Eat More. Lose Weight.

When it comes to diet, conventional wisdom says that if you're trying to lose weight, it makes sense to eat less in order to cut calories, leading to a calorie deficit that help the pounds drop off. But there's a flip side to this argument: Sometimes eating more is the key to reaching your goals. You might be thinking, “Yeah, eating more can help bring about weight loss like making out with a frog is the best way to find true love.”  But according to many registered dietitians, it's true (but not about the frog. Sorry.).

We know…eating more to lose weight sounds counterproductive. But according to Abbey Sharp, R.D., "People associate calories in with calories out and think the more they cut, the more they lose [but] it doesn’t always work that way…going on a super low-calorie diet can backfire in a frustrating way and lead to weight-loss plateaus. [Your body] knows what's going on when you cut calories too drastically. It may seem like a significantly low-calorie diet is working at first, but soon your body will catch on and reduce calorie output to deal with the reduced calorie input.”

Registered dietitian, Libby Parker, explains, "When you are not supporting your body with enough calories or fuel, your metabolism (the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy) actually drops, and you burn fewer calories." This is an adaptive response to the body believing it is in famine and wanting to conserve energy. Eating enough calories helps reassure your body that it has sufficient food so your metabolism can chug along smoothly, promoting weight loss to the best of its abilities.

Therefore, according to nutritionist Vandita Jain, “For weight management, it is important to keep the metabolism in equilibrium. Eating every 2-3 hours maintains body processes and the metabolism remains intact." In other words, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with small snacks in between, will help in keeping your metabolism intact. And when your metabolism is intact, you can ultimately burn more calories.

With this in mind, it is important to realize that eating more does not mean gorging on greasy burgers, milkshakes, and Doritos. Healthy meals and snacks made with high-quality whole foods over processed foods, and portion control, are what’s on the menu for metabolic efficiency and weight loss. Meals should consist of a well-balanced diet of voluminous fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. Some snack ideas include: an apple with peanut butter, a yogurt with granola, a bowl of berries, half cup of trail mix, or a protein shake.

It makes sense that eating more would put on the pounds. But when it comes to losing weight, less is not always more. It might feel like you're eating too much food, but you're actually giving your body more to work with that can be turned into fuel.

If you have any questions about how to eat more properly, click the button below for your complimentary assessment and we can answer all of your questions.