Increasing cals towards maintenance

honu18
honu18 Posts: 294 Member
edited October 2 in Health and Weight Loss
So, here's the thing. I've basically stopped losing. Granted, I haven't been working out as hard now that I'm back in school, but I'm netting about the same amount of calories, which was around 1,000. Since I've been back, it's been closer to 1,100 or 1,200. And I've seen a minor weight gain. Must have been in starvation mode and now my body doesn't know what to do with the extra fuel? I want to get out of that, and I want my loss to be sustainable so I can eat normal amounts of food and maintain weight. I'd maybe like to lose a couple more pounds in the long run, but that's not really my focus right now. I want to get out of starvation mode and decrease my calorie deficit, but I don't want to gain everything back. Any suggestions on how to do this? How slowly should I do it? Definitely messed up my metabolism, but it was so addicting because it was working. :\

Replies

  • Michelle9939
    Michelle9939 Posts: 291
    I guess just figure out your BMR and continue to workout.
  • livingforhim777
    livingforhim777 Posts: 8
    If your working out hard, calories are good, can it take like a week for the weight to drop off? Im going through it as well.. dont know what to do
  • katheern
    katheern Posts: 213 Member
    So, here's the thing. I've basically stopped losing. Granted, I haven't been working out as hard now that I'm back in school, but I'm netting about the same amount of calories, which was around 1,000. Since I've been back, it's been closer to 1,100 or 1,200. And I've seen a minor weight gain. Must have been in starvation mode and now my body doesn't know what to do with the extra fuel? I want to get out of that, and I want my loss to be sustainable so I can eat normal amounts of food and maintain weight. I'd maybe like to lose a couple more pounds in the long run, but that's not really my focus right now. I want to get out of starvation mode and decrease my calorie deficit, but I don't want to gain everything back. Any suggestions on how to do this? How slowly should I do it? Definitely messed up my metabolism, but it was so addicting because it was working. :\

    I JUST got out of this plateau doing the exactt same thing. I was increasing my intake to slow down my weight loss since I am about 14 lbs from my goal weight, and I stalled for a while and even gained 2 lbs. Eventually one night (about 2 or 3 weeks in) I just DROPPED a ton of weight. Just stick to eating how much you are eating now (the extra cals) and your body will realized it's okay to eat up the fat again because you are promising it more food. Now I'm dropping consistently again but with eating more caloreis. Just remember your body is fighting going AHHH DONT BURN THIS FAT CUZ SHE ISN'T EATING ENOUGH AND WE MIGHT NEED IT! But if you continue to eat a little more your body will realize it's okay.
  • jayliospecky
    jayliospecky Posts: 25,022 Member
    I am a little concerned at how a few of you are eating only 1000 calories a day. This is very low for the average woman, and doctors advise against it. Please be careful and remember to be kind to your body - it does need food! (I know, I sound like your mother :)
  • splackk
    splackk Posts: 163
    Perhaps consider adding an extra walk or two per week to up your exercise but don't sweat it too much and stick with it, ultimately it's better to gain a pound or two back short term and get your body used to a more normal number than to fall back to low calories that will never stick long term. I did the same a while back and after only 2 or 3 days of more normal eating saw my weight shot up about 5 pounds. I put away the scale and kept on eating more healthy foods, took it out after another two weeks and saw I'd only actually gone up half a pound once my body stabilized itself, lost almost all the weight it looked like I gained suddenly. Now I eat about 1500 a day without much exercise on my 5'1'' frame and I'm sloooowly losing at a more reasonable and steady rate. Good luck!
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