Increasing calories?

careyannal

I have been at a plateau for a couple weeks, so I just increased my calories from 1200 to 1400 (That is what MFP assigned me when I set it to lose 1 lb/week).

PLEASE TELL ME I AM DOING THE RIGHT THING! I am really nervous increasing my calories, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of eating more in an effort to get my weight down again.

If anyone cares I am 28 y/o, 5'10" and 157 lbs

Should I expect to gain weight initially before I start losing again??

careyannal

Also, on 1200 cals I was eating back some of my exercise calories, should I not eat any of them back since I increased my calories to 1400?

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

assuming you were exercising then eating back your calories would have had you above 1400 before--so still eat them back otherwise it's a moot action.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

oh and initial weight gain? maybe. it depends on what you're adding in for those 200 extra calories. 200 extra calories of broccoli? yeah, you'll gain because it's heavy and it will be in your intestinal tract. 2 tbsp of olive oil--probably no scale gain at all.

SideSteel

Also, on 1200 cals I was eating back some of my exercise calories, should I not eat any of them back since I increased my calories to 1400?

Can you report how many calories you were eating on average, including exercise calories?

That's important, because if you say you're eating "1200 + exercise" that doesn't really tell your total calorie intake.
How much were you averaging when you factor in exercise calories?

Do you use a food scale and measuring devices to measure everything?

Did you have your (I'm being personal here, sorry, but it's very relevant) TOM during the two week stall?

Did you recently start weight training?

All of these are relevant questions that you might want to ask yourself (among other ones) before making diet changes.

careyannal

Also, on 1200 cals I was eating back some of my exercise calories, should I not eat any of them back since I increased my calories to 1400?

Can you report how many calories you were eating on average, including exercise calories?

That's important, because if you say you're eating "1200 + exercise" that doesn't really tell your total calorie intake.
How much were you averaging when you factor in exercise calories?

Do you use a food scale and measuring devices to measure everything?

Did you have your (I'm being personal here, sorry, but it's very relevant) TOM during the two week stall?

Did you recently start weight training?

All of these are relevant questions that you might want to ask yourself (among other ones) before making diet changes.

Average calories in the 1300-1400 range, never more than that regardless of if I burned a lot.

As far as TOM, I haven't gotten it recently and I'm NOT pregnant (its not even a possibility if you catch my drift).

I don't have a food scale, but I do measure everything and I've tried to be especially dilegent about that recently.

No weight training, just running.

careyannal

assuming you were exercising then eating back your calories would have had you above 1400 before--so still eat them back otherwise it's a moot action.

True