Do not be scared of calories.

EvanKeel
EvanKeel Posts: 1,903 Member
in Motivation and Support
I've seen several threads recently from people who, like myself, have been frustrated by plateaus don't know what to do. They've tried changing up the work outs, deloading, eating at maintenance for weeks. Still not losing.

I have a crazy idea, and if I don't start losing in 3 weeks, I'll put my money where my mouth is and try it myself.

Try to gain some weight. Don't be scared of it. You will not balloon in 3 weeks of eating over maintenance. What is the worst thing that could possibly happen? There is nothing to be afraid of. Eat at maintenance? Nah, take it one step further.You'd be doing this intentionally just see how your body actually works in a surplus.

I wouldn't necessarily suggest this for people who are having trouble getting started or who have a problem gaining and losing frequently. This is really more for people who have been successful losing for awhile but feel completely powerless now. It's weird, but gaining a few pounds might help bring back that feeling of "Oh, things are working like they should. I really do still have control over this."

If you do start gaining in a surplus as we would expect, try a deficit again. Taking a one step back to take two forward might work. Time will pass regardless, and this is not a race. If you can't seem to gain weight. Well....maybe your maintenance isn't what you thought it was? There could be a lot of possibilities for that.

Replies

  • debilang
    debilang Posts: 876 Member
    I certainly believe in eating my exercise calories. I tried it as an experiment once...and actually lost weight. It definitely has to do with the choices of foods we make. A vegetable calorie is not the same as a cookie calorie. Good topic!!! Thanks! :smile:
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    This may actually work, since your hormones can get all out of whack on a deficit, especially if you're doing a very low calorie diet.

    Rock posted a good blog about it here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/UponThisRock?month=201206 Look at the section "So, Why Do I Plateau?" in particular.

    If you don't see any changes and decide to try your method, let us know how it goes.

    Cheers. :drinker:
  • cgflowers1971
    cgflowers1971 Posts: 2
    Has anyone had the issue of not being able to eat all the exercise calories that they burn? I am starting to lose, mostly inches, but have started working out more. I figure skate and started being able to skate more to get ready for competition season. When I increased from 45 minutes to 90, I sometimes don't have the time or the inclination to eat all the exercise calories. When I work out a lot, sometimes my appetite lessens. Kind of counterintuitive...
  • leslisa
    leslisa Posts: 1,350 Member
    I'm not doing this, but I do stay off the scale weighing only every 1.5 to 2 weeks and try not to stress. When you stress, about calories or anything else, it has been shown to, for lack of a better word, mess with your weight loss/gain efforts.

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