Metabolism Reset - Eating at TDEE Support Thread
Replies
-
Hi everyone! After several weeks of dreading the inescapable weight gain, I started my reset 2 weeks ago. Based on what I've read in these forums, I was planning on a big weight gain once I started my reset because I have a history of eating disorders that have involved some VLC periods. I relapsed last year so my metabolism is probably still pretty shaky from that.
Two weeks in and I have gained 13 pounds, which I'm pretty certain is mostly water since I feel terribly bloated. I know that's a big number but my calories have been in the 1200-1600 range for a while now. They were as low as 400 last Fall and Winter. I'm really trying to approach the weight gain with patience and with the intention of healing my body and mind.
One of the things that has really surprised me after reading other people's experiences is how crazily hungry I am. I got the impression that my appetite would be easily squelched and that I would have a difficult time eating everything I'm suppose to. That has not been the case and I'm actually feeling more hungry on 2400 calories/day than I was on 1600-1800 calories per day. I'm not sure what to make of that. When I did the Scooby TDEE it said with my weight and activity level (endurance training and NROL4W), I should be eating somewhere around 2600 calories but I figured with my hypothyroidism and insulin resistance, that was probably an over-estimate so I bumped it down a bit. I suppose I could add another 100 calories and see if that helps with the hunger issue but I'm worried about adding too much and seeing my weight continue to sky-rocket. I'm planning to get pregnant soon and my doctors will not help me do so if they start seeing a big weight gain. Any thoughts are appreciated :-) I wasn't able to log food for the first couple of weeks because of some Internet problems but today and yesterday's journal are pretty indicative of my typical food & exercise day, in case anyone wants to look at it before responding.
I'm hypothyroid and I did not adjust my calories down. In fact, I had to raise my calories halfway through my reset! Some do gain more in the reset than others. I would keep an eye on your gain. If it continues at that rate without stabilizing, then my next question would be how sure you are that your thyroid is properly managed? Especially in terms of getting pregnant, I know personally how much hypo can get in the way if it's not managed properly. So that's another reason to keep a close eye on it.
Anyways, welcome to the reset. I've just completed mine and it was a GREAT decision. It's harder mentally at times, but you can do it!0 -
Hello everyone! I've been part of EM2WL for months, but I guess I was in denial about actually needing to do a complete reset. I thought I was fine....that I hadn't screwed up my metabolism too badly. Until I got a BodyMedia Fit. I've been wearing one for 3 weeks, and I've been very good about maintaining a 400-500 calorie defecit every day (burning ~2200, consuming ~1700). If it's all just "calories in, calories out" I should have lost almost 3 pounds by now, right? No. The scale hasn't budged at all. When I really started thinking about it, the scale hasn't made any significant movements in months, up or down. I really only want to lose 10 lbs, so that makes it even more frustrating.
So after talking to my coworker, who is a nurse, I've decided to just do a reset. I'll do at least 8 weeks, and then reassess......the good thing about the BMF is that I'll have a very good idea of how many calories I should be eating! The timing really sucks though, because my husband should be coming back from Afghanistan in about 3 months. I was hoping he'd be coming back to a thin, fit, sexy wife......now I worry I'll weigh more when he gets back than I did when he left. That would be a bummer.
But I'm ready. I'm dedicated. And boy, do I love food.
What's your exercise level like? With a 400-500 defecit, do you think you were netting below BMR some days? I definitely think a reset will never do any harm, but can do a world of good. I hope you decide to stick with the reset. Once you've completed your reset we recommend keeping to a 10-15% defecit, which would be closer to 300ish calories.
And I assure you that if your hubby is coming back from Afghanistan, you will be a sight for sore eyes no matter what!
I'd say I'm in the moderate activity level. I usually do NROL 3 days a week and cardio 1-2 days. I use a BMF so I knew my burn (which is very close to Scooby's estimate of my TDEE) and I'd eat 400-500 calories below that. No logging exercise or anything, but I made sure to eat well above my BMR every day.
I'm definitely due for a reset. I've treated my body poorly since high school over 10 years ago. I had no problem eating at my TDEE today, but I didn't lift. I'm actually really excited to get my body working properly again.0 -
Is it worse to be under or over your TDEE?? I keep eating like about 100 calories over it, and I actually seem hungry. I'm hoping this is a sign my body is healing, but I'm just worried I'm actually gonna gain fat....
When you're doing reset, it's better to go over TDEE than under. Do you know if you're gaining weight and/or inches or are you stabilized at this point?
Well last time I measured, on the weekend, I had only gained 1/4 of an inch on my waist and half an inch on my thighs. In terms of weight, I'm pretty sure it's stabilizing now, it hasn't moved in about 2 weeks and I'm now at the weight I was when I joined MFP and started eating 1200 calories per day- so it would make sense for it to stop now, after I have gained back all the 'fake' weight that lost on the VLCD. I'm glad to hear it's better to be over in calories- I've actually been quite careless about logging foods and going over my calorie goal recently, and just eating till I'm full. (and i have been reeeeallly hungry in the last two weeks, so it's safe to say I went over my goal like every second day)0 -
Hi everyone, I just decided to start eating more today after finding this community and realizing that I've been eating below my BMR for WAY too long. My BMR is around 1400 but I've been sticking to 1200 for a very long time now. I started this low calorie diet in November of 2011 and I lost about 30 pounds, then plateaued for a little while. In the summer of 2011 I took a three-week vacation and fell off the wagon hard. I was probably averaging anywhere from 2200-3000 a day. At the time, I thought I was doing horrible things for my body and I was filled with guilt the entire time! When I got home, I set myself back on track and dropped another ten pounds within a month at 1000-1200 net calories. I think now though that that's because of the drastic decrease after I was eating closer to my body's actual maintenance for about three weeks during the summer. I wish I had realized that at the time.
But now I've been on a plateau since November of 2011!
I would like to know if I should do an entire metabolism reset or simply eat at my TDEE -20%? For me, that would be about 1900 calories. I increased today from 1300 to 1600. Am I supposed to jump straight to 1900 from 1300 and then just ride it out until I start losing again? Or should I be eating my TDEE for eight weeks? How much weight will I gain, and should I expect my measurements to go up? I'm unclear on this, I know it won't be fat gain (or that the fat will drop off once my body realizes it doesn't need to hold onto it), but I honestly hate seeing my measurements go up since the first place I gain weight is in my waist! That, and the fact that I'm only 5'1, means that my waist measurement can go up an inch with only a 2 pound weight gain, which it has done many times over the course of this journey. It's so frustrating!
Overall though I'm really excited about starting this. I can't wait to get my body healthy again! I'm always unhappy and so irritable, and I never get hunger cues anymore. I'm sleepy all the time and I dread lifting because I don't even have the energy to do that, and now I know why! Thanks so much, I'm so glad I found this community today :happy:0 -
Gabrielle~ Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!! I'm not being dramatic about that~ this eating method could truly be the start of a diet-free rest of your life!
That being said, it's not going to come easy. After reading your post and your profile, it looks like Yes, you could use a Reset. You mentioned that at some point you took a vacation and "diet break" and ate what you consider huge amounts of food. You also stated that when you went back to the VLCD, you started losing again.
The EM2WL Reset is KIND OF like that except you are NOT going to go back to the metabolism- damaging- very-low- calorie- diet.
You will eat your TDEE for at least 8 weeks. You will most likely gain weight. You WILL be upset by this. You WILL want to quit every 5 minutes.
But DON'T!! This is part of the healing process that you must go through~ that your body WANTS you to go through so it can be healthy and work properly. AND so you will NEVER have to DIET EVER AGAIN!! EVER!!
When the Reset is complete, you will go to Cut and start losing again~ at a healthy rate of loss and you will be feeding your body the proper amount of food it needs and NOT the amount of a 4 year old child.
Read through some of the posts from others and you can look for my posts about how frustrating and scary it can be to go through the Reset process.
I truly believe that I am going to come out so much healthier, happier and hopefully smaller on the other side!!
Good Luck and keep in touch!0 -
Hi,
I am in SHOCK this morning!!! I just weighed myself out of curiosity, and I am at the same weight as I was 10 days ago when I started out! I feel good! If not great! Hitting all my macros and even have room for 2 treats (Protein bars aka my new chocolate bar
). Wow!
If my weight says the the same for the next few weeks I may not be doing the full 8 week reset, I am thinking that 6 weeks may be enough for me!
But I have already learned alot about my body and food, what makes me full, what makes me hungry!
I DONT HAVE TO WORK OUT 24/7 TO LOSE WEIGHT!!0 -
Hello everyone
I ate at CUT for 9 weeks and decided it was time for a "diet break", so now I'm here and just wanted to update everyone on my progress through my "mini" reset. I started 3 weeks ago eating at TDEE. I weigh myself daily, but only log my weight on MFP on Wednesdays, so here are my last 3 "official" weigh-in's since eating at TDEE:
July 4th: 157.6 lb (also start of TOM, so my weight was probably a little high due to that...)
July 11th: No weigh-in (on vacation--end of TOM)
July 14th: 152.7 lb (weigh-in after vacation--actually LOST weight on vacation??? Whaaa???)
July 18th: 154 lb
July 25th: 154.5 lb
Now, my weight has been bouncing around daily (no biggie), but I've been holding pretty steady over the last two weeks. I show a loss of about 3 lbs since initially starting my "reset", but there were other factors in play when I started (TOM, obviously), so my starting weight was a little "bloated", LOL!
I plan on eating one more week at TDEE, and then going back down to cut. I was concerned after I got home from vacation and saw the big drop that I had miscalculated my TDEE, but now looking at my numbers from the last two weeks, I'm thinking I'm pretty spot on with my numbers...
I will continue eating at TDEE for one more week (but my weigh-in might be a little goofy because TOM should be coming for a visit again around that time), and then plan on going back to CUT after that...
Any thoughts??? Am I on the right track???0 -
I posted this in another thread but I think it was the wrong one lol. This is a reset update:
I am entering week 4 of full reset and my weight is holding steady eating 2500 calories a day.. woot woot!!! Stats are 5'10" 158 pounds. I NEVER thought I could eat this much and not gain tons of weight. I am going to complete the entire eight week reset, maybe more just to make sure my body is clear as to what's going on!0 -
To reset or not to reset? That is the question.
I was never really on a VLCD...The lowest I netted was 1400 when I started out, only about 100 cal below my BMR. I ate that way for 3 months, and saw modest weight loss. Then I found out about EM2WL and I started that in May. I went directly into the 15% cut and my weight went up three pounds and then down two pounds and now it has stalled out completely. (Also, I haven't really had any non-scale victories other than my exercise-induced headaches going away. No change in measurements or anything).
I started paying more attention to my macros and not going too much over on carbs, but that made no difference.
Should I do the reset or not? I feel like since I wasn't eating below BMR for very long, I don't need to do the fill eight weeks if I do it. But what do you all think?0 -
To reset or not to reset? That is the question.
I was never really on a VLCD...The lowest I netted was 1400 when I started out, only about 100 cal below my BMR. I ate that way for 3 months, and saw modest weight loss. Then I found out about EM2WL and I started that in May. I went directly into the 15% cut and my weight went up three pounds and then down two pounds and now it has stalled out completely. (Also, I haven't really had any non-scale victories other than my exercise-induced headaches going away. No change in measurements or anything).
I started paying more attention to my macros and not going too much over on carbs, but that made no difference.
Should I do the reset or not? I feel like since I wasn't eating below BMR for very long, I don't need to do the fill eight weeks if I do it. But what do you all think?
Hi,
I am pretty new to this, but based on what you are saying, I think a diet "break" for 2 weeks at your TDEE would be suffice as most people do that every 6 weeks, and then return to their cut. I hope this helps0 -
rosied915, thank you so much for the encouragement! I'm happy to report that on my second day of eating at my TDEE after starving for two years, my body is SO HUNGRY! I think this is a good thing, right? That's what I've gotten from other forum posts at least :flowerforyou: I stopped having hunger cues a long time ago and now I'm getting them every three hours! I'm just having trouble keeping my protein intake high for now, and I really hope that 2200 is enough for me. Scooby says it is, but more specific calculators (like this one here http://www.health-calc.com/diet/energy-expenditure-advanced) say that I need at least 2477.
I feel bloated all day, but I'm definitely happier Tonight I had a Lindor truffle with my friends for the first time in years! 0 -
GREAT JOB Gabrielle!!!!:flowerforyou:
I know what you mean about "feeling hungry"~ I was eating 500-1000 cals per day for YEARS and NEVER felt hungry. Everyone around me who was dieting and even those that weren't could at least "feel hunger" and I NEVER did!! I never even questioned it.
Did I mention that I'm 51 years old? NEVER feeling hungry???:noway:
I am getting hunger cues every 3 hours too and I know this will sound crazy, but it's an amazing feeling~ like my body is actually working just like it's supposed to.
Keep up the good work and don't forget that WE ARE HERE when the going gets rough, OK?
I don't know what I would have done by now if not for the support here!
:flowerforyou: :drinker: 0 -
Welcome, Gabrielle!
I'm three full days into my reset, and I feel fabulous already. I haven't had to take my usual afternoon nap at all since I started giving my body every single calorie it needs (and maybe a little more, just for good measure). I'm a little bloated, but I expected that. I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm up about 1.5 lbs from when I started. I think part of that is bloat (I hit my macros almost perfectly yesterday but went WAAAY over on sodium somehow), and part of it is my digestive system trying to figure out what to do with all this food! I'm not having any problem stuffing all that food down, though. My favorite part of the day is sitting down at breakfast with my omelet, canadian (or turkey) bacon, and english muffin with peanut butter. Yum!
I know this is the right thing for me. It just makes sense. I'm totally okay with gaining weight during this process if it means I'll get my body functioning properly again. If anyone wants a new reset friend, feel free to add me! I love having MFP friends who aren't afraid to EAT! 0 -
Hey. I don't know how many of you are using the EM2WL forum, but I wanted to let you know that there's a metabolism reset forum there in, so now you have a second place to post about your reset. Here's the link!
http://forums.eatmore2weighless.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=250 -
Halfway through my reset!!! WOOOOO!
So this is the end of week 4, and I'm feeling pretty confident Tomorrow I will weigh in, to see if my weight has stabilized properly.... ugh, I so hope it has.
I've had quite a bit of trouble with exercise this week, I was SO busy, so I ran out of time to do the 30DS... and didn't do it ONCE this week
I did go for a 7km run though, BUT I got a HUUUUGE blister on the inside of my foot, and now I can barely even walk... I doubt I'll be able to run again for at least a week!!! 
And I went over my TDEE every single day of this week too. I've sort of seemed to stop caring though, because I'm gaining weight anyway... I just think 'NOW is the time to sit back and relax, enjoy food, and just not worry... better now than while you're trying to cut!!' Not sure if this is a good way to think, but I'm sure I'll be SO strict with myself on cut, I just want to enjoy the freedom I have now. I don't go over my calories on unhealthy food though, I've been going over on really healthy things... I'm actually just REALLY hungry all the time. I'm hoping this is a sign that my body's healing
I've been pretty happy in terms of the way I look in the mirror recently too. This week I actually smiled once when I looked at myself. I haven't had one of those days where I feel like crying in ages.
I really think this whole process is healing me. Thanks so much everyone!!!0 -
Hi everyone....Tomorrow I'll be starting my fourth week of the reset and I feel absolutely horrible. I feel that I'm getting fat. My back rolls are back and I'm getting soft everywhere. I feel disgusting. I hope that I will find the strength to last at least for 3 more weeks to complete 6 weeks. I wonder if my "week 6 downer" hit sooner since I've been on the cut for several weeks before starting the reset.0
-
Hi everyone....Tomorrow I'll be starting my fourth week of the reset and I feel absolutely horrible. I feel that I'm getting fat. My back rolls are back and I'm getting soft everywhere. I feel disgusting. I hope that I will find the strength to last at least for 3 more weeks to complete 6 weeks. I wonder if my "week 6 downer" hit sooner since I've been on the cut for several weeks before starting the reset.
Hey there, another chunky Resetter here!!
I will complete Week 5 tomorrow and I can NOT wait to Cut!!
What's keeping me going is the "science" behind what we're doing and the fact that I have NEVER done anything like this before.
I keep thinking about that saying "the definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".
I KNOW that it applies to me.
Of course going through it is not easy. It is sooo difficult to move, bend, get up from a chair or even move in bed with all this weight on my tiny 5 foot frame.
BUT, I feel like I'm in the middle of a "research project" and don't want to screw it up. I want to take it all the way through to see if FINALLY something will work to get me losing again.
I am also trying to focus on the NSVs that I AM experiencing like those with my NROL4W workouts that are my "lifesavers" at this point. And, in spite of my physcial discomfort, I also have some positive things happening like I've STOPPED losing hair in the shower and am sleeping MUCH better.
Please try to hang in there.....find SOMETHING to hold onto and inspire you......and stop by here we'll lend a hand too, k?
And a little love won't hurt, will it? So here goes: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: 0 -
Hi everyone....Tomorrow I'll be starting my fourth week of the reset and I feel absolutely horrible. I feel that I'm getting fat. My back rolls are back and I'm getting soft everywhere. I feel disgusting. I hope that I will find the strength to last at least for 3 more weeks to complete 6 weeks. I wonder if my "week 6 downer" hit sooner since I've been on the cut for several weeks before starting the reset.
omG i'm in the middle of my 6th week and I feel exactly the same. I feel like a fat slob and i'm afraid to go out anywhere again. My jeans are busting, my shirts don't hide my middle section flab and i'm even finding it hard to go out and do my walking/jogging...even though I do. I have a LOT of energy and i'm sleeping well. Doing my weights 3 times a week. Just trying to keep my spirits up. I'm trying to heal from a separation and getting laid off from a job I had for 10 years. I was feeling pretty awesome about myself and was starting to go out, but now I just feel like crap again. So I hear ya, loud and clear!! I'm just hangin on one day at a time....I have 2 more weeks for reset, then however long it takes me to get all this bloat and whatever it is off of me. I'm suppose to be looking for a job soon, so we'll see I guess. Like I said i'm takin it a day atta time....keepin on keepin on. Hang in there...we CAN do this!!!! And we WILL!!!!:flowerforyou:0 -
And for you Rosie....you are a sweetheart :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: 0
-
OK guys - here I go... Started my reset on 6/2. For the first 4 weeks I was doing Leslie Sansone for 30 - 60 minutes 3 days a week and then some strength training for 30 minutes 2 days a week (alternating them). Then it got hot (I know - great excuse, right?) and I decided to use my Fitbit to get a better idea of what my TDEE is with just regular day-to-day activities. I now know that my truly lazy do nothing days I will burn around 1550 and on workdays I burn between 1750-1800. I am going to base my cut off of 1750 and aim for 1500 which is about 15%. This fits in somewhat with Fat2Fit which says that for a goal weight of 125 pounds and a sedentary lifestyle, I should eat 1500. Scooby says for a 15% calorie reduction I should eat 1415 calories with a sedentary lifestyle, 1622 with a lightly active lifestyle.
I have gained 6.2 pounds since 6/2/12 and 11.6 pounds since 4/21/12. I am going to add back in the exercise (heat be damned). My tested BMR is 1280 so if I burn more than 220 calories with exercise I'll eat back to my BMR. I'm so excited to start this next phase of my weight loss journey!
Susan0 -
Hi All -
I am happy and excited to say that I have finished my 8 weeks as of Friday and will be starting my cut tomorrow (who wants to start a diet on a Saturday
).
I have been decreasing my calories slightly this week just to get used to eating less and will be starting with a 10% cut for the next 4 weeks and then will jump back up to my TDEE for 1-2 weeks. Fingers crossed that this timing will work for me.
So here are my final results -- I gained 3-5 pounds and my inches were all over the place -- some up and some down. My clothes are the same way -- some fit and some are tight and some I will just see next summer. But the stat that I am most proud of is my Body Fat % decreased - not by a lot but it did decrease so I am hopeful that there are muscles under my layer of fluff.
I wouldn't have been able to cope without this thread - I wasn't a frequent poster but I was so grateful for those who did...it helped me so much to learn from others and learn about the "norms".
Keep at it! You guys are rocking this out!!!! See ya in the cut thread :drinker: :bigsmile: :drinker: :bigsmile:
Carrie0 -
Hi all,
I am starting Week 3 and I weighed in on Sunday and I am still at the same weight as when I started! Crazy, but happy about it!
Feeling great, love doing weights directly followed up by cardio and love the results!
Have a great week0 -
Carrie!!!!!
YAAAAY!!! And CONGRATULATIONS TOO!!!
You MADE it!!!! And you did REALLY well with your results!!!
Off you go to the "Cut Thread" and here's your official sendoff: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: 0 -
Carrie!!!!!
YAAAAY!!! And CONGRATULATIONS TOO!!!
You MADE it!!!! And you did REALLY well with your results!!!
Off you go to the "Cut Thread" and here's your official sendoff: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker:
Thanks Rosie!!! See ya over there in a few weeks....it will pass by quicker than you realize.....0 -
Alright everyone, this is it for me too! I started my 15% cut today after 10 weeks of reset. I'm so excited! I just got back from vacation too, so I feel like I am detoxing all around.
Kepp your chins up and keep going! It goes by fast and I feel so prepared, rested, and ready to start the cut. It was worth it!
Edited to add results:
Overall gained: 6-8 pounds
Measurements - exactly the same
Feeling: vacation bloaty, but otherwise normal0 -
HURRAAAAY FOR MRS CHEESE!!!!!
Congratulations doll and your Reset results aren't too bad either~ way to go!! LOVE your new fresh atttitude!!!
AND AWAY YOU GO TO THE "CUT" THREAD..... :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: 0 -
I am pleased to announce that today is DAY 100 for me on EM2WL!!!!:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:
Every day I am coming to realize that is the SINGLE BEST thing I could have done for myself!!!!0 -
Rosie, that is AWESOME!!! I'm so proud of you. You have stuck it out, even in the hardest of times. Well. DONE!0
-
I am starting week three today and I feel so bloated. It's crazy. Yesterday I was so tired, I forced myself to do a walk and some strenght training. Felt a bit better after. I am just waiting for the feeling better phase. Right now, all I feel is full and bloated. Glad I have the other posts to look at so I know there will be positive results soon.0
-
Week 1 complete! I feel great!! No more afternoon naps, and I feel like I sleep much better at night. I'm up 2.5 lbs, and my clothes feel pretty tight, but I'm okay with it. My favorite part of the day now is coming home from work and changing into my pj pants.
I talk to my coworker, who's a nurse, every day about what I'm doing. Right now she is fasting to reset her metabolism. I mean, like 2 protein shakes a day and maybe a 500 calorie dinner. It's just unbelievable to me. But she can't believe the amount of food I'm eating either. Sometimes I just want to shake her, but she swears up and down that she knows her body and she's done this many times before.
All I can say is that I'm so glad I found this group! I'm so much happier than I was when I was constantly fighting my love of food. I've started eating full-fat cheese recently for the first time since high school and it is amazing! I never knew cheese could taste so good!
And now it's time for a delicious chicken stir-fry with mango sauce. Yum!0
This discussion has been closed.