, currently with little exercise- and when I do exercise I eat most of my calories back.

ImRadical4Jesus

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cincymomof3

I upped my calories to 2,000. I lost a lb last week and already lost another lb this week and weigh in isn't until Saturday! The best part is i have more energy to fuel my workouts. Eat up ladies! It's so worth it!

collingmommy

I have not seen a drop on the scale in over 2 weeks! I think i was starving myself, although i felt full at the end of the day. What made me realize this is i bought ahrm and wore it to work, i burn 900 plus just there and burn 300 in 4 hours just sitting around, then another added 300 to 400 on days i do exercise! I was only taking in 900-1000 daily! I the myself into starvation mode! Although i was set to 1390, i was taking in no more then 1000! so nowi had to bump it up to 1800 daily and I'm freaking terrified that I'm going to jump on the scale and it will break! I guess I'll see!!