Eat more to lose more specifics?

EstrellaApalloSchultz
EstrellaApalloSchultz Posts: 3 Member
edited February 3 in Health and Weight Loss
I've decided to eat at maintenance for a bit to try and break my last-five-pound 3 month plateau. I'm 5'2, female, and have been eating 1200 (which feels like plenty to me) for 6 months. The preset tells me maintenance is 1600, which seems like a ton of food and I'm uneasy about eating this much- a couple of weeks ago I tried 1350 for a week and gained a couple pounds. My questions are, would it be as effective if I shot for 1500, and how long would I have to eat at maintenance for it to be effective? (Please forgive any ignorance here- I don't know much about the 'eat more to lose more' mentality, I just know that I'm slowly losing my incentive to track, I want to keep going, and hope that this might help.)

Replies

  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Is your current intake over your BMR?
  • catfive1
    catfive1 Posts: 529 Member
    You might be eating more than you think. Do you weigh your food?

    This video is an eye opener.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY&feature=youtu.be
  • EstrellaApalloSchultz
    EstrellaApalloSchultz Posts: 3 Member
    I am eating a little under my BMR. And I don't weigh my food, but I live with my parents, so it's not really something I could do right now.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    It's okay to work up to your maintenance calories slowly, but be aware that it's normal for your weight to go up a bit as you increase your calories and your body replenishes its glycogen stores. This is normal and should level off quickly. It's not fat gain, just natural water retention.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Basically the 'eat more to lose' theory is that a lower deficit can produce better results than a higher deficit. If your maintenance is 1600 and you are eating 1200, your deficit is only 400 which is reasonable, but may still be a bit steep if you only have 5 lbs to lose/are essentially at a normal weight.

    Eating at maintenance or slightly below would probably be a good idea and could help break the plateau. How long it would be required, etc. would depend on a lot of variables. It might be better to think of it as tapering off your deficit and easing into eating at maintenance rather than a temporary fix. You shouldn't need to be at a 400 cal deficit anymore.

    When you increased to 1350 and gained a couple of pounds, you most likely did not gain fat but just water weight/glycogen stores. Try increasing more slowly, maybe by 50 cals a day each week. Any gains you make will level off and be lost again. You can then find your actual maintenance by trial and error.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    I am eating a little under my BMR. And I don't weigh my food, but I live with my parents, so it's not really something I could do right now.

    You have to eat *over* your BMR. Under isn't healthy, sustainable or effective xx
  • EstrellaApalloSchultz
    EstrellaApalloSchultz Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks, everyone, this has been really helpful. I feel much less like giving up on these last five pounds, and much more informed. :)
  • Blueberry09
    Blueberry09 Posts: 821 Member
    bump for video link
This discussion has been closed.

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