help returning to normal calories

clarkecolin
clarkecolin Posts: 34 Member
edited September 22 in Food and Nutrition
Hi all,

I'm almost at my ideal weight & was just wondering how to go about returning to normal calories intake.

My normal is 2340 calories

Currently eating 1340 calories

2lbs away from ideal weight.

Do I just go back to 2340 or should I increase this slowly?

Thanks in advance,

Colin.

Replies

  • jillybeanruns
    jillybeanruns Posts: 1,420 Member
    Slowlyyyyy. Usually 50-100 calories a week is what's recommended/ideal.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I would start now gearing up for maintenance.
    This week change your goal to 1.5 lbs/week, stay there for 3-4 weeks (extra 250 cals/day) 1590
    in 3-4 weeks change your goal to 1.0 lbs/week for a total of 1840 cals
    3-4 weeks later change your goal to 0.5 lbs/week for a total of 2090 cals
    3-4 weeks later change your goal to maintenance for a total of 2340 cals

    This way you don't shock you system and you will be able to test where your "real" maintenance calories are, may be at 2090, the 2340 is just a calculation. If you lose a few more pounds in those 3-4 months your end caloric intake my be more like 2250. Hope this helps
  • ariellespiller
    ariellespiller Posts: 60
    Good question...I'm curious to hear the answer too. I would bet though, that you very slowly increase. After being on reduced calories for so long, you might find it very hard to eat 2300 a day.
  • clarkecolin
    clarkecolin Posts: 34 Member
    Thanks guys,

    That really does help.
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    I would be careful. I found that the maintenance calories suggested on this site were too high by about 200 cals. I did some research online and found a more appropriate number. I googled "calories to maintain weight" and there are several calculators out there. They all agreed on the lower number. After you determine your number, you can put that in your goals by using the "customize" option. I would add the calories slowly over several weeks, watching your weight with each calorie increase.

    Here is the strange thing for me--all of a sudden it is hard to eat all my calories, especially if I get a good workout in each day. Of course, I could eat them all if I had junk food, but I don't think that's the right idea!!
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