EATING MORE to LOSE WEIGHT!?! Anyone else had this experience!?!?

NewMEEE2016
NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
edited November 13 in Success Stories
EATING *MORE*- believe it or not- has worked for me!!! Has anyone else had this experience??? I am ASTOUNDED at how EASY it has been for me- at age 61 (almost 62) to 22 lbs so far- in the past 4 months!!! The weird part is, I eat MUCH MUCH MORE (in bulk as well as calories!) than I did when I was heavy! No joke- and this is NOT my imagination. When I was heavier, I used to go all day eating maybe a couple small yogurts and a reasonable dinner. Now I eat **constantly** every couple hours- usually until around 2 am! I have always eaten VERY healthy (no processed foods, no chemicals, almost all organic) but now I eat MUCH MORE- a minimum of 110 grams of protein per day- and I have stopped eating low fat dairy (it's highly processed!!) and have added FULL FAT dairy (yum!) I started on Jan 1, 2016- eating between 1000-1100 cals per day, then after about a month moved to 1200 cals per day and still lost at the same rate (about 2lbs per week). I'm currently eating 1400 cals a day (at 5' 4" and 165.2 lbs). I started going to a nutritionist a few weeks ago (my insurance pays for it, 100%) who tested my metabolism- and she thinks I should eat EVEN MORE- though seriously, that would be difficult. I could easily have kept eating 1200 cals- I was NEVER hungry and quite satisfied- but I started to worry that I would get saggy skin, so I have purposely slowed it down a bit- and am now losing about 1lb a week (I highly advise going to a nutritionist and getting your metabolism tested so you'll know *exactly* what your resting metabolic weight is.) Could it be that for decades, I was in "low level" starvation mode? Not enough to starve, but enough that my body thought it needed to hang on to every bit of fat in storage? It make sense to me that my body knows I'm going to feed it- CONSTANTLY- good quality actual FOOD and get some exercise (I swim at a very leisurely pace for about 40 min 3x per week- but I've always done that so that's not the variable that has changed). My focus now is going to be building muscle and losing slowly so that- hopefully- I end up w/a nice, toned shape. I want to lose about 20 lbs more, but even now I'm looking pretty good- and have gone from a size 14 pants to size 10 (and I can even get into size 8 sometimes!!) I'm bigger on top, but it's fun to be able to buy a regular "large" or "xl" top (before I was a 1x).
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Replies

  • NewMEEE2016
    NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
    You have to eat LESS than your maintenance requirement. MORE than that will make you gain weight, obviously.
  • NewMEEE2016
    NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Low fat dairy isn't really anymore highly processed than full fat dairy.
    https://chriskresser.com/still-think-low-fat-dairy-is-the-healthy-choice-think-again/
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited April 2016
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Low fat dairy isn't really anymore highly processed than full fat dairy.
    https://chriskresser.com/still-think-low-fat-dairy-is-the-healthy-choice-think-again/

    All this is saying is that fat isn't the devil...which it is not. There are numerous studies which in general show that going low fat/no fat on the whole is counterproductive because dietary fat is essential to your health. I prefer to get my good fats from other sources to meet my fat requirements...it really doesn't matter where it's coming from...it matters that you get adequate dietary fat in your diet. I get most of my fat from avocados, nuts, nut butters, eggs, and good cooking oils.

    This isn't saying anything about one being more processed than the other so I really don't see your point.
  • NewMEEE2016
    NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Low fat dairy isn't really anymore highly processed than full fat dairy.
    https://chriskresser.com/still-think-low-fat-dairy-is-the-healthy-choice-think-again/

    All this is saying is that fat isn't the devil...which it is not. There are numerous studies which in general show that going low fat/no fat on the whole is counterproductive because dietary fat is essential to your health. I prefer to get my fat from other sources to meet my fat requirements...it really doesn't matter where it's coming from...it matters that you get adequate dietary fat in your diet.

    This isn't saying anything about one being more processed than the other so I really don't see your point.
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/09/low-fat-whole-milk-usda-dietary-guidelines
  • NewMEEE2016
    NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Low fat dairy isn't really anymore highly processed than full fat dairy.
    https://chriskresser.com/still-think-low-fat-dairy-is-the-healthy-choice-think-again/

    Personally, I trust cows more than chemists. Here is how the food industry creates skim milk: "Skim is more than just milk without fat. Skim is milk that’s fortified with synthetic vitamins to replace those lost in fat-removal, and milk solids to replace protein and calcium lost in processing. Skipping over the natural v. synthetic vitamin debate, consider how milk solids are made and what they contain.

    Whole milk is separated in a centrifuge that outputs two streams, one cream and one fat-free milk. The fat-free milk is pasteurized then condensed in a vacuum evaporator to remove water and increase the concentration of solids. It’s then sent to a spray dryer, think industrial, high-pressure milk atomizer. The sprayer shoots a fine spray of milk into a warm, air-filled chamber that removes more moisture, turning the milk into powdery spherical particles, aka milk solids. They pop up in various low-fat and fat-free dairy products."
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited April 2016
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Low fat dairy isn't really anymore highly processed than full fat dairy.
    https://chriskresser.com/still-think-low-fat-dairy-is-the-healthy-choice-think-again/

    All this is saying is that fat isn't the devil...which it is not. There are numerous studies which in general show that going low fat/no fat on the whole is counterproductive because dietary fat is essential to your health. I prefer to get my fat from other sources to meet my fat requirements...it really doesn't matter where it's coming from...it matters that you get adequate dietary fat in your diet.

    This isn't saying anything about one being more processed than the other so I really don't see your point.
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/09/low-fat-whole-milk-usda-dietary-guidelines
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Low fat dairy isn't really anymore highly processed than full fat dairy.
    https://chriskresser.com/still-think-low-fat-dairy-is-the-healthy-choice-think-again/

    All this is saying is that fat isn't the devil...which it is not. There are numerous studies which in general show that going low fat/no fat on the whole is counterproductive because dietary fat is essential to your health. I prefer to get my fat from other sources to meet my fat requirements...it really doesn't matter where it's coming from...it matters that you get adequate dietary fat in your diet.

    This isn't saying anything about one being more processed than the other so I really don't see your point.
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/09/low-fat-whole-milk-usda-dietary-guidelines

    From the article:
    Skim, low-fat and whole milks are all processed similarly in the US. The cream is separated from the whey and then added back in – or not in the case of skim milk.

    So once again...the contention that it is more highly processed is wrong outside of adding flavorings like chocolate and strawberry...and that's kind of a no *kitten* sherlock kind of thing. My 2% doesn't have added sugar....it has more lactose because of the skimming of the fat.

    And again, there are tons of studies which indicate that it's fat intake as a whole that is important. Someone who is emphasizing skim milk is also likely not getting fat from other sources either...which is unhealthy
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Also from the article you linked....
    Consumers may decide what type of milk is best for them personally based on their preferred balance of calories to fat to protein to carbohydrates specific to their health history and their genetics. Either way, no one should be drinking enough milk for the type of that milk to make much of a difference on his or her health overall.
  • NewMEEE2016
    NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
    edited May 2016
    Rocknut53 wrote: »
    "Could it be that for decades, I was in "low level" starvation mode? Not enough to starve, but enough that my body thought it needed to hang on to every bit of fat in storage?" No and no. If you are not eating enough you will lose weight. Your body will not hang of to every bit of fat. I am 62 as well and eating around 1200 calories per day (weighed and measured as per everyone's recommendations on MFP). I bump it up some to account for exercise, not much however. I have shed 30 pounds in 4 months because of eating at a steady calorie deficit. Simple.

    I weigh and measure very carefully too. We have lost a similar amount of weight in a similar time frame (I've actually lost 28 lbs since Jan 1st- mistyped original msg.) Anyway- I am stating a fact- what has worked for me in my own experience.
  • fitdoc1983
    fitdoc1983 Posts: 14 Member
    OP- Congratulations on your weight loss! I have experienced a similar phenomenon in the past.. I was doing insanity for the first time and eating between 12-1500 kcal per day. When I got to month 2, when the workouts became more demanding, I stopped losing weight eating at that same ratio. I decided to say screw it for a weekend and ate at 2100 kcal for 2 days. Dropped 3 lbs after that 48 hours and jump started my loss again. Keep up the great work!
  • NewMEEE2016
    NewMEEE2016 Posts: 192 Member
    gandssmith wrote: »
    there's actually a group on here called "eat more 2 weigh less". i joined it and watched the videos. once you watch and understand, it makes total sense. it talks about what your body needs just to exist and how we've ruined our metabolisms by yo yo dieting and such. it also talks about resetting your metabolism which is kind of a lengthy process....one that i'm too scared to take at this point bc it initially requires you to gain. i would love to be brave enough to do it bc in all honesty...i would LOVE to eat more!!! Lol. kudos to you for finding out what works best for you!!! keep up the great work!! and eat on!!!

    Thank you so much, @gandssmith! I know it SOUNDS nuts to those used to depriving themselves- but if you don't believe me, ask a professional nutritionist.

    I am rather an obsessive type once I get into something. I don't "forget" to log food or have "cheat" days. [Those days only "cheat" yourself. And why would I want to "cheat", anyway? I am spending ALL day eating, eating, eating. I have to FORCE myself to eat more to get even my 1400 cals in- which is 200 more than MFP says I should eat- and now my nutritionist says I should be eating 1700 calories a day!! The only thing "hard" about this eating program is that it takes so much TIME to prepare & eat all this food!!! (sigh- tough problem to have, right?) ]

    Don't get me wrong: You MUST create a calorie deficit to lose weight. However, for many of us, our resting metabolic rates may be much higher that we think. If you want to know for sure- get tested.

    Thanks again, @gandssmith I will watch those videos. It makes perfect sense to me that when my body understands it will be getting a *constant* supply of high quality food, it has no reason to hold on to its fat stores.

    (I eat **nothing** processed by humans except organic oats and organic FULL FAT DAIRY- otherwise I eat only organic fruits, vegetables & the highest quality fish/poulty I can get: pastured eggs, pastured chicken, wild caught fish). I don't feel at all "deprived". The food I eat is incredibly delicious and I have no desire to eat anything else.

    If you think about the obesity epidemic in the USA, it coincides with the onset of the processed garbage that is sold as "food" but is nothing but chemicals deliberately manufactured and carefully tweeked by chemists in laboratories to get consumers addicted. Most of it has zero REAL nutritional value- and our poor bodies don't know what to do w/it.

    Best to all

  • akerra27
    akerra27 Posts: 117 Member
    I have found eatting alot more smaller meals throughout the day helps keep my metabolism up. When i start to see a decline in metabolism (feeling hungrier, workouts not as good) I do a "refeed"
  • rnewyn
    rnewyn Posts: 12 Member
    My mom is an eating disorder therapist - and yes this makes total sense to me. She talks about this kind of thing with her clients all the time.

    Also, I have a manager at work who is extremely hard working and dedicated. She says she comes in without breakfast, she drinks coffee (with sugar, but still) maybe twice during the day and goes home very late. She may binge at home, it's very possible- but from what I've seen of her, and what I know from my mom's work, I've wondered for a long time what would happen to her obese physique if she ate a breakfast bar in the morning and actually stopped working long enough to sit down and eat lunch at some point during the day.

    It's not so much EAT MORE TO LOOSE WEIGHT, it's more like EATING TOO LITTLE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WEIGHT GAIN so like...stop, so your body can bring itself back down to set.
  • leilbobeil
    leilbobeil Posts: 11 Member
    I totally get what you are talking about. I was trying to maintain a very low calorie count and was at a very long plateau (even while doing P90X and running almost everyday) then I did a quick calculation (obviously not as good as a personal one from a nutritionist) but I was eating at something like a 1400 calorie deficient without adding in all the exercise. I have increased my intake to around 1700 and I feel much better and think i may have finally gotten out of that plateau. Since I am just starting to eat so much more, it is really hard for me to be ok with it. But I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that your body needs energy to be able to burn calories and when you limit yourself to ~1000 you aren't giving it the energy it needs. Bonus: I find that I am able to run better and I am more energetic during workouts.
  • natajane
    natajane Posts: 295 Member
    I'm starting to see this too!

    I've always been a firm believer in calories in and calories out and used to think this eating more thing was rubbish.. I have about 80lbs to lose in total. I had been eating 1400 cals and losing 1.5lbish a week. I struggled to stick with it, i end up giving in at some point.

    I started doing meditation to help with some background issues i have, to help me feel more positive and confident in being healthier and to see if i could make this more natural to me and so stay with it. As part of that, i realised that i've spent most of my life eating what other people expect me to eat - not eating how or what or when i myself actually wanted to eat.

    So I decided i'd stop calorie counting for a few weeks and eat how my body WANTED to for a while. I would still log everything though. I accepted i'd probably eat tonnes, and gain weight but i felt it was important to feel this eating freedom for me for at least a few weeks as part of the longer term process. I started eating when i feel physically hungry, and i eat what i like! Whether its weird, healthy or not healthy! If i want a prawn cocktail at my desk at 3pm, thats what i eat. I eat til i'm nearly full. If i don't feel hungry at dinner time, i don't eat. If i do, i eat. There's no rules! If i wake and i'm starving for protein, i have a hot breakfast. I have to say, my body hasn't really wanted junk food which has shocked me. I've been wanting nuts and fruit and fish.

    Anyway, to cut to it, I tend to end my day between 1800-1900 calories now. I've lost 3lbs, 4cm off my waist, 1cm off my thigh in a week.

    I don't understand how this is happening. How can there be a table of cake near me at work and I'm not interested? Is it the meditation? Is it that i know i can eat it if i want it? I do seem to be moving more, i don't feel so tired and i sleep better from not eating big meals on a night now. Perhaps its that?

    Whatever case - if this works for you, go for it. No more following the rules when it comes to our bodies, we are all so different - we make our own rules.
  • FitToLead
    FitToLead Posts: 275 Member
    NewMEEE2016 wrote: »
    EATING *MORE*- believe it or not- has worked for me!!! Has anyone else had this experience??? I am ASTOUNDED at how EASY it has been for me-

    Good on you. I was surprised that anyone was critical or defensive, or suggesting you don't know how to count calories, people's bodies are different and do different things. I find it easy to sit on 1200-1400 cals per day when I am focused like now, and not exercising. When I exercise I eat more. Some days I just want more and have it. Occasionally I have a low cal day 1,000, and I like mixing it up because it seems to allow my body to stay awake.

    We all have such different metabolisms, such different microbiomes, what works for one, does not work for all, so good on you for finding what works for you, listening to your body (and dietician) , and tuning in to what you need.
  • natajane
    natajane Posts: 295 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    Eat more, do more (people tend to forget that last bit.)

    For many people low calorie equates to feeling sluggish, unconscious activity falls (sometimes dramatically), planned exercise is done at a lower intensity, less often and for a shorter time frame (either consciously or unconsciously.) This means that CO does not remain at the same level as it was before the diet commenced which results in a smaller than expected calorie deficit.

    Also, with low calories there can be a greater likelihood of secret / unconscious / unaccounted for eating / binging again leading to a lower than expected calorie deficit.

    So yes, sometimes eating more does lead to greater weight loss. CI can affect CO.

    You know i think this is whats been happening for me recently! Whatever is going on, its a nice freedom to feel.
  • Bogglebo
    Bogglebo Posts: 9 Member
    Yes, totally agree with you, at 53, menopausal & a tobacco quitter, I have tried practically everything out there and have now realised that the problem with the need to eat all the expensive calories is caused by us starving ourselves between meals, by "topping up" our fuel at regular intervals with sensible calories, the need to binge on carbs and anything else is removed. After doing a LOT of study/investigation, I have found the thing that works for me and yes, just like you I AM EATING MORE food which obviously is a more sensible use of my calorie goal, but not leaving me hungry or craving any of those expensive foods. We are still being told not to eat between meals, this is absolutely the WRONG track to take
  • Bogglebo
    Bogglebo Posts: 9 Member
    PS I got my mother on MFP because she was yo-yo-ing around the same weight and wanted to lose a few more kilos, I already suspected she wasn't eating enough & sure enough I was right...by making her eat more, her weight loss has become regular and is actually happening, much to her surprise and delight.
  • SweetPeasMom55
    SweetPeasMom55 Posts: 3,563 Member
    Yes!!! due to a brain injury and meds I have taken for years all food tastes the same and literally has no appeal. I was eating maybe 5 or 600 calories a day. Now I make sure to get all the nutrients I need and at least 1100 calories. My body is functioning normally but it takes conscious effort to consume what I need.
  • alisacr
    alisacr Posts: 3 Member
    This happen to me as well. I was not loosing weight at all, and I barely ate. I worked with a a health coach, and they looked at my calorie intake and said I was eating enough. I was like you inwoulpd go all day and not eat. I was so frustrated, I even koine do gym and hired a trainer and was seeing no results. I went to a health coach through work, she said not eating enough is a recipe for being over weight. Now my lunch bag is full, in three weeks I have lost 3lbs. MFP has been really helpful! Before I was only eating like 600 calories aday know I eat 1500.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    Not exactly, but I do better and am leaner when I am more active and eating more. My body responds really well to exercising and not very well to dieting. When I was injured and had to rest, ate less but gained. When I am active, eat more and lose. It's still in vs out though, that's physics. But for me it's easier to increase the out than to reduce the in, I guess.

    With women training extreme distance sports (not me) there is an actual phenomenon where the body will not lose fat until they eat more calories, but that's an unusual situation.
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