ARGH!!! anyone else

ok so has enyone on here upped their calories to help aid their weight loss, recover from a ED or just because they have increased there calories due to an increase in exercise.

well i have increased my calories and im eating 6 meals a day to help boost my metabolism and stop overeating. But now because i am constantly eating ever couple of hours, its making me feel fuller and like i will put on weight and i even feel a bit bigger!?

But this feeling im having just makes me want to restrict calories a little bit so i will feel a little better...but i know doing this will take me back to sqaure one!!!

i hope someone else understands what i am trying to say. would just like feedback from others who have been through the same situation? or is it just me who feels this way?

thanks x

Really no one...... =( ?

I can understand what you are saying, and I have seen similar posts, so you are not alone.  I am constantly wondering exactly what my calorie level should really be.  If it is below what you burn, you should be losing weight.

My advice would be to devote a month to the new calorie level, and see what it does for you.  Don't worry about gaining weight at this point - just think toward the end of 4 weeks.  If you think you feel bigger, maybe you could measure yourself once a week to reassure yourself that this is not the case, but measurements do vary a bit throughout a month (especially for women!).

It sounds to me like you should try more calorie dense foods if you want to add calories without feeling too "full."  Think dried foods (fruits and veggies), nuts and nut butters, granola, ... (you can make your own without all the processed stuff from ones you buy at the store).   I find a good homemade trail mix is essential to support how active I am -- and if I don't add some calorie density into my meals, I am left with this odd "stuffed yet empty" feeling.  Adding a serving of healthy fats, nuts, dried fruits to your day will leave you satisfied and make it less likely for you to overeat. 

I think I know how you're feeling. I'm recovering from an ED and also ending a weight-loss diet (to get rid of the "freshman 15" and return to my normal weight), and I'd been restricting my calories pretty low. Even increasing a little makes me feel nervous and want to to restrict again (probably my ED talking more than my logical brain...). Try to look at increasing calories as something you deserve, having reached a weight-loss goal, or something your body needs, to maintain your weight, or even as a fun way to experiment with more varied foods. Make your foods interesting and change up what you eat, and if you feel full, by all means stop eating! Getting your body used to something new can be uncomfortable, but eventually you will adjust to the change in eating and the desire to restrict will dissipate once you see that you aren't gaining a lot of weight. I also agree that nut butters and other high-calorie-density foods will help you increase calories without adding more meals to your day or more bulk to your meals. Try energy bars as well, which can feel more like a snack and, if you choose good ones, like Luna or Larabars, can add nutrition and calories without a lot of bulk.

That post has made me feel better thanks kiwiberry :)

i think i just needed reasurance from someone else who feel the same way i do! Yes it is like i need to restrict again but i wont and see how it goes.

Thankyou for all your replies guys  x

i've been through this, i know there are many, many others who have been through this too.

don't be afraid to eat.. food is fuel, and every healthy body needs fuel in order to function properly. any doubt you have is probably from your "ed voice", but trust me, you won't suddenly gain 200 lbs by eating a little more.. so don't listen to those ed voices/thoughts, and don't restrict. you may gain 5-ish lbs in the first week, but it will come off again, as long as you're not eating over your maintenance calories.

feel free to message me anytime you need any sort of reassurance and/or support.

Thank you eerica

Im glad you undrstand its like you shouldnt be eating this much (but you should)....... I think its just the fear of weight gain and what others think.

Did you go through this then? Did you experience any weight gain? if so how long did it take to come off?

And i thought that my overeating (binging) every couple of days has eased off, but i ate loads yesterday like 4000calories easy! but at least there was a 5 gap from last time i did it.

Just feel major puffy today like the marshmallo man off ghostbusters ha!

(im guessing you know what i mean)

thanks again  xxx

I did, but just by about 100 -200 cals per day for a while and it seemed to work.

do you mean you gained weight just by upping calories by 100 - 200?