You Gotta EAT to Lose

Yep, you read right. You've got to eat to lose weight. I know...it goes against all reason and common sense but it's true. If your body thinks it is starving it will do all it can to hold the fat you already have hostage. It's not going to let go of it's only energy source if you continually under feed yourself. This is under 1300 calories for the average woman. 1500 if you are a little taller, bigger, or exercise a lot. About 1600-1800 is under eating for the average man, dependant on size. Now this is not gospel and you can take it for what it is worth, but I have a story for you:

My sister-in-law, Heather, had been working so hard to lose the weight gained by a number of things; kids, holidays, medications, stress, etc. She came to me this past summer frustrated that even though she worked out an hour a day with either cardio or weights and had cut her calories way down she couldn't get over the plateau that she was on. I asked her how many calories she was eating and she told me 1200! Keep in mind that she is about 5'7 and exercises regularly. The first thing I told her was to eat. Of course that doesn't make any sense but she trusted me (thanks Heath!). She started out adding 100 calories each week until she had reached about 1700-1800 calories. Feeling energetic for the first time in a while she started shedding the last couple pounds she wanted to lose. Now she looks great in her new smaller body. She still exercises daily and watches what she eats but now she can have what ever she wants in small portions. Heather has also told me that now that her stomach has shrunk, she gets fuller faster making it easier to stick to a healthy food plan.

Just goes to show that you gotta EAT to lose. It doesn't mean you can down a pint of Ben and Jerry's or finish off a whole package of Oreos. Add healthy fruits and veggies, "good" fats and whole grains, and extra protein and calcium rich foods. Don't forget to feed the fire (your body) and it will keep burning for you. Trust me, will ya?