The Counterintuitive Way I Lost Weight By Eating More
If you’re like most individuals, the concept of shedding weight typically brings up ideas of slicing energy and eating much less. It’s nearly second nature, proper? You eat much less, you burn extra, and voilà—you shed the kilos. But what if I advised you that my weight loss success got here from eating extra—not much less?
It sounds counterintuitive, however hear me out.
For years, I struggled with weight, vitality, and a sluggish metabolism. I tried proscribing my food consumption, skipping meals, and counting each calorie. Yet, I didn’t really feel any higher and I undoubtedly didn’t lose the weight I needed. Little did I know, the important thing to really shedding weight wasn’t about eating much less—it was about eating extra. It simply wanted to be in a manner that supported my metabolism, balanced my hormones, and helped my body really feel secure.
The Problem with Eating Too Little for Too Long
Here’s the factor: our our bodies are extremely clever, and once we persistently eat too little, they start to enter “survival mode”. When we don’t give our our bodies sufficient gas, they start to assume, “Uh-oh! There’s a food shortage. Time to conserve energy!” So, our metabolism slows down, and our body holds onto fats to make it by way of this perceived famine. This is why restrictive diets can typically backfire, inflicting your metabolism to stall, and resulting in weight loss plateaus (and even weight acquire).
Additionally, eating too little over a protracted interval can wreak havoc in your hormones. Cortisol, the stress hormone, begins to spike when your body feels prefer it’s undernourished, and this will make it a lot more durable to lose weight. High cortisol ranges may also contribute to weight acquire across the stomach, fatigue, and temper swings. All of this makes it more durable to lose weight sustainably.
How Eating Enough (The Right Way!) Helps You Lose Weight
So, what’s the answer? Well, it’s not about eating much less—it’s about eating the proper meals in the correct quantities. When you eat sufficient protein, healthy fat, and micronutrients, you ship a sign to your body that food is plentiful and there’s no want to hold on to further fats. Your metabolism will get a lift, and your hormones (together with cortisol) start to stability out. The key right here is ensuring your body has the whole lot it must thrive. And for me, this method made all of the distinction.
My Approach to Losing Weight by Eating More
Here’s how I dialed in my weight loss program and life-style to make it work:
Sleep is Key
First and foremost, I obtained severe about enhancing my sleep. Sleep is the inspiration of health, and with out it, nothing else works. I intention for 7-9 hours of high quality sleep every evening. I’ve seen when I sleep nicely, my metabolism capabilities higher, my starvation hormones (ghrelin and leptin) are extra balanced, and I really feel much less pressured.
Sunlight within the Morning
Every morning, I be sure to get quarter-hour of daylight inside an hour of waking up. Sunlight helps set my circadian rhythm, which helps my body know when it’s time to be awake and when it’s time to sleep. This easy behavior has had a big impact on my vitality ranges all through the day, making it simpler to remain energetic and targeted.
Protein Is a Game Changer
The most essential a part of my method is ensuring I get at the least 35 grams of protein inside the first hour of waking up. This helps kickstart my metabolism, retains my blood sugar steady, and ensures my body has the building blocks it wants for muscle restore and development. I shoot for 130+ grams of protein per day—feels like lots, proper? But if you give attention to protein-rich meals, it’s simpler than it sounds!
I used to skip breakfast and intermittent quick, however now I prioritize protein within the morning and skip dinner if I wish to eat in a restricted window. I attempt to get as a lot as attainable from actual food sources but in addition normally take these amino capsules and generally make a smoothie with protein powder.
You’ll additionally typically discover me simply eating a bowl of beef or beef + eggs, or snacking on steak or beef sticks.
Hydration (With a Twist!)
I drink at the least 3-4 quarts of water day by day, which retains me hydrated, helps with digestion, and helps my metabolism. But right here’s the twist—I additionally add a pinch of high quality sea salt to my water. Salt is an essential mineral that helps stability electrolytes, helps correct hydration, and retains my adrenal glands blissful (which implies much less cortisol!).
Healthy Fats and Micronutrients
It’s not nearly protein. I be sure I’m getting sufficient healthy fat (like avocado, coconut oil, and grass-fed butter) to help hormone stability. I additionally be sure I’m getting sufficient nutritional vitamins and minerals—the whole lot from vitamin D to magnesium. That’s the place focused dietary supplements are available in.
I take dietary supplements that fill within the gaps to make sure I’m getting the correct micronutrients my body must perform at its greatest. Here’s one model I’ve been loving these days with quality supplements.
I Like To Move It Move It
As people, we have been meant to maneuver, and most of us simply don’t transfer sufficient. As cliche because it sounds, I seen a distinction from including in strolling with a weighted vest daily. Bonus factors if it’s within the morning or throughout vibrant afternoon solar for the sunshine advantages!
The excellent news? We don’t have to do boring limitless jogging to lose weight (at the least, that by no means labored for me), and in reality, it could possibly be counterproductive. Not that I wanted an excuse to not run greater than a pair hundred meters. The dangerous information? We do want to maneuver greater than most of us are transferring, however we will 80/20 this!
I stroll most days and pair this with listening to a podcast or audiobook and getting daylight on the similar time! I additionally attempt to do 10 air squats every time I stroll by way of my kitchen (which is lots) and grasp or do a few chin-ups every time I stroll by the pull-up bar in my toilet. Not fancy, however these little issues add up and make an enormous distinction.
More Sunlight
Perhaps a very powerful issue and extra on this quickly. Growing up fair-skinned, I prevented the solar for probably the most half. Now, I be sure to get sufficient daylight each day (morning, vibrant noon, and sundown) and keep away from vibrant mild at evening. I take into account this one of many greatest components in my health and stress ranges enhancing.
If you’re fascinated with studying extra about this, try Dr. Courtney Hunt’s groups or follow her on Instagram right here.
The Result?
I ate extra… like double as a lot as I was eating, and misplaced weight. When I overlook and don’t eat sufficient, I really feel the distinction! (I nonetheless generally TRE or do longer fasts however primarily for psychological/non secular causes). My vitality is up, my metabolism is firing on all cylinders, and my body isn’t hoarding fats as a lot anymore.
And the most effective half? This method isn’t about deprivation or counting each single calorie. It’s about nourishing my body and giving it the instruments it must work effectively.
Final Thoughts On Eating More To Lose Weight
If you’re combating weight loss and feeling caught, attempt shifting your mindset. Eating extra of the correct meals—not much less—is the important thing to balancing your hormones, boosting your metabolism, and supporting sustainable weight loss.
Remember, your body needs to thrive—it simply must really feel secure and supported. Start fueling it with the correct meals, sleep, hydration, and sunshine, and watch the way it responds. Sometimes, one of the best ways to lose weight is to eat extra, not much less!
Do you depend energy? What’s your method to healthy eating? Leave a remark and tell us!