Eating more to weigh less or eating less to weigh less? .
3foldchord
Posts: 2,918 Member
So, many people say they (or others) are not losing weight because they eat too little... But what about those people who eat too little and end up weighing "98" pounds ... Why do some people eat little and stall/gain even, while some eat too little and lose too much weight?
(basically, "why does eating less work for thos chicks with anorexia but not for others?"- and, no, I do not want to be 98# or 108#.. I did the 108 thing when I was in my 20s, it was a BAD IDEA! I am just curious.)
(basically, "why does eating less work for thos chicks with anorexia but not for others?"- and, no, I do not want to be 98# or 108#.. I did the 108 thing when I was in my 20s, it was a BAD IDEA! I am just curious.)
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Replies
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Depends on your exercise or activity level. Some people need the extra calories to hit the gym harder. Are you talking about starvation mode? That's a myth. You still lose weight even if you don't hit the mythical 1200 calories a day number.
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lots of people are having success with the eat more to lose more plan. Look, if you have to eat 3500 calories over your TDEE to gain 1 lb, the eat more to lose more theroy works and makes sense. it's just a very slow process and most people get really impatient. it feels wrong because it is against everything we have been taught (eat less and lose).
for some people, they can simply eat less and lose and never plateau.
i read so much about people pleateuing that i think there is something to the homeostasis of the bodies metabolism and it's ability to "save" itself. eating too less puts it in a weird mode where it doesn't want to let go. eating more allows the body to free up the fat. the trick is to eat right. so, now that you have 1000 more calories a day, or whatever, doesn't mean it's ok to eat twinkies. that might be where some people fail. i don't know.
i do not believe that everyone is different. in fact, i think that's bunk. were all the same. but, the variable are diet, effort in exercise, and commitment. so, given a set of variables within your own life, you have to find that balance. i like the eating more group. i am in maintenance and i am eating way more and i feel better than i did eating less. my workouts are better and i have more overall energy. so, jus try different things and see how it works for you.0 -
I very much want to see replies to this to!
Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.0 -
Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.0 -
Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.0 -
everyone is different0
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Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.
It doesn't make sense and is a myth. Got a journal paper that we can read that says otherwise? Yes, I'll agree with you that your metabolism can slow down with a low cal diet but that has a lot more to do with your activity level then how much you eat.
Results of someone who ate 500 calories a day for two weeks. He still lost weight but it was because he was exercising... Exercise keeps your metabolism up no matter how low you go on the calorie intake.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121060001&highlight=psmf+day+results
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Netting fewer than 1200 calories a day is harmful to your body. Search "Starvation Mode" and you will find countless articles and references, the basic idea is simple to understand: If you starve your body by netting less than 1200 calories a day then your body responds by slowing down, this includes metabolism, and by producing more fat cells to store anything and everything it possibly can. So, initially when you are starving your body you could, and probably will, gain weight, then eventually that weight will go away if you continue to starve yourself, you will become thinner and add a host of medical problems to your file as a result.
Of course, I am not a Nutritionalist or a Doctor, I just have read a lot on the topic.0 -
Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.
It doesn't make sense and is a myth. Got a journal paper that we can read that says otherwise? Yes, I'll agree with you that your metabolism can slow down with a low cal diet but that has a lot more to do with your activity level then how much you eat.
Results of someone who ate 500 calories a day for two weeks. He still lost weight but it was because he was exercising... Exercise keeps your metabolism up no matter how low you go on the calorie intake.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121060001&highlight=psmf+day+results
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It will take longer than 2 weeks for your body to stop losing weight on 500 calories even if not exercising. I did the Cambridge Diet for 9 weeks and lost 35lbs, did no exercise and lost weight every week. I was eating under 500 calories a day at over 200lb!
But I think it does slow your metabolism down eventually. That diet obviously wasn't healthy or sustainable. I ended up gaining the weight back. I gained weight back eating 1200 calories of real food a day, so after about 4 weeks on 1200 I thought sod it, I'm gaining anyway might as well enjoy it and ate all and everything lol.
I think it's about finding a balance for you. I was eating 1200 calories and I lost weight great at first. Then at around 35lb loss I stopped. I tried upping my exercise but it left me feeling rubbish because I didn't have the energy. So I upped my calories a little. First two weeks I had little gains but kept at it, and it eventually started coming off again. I now eat between 1300 and 1600 a day and feel so much better than at 1200. I can give my work outs my all and am getting enough calories for my body to recover well.
So for me, I can lose weight (mostly) on 1200....... but I can also lose weight eating on average 1450 a day too. Pretty much at the same rate as daft as it sounds. It's only 250 calories more but I can squeeze a lot in to those 250 calories lol. So if you can still lose weight eating a little bit more and having more food to give you energy to work out, then why not?0 -
Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.
What's so hard to understand? Nothing. I absolutely get what you (and everyone else in the bajillion threads about this) are saying. My issue is the people who DIE of STARVATION or waste away because of eating disorders. They are skinny. Too skinny. Their bodies didn't hold on to fat.
And this is coming from someone who eats roughly 1600cals/day. I'm not starving myself. I just think the starvation mode thing is silly.0 -
So, many people say they (or others) are not losing weight because they eat too little... But what about those people who eat too little and end up weighing "98" pounds ... Why do some people eat little and stall/gain even, while some eat too little and lose too much weight?
(basically, "why does eating less work for thos chicks with anorexia but not for others?"- and, no, I do not want to be 98# or 108#.. I did the 108 thing when I was in my 20s, it was a BAD IDEA! I am just curious.)
I agree! I know super super skinny girls are not healthy, but it is DAMN frustrating when I know girls who eat barely anything are so skinny and I am working my butt off and doing everything right and am not losing ANY weight! (yes, I am toning) but lets face it, we all work out to be HEALTHY, but deeeeeep down - WE ALL want to lose weight too!0 -
I'd rather eat my 1900 calories a day, keep losing weight and be able to keep it off through a sustainable diet and nutrition. Just makes more sense to me. I love to exercise and average a 600 cal burn every day.... That is the kind of life I want to have forever.
That being said, if you don't give a *kitten* about being healthy, then just stop eating and youll lose weight.0 -
Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.
What's so hard to understand? Nothing. I absolutely get what you (and everyone else in the bajillion threads about this) are saying. My issue is the people who DIE of STARVATION or waste away because of eating disorders. They are skinny. Too skinny. Their bodies didn't hold on to fat.
And this is coming from someone who eats roughly 1600cals/day. I'm not starving myself. I just think the starvation mode thing is silly.
I know what you are saying. The Cambridge Diet sole source plan is under 500 cals a day and people lose weight on it, a lot of weight! And it doesn't stop when they get down to their last 10-20lbs, they can keep losing every week up to their goal.
I did it, and most definitely wouldn't again. I don't think it's healthy or sustainable.
I think there is a lot of confusion over starvation mode and starvation. What I see as "starvation mode" is when people are eating good food but only say 1000 calories a day. Eventually their metabolism may slow down and they will find it harder and harder to lose. But I think that it's all very individual and people need to find a healthy amount of calories that they can still lose weight on.
Actual starvation is very different and people die every day from it.0 -
Your body adjusts to the amount you feed it because it wants to survive.
How long did it take that girl with anorexia to lose that weight? She ate less and got down to 120. Then she was stuck and she had to eat even less to get down to 115, and got stuck there. Then she had to eat less to get down to 110 pounds. She's not losing any more..... so she eats even less. Now she's eating 500 calories a day and her hair is falling out because she is not getting enough nutrients. And her body is cannibalizing its own muscle to live on.
If my BMR - the amount they would feed me in a coma to keep me alive - is 1400 or more, why the hell would I want to eat 1200 and LOWER the amount I need to live on and lose body muscle and stall my weight loss because my body does actually want to live, and create a situation where I have to keep eating less and less to try to lose any weight?0 -
I agree! I know super super skinny girls are not healthy, but it is DAMN frustrating when I know girls who eat barely anything are so skinny and I am working my butt off and doing everything right and am not losing ANY weight! (yes, I am toning) but lets face it, we all work out to be HEALTHY, but deeeeeep down - WE ALL want to lose weight too!
I don't care what the number on the scale is, if I am the SIZE I want to be. I have a friend on here who weighs 40 pounds more than me (that's quite a lot, right?) She wears the same pants size as me. I don't even care if I lose a pant size or if I lose weight, if I can make the flab go away. There is someone on here who weighs a few more pounds than she did when she started and she is several sizes smaller. Weight doesn't matter as much as you think.0 -
Agreed 100%Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.0 -
I had a hard time figuring out "eat less to weigh less" as i follow the eat more to weigh less but i am thinking Its eat less to weigh less meaning eat less then you burn meaning if my TDEE is for example 2500 and I'm eating 2000 calories then voila eating less, still a 500 cal deficit which would be 1lb per week. I don't think it means eat 1000cal everyday. In the end is it not the same thing?0
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Results of someone who ate 500 calories a day for two weeks. He still lost weight but it was because he was exercising... Exercise keeps your metabolism up no matter how low you go on the calorie intake.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121060001&highlight=psmf+day+results.
Yet, when I was dabbling with anorexia, I barely ate and barely exercised. There was no )lost weight becuase he was exercising"- it was 'lost weight becuase I barely ate.'--
that is what I don't get .. people saying that eating a super low defecit won't help you lose weight...
all the arguements of 'when you eat less, you body holds the fat and won't let go of it'-- if that were true, there would be no skeleton skinny anorexic people. but there are... NOT that they are healthy !! It is not th healthy way to lose weght- but, if you don't eat then you lose wieght. Maybe some people's bodies just have higher or lower limits of 'eating less'?
(my question was not about healthy weight loss, but the concept of eating less NOT equaling weight loss in general. It confuses me as I see it all the time,, young ladies barely eating and looking like boney sticks of people.)0 -
What are the chances of someone who feels they're in "starvation mode" really just under estimateing their calorie intake and/or over estimating their calories burned? Just a thought.0
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It's not just about weight. You're losing valuable muscle with absurd diets like that.Because although seen as unhealthy by most, I feel like theres no doubt that if you eat less, you'll weigh less. You might feel ****ty & lose a bit of muscle along with it, but you'll still weigh less.
this is what I'm saying... LOL..
saying "eating less will make you gain (or not lose)" makes no sense to me.
Because your body wont let go of fat because you are not eating enough for it to let go. What's so hard to understand about that? It will hold on forever to that fat and never let it go. this is why every single day people are writing in about their 6 month plateaus and can't figure it out.
What's so hard to understand? Nothing. I absolutely get what you (and everyone else in the bajillion threads about this) are saying. My issue is the people who DIE of STARVATION or waste away because of eating disorders. They are skinny. Too skinny. Their bodies didn't hold on to fat.
And this is coming from someone who eats roughly 1600cals/day. I'm not starving myself. I just think the starvation mode thing is silly.
I know what you are saying. The Cambridge Diet sole source plan is under 500 cals a day and people lose weight on it, a lot of weight! And it doesn't stop when they get down to their last 10-20lbs, they can keep losing every week up to their goal.
I did it, and most definitely wouldn't again. I don't think it's healthy or sustainable.
I think there is a lot of confusion over starvation mode and starvation. What I see as "starvation mode" is when people are eating good food but only say 1000 calories a day. Eventually their metabolism may slow down and they will find it harder and harder to lose. But I think that it's all very individual and people need to find a healthy amount of calories that they can still lose weight on.
Actual starvation is very different and people die every day from it.
Its much harder to build muscle than to gain weight.0 -
So, many people say they (or others) are not losing weight because they eat too little... But what about those people who eat too little and end up weighing "98" pounds ... Why do some people eat little and stall/gain even, while some eat too little and lose too much weight?
(basically, "why does eating less work for thos chicks with anorexia but not for others?"- and, no, I do not want to be 98# or 108#.. I did the 108 thing when I was in my 20s, it was a BAD IDEA! I am just curious.)
Genetics, hormones, how much brown fat you have -- there are many factors involved.
And with anorexia, "eating less" is basically not eating at all.0 -
It doesn't work like that in the real world.I had a hard time figuring out "eat less to weigh less" as i follow the eat more to weigh less but i am thinking Its eat less to weigh less meaning eat less then you burn meaning if my TDEE is for example 2500 and I'm eating 2000 calories then voila eating less, still a 500 cal deficit which would be 1lb per week. I don't think it means eat 1000cal everyday. In the end is it not the same thing?0 -
Eat the correct number for your sustainable weight loss (TDEE - your cut percentage) is the answer you should be looking at...
You should aim for 1-2 lbs a week, ya its slow but its usually the best and healthiest way to keep it off, you hear of those people losing 4-5 lbs a week eating nothing, and thats a great job for them.. or those lettuce diets.. you reach your weight alot quicker at the expense of extra muscle and maybe other things however when you start eating like a normal everyday healthy human you gain that weight back usually really quickly as well.. so there is your endless cycle.0 -
I had a hard time figuring out "eat less to weigh less" as i follow the eat more to weigh less but i am thinking Its eat less to weigh less meaning eat less then you burn meaning if my TDEE is for example 2500 and I'm eating 2000 calories then voila eating less, still a 500 cal deficit which would be 1lb per week. I don't think it means eat 1000cal everyday. In the end is it not the same thing?
Same thing (eat less vs. eat more) and "ok so you lose a little bit of muscle" comment, news flash you need that muscle to burn more fat, more muscle you have the more calories you burn. You want to be a pile of bones with random fat pockets sagging and bald spots then by all means starve and lose all your muscle, but if you want a lean tight body that doesnt jiggle when you run and currdle at your thighs then your going to need to eat and build muscle.1 -
Depends on your exercise or activity level. Some people need the extra calories to hit the gym harder. Are you talking about starvation mode? That's a myth. You still lose weight even if you don't hit the mythical 1200 calories a day number.
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Although different people have different ways of being able to loose weight.. I do not think it is healthy to starve yourself.. and if your body is used to a certain amount of calories.. then you suddenly will feel like you are STARVING TO DEATH.. and I have trouble with my blood sugar that drops real low if I don't eat enough to have my body satisfied.. I have postpartum weight I struggle with.. that does not make me fat.. I just needed more exercise.. and I choose not to starve myself to get myself to loose the weight.. in fact it is not a myth of starvation mode because if your body is used to something you have to let it get used to lowering calories slowly.. so you don't pass out and you can function.. and exercise helps you get healthier.. it is not just about the numbers on the scale.. it is about becoming HEALTHY... so just choose healthier food choices AND PLEASE DON"T STARVE YOUR BODY.. your body will just start using your body fat as food which will make you loose weight but believe me.. that weight will come right back because that is not the healthy way of loosing body fat.. loosing body fat is by burning the fat off with exercise.. and the scale can say differently as you go on and you can seem like you gained but are gradually actually gaining muscle.0 -
It doesn't work like that in the real world.I had a hard time figuring out "eat less to weigh less" as i follow the eat more to weigh less but i am thinking Its eat less to weigh less meaning eat less then you burn meaning if my TDEE is for example 2500 and I'm eating 2000 calories then voila eating less, still a 500 cal deficit which would be 1lb per week. I don't think it means eat 1000cal everyday. In the end is it not the same thing?
What doesn't work like that in the real world?0 -
In the end, I think it distills down to a very simple formula: eat less,move more. I know there are exceptions, but I think they're fewer than we hear. I imagine that some people who claim to be eating 1000 calories a day and exercising but not losing are either retaining water from too much sodium or guesstimating their intake as lower than it actually is. In the past, I'd claim to be on a 1200-calorie diet, but that was only what was on my plate. It didn't include the tastes while I cooked dinner or the bite I took from husband's plate or the spoon I licked ... etc. Things like that add up.0
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It is not a myth. http://voices.yahoo.com/starvation-mode-dispelling-myths-2900886.htmlDepends on your exercise or activity level. Some people need the extra calories to hit the gym harder. Are you talking about starvation mode? That's a myth. You still lose weight even if you don't hit the mythical 1200 calories a day number.
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If you've been on a diet, you've surely heard about it. The dreaded starvation mode. How many people have said to you, "be careful not to dip below 1200 calories. Your body will go into starvation mode and you'll gain weight." Or, what about, "Oh, you're not eating enough, that's why you're not losing weight. Your body is in starvation mode." A frightful sounding thing indeed. It seems like a dieter just can't win. If they eat too much, they won't lose weight. If they eat too little, they won't lose weight. Can all this really be true?
The simple answer is no. Starvation mode has been embellished so much that it's almost a complete lie at this point. So what is starvation mode really? Starvation mode, more formally known as famine response, is part of your body's survival mechanism. When you aren't getting a sufficient amount of calories to run your body, your body does indeed fall into famine response, because normally, when one isn't eating, it's because there is nothing to eat. Starvation mode slows down the body's metabolism to try and save as much energy as it can. It also breaks down muscle, but I'll go into that a bit later. So, yes, famine response, or starvation mode, does slow down your metabolism and does break down muscle, but that's where the truth ends and the embellishment begins.
Firstly, starvation mode is not something that kicks in automatically. If you skip a day of eating, your body is not going to freak out and drop your metabolism to a slow crawl. Starvation mode kicks in after continuous fasting or severe calorie restriction, usually longer than a week, but at least 3 days. If you've fasted, or restricted calories severely, you know the feelings of hunger pangs and how horrible they were. That's your body saying, "Eat. I need fuel." Since your body is telling you to eat, it believes there is still food to be eaten, so no starvation mode yet. When the hunger subsides, usually after about 3 to 5 days, your body has decided to there must not be food and uses alternative energy sources. This is a good indication that starvation mode is not far away.0 -
lots of people are having success with the eat more to lose more plan. Look, if you have to eat 3500 calories over your TDEE to gain 1 lb, the eat more to lose more theroy works and makes sense. it's just a very slow process and most people get really impatient. it feels wrong because it is against everything we have been taught (eat less and lose).
for some people, they can simply eat less and lose and never plateau.
i read so much about people pleateuing that i think there is something to the homeostasis of the bodies metabolism and it's ability to "save" itself. eating too less puts it in a weird mode where it doesn't want to let go. eating more allows the body to free up the fat. the trick is to eat right. so, now that you have 1000 more calories a day, or whatever, doesn't mean it's ok to eat twinkies. that might be where some people fail. i don't know.
i do not believe that everyone is different. in fact, i think that's bunk. were all the same. but, the variable are diet, effort in exercise, and commitment. so, given a set of variables within your own life, you have to find that balance. i like the eating more group. i am in maintenance and i am eating way more and i feel better than i did eating less. my workouts are better and i have more overall energy. so, jus try different things and see how it works for you.
I definantly agree with the last paragraph.. I feel better taking in more calories.. and then exercising regularly.. sometimes hitting the exercise hard.. and sometimes take it a little lighter but overall yes. I do have more energy..0 -
I think that the whole philosophy to "eat more to weigh less" is for everyone who tried to eat less than 1400 calories per day for a month and then started stalling their weight loss after a month....and then lost control and ate everything in sight. Weight loss is NOT LINEAR! Weight gain is not linear.
Why do people say "eat more to weigh less" is because
a) you metabolism probably won't slow down as much
b) it is much easier to sustain a 1800 calorie diet in the long run and lose slowly than a 1200 calorie diet.
c) weight loss is supposed to be a lifestyle change... I wouldn't want anyone to eat less than 1200 calories per day for the rest of their lives.... its painful physically and emotionally.
d) you will have much less chances of running into nutrient deficiencies (Vitamins, minerals) in the long run if your diet is varied, a varied diet is difficult to sustain on so few calories - think anemia
e) you will likely have a lot more energy losing on more calories than less...so you can still have energy to enjoy your sports and activities.
f) you won't wake up in the middle of the night and binge.
g) you are less likely to end up in the eating disorder circle or "starve and binge" or "yo-yo dieting" because its a more sustainable way of losing weight.
Now, I'm not saying to eat 3000 calories per day if your TDEE is 2500.
I'm saying eating 2100 calories instead of 1600 if your TDEE is 2500.
You still need a caloric deficit to lose weight.... just don't make the gap between your TDEE and your daily caloric intake so large.
Weight loss is a lifestyle change...not a race.0
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