Who has started losing again after ADDING more calories?

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Replies

  • PittShkr
    PittShkr Posts: 1,000 Member
    EVERYONE!
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    and I'm so happy to see not ONE person has said..ya..I up'ed my calories and GAINED GAINED GAINED :)
    they're out there, seen several postings to that effect.

    ETA - they usually give up after 4 weeks though, as one would.
  • DeeDee2211
    DeeDee2211 Posts: 1,133 Member
    I went from 1200 losing 1 lb. per week, to 1410 and I'm losing 1.5 to 2.5 every week. Good luck.
  • SonoraflowerKim
    SonoraflowerKim Posts: 61
    Sounds similar to what I was doing, eating low calories and not seeing a change in my weight as it should have been. I began this weight be gone journey 2 years ago. So when I started using MFP in June 2012, I had already conditioned my body to accept low amounts of food and also not understanding how it all works on exercise, eating, etc.

    Now that I do understand it a bit more with the help of MFP and Fitbit, I can see that my intake and my calories from exercise (which I work out over 2 hours a day) had to go up. I slowly went from 1200 to 1400 to 1600 and now I am at about 1900 a day. BUT I work out more than the average person would work out. You could call it "I am a bit OCD about working out" That being said, I have lost about 2 pounds in the last two weeks.

    I think what confuses me and others is how this all works, with wanting the weight gone, being afraid to eat anything that could cause a weight gain, and exercising.

    I don't eat red meat, pork, drink milk, soda, alcohol, sugar, or white flour. So for me its a challenge just to find the right mix of carbs, protein, fiber, etc. to make sure my body is working right and I lose the last few pounds I want to lose!

    For me adding more calories based on my active life style works!!
  • SuMcP
    SuMcP Posts: 244 Member
    I stalled by only netting 1200 / day - now I net 1400 / day but zig zag my days having under on some and over on others to make up a weekly target - losing between1-2lbs / week even though MFP states that it should be around 1/2 lb / week. See fat2fitradio.com pod cast on plateaus - it's really helpful.
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    My Dr. told me because of the intensity of my workouts, I HAD to hit at 2000 cals per day and 160g of protein. I do intense cardio 3x's a week and strength, abs, sculpt an toning 2x's week. Since I started eating more, I'm feeling much better and lost 3 lbs last week. I weigh in tomorrow - we'll see what happens!
    '
    This sounds like me..except I was doing intense cardio 6 days with weight/ab/leg work 30 mins every other day!!! Again..I'm glad to hear you also had positive results!!!! :)))
  • sammniamii
    sammniamii Posts: 669 Member
    I had hit a place where I was loosing inches, but nothing on the scale. After reading alot of posts, researching and checking around, I upped my calories (TDEE - 20%) and the scale started it's downward climb again. Plus, now I don't feel so tired - MFP had dropped me to 1700 and I was hungry, tired and grumpy.
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    Have you gained muscle or lost inches in the past 3 months? What has your intake been?

    Don't get too intimidated by the numbers. If you think you might be too low, try higher for 2 weeks. If you think you might be too high (or if higher doesn't help), try lower for two weeks. You're not going to break anything for a 2-week test period as long as you're eating over 1200 and feel ok during workouts.

    Not noticable..maybe an inch....intake calories had been around 1200...so with the amounts of cardio...with a HRM(yes..Im sure its not 100% accurate) I was burning upwards of 400-800 a day...so..ya..no good :(

    Agreed on 2 week trial...I'm staying off scale for 2 weeks and see what happens... fingers crossed
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    Yep.

    I have been eating 1200 cals (plus exercise cals) for years. I'd be unhappy, resentful and angry at the fact that 1200 cals was all the food I could eat. I worked out just so I could eat....couldn't stand the vicious cycle. Eventually I would just quit and go back to my regular eating. This time around my body/weight loss just completely stalled out which is why I thought I would try "eating more to weigh less" (there's a group on MFP if you are interested).

    Now I eat around 1900 cals every day and I love it. I have been losing about the same amount of weight as I was when I was eating 1200 cals. I am much happier - I enjoy my food - my body is happy too. Why would I want to go back to starving myself??

    Good luck and keep your body fed. Your body will thank you for it.
  • _Elemenopee_
    _Elemenopee_ Posts: 2,665 Member
    ME!!!!!!! I was on 1200 for months until I stalled and started looking for answers like you are now. I'm volley between 13 and 1400(NET) now depending on how hard I've pushed myself that day. If I'm hungry, I eat, if I'm bored I refill my water and try to drown away the urge to get some candy (my weakness).

    After the first few weeks I still didn't believe upping would really work but with the help of my awesome MFP friends and just sticking with it. I've lost 23 lbs...and counting.

    You can do this! Best of luck! :)

    ETA: I'm only 5'1" so a lower calories range is right for me. If I was much taller, I'd need more!
  • ironicusername
    ironicusername Posts: 73
    I have found that sticking to a calorie number religiously is the best way to plateau quickly. Your metabolism will get used to it and that will be that. The best thing to do is use your daily goal as a guideline and nothing more. I go well over my number fairly regularly and I don't have a problem at all with losing the weight. I never plateau unless I'm just all around eating more than I should. Feel free to add me and take a look at my food diary. =]
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
    I didn't lose any weight the past 3 weeks, I upped my cals by about 200 per day and I'm losing again.
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    and I'm so happy to see not ONE person has said..ya..I up'ed my calories and GAINED GAINED GAINED :)
    they're out there, seen several postings to that effect.

    ETA - they usually give up after 4 weeks though, as one would.

    Are these people that have stalled? or just wanted more food.. I'm really trying to make the right decision here! Do you mean they give up eating higher and go back to the text book 1200 cals day?
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    Thank you thank you thank you everyone!!! :):):) This just made my day.. its all about mixing it up..and in the event it doesnt work? Then I know this isnt for me..and I try something else..right? groan ;)
  • ajclemons5
    ajclemons5 Posts: 22
    I agree...this seems to go against everything that's been programmed. I currently net 1200 - 1400 per day and haven't lost a pound in months. I've been concentrating on eating really clean, adding more strength training, and increasing my protein intake. I will try to increase my cals to 1600 - 1800 to see if that makes a diff. Another question...i've been having a hard time meeting my protein requirements (approx 150 g per day). What are some of your best sources that are low in fat/cals??

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    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    To answer the original question, when I eat more I do not lose more. For me, 3500 calories = a pound.

    But I don't binge under any scenario or do 'cheat days' or under-track or change my activity level much, or feel deprived or lacking energy or any of that.
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    Me... however I also added more exercising to balance it out. I am still at about the same deficit as when I was eating 1100-1200 calories however I am eating around 1550-1650 now. I am not loosing weight though but body fat, fyi. My goal is body fat though not so much weight loss.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I've recently (last 3 weeks) upped my calories from @1300 to 1500-1700 with an emphasis on getting more protein (I was very low before), I've also changed up my cardio routine from steady state to HIIT's or interval training, also strength training. I can already see the difference!! I'm way less bloated, my clothes fit better and I have more energy (even my hair and skin look better!!). I'm on a scale boycott lol....I don't plan on weighing in for another couple of weeks. The scale can be a real mood killer for me. But I would say it's definitely working! Muffin top is smaller!
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    I agree...this seems to go against everything that's been programmed. I currently net 1200 - 1400 per day and haven't lost a pound in months. I've been concentrating on eating really clean, adding more strength training, and increasing my protein intake. I will try to increase my cals to 1600 - 1800 to see if that makes a diff. Another question...i've been having a hard time meeting my protein requirements (approx 150 g per day). What are some of your best sources that are low in fat/cals??

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    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods


    Some people hate this...but here...I go.. ;) whey protein powder...I dont leave home with out it... cup of Fage greek yogurt...2 scoops choc powder...1tsp peanut butter...cup ice... walla! chocolate p.butter shake...and protein? could be close or over 70gm depending.. and I am picky.. body fortress is good.. the ice really makes it takes so good...blend it up..and go :)
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    I've recently (last 3 weeks) upped my calories from @1300 to 1500-1700 with an emphasis on getting more protein (I was very low before), I've also changed up my cardio routine from steady state to HIIT's or interval training, also strength training. I can already see the difference!! I'm way less bloated, my clothes fit better and I have more energy (even my hair and skin look better!!). I'm on a scale boycott lol....I don't plan on weighing in for another couple of weeks. The scale can be a real mood killer for me. But I would say it's definitely working! Muffin top is smaller!

    less muffin is always good :) thank you for helping me!!
  • lambch0ps
    lambch0ps Posts: 79 Member
    and I'm so happy to see not ONE person has said..ya..I up'ed my calories and GAINED GAINED GAINED :)
    they're out there, seen several postings to that effect.

    ETA - they usually give up after 4 weeks though, as one would.

    Here's one - I've been up 3 lbs for 3 days in a row, after upping my calories from 1200 to 1500 about 3 weeks ago. All the success stories on this thread are motivating me to stick it out for another week, but I don't know if I can hold out any longer!
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    EVERYONE!

    Fingers crossed...I'm included!!!
  • trudence1
    trudence1 Posts: 34
    I am still losing around the same amount I was before...never really stalled. I changed to be healthier in my weight loss. I went from 1200 to just over 1400 net. So I end up eating about 1700 because of eating back my exercise cals.
    Upping my calories didn't change what I was losing and I feel soooo much better; not so tired and grumpy.
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    and I'm so happy to see not ONE person has said..ya..I up'ed my calories and GAINED GAINED GAINED :)
    they're out there, seen several postings to that effect.

    ETA - they usually give up after 4 weeks though, as one would.

    Here's one - I've been up 3 lbs for 3 days in a row, after upping my calories from 1200 to 1500 about 3 weeks ago. All the success stories on this thread are motivating me to stick it out for another week, but I don't know if I can hold out any longer!

    3 days...nah..skip that scale!! I can hold 3 pounds of water in one day!!
  • MaybeAMonkey
    MaybeAMonkey Posts: 247
    There is a group called Eat More to Weigh Less ... you may want to check it out, lots of people have had success doing this.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Are these people that have stalled? or just wanted more food.. I'm really trying to make the right decision here! Do you mean they give up eating higher and go back to the text book 1200 cals day?
    Some were stalled, got the EM2WL message to eat more and gained. IMHO the whole EM2WL thing is entirely about "just wanted more food" so I suspect someone who says they went from 1200 and being bitter and twisted to eating 1400 and losing 1.5 lbs/week is not telling us that they also stopped the 500 calorie binges that meant they are actually eating less than they were despite the higher target.

    I don't have the full stories, those who gained are usually saying "tried that, didn't work, now what".

    Let's face it, nobody ever appeared on a clinical trial and failed to lose weight at a calorie deficit - if they did they were thrown off the trial for non-compliance. It's a pity nobody has done a study of stalled people other than TV shows like "Secret Eaters".

    I'm open minded and if you're stuck try whatever you fancy. 500 calories per day of extra food for a month isn't going to put on more than 10 lbs in total so there's a limit to the downside. I have never found exercise a big deal in weight loss, so I would be equally happy to drop exercise as to eat more - if a calorie is a calorie the effect should be the same.

    Good luck with the n=1 experiment !
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    Me... however I also added more exercising to balance it out. I am still at about the same deficit as when I was eating 1100-1200 calories however I am eating around 1550-1650 now. I am not loosing weight though but body fat, fyi. My goal is body fat though not so much weight loss.


    Your tummy is rockin!! :)))
  • poppyloganriley
    poppyloganriley Posts: 44 Member
    I stalled out for a few weeks and then upped my calories just by 150 calories a day, and the weight loss picked up again, thankfully. Nothing extreme, but the way it was when I first started. I went from 1200 calories, losing 18 lbs in 6 weeks, lost nothing for two weeks, and just started with the 1350 calories last week and lost another 2 lbs (what I was averaging before).

    Good luck!
  • Goal_Line
    Goal_Line Posts: 474 Member
    A month ago when I crossed 195 lbs I started eating more. I currently eat at least 2,500 cals, and changed the nature of my work outs to favor muscle growth. I'm getting a lot more protean to support the lifting. I gained 4 lbs - which I'm certain was mostly water weight due to muscle inflamation. Now I'm losing weight very slowly, and it appears all the weight loss is now fat with no lean body mass loss.
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    [/quote
    Are these people that have stalled? or just wanted more food.. I'm really trying to make the right decision here! Do you mean they give up eating higher and go back to the text book 1200 cals day? [/quote] Some were stalled, got the EM2WL message to eat more and gained. IMHO the whole EM2WL thing is entirely about "just wanted more food" so I suspect someone who says they went from 1200 and being bitter and twisted to eating 1400 and losing 1.5 lbs/week is not telling us that they also stopped the 500 calorie binges that meant they are actually eating less than they were despite the higher target.

    I don't have the full stories, those who gained are usually saying "tried that, didn't work, now what".

    Let's face it, nobody ever appeared on a clinical trial and failed to lose weight at a calorie deficit - if they did they were thrown off the trial for non-compliance. It's a pity nobody has done a study of stalled people other than TV shows like "Secret Eaters".

    I'm open minded and if you're stuck try whatever you fancy. 500 calories per day of extra food for a month isn't going to put on more than 10 lbs in total so there's a limit to the downside. I have never found exercise a big deal in weight loss, so I would be equally happy to drop exercise as to eat more - if a calorie is a calorie the effect should be the same.

    Good luck with the n=1 experiment !
    [/quote

    Thank you..and I totally agree! We dont know exactly what anyone else is eating..but at least...in my case..I have 5 kids...and I honestly dont have time for faking this crap to get attention.. I know what I am eating...and I know I am not losing..is it my body is pissed and holding it? Or bulloks..do I have to even eat less?... We shall see soon enough...Thank you for helping me! It means a lot to this frustated girlie!!!

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