fatfreeme's Journal, 09 April 2010

If you have been eating smaller amounts, your body has gotten used to smaller amounts of calories. Increase the calories slowly to get your body used to the increase, or you might gain. Good luck! 

I agree. Add the calories back in 100 calorie increments - stay at the new RDI for a few days - then add a little more. If you have been on less than 1000 calories for a long time, you metabolism is naturally designed to readjust itself until your body only needs 1000 calories - meaning extra you add all at once will risk becoming fat. That said, eating less than 1000 can be long-term dangerous (and hard to maintain) and you risk gaining all your weight back when you go back to "normal" eating. So, staying in the 1200-1600 range, although you may gain a few pounds back the first couple of weeks, long-term will actually boost your weight loss, rev your metabolism, and train your body to use that number of calories so you don't gain it back. Also, look for other things to rev your metabolism as you add back the calories (this will offset any weight gain you might have from increasing your RDI): Drink lots of water (no brainer - but drinking really cold water, instead of room temp, can increase your metab. b/c your body has to warm the water up, burning a few more calories) Eat your 1400ish calories in 200-300 increments every 3 hours. When you body hits the 3 hour mark after a meal, your metab slows down. Eating a mini-meal starts your metab back up. Also, remember your metab is higher for about an hour after you exercise. If you can fit in 20 minutes of light cardio in the morning before work it will rev your metab for the day. Then, work on adding a few minutes here and there throughout your day (take the stairs if you have the option, walk all the way across the parking lot instead of parking closer) - gives your metab a quick boost. Sorry -this is very long - but hope there was something helpful in it for you. Good luck!!!! 

Hi, wow thanks for all your input. great news two days of clean eating and eating more protein i lost 2 pounds and i guess working out at the gym for 2 hours helped also . :)