Weight loss: Could eating more be the key to losing more weight? Here's why
Are you getting enough calories?
It's a well-known fact that if you want to lose weight, you have to start eating right.
But, could eating more be the key to more effective and efficient weight loss?
No, we aren't making this up. While there exist endless ways to lose weight and maintain it in the long run, one must acknowledge that the food you eat has a major role to play. As experts call it, a good weight loss plan is 70% diet and 30% exercise based.
Here is why eating 'more' is important
Weight loss is about calorie restriction and burning the excess ones. However, if you don't eat a well-balanced calorie diet, and end up eating too few calories (i.e. less food), you will be risking making major mistakes, including satiety, increased appetite, ruin metabolism, and most of all, feel dissatisfied. It could also make you experience bad cravings, be hungry and constantly cycle between overeating and under-eating routines.
There's another reason as to why you might need to eat more, especially if you are on exercising intensively. If you exercise more than you need do, you are also draining away the energy sources (calories) which are needed to fuel the body. This condition is known as low-energy conservation mode, when your body goes into the extreme conservatory mode and depletes your metabolism, impacts other essential functions and worst of all, could make it harder to lose weight.
The same has been supported by a study too. According to a report mentioned in the New England Journal of Medicine, a controlled group of men who lost weight following extreme calorie cutting and restriction were at a higher risk for metabolic imbalances and hormonal disruptions. This was more evidently observed among women.
In fact, eating too little is not really the best way of eating. Experts have long suggested that unhealthy eating patterns are not suggestive of sustainable weight loss, and people who do follow extreme restrictive diets end up regaining all of the weight, in one form or the other.
What are the danger signs that you need to eat more?
A good weight loss strategy is the
one where your body's metabolism and vital functioning is
well-balanced. If you feel that your diet or workout is too restrictive,
look out for these signs:
-If you are constipated all of a sudden.
-If regular workouts start to feel hard all of a sudden
-If you feel more parched in a day than usual
-If you experience more hunger pangs or mood instability than usual.
-If you are eating less than 2 meals a day, or have been losing more than required weight in a week (more than 2-3 kilos)
What is the solution then?
Well, while you definitely need to eat well and good, we don't suggest hogging in excess or consider it as a one-time excuse to eat all the junk, eating more
Rather than just focussing on expending the calorie-burning, ensure that you are also eating in a controlled manner to regulate calorie intake. In simple terms, this could be done by eating balanced meals and include more high-volume foods.
Eating good quality foods, which are high in volume but lower in the calorie count is also a good way to fill your share without having to overdo the calorie count. From veggies, fruits, seafood, poultry, grains and legumes, you can practice moderation and achieve your weight loss goal, without having to subtract anything.
If you struggle with your eating habits, try by going a little slow. If you are calorie deficient, consider increasing the intake by a 100 calories first, and then gradually, going up. It could simply be consuming one extra fruit, vegetable, snack or simply dressing up your salad. Keep a check on the weighing scale on a regular basis and you'll be able to help yourself better.
Remember your personal preferences
No two people have the same needs and weight loss plans also differ. Hence, what suits one would not always work for the other as well. For a more effective and personalized weight loss plan, it's important you are fully aware of your nutritional needs, know your metabolic rate and consume calories in accordance to that. Once you get the figure, you'll be able to divide and eat your calories better through the day and lose weight too.