Eat more weigh less folks - please help!

Yeah, I dont like the whole concept of eating more to weight less either. I mean, it'll either work or it won't work but it sucks that you can't look at the scale for so long and if it doesnt work, you'll feel like you've wasted a lot of time. You can try intermittent fasting. Not sure you've heard of it?

I don't know what your settings are set at but I would set them at .5 pounds to lose per week. I also second calculating your TDEE and BMR (scoobysworkshop.com). With MFP their settings are made to eat your exercise calories back, TDEE numbers are set with exercise calories already built in.

I really don't "get" the science behind raising calories to lose weight if you're already not losing weight at the calorie intake you're presently at. Most science tells us that we must burn more than we take in to lose weight. Revving up your metabolism by eating more? I just don't see it.

Go to the eat more to weight less group and read up!

Also maybe consider an 8 week metabolism reset
And start weights ... Just 3 x a week and drop the cardio!

All the best! I really advice checking out the threads from that group xx

You will get 100 people responded to this and its all going to be about the same .... (Also these are my opinions so just take them as that no law or the way of life)

1200 is the absolute Minimum MFP will recommend anyone to eat.
1800-2000 Calories is what they say (dont know who they are just a general standard) a average person should eat in a day to maintain.
If you are exercising you are burning into whatever Calories you eat so you should be eat more to try to take in 1200 Calories a day.
You will not go into starvation mode (the magical point were your body process bare minimum amounts of food that you eat, and begins to eat your muscle for the food its not getting)
I eat 3500-4500 a day to maintain my weight based on my workout schedule. I personal would probably pass out if I only ate 1200 Calories.

Now that i have spouted all that.. as far as eating more to weight less... Your body needs fuel to work, if your body knows its getting fed, Your metabolism learns to work a little more efficiently. If you are concerned about adding calories do it slowly, add in full fat food items, more nuts things of that nature so you can gradually bump your caloric intake by 100 here and 100 there. I wouldn't say just start out eating 2500 Calories and see were it gets you, train your body to understand what its going to be doing. Hope that helps and good luck.

Unless you are eating 3500 (500 a day) calories above your TDEE, you will not gain weight.

You might initially retain water for a week or so whilst your body starts working properly again, and a small deficit of 10% should help you shift the last of your lbs.

Yeah, I dont like the whole concept of eating more to weight less either. I mean, it'll either work or it won't work but it sucks that you can't look at the scale for so long and if it doesnt work, you'll feel like you've wasted a lot of time. You can try intermittent fasting. Not sure you've heard of it?

If does NOT suggest that you eat at 1200 calories either though.... it's not about how you get there, it's about how you fuel your body.... 15lbs is actually nothing to be honest.... you may not change in weight at all but your body will be smaller and you will be stronger. Figure out your TDEE and eat -20% from that. If it's a huge amount above what you are eating now then slowly up your calories. When you eat at -20% you do NOT eat your exercise calories back. Just eat the same amount each day regardless if you are working out or resting that day.

You can join the group "eat more to weigh less" or you can google their website and join.... another great read is IPOARM ( In place of a road map) same concept of eating..... all smart choices

One more thing.... do less cardio and lift heavy weights... your body will change and you will lose fat a lot quicker than just cardio

^^^^ this and also check out the Eat Train Progress group in addition to the EM2WL

Heres how I do mine which helps me diet into the shape in my avi

I the following link to get my bmr (use to do the calculations but this is the closest calculator every time) = BMR

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm

Then select which category you come into with the following and multiply your BMR

Activity Factor Category Definition
1.2 Sedentary Little or no exercise and desk job
1.375 Lightly Active Light exercise or sports 1-3 days a week
1.55 Moderately Active Moderate exercise or sports 3-5 days a week
1.725 Very Active Hard exercise or sports 6-7 days a week4
1.9 Extremely Active Hard daily exercise or sports and physical job

Now that will give you your daily calorie requirement

You then take away 300-500 calories from that number which should put you into a calorie deficit.

Do not cut more then 500 calories a day from your requirements

It works for me

I really don't "get" the science behind raising calories to lose weight if you're already not losing weight at the calorie intake you're presently at. Most science tells us that we must burn more than we take in to lose weight. Revving up your metabolism by eating more? I just don't see it.

There is no science that says raising calories will make you lose weight. In fact, many people here often preach that you will often GAIN a few pounds in the first few weeks when you raise your calories. However, the reason that it works is under the assumption that you will become more active and so increase your total daily maintenance due to the extra food that you are eating to fuel a more productive exercise routine.