Does eating more to weight less work for everyone?
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I eat 2,000+ cals a day before exercise and I have lost three lbs in the last month. Unintentionally. Works for me. I'm not everyone though.
Okay, would you mind sharing your stats? I would love to know that I could increase calories and maintain my weight but that doesn't seem to work for me. I'm trying to figure out if I'm making a mistake in calculations, or if this is just my body!
I'm 5'3", 44 yrs., 115 lbs., and female. I seem to have a body fat percentage somewhere between 23% and 26%.0 -
I think it really depends on your body type and your exercise routines. My BMR is 1370 and my TDEE is 1837 so my range is pretty small. So it's not like I have a lot of room for eating more unless I really ramp up my exercise or grow taller.
I was eating about 2200 a day and I gained and the weight slowly crept back on me over a year or so.
So for me I there really isn't eating 'more'. I really have to stick in the 1300-1400 range for loss and in the 1800-1900 for maintenance.0 -
bump0
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Not for me
Starting easing into maintenance a bit too quickly apparently, and I could already see it going straight to my hips
That's the whole point of doing the journey starting with high metabolism. Coming up is always harder and bad results that can be discouraging. But going lower is always easier with better results. And being able to add back with no negative results.
See, if you added on 200 cal a day, and it actually led to fat stored on hips, then you were obviously already eating at maintenance level.
That is the definition of TDEE or maintenance level. More is stored, less burns stores.
I'm going to bet your weight loss at the end has been very slow, because of slower metabolism, not because of intentional effort. Or else you increased cal's to supposed maintenance level by an increase of 500 or more.0 -
I think it depends on where the person is at, I don't believe eating more calories is right for everyone. I refuse to switch things up till what I'm doing now stops working for me.0
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I have been eating more on this round of MFP. I was feeling hungry all the time before which really put a damper on my motivation. I didn't adjust my MFP goal at all but I did do the calculations on BMR and TDEE. I guess I don't follow the eat more, weigh less exactly. I just try to eat back all of my exercise calories and at the end of the day, try to net 1400-1500 calories. I have lost 2.5 the last 2 weeks so it seems to be working.0
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It worked for me, I was at 1300 - 1600 (so grumpy!) and then I upped to 1800 and have been losing steadily and consistently each week, aside from weeks where I eat out and retain water (but the next week I am down more to make up for it).
The 1800 comes from homemade cooked food, and lots of vegetables/huge salads.
When I initially upped my calories I just ate whatever I wanted the first day (2300 calories) and then went to 1800 from there on out and didn't gain. I'm not recommending this but it worked for me.
My BMR is 1300 or so (using one formula, 1888 using the other) and TDEE is 2300 + any exercise I do because I'm set to sedentary (I work at home).0 -
I upped my calories from 1200 to 1350 a couple of weeks ago. The first week I lost 3 pounds. This week I lost 1/2 pound. So I'm not so sure. The middle of this week I upped my walking from 30 minutes a day to at least 60 minutes a day due to school being out for summer break. We will see if I continue to lose.0
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Some thing I learned.
It doesn't work for me because:
Getting more calories when I exercise is a crazy amount of motivation for my to work out. I didn't realize how true this was until I tried to flatten out my calories. It completely demotivated me to exercise.
When I realized this, after a few weeks, I decided to set my TDEE at the sedentary level. When I calculated it, it was right at where MFP sets it. So, I went full circle. When I exercise, I eat the appropriate amount. In other words, either way, for me, it works the same. The difference is that using the "eat more to weigh less" method, I lose motivation to exercise. But, using either method, it actually works out exactly the same. The biggest inference is when I don't work out, I eat less. Which, makes sense to me.
I gained 2.5 lbs after a few weeks and it never came off. However, there were other changing variables that makes it hard to really evaluate. But, I kinda of stopped working out and hat is bad. The MFP method gives me great motivation to exercise. So, I'm sticking with it.0 -
I tried everything but cutting my calories alot and it didn't work, no weight came off no matter what (like I'm talking months!!). I finally cut back to 13-1400 calories and exercise 4 days a week and the weight is coming off. But its different from person to person, and I'm one of the people who needs less calories.0
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Not for me
Starting easing into maintenance a bit too quickly apparently, and I could already see it going straight to my hips
That's the whole point of doing the journey starting with high metabolism. Coming up is always harder and bad results that can be discouraging. But going lower is always easier with better results. And being able to add back with no negative results.
See, if you added on 200 cal a day, and it actually led to fat stored on hips, then you were obviously already eating at maintenance level.
That is the definition of TDEE or maintenance level. More is stored, less burns stores.
I'm going to bet your weight loss at the end has been very slow, because of slower metabolism, not because of intentional effort. Or else you increased cal's to supposed maintenance level by an increase of 500 or more.
The highest I've eaten at is 1,600 calories, which has only been for the past 2-3 days, and I am an extremely active girl who doesn't eat back exercise cals. I was eating 1290 at my lowest, but mostly ate between 1300-1400 when I was 'dieting'.
Last I weighed in before trying to ease into maintenance, I was 111 pounds, 5"5 (sounds little, but i have an EXTREMELY petite build)
Maybe I've just torched my metabolism...0 -
Bump, just want to be able to find this later
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I was eating 1200kcals before, and I don't have a lot to lose(not even 10lbs), so my body is tinier than those losing a lot, and I work out 5 times a week for an hour each time. I upped my kcals a few days ago from 1200 to 1440 (with exercise) and have already lost 2 lbs. Not sure if it's just me, but I'm loving it! I also make sure to NET above 1200.0
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Does eating more to weight less work for everyone? Obviously I know one has to fit in regular exercise and keep a balanced diet and not do the dog on it? .... Im just confused about the whole starving yourself makes your body go into starvation mode and can stop you from losing weight , and eating more can help you lose weight? Is anyone confused by this?? :huh:
*weight less ....in the subject box i mean...*facepalm*
SOOO confused. I have plateau'd after losing only 3 pounds. I have another 25 to go and am not sure how I will get it off. I am extremely careful about my food choices, I stay at or just under the amount of calories they assigned to me, and I exercise (walk or pilates) when I can fit it in, usually a few times a week.
I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. I'm as confused as you.0 -
Getting more calories when I exercise is a crazy amount of motivation for my to work out. I didn't realize how true this was until I tried to flatten out my calories. It completely demotivated me to exercise.
This is completely true for me. The extra calories 'earned' are very important for my exercise motivation.0 -
I upped my calories from 1200 to 1350 a couple of weeks ago. The first week I lost 3 pounds. This week I lost 1/2 pound. So I'm not so sure. The middle of this week I upped my walking from 30 minutes a day to at least 60 minutes a day due to school being out for summer break. We will see if I continue to lose.
That's probably not enough, you just found another plateau level where your body has reached equilibrium, or rather, only slightly suppressed metabolism.
So you increased physical activity, but it appears not calories. You'll be in the same boat.0 -
I am beginning to believe it, tho I have not been here long enough to know personally. I do believe 100% in the body going into starvation mode when you do not feed it enough tho.0
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it didnt work for me......BOOOOOO!!!! I just gained and gained...I now eat a set amountof cals...ahhhh...much better, I am loosing again and I am a whole lot less stressed about food!0
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SOOO confused. I have plateau'd after losing only 3 pounds. I have another 25 to go and am not sure how I will get it off. I am extremely careful about my food choices, I stay at or just under the amount of calories they assigned to me, and I exercise (walk or pilates) when I can fit it in, usually a few times a week.
Go to the tab for TDEE deficit and confirm you did the math correctly.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Amt7QBR9-c6MdGVTbGswLUUzUHNVVUlNSW9wZWloeUE0 -
No, it doesn't work for everyone. For me it doesn't. it's great for those who can eat more and lose weight, I mean who doesn't want to eat a lot.?!
But if it was that easy to lose weight for everyone, not many people would be overweight would they?0 -
People drop calories too fast at the start when there is no need, that's the problem!
Eventually it is Inevitable you "will" have to lower calories at some point as you get closer to your goal, especially if your aiming for a low body fat percentage. The key is to lower calories slowly, to give your body a chance to adjust, if you shock it its just going fight you.0 -
I eat 2,000+ cals a day before exercise and I have lost three lbs in the last month. Unintentionally. Works for me. I'm not everyone though.
Okay, would you mind sharing your stats? I would love to know that I could increase calories and maintain my weight but that doesn't seem to work for me. I'm trying to figure out if I'm making a mistake in calculations, or if this is just my body!
I'm 5'3", 44 yrs., 115 lbs., and female. I seem to have a body fat percentage somewhere between 23% and 26%.
I'm 19, 5'3.5, 115, and about 20%BF. I lift weights 4-6 days a week and do cardio 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes.0 -
QUESTION: You are all talking BMR and TDEE .... what is TDEE? Thank you.0
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The metabolism for a 44 year old and 19 year old is totally different, the age factor is extremely important when it comes to how much you can eat. There is no pint comparing yourself to other people, because there are so many factors that come into play when it comes to how much we can eat.I eat 2,000+ cals a day before exercise and I have lost three lbs in the last month. Unintentionally. Works for me. I'm not everyone though.
Okay, would you mind sharing your stats? I would love to know that I could increase calories and maintain my weight but that doesn't seem to work for me. I'm trying to figure out if I'm making a mistake in calculations, or if this is just my body!
I'm 5'3", 44 yrs., 115 lbs., and female. I seem to have a body fat percentage somewhere between 23% and 26%.
I'm 19, 5'3.5, 115, and about 20%BF. I lift weights 4-6 days a week and do cardio 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes.0 -
But if it was that easy to lose weight for everyone, not many people would be overweight would they?
Most people have no idea how much they eat in calories when eating bad.
And when they are paying attention, it is usually at an extreme deficit to that level, but they would never know.
So the cycle starts, slow the metabolism, get discouraged at what happens eventually, or reach goal weight, but you did it with non-maintainable level of eating - so back on it goes.
If folks would learn to make small but sustainable changes to diet, have small but sustainable increase to exercise if none currently, the combo could allow good weight loss, and then eating a tad more to increase at maintenance level, and have skills to eat/exercise correctly.0 -
if you've been undereating for a while and you didn't realize it...it just means putting your cals up to a certain (healthy) level and going from there. It can possibly give you more options for when you're down to that last 5 or 10 pounds that can be very stubborn. I've been doing it since March and am finally ready to drop the weight and my body seems to agree 0
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Ok, that's true.But if it was that easy to lose weight for everyone, not many people would be overweight would they?
Most people have no idea how much they eat in calories when eating bad.
And when they are paying attention, it is usually at an extreme deficit to that level, but they would never know.
So the cycle starts, slow the metabolism, get discouraged at what happens eventually, or reach goal weight, but you did it with non-maintainable level of eating - so back on it goes.
If folks would learn to make small but sustainable changes to diet, have small but sustainable increase to exercise if none currently, the combo could allow good weight loss, and then eating a tad more to increase at maintenance level, and have skills to eat/exercise correctly.0 -
Yeah I dont understand it either...I have been eatting MORE for years and it got me nothing but fat! lol0
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starving yourself definitely can make you lose weight. Is it healthy? Um, no.
And eating "more" is subjective.... more than what? If you are already eating 3000 calories a day, eating more will not help you lose weight lol. If you are eating 1200 calories a day, eating more might help. If you fuel your body appropriately, your body may begin to trust that you are giving it enough food and will burn it off more.0 -
I think it is going to be different for each individual. There will be some trial and error involved.
For me, I can't eat as many calories as reccommended for maintenance without gaining. Or maybe I'm being inaccurate in figuring calories eaten, and calories burned. I'm making an effort to be very careful with my logging, and watch the weight (and how my clothes are fitting) carefully.
Do an internet search and check several sites with calculators to see what is reccommended, also.
That was the long answer.
For me the short answer is, no, that doesn't work for me.
Same for me. I've upped my caloric intake to 1400 from 1200 and I've gained, not lost. I'm sticking to 1400 because I feel better on it, but I'm just not sure maintenance figures have been accurate for me.0
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