Diet culture tells us to eat less & lose weight – oftentimes promoting diet plans for less than 1,000 calories per day!  Did you know that eating less is not always the answer – that it may actually be one of the reasons you are struggling to lose weight?  Shocking, but true!

Odds are you have heard the saying, “Calories in, Calories out!”  Well, this is a grossly oversimplified explanation of how our metabolism actually works. 

So, how do you know if you are eating enough?  And why is eating too little keeping you from losing the weight?!

Sign #1: You are CONSTANTLY hungry! 
Our body is regulated by hormones & when we under-eat, our hormones & metabolism will shift in order to preserve our body!  We will start to increase the hormone release that makes us feel hungry until we finally succumb to those cravings! 

Sign #2: You are MOODY! 
Did you know that in January 2018 the word HANGRY was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary?  It is defined as “bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.”  So, when you eat significantly less than what your body needs, your body protests by increasing the production of ghrelin (hunger hormone).  As a result, you may start unnecessary fights with friends & family or you may feel a bit more irritable in general.

Sign #3: Sleep and/or Stress Issues! 
Lack of sleep can lead to insulin resistance and/or weight gain & under-eating has been found to disrupt quality of sleep.  In addition, not eating enough or not sleeping enough can increase stress levels!  Increased stress will lead to excess cortisol in the body which can cause water retention masking any fat loss that is occurring & even increasing your hunger levels even further! 

“So how is under-eating holding me back from losing weight?”

Well, initially the body will use fat stores for energy & that is how people begin to lose weight.  But over time, the body will adjust to this chronic calorie deficit (under-eating) & metabolism will slow – so the body isn’t burning energy as efficiently.  Then, weight loss eventually stops because the metabolism has slowed down.

Rather than getting sucked into fad diets & the seemingly endless cycle of under-eating, try finding your basal metabolic rate (BMR) &  fueling your body properly with Carbs, Fat & Protein.  This is the sustainable way to weight loss & a true healthy metabolism.

To find your BMR there are certain scales you can use & formulas.  A simple Google search will provide you with many ideas & resources.  (For 2 examples, see Editor’s Note below.)

Cheers to true health & sustainable weight loss!

Editor’s Note: 
Here are two BMR calculators to try.  
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) Calculator | ACTIVE
BMR Calculator: Learn Your Basal Metabolic Rate for Weight Loss (bodybuilding.com)