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Original poster

Reverse dieting?

56 replies

Caravanoflove · 01/07/2016 13:13

Posting here for traffic really as nobody on the weight loss boards today!
I just can't seem to lose weight despite religiously sticking to 1200 calories daily and e er using like a demon. I've lost and gained the same 2 stone many times over the years but I'm not even shifting a pound and I've been at it for 4 months now. I have a BMI of 28.
I'd like to explore reverse dieting but can seem to find out much about it.
Has anyone done it or know much about it?

OP posts:
Seren85 · 02/07/2016 00:38

Don't have Special K. Its full of crap. Healthy fats, low-ish carbs and protein. Avoid refined sugar generally as opposed to calorie counting. Exercise wise...HIIT will be more efficient at weight loss than extended periods of steady effort cardio.

MrsMook · 02/07/2016 00:39

Is your 1200 net after exercise or 1200 before exercise? Your needs will depend on your size and the intensity of your run, but despite being fairly small, a 10k run has me burning about 400 calories, and needing a minimum of 1300 to exist. Most people need more than that.

I'd up it to 1500 net, so you "eat back" the exercise. MFP is useful for working out the balance. I find aiming towards low GI foods helpful for avoiding sugar crashes and hunger- complex carbs such as porridge oats, proteins, salads, veg, some fats. Avoid sweet flavours from sugar or sweeteners.

Don't forget to account for drinking. Lots of water. Avoid drinking calories (sadly prosecco counts in that Grin)

The weights sound like a good tip. I do better when I've regularly gone to circuits over just running.

a7mints · 02/07/2016 00:51

I would second the low carb high protein approach , and also swap so w of your cardio for weights. In the long term it will speed up your metabolism as you increase muscle mass

Fruu · 02/07/2016 01:03

Give a low carb high fat diet a go. I've lost 3 1/2 stone in a year and have hardly been excercising after spending practically my entire life (I'm 32) trying strict low calorie or low fat diets and exercise and getting nowhere. I was 19 1/2 stone last summer and am hoping to get down to a healthy weight by next year! :D

Purplemonkeydishwasherpimp · 02/07/2016 01:11

I low carbed for over 6 months and didn't lose a pound, my partner lost over 20kg.

Works for some not for others (yes i did the diet right)

branofthemist · 02/07/2016 06:03

I generally do lowish arbs. I have pcos and it was recommended by the doctor.

Please don't eat special k for breakfast or cut out feta cheese. There is no need to.

Reverse dieting is popular amongst my friends. All weight lifters and compete on stage. so always reverse diet after comps to avoid piling fat on.

I have been eating healthy in the last few weeks but realised I am eating around 1000kcal a day. Not on purpose but it's seemingly hard to calories in, eating healthy and low carbing. I am starting to up it too 1100kcal each day next week and will keep adding a hundred a week.

I train five days a week and some days can be twice. So I need to up my food. It wasn't eating 1000kcal on purpose. It just happened like that.

Original poster
Caravanoflove · 02/07/2016 07:51

Wow thanks some really useful advice. I'm keen to try the HIIT training, and it sounds like adding in weights is a good ide.
My 1200 calories is not accounting for exercise so I probably need to eat more.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 02/07/2016 08:15

5:2 with limited carbs did the job for me last time. Just restarted this last week to lose the baby weight.

McPie · 02/07/2016 10:33

Not calories as such but portions, I had 9 carbs (so 1 slice bread, 100g raw potato,25g uncooked rice or pasta was 1 portion), 3 protein, 3 dairy, 2 fats, 4 veg and 4 fruits (I went with 80g veg, 1 large or 2 small fruits).
This site is based on the plan I followed and it was all about dropping convenience foods and getting back to cooking from scratch so you could control what went into it.

maggiethemagpie · 02/07/2016 12:12

Low cal a bit passe these days, if its not working for you try low carb I lost 4stone with low carb and best of all you don't go hungry.

purplefox · 02/07/2016 17:12

I'd recommend this book, The Calorie Myth: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Q33ZRUQ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

specialsubject · 02/07/2016 17:29

special K is a classic con diet food.

379 kcal per 100g.
ordinary cornflakes: 378kcal per 100g.

special K also has less fibre.

eat the box, it's better for you!

StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine · 02/07/2016 19:15

Meantime, Dorset Gloriously Nutty Muesli has 388kcal/100g A whole 9kcal more than that stuff that supposedly makes you skinny.

Original poster
Caravanoflove · 02/07/2016 20:26

I totally agree with the special K advice, complete con and barely any nutritional value.
Thanks for the book recommendations, I'm off to check them out. The last 4 days I've exercised the same as always but eaten more and lost a pound!

OP posts:
FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 02/07/2016 21:20

Low carb worked for me but was unsustainable. 5:2, well, I just overage massively on the days I wasn't eating only 500 cals.

I'm doing slimming world. It's working for me. Jaimx86 I don't understand your comment Confused

Nusername · 02/07/2016 21:28

What does reverse dieting mean? As in, how do I actually do it!

StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine · 02/07/2016 21:30

I think Jaimx86 was making the point that a lot of (not all, obviously) people start slimming world when they're 3 or 4 stone overweight, rather than a leser amount or even a healthy weight looking to firm up. As far as I can see that has the dual effect of making it harder to find peer support with similar goals as well as the fact that someone who is obese is going to react differently to a typical day's eating like the one Caravan posted to someone who isn't obese. Someone who is obese can often lose a lot of weight quite quickly with careful portion control, whole someone who isn't will be making smaller losses, which can feel less rewarding.

sepa · 02/07/2016 21:33

Eat more. 1200 plus exercise is not enough. Raise to 1600 plus more on exercise days. Eat high protein especially for breakfast now if only I could stick to this

Original poster
Caravanoflove · 04/07/2016 08:15

Nusername- I don't actually know the ins and outs of reverse dieting, I'm just aware of the principle. That's what I was hoping to find out!
I've been eating more since starting the thread and I've lost 3lbs!!

OP posts:
ShutTheFuckUpBarbara · 04/07/2016 08:18

OP here's an article that explains the science behind why 1200 cal diets usually don't work zstrengthfit.com/Blog/caloriemyth.html

SestraClone · 04/07/2016 08:55

I do low carb, works wonders for me when all else failed.

Nivea101 · 04/07/2016 09:04

Check out Dr Jason Fung, his videos make perfect sense. He says you can reverse diabetes which is pretty amazing!!

branofthemist · 04/07/2016 09:08

What does reverse dieting mean? As in, how do I actually do it!

the way I was taught, not saying this is the best way, was to increase by 100kcal per day. Keep at that level for a week then add in another 100kcal a day.

SeaEagleFeather · 05/07/2016 10:05

Getting down to a low (but not unhealthy) BMI and stay there can reverse Type 2 diabetes sometimes, yes.

www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal.htm

amazing stuff

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