Upping for maintainance, option#1, option#2 or option#3??

Hello! I started upping my calories on Monday, and decided to ask which method was best, so...

How should the calorie increase go?

Option#1. Increase slowly by 100 calories per week until maintainance level.

Eg. 1300, 1400 next week, 1500 the next.

Option#2. Increase immediately to maintainance level

Option#3 Eratically but quickly (the one I've done since monday)

Monday added 100 extra calories to 1400

Tuesday added 300 extra calories to 1700

Wednesday added 200 extra to 1900

The question now is, what do I do tomorow and from now on? Will I see a slight increase in weight?

Thanks!

Anyone? :(

Stay at 1800-2000  if that's your maintenance intake.   You might see a slight gain initially so stay off the scales for a full week before judging.   'Maintaining' your body weight means that you're a kilo (2lbs) either side of your target... not that you're exactly the same every week. 

thanks gi-jane!

but just out  of curiosity, which is the best method toadopt? for future uppers??

Whenever I personally (no scientific background for this) want to stay at a weight for a period of time, I always follow the same routine.

I pick the weight I want to stay at and weigh myself everyday. 

Days that I am at my goal weight (give or take a pound or two), I eat my maintanence calories.

Days I am above it, I eat 500 cals less.

Days that I am below it, I eat 500 cals more.

It is very erratic, but it keeps me weighing every day and keeps me within my goal weight without any problems.

Original Post by pearsnapples:

thanks gi-jane!

but just out  of curiosity, which is the best method toadopt? for future uppers??

 Assuming your weight-loss intake has been within 500-700 of your maintenance intake then you could go with either #2... get to maintenance in two short hops within a week or #3... go straight to maintenance.  #1 is unnecessarily cautious. 

It's an art, not a science.   Few 'normal' people eat exactly the same amount of food every day, day in, day out.  It's always a question of balance and monitoring.  But you do have to get that initial increase in at some stage.