Upping cals to LOSE

is it possible? we all have heard the wonder story of Revolution...I just wanted to start this thread for some of us undergoing this little experiment to talk. Also, if anyone has done this and it has NOT worked, do tell! 

sorry i am kind of obsessed with this subject right now

oink, please please bear with it.

it is not right that you were gaining on minimal calories, there is obiviously a problem here... if the average woman can maintain her weight on 1800cal, there is no reason that you and only YOU need to eat like 500cal to maintain your weight, thats not right, thats not fair, and that's a horrible way to live.

its only been one day... give it a week or two and see how it goes/

like i said before, NOBODY has ever became huge and fat on 1800cal and regular excercize... and you are NOT the exception to this. remember that!

you WILL adjust, please stick with it, things do get better.. and to help witht the bloating drink water to flush out your system, go for a walk to ease the food through your stomach, drink tea, or just relax and let everything digest... dont eat too much fibre rich foods or vegetables in one sitting cause that causes bloating, eat more calorie dense foods if your stomach cant handle that much bulk...

I agree ive upped my cals and im assuming im losing (although i dont have a scale) having the anorexic mindset i can automatically tell when ive gained and when i havent ( I know that must sound ridiculas but its true!) also jeans I havent worn in so long now fit me and they are a smaller size than what I normally wear! and Ive upped my cals :S

Original Post by carmenxox:

like i said before, NOBODY has ever became huge and fat on 1800cal and regular excercize... and you are NOT the exception to this. remember that!

 

That's a great quote which everyone having problems upping their calories, or anyone struggling with food probems should have tattooed to the insides of their eyelids. It took me a long time to realise this.

Im trying really hard to keep my calories consistantly at 1600-1800, but I just cant do it, i keep slipping and restricting again, and as a result of this, Ive GAINED even more weight! I dont know whether I should just restrict again or up my cals and keep trying. I know everyone here has had successes, but (and I know this will sound stupid) I feel like IM different, like I cant eat that much without gaining. I know thats not logical, but then again, are eating disorders EVER logical? I think Im just looking for words of advice, anyone have any ideas on how to keep my cals up?

Maybe this will help.....

Count up to a certain (safe) extent, like to 1400 and then from then eat at least 2 extra snacks (like a handful of nuts and full fat yogurt with fruit, or pb or something with crackers) this way you will automatically be around 1800 (which we all know you could prob use more than that eventually) and then that way it won't freak your mind out.....

On the days that I use this mindset I rarely think about calories because I "have no idea" where I am, yet in all actuality, I really do "know I am in a safe zone!!"

Good luck!

Hey Oink, one thing you might want to try is calorie shifting...sometimes called the zig zag diet. I just started it and I'm down 2 lbs in two days! I have read up on teh subject a lot lately, and finally decided to buy it after, what I call, a "crazy weekend."

I have been trying to eat about 1200 calories a day (the lowest you should take in). One weekend I went out to eat three times (father's day weekend) and I had chicken parm, speghetti, soft preztles, icecream, red meat, corn...basically whatever I wanted. I was wicked scared to step on the scale monday but I decided to do it any way. To my surprise I was down a pound!

The logic behind uping your calories is actually tricking your metabolism. When you eat the same amount of calories (regardless of how few) your metabolism will adjust. However, with this diet you change the number of calories you take in every day, and your metabolism doesn't know what to. You can try to set an average number of calories for the week and some days eat 200 less and others 200 more. There are online calculators you can use to help you, and some online programs as well.

I'll be honest, I just started and the biggest problem I have had is eating enough calories, especailly on those high days. But you really need to push yourself to take in enough otherwise you'll have the same problems. O and drink atleast 8 glasses of water a day.

Ok sorry for how long this post was, I just wanted to explain it the best I could. I hope I helped a little. If you need more info I'd suggest googling :)

CHECK OUT THIS WEB SITE

www.drnatura.com for fiber that actually works, also has the senna tea.

Ok guys. So I'm TRYING TRYING TRYING. Really, I am. I'm following the thread (and the one by revolution3 as well), like it's a soap opera. I keep hearing all of your success stories, and I can't tell you what an inspiration you guys all are.

BUT! Can someone PRETTY PLEASE shut up my ED??? I'm TRYING, but a much as I HATE that whispering voice, it is very much there. I was taking in an average of 1,000 to 1,100 cals/ day, and the uppiest I've gotten is around 1,400, and this is WITH stuffing myself at night with scary foods etc.

question one: How much should I bump by? I'm roughly at 1,200 cal a day now, but, come on, I need more than that, I know. I'm 5"3 and approx. 110 pounds, and a teenager.

question two: how long should I not look at the scale for? You guys know what I mean... I HATE myself for restricting sometimes, but I feel like I will if I see that scale start to do its little dance on me.

question three: I tend to eat brekkie fine most days, but like, STARVE 'till 4 or 5, then dinner and just BINGE until I go to bed. This is going to be the hardest to get over, I know. Does it actually matter WHEN I take in the cals?

I don't know if it works, but I'm trying it right now. I'll let you know next week if I've lost anything :)

Ok I think I can post on this now =P I've been avoiding it in case it wasn't actually happening (because for some reason in my mind I didn't think it could!)

So my story -- I jumped from 800 to 1200, then 1500 for a couple days and then straight up to 1800-2200.  I gained about...5 lbs I think, but then I decided to not look at the scale again for a few days.  I waited until I had a day where I wasn't bloated (which took a while to get to!) but then when I weighed in, I weighed less than EVER before!

I had been about 118 for a couple months (which was fine and I was going to attempt to maintain) but then when I weighed again I was 114! (I'm afraid since I'm posting this I'm going to jynx myself! =X)

popthebubbles -To answer your questions from my experience:

1) The immediate jump was easier/better for me just because I needed to get it over with so I wouldn't get scared and restrict.  The more time I give myself to think about increasing, the more time I have to tell myself it's wrong (which hopefully it's not =P)

2) I would avoid the scale until you don't feel too bloated (and not to be gross but until you have a good BM too...I think that partially did it for me just because eating a lot more food = a lot more weight for a bit)

3) I eat breakfast every day, but at the most it ends up being 200 cals, but that works ok for me.  I don't get too hungry during the day, so by dinner I have usually only eaten between 400-600 cals (not good and I'm trying to fix it but I have a ton of trouble figuring meal timing and cal amounts and stuff!)  But yes, so I eat a ton of my cals at night, and it has STILL worked for me.  I plan on redistributing cals more throughout the day but it's really hard for me.  That's my next task to tackle =P

I'll keep you updated if anything else happens!  Let me say, doing this was one of the scariest things ever, but I hope it still ends up being worth it.

During the increase I also cut back a little on exercise just because I didn't have time to do as much.

So yeah, my new goals are too eat more during the day and less at night, and then to kinda get away from calorie counting a little more than I am.  I want to be able to trust my body but it is TOUGH!!!!!

Original Post by popthebubbles:

Ok guys. So I'm TRYING TRYING TRYING. Really, I am. I'm following the thread (and the one by revolution3 as well), like it's a soap opera. I keep hearing all of your success stories, and I can't tell you what an inspiration you guys all are.

BUT! Can someone PRETTY PLEASE shut up my ED??? I'm TRYING, but a much as I HATE that whispering voice, it is very much there. I was taking in an average of 1,000 to 1,100 cals/ day, and the uppiest I've gotten is around 1,400, and this is WITH stuffing myself at night with scary foods etc.

 This is basically me! Lol. I have been restricting one way or another the past couple of days (stress + exams + busy schedule = ugh) and I just want to get on with this, start eating what I want to again but it is SO hard with my stupid ED constantly screaming at me still. I have been more stressed since my dad found out because he won't let me eat what I want to and instead what he thinks is right - today he yelled at me because I wanted a bean salad and forced me to have steak instead. And then I get this little voice, "What's the point in eating if you don't enjoy what's going in your mouth?" And... yeah. I just need to jump it up. It's just easier said that done! -__o

okay, for some reason i had that Tarzan song stuck in my head, but if you don't mind me taking some lyrics from Phil Colins:

"trust your heart; let fate decide..."

ultimately I think this is what we've all got to do.. as much as I have annoyed those on this site asking what will happen if I eat (X)cal or (Y)cal, I know deep down that I CAN NOT go on living life on minimal calories forever.

knowing and doing are similar things, but the tricky part is following through with it.

a couple weeks ago everything just clicked in my head. what have i got to lose? i am young i have my entire life ahead of me and i need energy and nutrition if i am ever going to live it... and to my surprise I did make the right decision. I haven't gained, I lost a little, I feel great, I look better, my hair is growing, I have energy up the ying-yang haha... I don't know if I am eating "enough" yet but I am trying, and following what my body, heart and mind tells me.

so again I apologize for any frusterations I have caused... I cannot guarantee to not be a pest in the future lol but i'll try.

what keeps me positive is the reassurance of people who HAVE recovered/eaten more and it is worked out for their benefit... I hope that I, and you too oink, can also have a happy ending.

in short, YOU have to believe and trust in yourself that you are doing the right thing... until this happens, no amount of random internet calorie counters can make you change, of coarse though positive posts DO HELP.

you are more than what you have become

best of luck dearest, im sure youll make the right decison

 

Oink, I'm in the same position as you right now... trying to up my cals, not to LOSE, per say, but to maintain/get to a normal weight... I've managed to make a jump from 1000cals to 1800cals, and I feel completely bloated and disgusting as well. :'(

My doctor recommended drinking ensure, because it's an easy way to get extra calories and vitamins without the added bulk... so if you're looking to not feeling so bloated, would that be an option for you? They don't taste that bad, either...

yesterday I felt pretty good with the upped cals...more energy, gym seemed more productive etc...anyone else? I am scared to do the weight thing though, in like 4 days!

hey-maybe stupid, but can you please post what you ate yesterday?  and i think i read that you are an excericse teacher?  what do you do?

thanks!!

i have been posting in my journals! currently i do not teach anything but i teach cardio classes

hi, holy cow, you excercise a lot, lol!  but you get lots of prtein which is really good, i find when i eat lots of protein i feel better.

thanks!

!@#$%^&*%$^&

OMG. Someone PLEASE. I realy need support. I just got into a huge argument with my mum, but I decided, no, I was going to be good. I was going to eat anyway. So fine. I did.But I was feeling pretty "ill" obviously, since we'd been fighting, and I just couldn't resist the weigh-in.

AN ENTIRE KILO MORE. THAT IS 2.2 POUNDS. THAT IS A FRIGGIN' LOT!!!!! 7,000 EXTRA CALORIES MORE THAN MY BODY USES. WTF?? I DIDN'T EVEN GIVE IT 7,000 CALORIES EXTRA TO BEGIN WITH!!!

I thought this eating more cals thing was going to work...

And I felt HUGE the entire day too. It's my sister's wedding tomorrow and I just KNEW the dress fit tighter. This only confirms my suspisions. 

I just really REALLY want to restrict right now. A lot. I've only added about 200 cals extra every day so far, and it's already cost me more than 2 pounds. I really feel like I can't do this.

Proof: it's 12:30 at night here, and I'm sitting at my computer desk in tears.

oink thank you thank you thank you for posting this topic! i too have been eating not enough and gaining and feeling very bloated. i actually have been exercising more regularly now that it is summer and i have more time, and still i am gaining! it is so frustrating! sometimes i see weight loss when i up my calories, but other times i see gain! like the other night i went out with my boyfriend's parents for dinner, and i just ate and ate (at least it felt that way; i was probably eating the same amount as them, but to me it was a lot). the funny thing is i lost a little! days like that make me think that it is a simple matter of eating more to lose, and so l up my calories a little, but then the next day i have gained! anyway, these stories have helped, and i think i will try to eat less bloat-inducing foods and see if that helps. maybe adding fiber will help too. at this point i am willing to try anything because clearly eating under 1000 calories is not a good idea. good luck dear! 

alley cat...i dont think eating one meal on rare occasion could cause a fluctuation in weight other than water weight...i am talking about upping my cals for good but not with bad foods and not with huge meals...just trying to eat like a normal person again. as of now, im just hoping for the best.