I now believe in "eat more to weigh less" (A MUST READ)

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Replies

  • 2012asv
    2012asv Posts: 702 Member
    love it! I'm so glad you're eating more. I'm SUPER glad you've realized that starvation is NOT the way to go... the quicker you learn the better for you. You look absolutely gorgeous. You'll be at your goal in NO time. Keep up the great work sweety!
  • sunnyskyjb
    sunnyskyjb Posts: 258 Member
    bump...thanks
  • kcoyle220
    kcoyle220 Posts: 34 Member
    bump
  • workoutgirl23
    workoutgirl23 Posts: 267
    I agree. i just want to share. that i when i eat about 1500 calories a day, i lose a lot more weight better. when i was only eating 1200 calories or less per day, i noticed i was not losing weight that well. so i upped my calories to about 1500. and i been losing weight so much better now. i think personally 1200 calories is too low for most people. i recommend 1500 calories per day and working out and you will lose weight.
  • NWCountryGal
    NWCountryGal Posts: 1,992 Member
    OMgosh, thank you thank you for sharing your story!! I am so a believer too but I have messed around so much in the last two weeks that I don't have a success to share, yet, but I will! I just upped my calories as well and I will up them again until I begin to lose;)

    Thank you darlin and I will share this with all the peeps I can!! denise:drinker: :drinker:
  • tlonie
    tlonie Posts: 29 Member
    I agree. i just want to share. that i when i eat about 1500 calories a day, i lose a lot more weight better. when i was only eating 1200 calories or less per day, i noticed i was not losing weight that well. so i upped my calories to about 1500. and i been losing weight so much better now. i think personally 1200 calories is too low for most people. i recommend 1500 calories per day and working out and you will lose weight.

    I TOTALLY agree! I was losing like a half a pound in the beginining. A week or so ago, I changed mine to MFP's recommendation to lose 1 lb per week at sedentary and it gives me 1620. I eat all those calories and exercise at least 30 minutes/3 days per week (I type it in my notes section as not to give me more calories to eat) and have lost a pound already and its not even time for my weigh in this week. I feel SO much better too. I was so tired when I was eating less, but I eat lots of veggies and fruit most days.
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    Good for you, OP! :flowerforyou: I didn't stay on 1,200 cals long...was too hungry, felt deprived, and always went over.
  • AntShanny
    AntShanny Posts: 359 Member
    I ate on average 500-1000 calories for about four weeks and lost 15lbs. So I don't believe in the "eat more to weigh less", sorry.

    Are you planning to eat like that the rest of your life? What happens when you go back to eating "normally"?
  • MummaSue
    MummaSue Posts: 242 Member
    Please everyone who's upped their cals let us know how you get on - I so want to do this but I also am scared I'm going to gain and it's been hard work losing what I have so far ... it would help to "watch a while" if that's possible?

    Thank you all
  • Miss_Chanelle
    Miss_Chanelle Posts: 87 Member
    I ate on average 500-1000 calories for about four weeks and lost 15lbs. So I don't believe in the "eat more to weigh less", sorry.

    Are you planning to eat like that the rest of your life? What happens when you go back to eating "normally"?

    Exactly what I was thinking.....
  • katiejarr
    katiejarr Posts: 251 Member
    Congrats on your weight loss! Im a firm believer in what works for you is what works!
    For me 1200 calories a day is what works, now Im 51 and Im in menopause so my metabolism is almost at a halt and I exercise about 4 days a week, Yoga and the gym, Ive lost 38 pounds and Im very satisfied and full on 1200 calories, BUT it takes time to get your body used to eating that amount of food, especially going from 170 pounds (on a 5'1" frame!) to 132, my gold weight is 110 so I still have a way to go but for me 1200 calories a day works, most days I eat a bit less, some says I eat a bit more but it averages out. For about 3 months I was at a plateau when I was at 142, so I started eating 1000 calories a day...its didn't work! I went back to 1200 and I lost weight...again whatever works for your body is what works...also I never eat back my exercise calories because it just doesn't work for me...also my philosophy is that I'm not on a DIET...this is how I eat, now and forever...if I want a beer or a glass of wine or chocolate, I eat it, and I count it in my calories.
  • jealous_loser
    jealous_loser Posts: 395
    It's been working for me too. I was at about 1300 and obsessing over everything, bumped up to 1600 and now I am not so bad, still losing :)
  • lisao62
    lisao62 Posts: 80 Member
    bump
  • KCramer12
    KCramer12 Posts: 153 Member
    Feel free to add me. What do u net in calories then?? I always have low nets but higher cal intake. I do lots of cal burning workouts though. Very inpirational story. My goal weight is 130. 8 more lbs to go.
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    For sure everyone's different, but I've got pretty much the exact same story. I ate back my exercise calories and upped what I was netting and voila! -- lost more weight and was in a better mood, too, I think for being more fueled. Again, it may not work for everyone, but it did work for me.
  • CelestinoZ
    CelestinoZ Posts: 15
    "Eat more to weigh less" refers to eating more smaller meals vs eating 3 large meals a day. For example instead of eating 3 600 calorie meals a day, you would eat 4 400 calorie meals, with each of the four meals spread apart by about 3-4 hours.
  • Colleen790
    Colleen790 Posts: 813 Member
    Good information!
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    I don't believe in it for me personally because everytime in my life I have ever increased my net caloric intake it has resulted in a weight gain. I think maybe it is because I don't have enough muscle. After I lose about 20 more pounds I'm gonna try to focus on heavy lifting and maybe that will help.


    Nice story though :) I'm glad this worked for you.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    "Eat more to weigh less" refers to eating more smaller meals vs eating 3 large meals a day. For example instead of eating 3 600 calorie meals a day, you would eat 4 400 calorie meals, with each of the four meals spread apart by about 3-4 hours.

    Absolutely not

    It mean feeding your body and workout sufficiently

    I am 4'11" and 120 pounds. I eat around 1700 calories a day when I cut and 2000 when I maintain
  • Shyloh1
    Shyloh1 Posts: 422 Member
    I don't believe in it for me personally because everytime in my life I have ever increased my net caloric intake it has resulted in a weight gain. I think maybe it is because I don't have enough muscle. After I lose about 20 more pounds I'm gonna try to focus on heavy lifting and maybe that will help.


    Nice story though :) I'm glad this worked for you.

    When I upped my calories,I gained weight...but it was water weight. After a couple weeks...it went away. Lifting heavy weights,is a good start. But,you may feel hungrier when you start lifting.
  • ginneyrose
    ginneyrose Posts: 15 Member
    Hello...im 28 5'3 and 128.4 lbs..I started at 140 lbs and eating 900 cals when MFP told me to eat 1200..I did so until I stopped losing weight. Then I went up to 1200. Then I lost more weight and everytime i plateau now I up it 100 cals. My mom does this too. But if you are working out you have to be careful on eating the exercise calories. Ive been eating 1300 calories and then eating back only half my workout cals. So say I burn 600 then I only eat 300 back plus the 1300. You can go to a bmr website and see how many calories you should be eating just to maintain your bodyweight...mine is 1800. Then you can figure out how much you need to eat to lose. 3500 calories equals a 1lb...so you need to have a deficit of 3500 calories a week to lose that lb...so my maintenance level 1800 but I am eating around 1550 (after eating my workout calories) so the difference between my maintentance calories and what im eating is 250 calories x 7 days a week is 1750 calories. But I also burn around 500 calories a week at the gym 5x a week so thats 2500..add those numbers together and i have a defitcit of 4250 so i drop around 1.2 lbs a week.

    I completely believe there is a mathematic equation to all of our bodies. You first have to figure out your bmr and you can go from there. Another factor that has helped me is eating every 2 hours...LOTS OF PROTEIN AND WATER...and eating my last dinner at 7. If you dont' eat enough calories you will 1...either not lose weight or 2..end up binging another day to make up for the calories your body needs....I use to be a biggg believe in starving myself but now after going from 900 to 1550 and watching inches and lbs drop off I will never go back to starving :)
  • CelestinoZ
    CelestinoZ Posts: 15
    Here is some information from the CDC about eating more to weigh less.

    http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/energy_density.html

    One thing that will make you feel more full is fruit and vegetables that are high in fiber. When trying to lose fat it's the foods that matter, you can feel just a nouished if you eat the right foods. For example, instead of eating chicken taco platter at your favorite restaurant, how about eating 1 serving of grilled salmon with a large salad without the fatty dressings, or if your not in the mood for a salad, eat some fruit; fruit is very filling. In the long run, eating the right foods is what matters. It seems like everyone on this site is concerned with not eating a certain amount of calories, but if you just eat the right foods, you will be both nurioushed and full.
  • CelestinoZ
    CelestinoZ Posts: 15
    "Eat more to weigh less" refers to eating more smaller meals vs eating 3 large meals a day. For example instead of eating 3 600 calorie meals a day, you would eat 4 400 calorie meals, with each of the four meals spread apart by about 3-4 hours.

    Absolutely not

    It mean feeding your body and workout sufficiently

    I am 4'11" and 120 pounds. I eat around 1700 calories a day when I cut and 2000 when I maintain

    This is just an example, it isn't advice for anybody. You have to find an amount of calories that works for you. Also, when eating more to weigh less, you should choose healthy snakes in between meals. Snack should be small, like a cup of fresh fruit. A cup of grapes only has about 85 calories and it is filling.
  • Miss_Chanelle
    Miss_Chanelle Posts: 87 Member
    Also.... Most Healthy foods are low in calories, so you get to eat much more of them. I used to eat only 3times a day but now I have my breakfast lunch super but eat fruit or veg between meals..... My diary even has two slots just dedicated to fruit between breakfast and lunch, and lunch and supper..... Just to remind my self to eat fruit! Fruit veg and protein are your friends.
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    Congrats on your weight loss! Im a firm believer in what works for you is what works!
    For me 1200 calories a day is what works, now Im 51 and Im in menopause so my metabolism is almost at a halt and I exercise about 4 days a week, Yoga and the gym, Ive lost 38 pounds and Im very satisfied and full on 1200 calories, BUT it takes time to get your body used to eating that amount of food, especially going from 170 pounds (on a 5'1" frame!) to 132, my gold weight is 110 so I still have a way to go but for me 1200 calories a day works, most days I eat a bit less, some says I eat a bit more but it averages out. For about 3 months I was at a plateau when I was at 142, so I started eating 1000 calories a day...its didn't work! I went back to 1200 and I lost weight...again whatever works for your body is what works...also I never eat back my exercise calories because it just doesn't work for me...also my philosophy is that I'm not on a DIET...this is how I eat, now and forever...if I want a beer or a glass of wine or chocolate, I eat it, and I count it in my calories.

    I too am going through memopause and I started on here 2/27/12 at 146 pounds eating 1000 calories a day and I lost weight pretty fast. Then on May25 at 128.8 pounds I increased my calories by 100 more a day to 1100 and I stayed at 1100 for 2 weeks and continued to lose so on 6/8/12 weighing 126.4 I again increased my calories 100 more a day to 1200 and continued to lose weight so again on 7/6/12 weighing in at 124.8 I increased my calories another 100 more a day to 1300 and I still continue to lose weight and I'm not wanting to lose any more because I am happy at 125 but I want to be able to eat more and maintain so I have been taking baby steps with this process. So on 7/20/12 weighing in at 124.6 I increased my calories again by 100 more a day to 1400 calories and I am still losing. Today I will eat more than the 1400 to gain back what I lost cause I don't want to lose any more. When I increase my calories by 100 more a day I stay at the calorie level for 2 weeks giving my body time to adjust and this has worked so well for me that I have had several cheat days to gain back some when I go under my goal weight. My goal is to eat more and maintain so I am taking it slow to get there and enjoying the ride. I am not the healthiest eater as I don't like many veggies but I do love fruits so I have increased my fruit intake when I increased my calories. When I have a cheat day I don't record everything I ate that day because I don't want to worry about counting how many sugar babies I ate or how many of whatever it was I give myself a break on those days. Next Friday I will again increase my calories to see how it goes. Don't ask me what my BMR and all that is cause I don't worrry about those things. I have kept a journal on my progress so that is why I have been able to give exact dates and increases.

    So if anyone wants to start increasing theirs I suggest you keep a journal on the dates you increased and how much you weighed at that time because it is a way of seeing your progress and sharing it with others. My diary is open for anyone who wants to see it.
  • ch00singlife
    ch00singlife Posts: 64 Member
    read later
  • WilliamsPeggy
    WilliamsPeggy Posts: 440 Member
    Congrats and thanks for sharing!
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    I've never understand the "eat more to weigh less" mantra here. It seems quite misleading. I think a lot of people think they just need to eat more - keep everything else the same - and then the weight will start to fall off. Good luck with that one.

    I don't believe people are recording their food intake correctly. There is no way for a normal sized adult to eat 850 calories a day and not lose weight. This is a terrible way to lose weight, obviously. But you will lose weight.

    Likewise, eating more calories per day will not accelerate weight loss. Just the opposite. Unless there is an increase in exercise to compensate for the increased calorie intake.

    --P

    Weight loss is not straight math, and your statements are flat-out false. I and all the other people who have upped their calorie intake (without increasing exercise) are living proof. And I measure everything that goes in to my body, so no, I was not underestimating my consumption. I am losing faster at 1750 than I did at 1200, with half the cardio, and that's a fact. Good day sir.
  • autumnk921
    autumnk921 Posts: 1,374 Member
    I have seen quite a few questions on how do you go about the eat more to weigh less process and other questions....We have a group on here if anyone is interested in checking it out to see if it's a fit for you:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

    I just wanted to share that with anyone who may be interested in learning more about it!!! Good luck to each of you!! :flowerforyou:
  • Lmezz11
    Lmezz11 Posts: 619 Member
    Seems I have a lot of reading to do later.

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