Dietitians explain why eating too little may be preventing your weight loss.
So you want to lose a few pounds.
The first thing you might do?
Photo: Hannes Eichinger / EyeEm / Getty Images.
Reduce the amount you’re eating-especially cutting back on processed junk food.
We’re looking at you: pizza, fries, wings, and loaded nachos.
But it’s also possible to take it too far.
Keep reading to learn why you might need to eat more to lose weight, according to nutrition pros.
Eating too little can sabotage your weight-loss efforts.
Let’s say you’re seriously undereating.
At first, you might lose weight.
But after a while?
Your body starts to panic.
In other words, it’s not always as simple as “calories in, calories out.”
That idea only applies when you’re providing enough fuel for your body.
(Here’swhy you seriously need to stop thinking of foods as “good” or “bad.")
(Not sure where to start?
This isexactly how to cut calories to lose weight safely.)
The bang out of food matters.
Consider eating morecomplex carbsand high-fiber foods, says Butler.
You’re burning calories without even knowing it.
There are several ways your body burns energy.
you’re able to also burn energy throughwalkingorworking outanddigesting your food.
“Some examples of NEAT activities include cooking, cleaning, fidgeting, yard work, or manual labor.
In fact, people with more NEAT in their daily lives tend to be leaner.
So what does that have to do with eating more?
Science says people who eat more are likely to move more and burn more calories.
Before you get too excited, whether that increased activity leads to increasedweight lossis highly individual.
“NEAT itself can be beneficial for an individual who is overweight and sedentary,” says Mazur.
