Success stories by upping calories PLEAS

HopetoFaith

I know there is quiet a few people who reaching their weight goal by upping calories, but most of us are so scared to do so ( including myself) so pleas share you success (STORIES AND PHOTOS) while upping your daily caloric intake. THANKS

HopetoFaith

Sorry for mistakes my English isn't native language :flowerforyou:

Alexfit12

That is an excellent question. I'm quite curious about that as well. Everybody says "eat more, starvation mode, bla bla bla". Has anybody actually reached a plateau and then lost some more weight by increasing calories?

jrompola

I'll let you know in a few weeks!!

I've been stuck at 188-190 for a few weeks now eating around 1800 calories a day. I'm bumping that up to 2100 a day and we'll see how it goes. Just started yesterday.

Was 220 and now down to 188 in 75 days or so

I'd also like to point out I'I'm pretty sure I lost body fat during those 2 weeks and my clothes are fitting a little looser, but I didn't specifically measure my body fat

mwgner

I am no expert, but up until about 2 weeks ago I was eating around 1500 calories, I had hit a plateau and was consistently losing gaining the same 2-3 pounds. I upped my calories to around 1800 and have started losing again. I have manages to get those 2-3 to stay off and lost about 2 more in just two weeks. I am not sure what is going to happen this week, but I am seeing movement in the scale again.

hannah1803

A jrompola says! I've really plateaued this month whilst eating around 1400 and netting around 1000 - 1100 calories, so I've upped my net goal to 1400 (whilst eating 1800-2000) and we'll see how it goes.

I also started yesterday and it is a scary move, but I'll give it a few weeks and if needs be I'll change back down again!

Would love to hear others' success stories

busymomathome

I've hit plateaus twice now already (started 6 weeks ago) where I didn't lose or gained over a period of a week even though I was doing all the same things. Both times, I tried a "cheat day" where I ate to gain for one day and then went back to eating to lose. Both times, after a slight initial gain, my weight quickly dropped off. There is one caveat, and that is that if you are really obese and insulin resistant, that won't work for you, but for normal people, cheat days can work really well as plateau busters. I have not tried eating more every day, and wouldn't unless I was increasing activity commensurately. Hope this helps -:

skylark94

Started MFP at 1,200 calories and doing way too much cardio. Lost 20 pounds quickly then came to a screeching halt and plateaued for weeks. When I upped to 1,600 and cut back my cardio, I started losing again. After another plateau over the summer I upped to 1,800 and started strength training. The fat started melting off again.

I'm now eating 1,800-2,000 calorie per day weekdays and usually as high as 3,000 on weekends and doing P90X. My weight is staying fairly stable, but I am still losing fat. I'm 20.3% now with a goal of 18%.

Edit to add- I'm 37 yo, 5'4". The 131 lb pic is from before I started P90X. I've got much better looking arms now and my abs have firmed up.

Faye_Anderson

Started Nov 2011 on 900 - 1200 cals per day, everyone said it was too low so I upped to 1400 for 6 months, then I upped to 1600 for another 6 months or so, then I did my actual BMR/TDEE and started eating at 1810 which is what I've been doing for the last 3 months. I currently lose 1-2lb per week, I might even put my calories up again. It does work :drinker:

Xhellokitty5588x

Upped my calories to eating back all my exercise calories i.e. 1200-1300 to around 1500-1600. It's only been two weeks but I've lost 0.3 lbs but 1% BF! Btw, I'm only 5-8 pounds from where I want to be. My goal is also to put on muscle and lose body fat % because losing weight can lead to losing muscle too (happened to me a year ago). As long as you eat clean, you're body needs more calories. 1800 calories of processed low fat foods, cheeseburgers, and sugar is different than 1800 calories of fruits, veggies, and lean protein as far as fuel for your body.

LorinaLynn

I never plateaued, but I started here at 1200 calories (plus exercise calories), realized within a few weeks that wasn't appropriate, upped it to 1350 (plus exercise calories) and then 1500 (plus exercise calories) when I got closer to my goal. Overall, an average of 1600-2200+ total calories while losing.

I've been maintaining for over a year and a half now, and I eat between 2000-2300 total calories.

jrompola

As long as you eat clean, you're body needs more calories. 1800 calories of processed low fat foods, cheeseburgers, and sugar is different than 1800 calories of fruits, veggies, and lean protein as far as fuel for your body.

You got that right...feel like I don't stop eating all day

jrompola

I never plateaued, but I started here at 1200 calories (plus exercise calories), realized within a few weeks that wasn't appropriate, upped it to 1350 (plus exercise calories) and then 1500 (plus exercise calories) when I got closer to my goal. Overall, an average of 1600-2200+ total calories while losing.

I've been maintaining for over a year and a half now, and I eat between 2000-2300 total calories.

Just wanted to point out the ravens suck!! I'm a Steelers fan

SnicciFit

Well, I changed the way I eat (no more junk, no sugar/artificial sweeteners, no more gluten and no more dairy). I eat a lot of meat, veggies, healthy fats and fruits. I eat way more calories now than I did before. So, I'm not convinced that just eating more calories is the key, so much as eating more QUALITY calories, maybe. I lost 2.9% bodyfat in 26 days. I eat 1700-2000+ cals a day and about 65% of that is from fat. Good fat like: coconut oil, avocado, butter, grass-fed animal fats...etc.

If you're looking to increase calories and lose weight, start by eating more nutrient dense food (for example, trade cereal or toast in the morning for eggs and avocado...). Your calories will go up as a result of eating more "whole foods", but your body will react in a way that will shock you! (weight loss, muscle gain, more energy, less acne... the list goes on).

juliemouse83

Haven't been back at this but 45 days, but started at 1200 calories and nothing happened. I have been tweaking my calories upwards, and find that the inches are coming off CONSISTENTLY, the scale was slow to catch up, but it did, and I feel pretty freaking amazing these days.

This is really kind of a work in progress, finding the correct balance of calories and exercise.

I just completed the first week of StrongLifts 5x5, and had to bump calories, yet again, which honestly worried me a little, until I realized that I would still be eating fewer than I was before I started actually paying attention, AND there is the added bonus of calorie burn.

I haven't weighed since Sunday (and won't again until Sunday), but really am not trying not to think about the numbers on the scale. I go by the tape measure and how I have to keep pulling my scrubs up, tightening the drawstring, and every weekend getting to wear another pair of jeans or a shirt I hadn't fit into for a very long time.

SnicciFit

but really am not trying not to think about the numbers on the scale. I go by the tape measure and how I have to keep pulling my scrubs up, tightening the drawstring, and every weekend getting to wear another pair of jeans or a shirt I hadn't fit into for a very long time.

The scale is a crappy indicator of success anyway. Way to go on the smaller clothes!

holliwood97

Great Question. Love this. i have brought mine from 1360 calories. to 1850 for two weeks now. ( way to early to tell ) and look forward to hearing peoples results. as of the first week i was up three pounds. and as of the second week i was back down the three pounds. so i will see in the future.. need 4 to 6 weeks to let my body adjust at least i think!

juliemouse83

The scale is a crappy indicator of success anyway. Way to go on the smaller clothes!

Thank you! THAT is better than the scale number dropping! Well, to ME, anyway...

rjmudlax13

I started a workout regimen with a professional trainer Jan 7. I was netting around 1700-1800 cals a day which is below my estimated BMR. I quickly lost about 8 lbs in the first 2 weeks. The next 2 weeks I sort of plateaued. We had a rest week after 4 weeks where I basically did no exercise and increased my calorie intake. I lost 6 lbs during that rest week. In the last 2 weeks, I've been keeping my net around 1900-2000 and working out really hard 5 days a week and have hit a plateau again. All together I have lost 16 lbs, tons of inches in my waist and lost ~2-3% (using the electrical impedance test) body fat in 1-1/2 months, so I'm happy.

I have no idea how or why I lost weight like that, especially the part where I lost a lot in a short period of time when my net calories skyrocketed. Most likely it has to do with a combination of water weight and other factors but who knows. So I guess for me in that particular situation I had success increasing cals.

I am going to report my final results when the reginmen in done in 2 weeks.

yusineddy

Well, I changed the way I eat (no more junk, no sugar/artificial sweeteners, no more gluten and no more dairy). I eat a lot of meat, veggies, healthy fats and fruits. I eat way more calories now than I did before. So, I'm not convinced that just eating more calories is the key, so much as eating more QUALITY calories, maybe. I lost 2.9% bodyfat in 26 days. I eat 1700-2000+ cals a day and about 65% of that is from fat. Good fat like: coconut oil, avocado, butter, grass-fed animal fats...etc.

If you're looking to increase calories and lose weight, start by eating more nutrient dense food (for example, trade cereal or toast in the morning for eggs and avocado...). Your calories will go up as a result of eating more "whole foods", but your body will react in a way that will shock you! (weight loss, muscle gain, more energy, less acne... the list goes on).

Thank you so much, this makes so much sence. You look wonderful btw!

BerryH

Ah, Faye and Lorina, two of my favourite eat more, lose more advocates have already shown the benefits :flowerforyou:

I rarely eat fewer than 2,000 calories a day. To be fair, I haven't lost more weight eating more, but I think you can see I lost considerable volume:

SnicciFit

Well, I changed the way I eat (no more junk, no sugar/artificial sweeteners, no more gluten and no more dairy). I eat a lot of meat, veggies, healthy fats and fruits. I eat way more calories now than I did before. So, I'm not convinced that just eating more calories is the key, so much as eating more QUALITY calories, maybe. I lost 2.9% bodyfat in 26 days. I eat 1700-2000+ cals a day and about 65% of that is from fat. Good fat like: coconut oil, avocado, butter, grass-fed animal fats...etc.

If you're looking to increase calories and lose weight, start by eating more nutrient dense food (for example, trade cereal or toast in the morning for eggs and avocado...). Your calories will go up as a result of eating more "whole foods", but your body will react in a way that will shock you! (weight loss, muscle gain, more energy, less acne... the list goes on).

Thank you so much, this makes so much sence. You look wonderful btw!

THANK YOU!!!! :flowerforyou:

lesleychev

bump

WendyTerry420

You can peek at my profile pictures. I'm down almost 60 pounds and averaging 2200 calories a day. And no, I don't burn a zillion calories in cardio. In fact, I do very little cardio. The only purposeful exercise I do on a regular basis is strength training. I do pushups, squats, and planks, for a total of about 15 minutes every other day. (And I have a desk job!)

WendyTerry420

As long as you eat clean, you're body needs more calories. 1800 calories of processed low fat foods, cheeseburgers, and sugar is different than 1800 calories of fruits, veggies, and lean protein as far as fuel for your body.

You got that right...feel like I don't stop eating all day

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I always challenge the so-called "clean eaters" to peruse my diary. Clean eating is fine if you enjoy living by common-sense-defying strict rules and such. But I prefer to eat what I enjoy and watch my macros.

tooliebell

I'm not even sure if I should reply but I have an experience in the last couple weeks with a change in my net caloric intake that I think is similar to eating more.

I hit a slowing loss trend the beginning of the year. My normal day is to eat about 1200 calories, and I would workout for about an hour. Mostly cardio, walking and Biggest Loser videos, but also some strenght training (not big weights though). I would burn on the average at least 400 calories during my workouts sometime upwards of 700. I wasn't seeing a lot of changes on the scale, some on the tape but not much. Life got real busy in the last two weeks and my workout schedule slowed down ( you wanna talk about adding anxiety to your life, try not working out after that has been your life for 8 months!) I still have been eating my 1200 calories, and on a couple days a bit more (lazy tracker) and not working out for the past week. My weight has dropped more quickly in these last two weeks than it has in the last month.

The short version of my story is that I think I wasn't eating enough for what I was doing, which is why I was stuck and losing at a much slower pace. Since my body has become accustom to the workout schedule I had, it was really needing more fuel from me. So while I didn't intentionally try to eat more to lose weight, my life circumstances took me in that direction and I got to understand a bit more about what my body needed.

My advice is to take a good look at what your BMR is, look at how active you are and decide if you need to eat more. I honestly would have never believed before I started this journey that if you were very active, you should eat more, but it is true. Your body needs it.

LorinaLynn

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I always challenge the so-called "clean eaters" to peruse my diary. Clean eating is fine if you enjoy living by common-sense-defying strict rules and such. But I prefer to eat what I enjoy and watch my macros.

Same here. I'm perfectly happy with my progress that sometimes includes pizza and cheeseburgers.

Maybe I'd have a slightly flatter stomach if I gave up my bagels for breakfast. My love of bagels trumps my desire for a 6 pack.

SnicciFit

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I always challenge the so-called "clean eaters" to peruse my diary. Clean eating is fine if you enjoy living by common-sense-defying strict rules and such. But I prefer to eat what I enjoy and watch my macros.

Same here. I'm perfectly happy with my progress that sometimes includes pizza and cheeseburgers.

Maybe I'd have a slightly flatter stomach if I gave up my bagels for breakfast. My love of bagels trumps my desire for a 6 pack.

I'm not sure how "clean eating" qualifies as common-sense-defying, but I don't think ANYONE eats "clean" 100% of the time. I would consider myself a "clean eater", but I still eat things like french fries and candy occasionally. I just choose to fuel my body with foods it can actually use rather than crap that it just literally craps out without using or that, worse yet, causes inflammation.

HopetoFaith

Started MFP at 1,200 calories and doing way too much cardio. Lost 20 pounds quickly then came to a screeching halt and plateaued for weeks. When I upped to 1,600 and cut back my cardio, I started losing again. After another plateau over the summer I upped to 1,800 and started strength training. The fat started melting off again.

I'm now eating 1,800-2,000 calorie per day weekdays and usually as high as 3,000 on weekends and doing P90X. My weight is staying fairly stable, but I am still losing fat. I'm 20.3% now with a goal of 18%.

Edit to add- I'm 37 yo, 5'4". The 131 lb pic is from before I started P90X. I've got much better looking arms now and my abs have firmed up.

you look fab well done

HopetoFaith

Thanks everyone for share it makes so much more since to me now I'm on my second week of eating at 1700 and before I was eating 1400 ish while doing insanity 5-6 times a week I wear stuck at around 64 kg for a few month with 1kg going up and down. Anyway it's my second week of eating 1700 first week I haven't lost anything but today my scale moved down by 500 g so maybe it's a sign that I need to eat more to weight less

jrompola

Thanks everyone for share it makes so much more since to me now I'm on my second week of eating at 1700 and before I was eating 1400 ish while doing insanity 5-6 times a week I wear stuck at around 64 kg for a few month with 1kg going up and down. Anyway it's my second week of eating 1700 first week I haven't lost anything but today my scale moved down by 500 g so maybe it's a sign that I need to eat more to weight less

Are you still doing Insanity. If the answer is yes then most likely you are burning more calories because you are getting better at the moves and being able to do more reps. Gotta love those side to side abs and pushup jacks