Cheating at a decifit

booombeeeem
booombeeeem Posts: 32 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I eat about 1200 cal's per day but had some snacks today and only going up until 1500 or less. Its not the only day ive had this happen and i havent seen a significant growth in weight if anything at all so im wondering will increasing your normal daily intake, still eating at a decifit, slow down the process? Obviously it slows down by the amount of extra calories compared to your normal day but anything else?

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Unless your TDEE is below 1500, you're fine. I'm assuming you chose to lose 2 pounds per week? Many people find that unsustainable and decide on a lower deficit.
  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    A pound is 3500 calories, so when you've burnt 3500 calories that you haven't eaten back you'll lose a pound. If you do that across a week then you'll lose a pound a week, if you do it across two weeks then you'll lose a pound in two weeks. So yes, eating more will slow down your weight loss, but if it makes dieting easier for you then a slower rate of loss that you can stick to is a better idea than a faster rate of loss that you'll hate and give up on.
  • KylaDenay
    KylaDenay Posts: 1,585 Member
    As long as you are in a deficit you will lose weight. The amount of weight that you lose will depend on how large or small your deficit is. Of course you will lose more eating 1200 cal a day then eating 1500 cal a day, but it's up to you on how slow or fast you want to lose. You really do not need a 1200 cal diet to lose weight. That is the minimum. Especially if you are working out too, I'd go a bit higher.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • booombeeeem
    booombeeeem Posts: 32 Member
    Thank you all as always. I dont go over too often and weigh everything i eat within macros that keep me feeling strong and good. Right now im scared of ending up "skinny-fat" when im at the lowest weight ever and dont really see too much of a shape change just yet. I run and do body weight stuff but thats it at the moment
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    edited June 2015
    The way to avoid "skinny fat" is to lift weights while you're eating at a deficit. For example: I started MFP 4 years ago, lost about 15 pounds using strictly cardio and a calorie deficit only. Looked pretty good but was soft. Went off track, gained some of it back and a year ago decided to start lifting heavy along with running and a slight calorie deficit. What a difference! I haven't lost much weight but I've definitely lost inches as well as increased my muscle definition. I've also lost about 5% body fat so far. I can still wear the same clothes I could at my lowest weight (although they are a bit tighter) so I'm now re-committing to losing more weight. I'm continuing the lifting and running, just eating fewer calories, so I can lower my body fat even more and lose more inches.

    TL;DR: When you're ready, move beyond the body weight exercises and start lifting heavy. I think you'll get the results you want that way.
  • booombeeeem
    booombeeeem Posts: 32 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    The way to avoid "skinny fat" is to lift weights while you're eating at a deficit. For example: I started MFP 4 years ago, lost about 15 pounds using strictly cardio and a calorie deficit only. Looked pretty good but was soft. Went off track, gained some of it back and a year ago decided to start lifting heavy along with running and a slight calorie deficit. What a difference! I haven't lost much weight but I've definitely lost inches as well as increased my muscle definition. I've also lost about 5% body fat so far. I can still wear the same clothes I could at my lowest weight (although they are a bit tighter) so I'm now re-committing to losing more weight. I'm continuing the lifting and running, just eating fewer calories, so I can lower my body fat even more and lose more inches.

    TL;DR: When you're ready, move beyond the body weight exercises and start lifting heavy. I think you'll get the results you want that way.

    This helped me a lot!:)
  • booombeeeem
    booombeeeem Posts: 32 Member
    edited June 2015
    I gained a pound in a night after last nights +200-300 calories of my normal day and i was still at a decifit. Weird...
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Water weight. I stayed in my deficit and went up .6 this morning. It's normal.
  • booombeeeem
    booombeeeem Posts: 32 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    Water weight. I stayed in my deficit and went up .6 this morning. It's normal.

    Im glad the forums have (a lot of!!) people like you helping people like me :) haha ok ill take it easy
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    booombeeeem wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    Water weight. I stayed in my deficit and went up .6 this morning. It's normal.

    Im glad the forums have (a lot of!!) people like you helping people like me :) haha ok ill take it easy

    Weight loss isn't linear. If you weigh yourself every day you will see lots of ups and downs. You just want to watch the overall trend which should be downward.

    Keep in mind that it takes 3500 calories to equal one pound of fat. If you didn't overeat by 3500 calories yesterday than it is literally impossible that you gained a pound of fat yesterday. Once you understand the science of it, it becomes easy to see that the gain has to have been something other than fat. Since our bodies are constantly retaining and shedding water in response to our electrolyte balance, muscle repair, etc. it makes perfect sense that the gain has to have been from water.

Categories