Too many opinions.. don't want to be doing it wrong

mpo3869
mpo3869 Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi so I've been in a dilemma lately ever since I've been on MFP and read all of the posts. I have been actively concerned about the foods I put into my body for a year now. I began following the Zone Diet to make sure I was getting enough nutrients in my body. Now I try to follow a low carb diet, avoiding all processed foods and breads/pasta/grains/rice. I have been comfortably following this diet and lost a significant amount of weight under it.

However when counting calories, I blindly would eat 900-1000 calories a day due to the low carb diet. After reading some posts a lot of people are saying that we should never be eating below 1200 calories. Even some say that you should eat back some of your exercise calories in order to properly fuel your body.

I have been slowly trying to do this over the last couplke months, but I have noticed I have gained a bunch of weight from eating the additional calories (staying below 1500 even on exercise days). This just leaves me confused on what to do because although I do not want to harm my body, the results say otherwise!!! ahhhhhh

Please advise.

Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    There are a ton of opinions, most of us are just giving our opinion, you go to a nutritionist and they will give you a professional opinion as well.. but what you were told was true for most people, you should be eating above 1200 and eating back your exercise calories (this depending on weight/age your BMR and your TDEE).

    The reason your gaining weight is because you were on a crazy low cal diet where it sounds like you were eating 1000 calories a day and maybe burning 500, netting 500 calories for the day.. when you stop doing the crazy diet you were doing, your body is going to gain back most of the weight you lost under that diet.. it sucks but it happens and that is one of the reasons weight watchers and fad diets are in business.. cause you will be a repeat customer, it worked once you gained all the weight back, why not go back to them..

    So you need to find out what you should be eating (based on the 2 things above there) and start eating around that and adjust as needed to see a loss once you stabilize your weight.
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
    Has a substantial percentage of the added calories been in the form of carbs? If so, then some water weight gain is to be expected.
  • mpo3869
    mpo3869 Posts: 8
    I understand your points, it makes sense for me to initally gain weight when I start eating more. I just get nervous about upping my calories to lose weight because it just makes me feel like I'm over eating. Guess I just need to trust it and force myself to eat more daily..

    And maybe, I have been eating more carbs lately, trying to up it by adding in an extra serving of fruit or veggies in between bfast and lunch.

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