For every 200-300 cals you add back in you can expect to gain approx 1 pound ( i think these are the numbers--- and no, they are not die hard.) The reason is the actual extra weight of the additional food you are eating, as well as water weight associated with an increase in glycogen stores (ALSO because you are eating more food).That pound isnt fat...its ok. Expect to gain back any water weight you had initially lost really quickly when you began losing weight...generally that big loss that happend in the first week to 10 days of being in a deficit. That will also come back with eating at maintenance. Once again, it is NOT fat. If youve been eating at 1200 for a long time, then you *may* have a significant water/glycogen rebound happen... you can add the cals slow, you can add them fast, but the water weight will come back. Just be prepared, ya know?
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have been eating 1200 for a long time, then there is a certain amount of metabolic adaptation that has occurred throughout the course of your weightloss...what this boils down to is that your new maintenance calories might not be nearly as high as one would expect (or as high as you would like) Basicvally, your body has learned to operate on only 1200 calories a day. It doesnt NEED 2000 any more to function. It has become very efficient (some people confuse ths with, and refer to it as "starvation-mode") Did you do any/alot of strength training when youw ere losing? Did you eat high protein? Whatever muscle mass you managed keep will also factor into your new maintanance range
Last edited by mkroyer; 10-22-2010 at 04:06 PM.
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