Do you want to know the best way to NOT lose weight? (Especially if you don't have a ton of weight to lose... you know, like those last 5-15lbs??)
STARVE YOURSELF.
Yup, it's a wonderful way to NOT lose weight, and to be HANGRY all day, every day.
Your body is very efficient. If you cut your calories drastically, after a period of time, your metabolism will adapt and learn how to function on only what you feed it. It's called starvation mode. Your body will also cling to your fat because from your body's point of view, it needs that fat! It doesn't know when it will be properly fueled again. Instead of losing that last little bit of fat, you'll lose water weight, your muscles will start to break down... it's just a mess!
This is important for everyone, but it's ESPECIALLY important if you workout. Don't go into a workout starving, and don't let yourself starve after an exercise session. I know it's easy to have the mindset, "Well, I just burned all those calories, I can't eat now!" (BELIEVE ME, I'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!). But it's not true! Immediately following a workout is the BEST time to eat to ensure your body uses the food for energy and recovery and doesn't store it as fat.
Be nice to yourself. Weight/fat loss is a very personal process and different things work for different people. Pick a plan you can stick with. But no one can starve themselves for the rest of their lives.
Have you ever starved yourself to lose weight?
So well said, and so concise. I, like many women, went through a time of eating too little to lose weight. I definitely lost it, but when I came out of that spiral, it took a long time to teach my body what "normal" food was and how to metabolize it. I know a danger people face when trying to lose weight is that after working out, they OVER consume. There's a balance we have to hit if we want to lose weight, and it can be frustrating, but it's important to find it!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to find that balance, very good point!
DeleteNope, I like to eat way too much. Plus it helps that i've never had an issue with my weight!
ReplyDeleteNo never! I'm already too cranky at times and that would make it so much worse! At the MOST if I feel like I'm "feeling" heavier than normal, I do try to focus on WHAT I'm eating rather than how much.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I do too! I used to restrict calories but that didn't work. (Duh!)
DeleteI haven't tried to actually Starve myself before. I love food way too much for that. I do know of some people who do that and they end up with fractures and other sorts of injuries as a result of too little nutrition to properly heal and recover. :S
ReplyDeleteI went through about a year period where I definitely had disordered eating. I ran many, many miles a day and then wouldn't allow myself to eat until 5. I was so unhappy, so miserable, and so mean. I've recently started writing down my food just to see where I am at, if I am eating enough, and I definitely am. I love food so much.
ReplyDeleteI did something similar. It was sad!
DeleteI have had problems with disordered eating in the past. Running had taught me to treat my body as a temple. Because I'm so passionate about running, I work really hard to make sure that I get the food I need - a good balance of protein, carbs, and my fruits and veggies, too.
ReplyDelete