Eating more...?

mybeach27
mybeach27 Posts: 243
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Okay, I realize how many times this topic has been posted, so I promise to keep it short and sweet. How does it help (I feel as if it is counterproductive and I am having issues wrapping my mind around the concept) and how much should I actually be eating? Thanks in advance for all the help, good luck on your journey! Xoxo

Replies

  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    I hear ya, I have struggled with this the whole time I have been on this site. I still can't wrap my mind around it. If "starvation mode" doesn't exist like everyone shouts on here then why would we add more calories to lose weight, isn't that what got us here in the first place? I think it has something to do with being more active now. I do a lot more exercise now so I realize I need a little more calories but I still keep it around 1300-1500 and I go weeks with no loss and then bam a 2lb loss and then another few weeks with no loss. I have decided to just keep on keeping on.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    Eat however much you feel like you should be eating. People have so many weird theories on here that they all cancel each other out. (btw, "starvation mode" defies the first law of thermodynamics, but i digres...)

    Some days I eat 750 calories. Some days I eat up to 1400. I havent stopped losing weight or gained any weight back since I started.

    If you feel weak, deprived, etc then you need more. If you feel like youre eating just to hit your target, you can probably reduce.
  • bashiera
    bashiera Posts: 140 Member
    We got here by eating above our TDE and BMR by a lot. When you suddenly do from eating 3,000 calories a day to a measly 1,200 and then add exercise on top because you want fast results, or you just don't know to ease into it, your body, still thinking in terms of pre-historic survival, sees this as "HOLY CRAP GUYS THERE'S A FAMINE AND WE'RE BEING CHASED BY LIONS EVERY PIECE OF FOOD WE GET LET'S HOLD ONTO OKAY?" It's a bit more complicated than that, but you get it. So, the body slows its processes down to conserve energy for vital organs and body functions. Your body is a fire. You need to fuel the fire. When your obese, you're constantly throwing wood and newspaper and all sorts of flammable crap in there. Then, when you diet all of the sudden, you're fire is dying out, you lose energy. After a while, your weight loss stops. You feel tired, you hair might fall out, your nails get brittle and you might be *****y and irritable. That's why we need to eat "more" as in at least our BMR, or what your body would burn if you were in a coma all day in bed, to keep your body functioning well. This is true for most people. Some people feel okay on VLCD, and if you're very obese, you can eat under your BMR for some time. But if you feel tired, lethargic, mean, weak, when eating too little, then you need to eat more. Not a whole chinese buffet or a small bodega. 300 or 500 calories more, or whatever makes you feel better while still creating a weight loss deficit.
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    We got here by eating above our TDE and BMR by a lot. When you suddenly do from eating 3,000 calories a day to a measly 1,200 and then add exercise on top because you want fast results, or you just don't know to ease into it, your body, still thinking in terms of pre-historic survival, sees this as "HOLY CRAP GUYS THERE'S A FAMINE AND WE'RE BEING CHASED BY LIONS EVERY PIECE OF FOOD WE GET LET'S HOLD ONTO OKAY?" It's a bit more complicated than that, but you get it. So, the body slows its processes down to conserve energy for vital organs and body functions. Your body is a fire. You need to fuel the fire. When your obese, you're constantly throwing wood and newspaper and all sorts of flammable crap in there. Then, when you diet all of the sudden, you're fire is dying out, you lose energy. After a while, your weight loss stops. You feel tired, you hair might fall out, your nails get brittle and you might be *****y and irritable. That's why we need to eat "more" as in at least our BMR, or what your body would burn if you were in a coma all day in bed, to keep your body functioning well. This is true for most people. Some people feel okay on VLCD, and if you're very obese, you can eat under your BMR for some time. But if you feel tired, lethargic, mean, weak, when eating too little, then you need to eat more. Not a whole chinese buffet or a small bodega. 300 or 500 calories more, or whatever makes you feel better while still creating a weight loss deficit.


    This makes sense but its scary to up cals and then of course there is the confusion about how much to up it and still see a loss, I think at this point I would freak out at seeing a gain, ive worked so so so hard and hit many plateaus a long the way.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Your body is a fire. You need to fuel the fire.

    and the ideal fuel is..... FAT ! from your reserves. Oh, that wasn't in your equation was it. Back to the drawing board.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    >>>>>IMPORTANT!!! To get your numbers right please visit---> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map <---read the instructions. I lay everything out to help you have a true fat burning diet.<<<<<<<
  • bashiera
    bashiera Posts: 140 Member
    Your body is a fire. You need to fuel the fire.

    and the ideal fuel is..... FAT ! from your reserves. Oh, that wasn't in your equation was it. Back to the drawing board.
    Yes, it is. But you can't just stop eating and expect your body to just use fat efficiently and happily.
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    >>>>>IMPORTANT!!! To get your numbers right please visit---> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map <---read the instructions. I lay everything out to help you have a true fat burning diet.<<<<<<<

    You are awesome, your posts have really helped me, thanks!
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