Eating the Food

I'm just wondering if there is anyone else out there that is following fitness people like Go Kaleo and the theory of eating more for weight loss? She suggests eating to support your metabolism, and to help build muscle mass. She says that eating 1200 works to lose fat, but you also shift muscle mass and destroy your metabolism at the same time because after a while of doing it, your metabolism slows down because it gets used to "starving" itself on 1200 calories, and then to keep losing weight most people drop their calories even further, leading to further health problems.

This also leads to yo-yo dieting basically because its not easy to keep up that restrictive kind of eating as a lifestyle and most people have moments where they binge because they are so restricted. This happens to me all the time.

My BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) at my current (pregnant) weight is 1590 calories - that's the minimum amount needed to keep my body alive without losing muscle mass or damaging my metabolism. For someone who has always eaten around or under 1200 calories to lose weight, this is hard to get my head around, but I believe it.

Even with no exercise my TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) is 1908 calories - this is my maintenance amount, if I didn't want to lose any weight I would have to eat this amount. To lose weight you give yourself a small deficit in calories (usually no more than 500 or 20% whichever is the highest because you don't want to drop your calories too much).

So for example when I get this baby out, if I exercise 3 times a week, my TDEE goes up to 2200 calories, so I would eat 1700 calories or 1760 (which is the 500 less or 20% less). So I would aim for that amount as a minimum daily.

The Eating the Food theory is that you fuel your body and muscles properly and you get stronger and more performance from your work outs. So you lose fat, gain muscle and get stronger.

Has anyone else read any of Go Kaleo's stuff and willing to give it a go? I'll be giving it a go! I'm sick of my weight yo-yoing and trying different diets and "fads" and its scary to think that I may have done damage to my metabolism.

I dont follow this specifically, but I have been converted by a similar philosophy via 180degreehealth. My normal body temperature is quite low, indicating a poor metabolism. I'm a fan of eating healthy fats: butter, lard, coconut oil, ghee, rather than vegetable oils. I'm quite happy to eat pizza, if that's what my body needs (protein, calcium, magnesium etc)

I havent started anything formally. I learnt about it whilst I was researching GAPS and read about how badly that can affect people with adrenal fatigue. I have adrenal fatigue, so the exercise/low carb diet regime I used to do would actually damage me further. I wouldnt specifically count calories. I'd rather just eat and rest and reset my body by eating healthy, nutritious foods and working from there.

yeah I'm a big fan of Matt Stone as well! And Sean Flanagan on facebook. They all talk about diet recovery and I think its just so refreshing amongst all the other diet people out there that tell you to cut calories and work out like a madman!

I have read a lot on the net lately about the evils of 1200cal diets. I won't go in to my philosophy (you know it well :p) but the forums/blogs I read are full of people whose metabolisms have been screwed by 1200cal plans. They might work in the short term for some, but they really do destroy your body so when you're an old chook like me, you start reaping with whirlwind ;)

Good luck :) Ill be watching with interest :)

You know I am following :) My TDEE is 3000cal. I am struggling with that fact. As you say, when most healthy eating things these days recommend 1200-1500 cals to lose weight, eating double that is a shock to the system. I need to start exercising and building muscle too. I must say that I have lost 4kg since starting to ETF though.

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I have read a lot on the net lately about the evils of 1200cal diets. I won't go in to my philosophy (you know it well :p) but the forums/blogs I read are full of people whose metabolisms have been screwed by 1200cal plans. They might work in the short term for some, but they really do destroy your body so when you're an old chook like me, you start reaping with whirlwind ;)

Good luck :) Ill be watching with interest :)

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I am an old chook like you!! LOL I always wondered why I would lose weight so easily by eating 1200 calories, but the minute I went above it, BAM - weight goes on so damn quickly!!!!! I've been "dieting" since I was 14 and I'm just sick of it. I just want to eat normal food in the right amounts without bingeing or restricting and exercise - lifting the weight baby! We have a fairly good gym set up at home and I can't wait to get back in there and start lifting and gaining muscle.

Check out Dr Amanda Sainsbury-Salis and Don't Go Hungry. She has a lot about starvation mode and resetting your fat switch. Getting to know when your are truly hungry.
Basically if you are truly hungry eat, eat what your body is craving to be point of satisfied. It may take one meal, a day of eating or a week of eating, to get your body back out of thinking it in starvation mode.

Probably similar stuff to what you are reading.

I try to eat mindfully, some days I will only be eating 1200 calories (probably I don't count if following a meal plan it is just a guide, not gospel), but other days twice that depending on what my hunger is telling me and being honest to myself about it ;)

Haven't stated ETF or LTW but am following with huge interest on the FB forums (there is also ETF Healthy Weight Loss) and am following Ambers blogs on GoKaleo.

I started following this b/c I was undecided if I wanted to continue with MB12WBT (1200 cals) or do something else and I was following a mum who is a bikini fitness model after reading an article in Oxygen Magazine. (there was a strong emphasis on weight training and HIIT). I also started following other people on FB and Instagram who LTW but I think were still calorie counting/restricting. What these people did though really got me thinking about food as fuel. I've actually ditched following MB (was a huge advocate) and others that promote low calorie restricted dieting but am not quite ready to ETF due to probable weight gain (particularly after losing 15 kgs post baby). I did start ETF on holidays but was not doing any LTW/exercise. I am toying joining a gym to lift heavy but need a bit more guidance on that to ensure my technique is sound etc...

I think the biggest thing that has played on my mind for a long time about ETF/LTW was that in the past, yeah following a restricted/low calorie diet (LCD) did make me lose weight but I was soooo hungry particularly whilst exercising and also that when I just ate moderately (largely wiser choices, no calorie counting ie: lean protein, vegetables and fruit but also anything else I felt like) and listened to what my body needed I still lost weight/didnt gain but my physique changed (slimmer, leaner etc...) and it always confused me as to how this could be the case when alot of programs and people promoted LCD.....

I have calculated my BMR (around 1500 cals) and my TDEE (around 2800) - which blows my mind!

I really, really want to do this so my relationship with food/exercise/lifestyle and what I pass onto my girls is a healthy attitude but my old past disorted emotions haunt me!

It's good to know that there are success stories (reading on the forum and MrsFabulosos post above) so I think there is truth and merit to this.

I am going to read a bit more on GoKaleo but have been still ETF (not tracking) following on from holidays

I will do it with you mel.
Where do I find these calculators?
I have got to find a sustainable diet (and I need to make sure I make the time to exercise)

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I will do it with you mel.
Where do I find these calculators?
I have got to find a sustainable diet (and I need to make sure I make the time to exercise)

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Google tdee calculator - we use the one off if you love your macros or something like that (think it's like iifym or something?)

I follow Go Kaleo on FB but I don't deliberately eat more or use any kind of calorie calculator etc. I certainly agree that one can't support lean muscle and a high level of fitness on 1200 calories a day.
I try to eat enough to support my activity level by paying attention to the hunger signals my body is sending me. After I hit the gym for a couple of hours I'm usually ravenous so I tend to inhale a big meal. If I'm inactive for a day I generally to eat smaller meals. I aim not to feel excessively hungry at any time but also not too feel over-full after meals.
I could have visible abs but I choose to eat chocolate cake instead ;)

Have you checked out her butt? Man, I'd love to have an arse like that LOL that's my aim, to build muscle and have a butt you can bounce a coin off hahaha

Is anyone else part of her ETF group on Facebook? I know Mrs F is ;)

Never even realised she had another group.
Dunno if it would be your thing but another FB page that I think really compliments the Go Kaleo page is Fit Mama Training. She follows an approach to fitness that if you stop body shame/negativity then health become easier because it's the reward you give yourself.
I really enjoy her posts. There's often a lot to think about in them.
I love Fit Villians too and Fit and feminist.

My arse will never be like that. A badonkadonk butt like mine can't be shrunk. I'm ok with that.

Yeah its called Eating the food. Its good :) lots of self acceptance and self love - its good to see. And good to see people talking about food as fuel instead of just good food or bad food.

I'll check out the fit mama one - ta :)

I really agree with this. I lost 28kg on a 1200 cal diet, and not only did it mess with me emotionally, I do believe it has had negative physical effects. I now eat healthily and exercise to build muscle and strength. I honestly wish I had lost my weight slower and in a way that was more suited to my body.

Yep have joined Eating the Food and ETF Healthy Weight Loss as well as Fit Mama Training - her posts are awesome!

I am a lurker in these groups.... I notice ETF Healthy weight loss is a lot slower than Eating The Food.

Has anyone paid for Ambers ebook?? Is it worth it or can u work it out for yourself using the BMR and TDEE principals??

I am just trying to work out whether to join a gym, go back to personal training or do it myself at home - what are most people doing??

Dh is going to work out a program for me to do - he's lost his weight (42kg) and is now building muscle. He gets his info from a guy called Tom Venuto (sp?) apparently he's a bit of a guru in the muscle world.

I really want to read Amber's ebook but just don't have any spare cash at the moment.

So you eat according to your TDEE, but what is it that you eat??