While you may think if you increase the amount of food you eat it will increase the number you see when standing on the scale, the truth is….not necessarily. The deciding factor in whether or not eating more will cause you to weigh more is all in what you eat. If you eat calorie dense foods for even one meal a day than you will likely be at risk for gaining weight but if you are eating several low calorie small meals throughout the day then you may find that you will actually lose weight by eating more.
The first step to eating more AND losing weight is to meet with a health/fitness professional (personal trainer, nutritionist, physician, etc.) and find out what your current caloric needs are for you to maintain health while losing weight. Once you have that number you can then plan out how many meals you will have each day. For example, if your intake for healthy weight loss is set at 1500 calories per day you could plan your meals as follows:
Breakfast: 300 calories
Snack: 200 calories
Lunch: 300
Snack: 200
Dinner: 500
Once you get a calorie plan in place, educate yourself on the nutritional values of foods. Stock up on nutritious items that aren’t super calorie dense such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, lean meats, whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice, etc. Make meals for yourself by looking up the calories in the ingredients and measuring. It’s not as time consuming as it sounds. Throw on the TV or radio in the kitchen and have fun planning for healthier tomorrow!
Written by: Kate Jensen
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