Reverse Dieting!

hannahrowland90
hannahrowland90 Posts: 12
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone,

Just wanted to bring up the topic of reverse dieting and see if you guys have any thoughts. I've been "dieting" essentially for 2 years, having lost around 15kg and maintained essentially the same weight for the last year or so. Right now I think I'm having issues with my metabolism - after gaining around 4kg in the process of trying to repair the damage done by low-calorie dieting for a prolonged period, I stupidly thought I'd try and lose a bit again and after restricting to around 1200 (down from around 2000 when I gained) I haven't lost at all. I realise I've probably screwed with my health by dieting and continually eating to reduce weight for so long especially since I exercise quite intensely (boxing training/cardio for 1 hour 4-5 times a week, running 30mins 2x a week) but ideally I'd like to not gain any weight in the "healing process - 100% because of vanity, no excuses here! Currently still at 1200, planning to continue increasing by 100 cals per week hopefully until I reach around 2000. If anyone's tried reverse dieting and has any advice I'd love to hear it.

Stats if they help - 24 years old, female, currently around 67kg, ideal weight around 63kg. Fairly active lifestyle (I have a standing desk when I study and I work as a music therapist for kids with special needs 2-3x per week). I have an athletic build, and am fairly strong thanks to my workout routine :)

Thanks guys!

Replies

  • ldy_78
    ldy_78 Posts: 61
    Hi,
    I'm in the same boat as you! I've been over-restricting for several months now and am trying to get back to a reasonable calorie allotment per diem. I've been upping slowly and I actually saw some losses during the first two weeks of adding cals back. However, don't use me as a guide because I am still in a majorly unhealthy deficit. My intuition says that when I began to add back I started logging more accurately and thus I may not be as actively upping cals as I think I am. Make sense?
    This guy who I am friends with, called 'vismal' uploaded a youtube on metabolic damage/starvation mode and it was really insightful. You should friend him. Anyway, what he said made plenty of sense - that since I was cutting a lot I was probably not accurately logging and now I'm doing much better about it. Also since I'm not cutting as drastically as before, I am more naturally active which is raising my TDEE (I hope!).
    No answers, so if you try the 100 cals per week prescription, let me know how it goes. I'm planning on upping again next week Wed or Thurs by around 100.
    Best of luck
    L
  • Cryptonomnomicon
    Cryptonomnomicon Posts: 848 Member
    If you are getting the recommended amount of fats and protien than I would reintroduce carbs at about 20 carbs a week (80cals) till you reach a reasonable intake.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    I was raising 100 every two weeks, keeping very accurate data to compare scale number with intake number but summer bbqs have hampered my accuracy. but anyway I'm at about 2100 a day on non work out days and still losing. keep it slow and steady and good luck:)
  • hannahrowland90
    hannahrowland90 Posts: 12
    Thanks for your replies guys - reassuring! I'm hoping for awesome results. I really want to get to a point where I can stop counting calories, I feel like it's a bit ridiculous to be logging everything everyday, but at the same time I think it's important to stay on track for the next 8 or so weeks with getting my calories up, so I understand what I should actually be eating before I go it alone.

Categories