diet - need more calories?

[ruppie]

I was just looking at a link a member posted in the 'ask Cathe' section for physiquetransformation.com - a diet (or lifestyle change) that is based on giving your body MORE calories to increase metabolism, then lessing calories every other day (so your body will lose weight but not be worried it may be going into starvation mode). It also puts emphasis on the distribution of calorie intake - generally 30-50-20 for protein-carb-fat (something like this).

I'm wondering because I normally see a topic like this being brought up when people experience no weight loss regardless of amount of excercise. (the whole 80% diet/ 20% excercise theory). I eat pretty healthfully and very clean but do not see the results I'd expect from the amount and intensity of excercise I do. My biggest diet flaw is my glass or two of wine with dinner- but all my meals are mostly veggies and no processed foods. I only drink water throughout the day.

Has anyone had success with actually increasing the amount they eat? I'm wondering if maybe this may be my problem? The thought of eating MORE food, however, is a difficult thing for me. I'm kind of obsessed with eating well so I'd have to overcome the hurdle of eating less is better for you and force myself to eat more. If anyone can share a story of success about this, it would make it easier for me to believe and possibly try...

 

[sunnyside]

This is interesting. I was thinking about this also. I was afraid of upping my calories, since I'm at goal weight now. I found this great link(can't remember who posted it.) I'm giving this zigzag method a try. It makes sense to me. I guess your metabolism can adjust to a low calorie diet and maybe you can change that with this type of method. So you really only up your calories 2 calories per lb. you weigh for a few days and lower in 2 calories per lb you weigh for a few days.The number of days is based on weather you want to lose, gain or stay the same weight.

Dang! That's probably those 2 glasses of wine!;-)

http://www.drsquat.com/newsletters/features512-zzd.htm

 

[cjbate]

That is an interesting link. I have had an interesting read at the www.femalemuscle.com with Tom Venuto's articles too. You might try reading there to get even more info. One article on bodytype talks about mesomorphs might benefit from a more moderate carb intake rather than the traditional higher carb intake that other bodytypes can get away with. Clarification: he is not a low carb guru. Not at all. Very reasonable.

I used to do WW and they often talked about folks not eating all their "points" (calories)might cause you not to lose, your body goes into semi starvation mode and starts to hang on to things.

Also, you might try www.dietician.com to calculate your basal metabolic rate (calories you use on a daily basis to live, based on your weight and activity level) and then use www.fitday.com (calorie calculator) to see what your daily diet compares to that.

Just some thoughts and things I am looking into. My weight right now is OK but I really need to gain some muscle, and just lifting weights isn't cutting it for me..I know I need to tweak my diet. I have found the above resources helpful.

Zig zag sounds good too.

Jen

 

[ruppie]

Thanks you guys! These links are great. I'm going to look into them.

Jen - are you the Jen that always stresses you are what you eat - and that excercise without clean eating cannot get you to your goal? I think that is always very good advice!

I've found it frustrating not to be able to lose my weight around my middle (we're talking real spare tire here) - and it looks even funnier because my arms are getting muscular and I actually have lost some inches in my butt and theighs. I can completely understand the concept of the body storing fat when it is worried about hitting a 'starvation' period. I have read that this kind of body reaction tends to store fat in your middle -

 

[cjbate]

Probably that is me! I feel like a fanatic...I have made huge changes in my eating this year, healthy changes...to think all the years I was a gym rat, hours and hours in the gym in wickedly tough step classes, lifting weights, and I could have gotten so much better results if I knew then what I know now! I wasn't eating enough of the right things at all back then.

You know, you might do a search on this forum for Akirkland's posts (Angela). She had a similar problem with her middle as I remember and it turned out to be reactions/bloating to certain foods...clean ones even? I can't remember. She met with a nutritionist and fixed it I think...you are eating a lot of veggies maybe it is something that is bloating you?

When I gave up sugar and processed cereal I lost 3 lbs and almost all of it must have been around my waist, as I lost 2 inches there.

HTH!
Jen