fbpx

These Photos Are Proof That Under-Eating Will Only Sabotage Your Fitness Goals

By ·

It’s almost common sense in our minds: When trying to lose weight, you should eat less, not more. Australian fitness blogger Madalin Frodsham thought the same, so after deciding that 2016 was going to be her year to finally get fit and achieve her goals, she started Kayla Itsines’ high-intensity workout plan and started eating lower-calorie meals, logging in at less than 1,000 calories eaten per day. After months of not seeing the results she wanted, she decided to visit a nutritionist—turns out, she wasn’t eating enough calories or macronutrients, and as a result, her weight loss remained stagnant. The advice she received was priceless, changed her life and goes to show that less isn’t always better.

You May Also Like: Foods That Speed Up Weight Loss

“When I was eating 800 calories a day, I thought I was healthy,” Frodsham recently shared with her readers in an Instagram post, assuring them that she ate until she felt full. “After a while though…I simply wasn’t seeing the results I had anticipated. So I got in touch with a [personal trainer] and nutritional coach and got my macro[nutrient]s sorted.” (“Macronutrients” is a blanket term for dietary components including carbohydrates, proteins and fats that our bodies need to perform at their best.) After reviewing her diet, Frodsham’s nutritionist told her that she needed to significantly increase her caloric intake and that she should ensure that 50 percent of this intake comes from healthy carbohydrates like vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

“When he first told me to eat 50 percent carbs I nearly died,” the blogger wrote. “I was eating about 10 percent carbs before and could not fathom how 50 percent carbs would not make me fat.” But, like her nutritionist and trainer ensured her, she didn’t gain any weight—instead, what she gained were visible abs, defined muscles and heightened energy. While it was tough for her to first get accustomed to the new size of her meals every day, Frodsham says that her body adjusted to the new caloric intake relatively quickly and that her body can easily the portions.

However, celebrity nutritionist Paula Simpson says that an “all for one” approach—or caloric restriction alone—will not deliver long-lasting results or significantly noticeable results. “When looking to change body composition, it involves much more than just dieting,” she explains, adding that it’s important to match your personal health goal, energy requirements and activity intensity with the type of foods you consume for the best results. In other words, just because this diet and these numbers worked for Frodsham, doesn’t mean these exact requirements and restrictions will work for you. It’s crucial to remember that diets should be personalized and tailored to your own body. The lesson that under-eating is sure to backfire on you, however, is universal. Frodsham says it best: “If you’re under-feeding yourself in an effort to lose weight, don’t do what I did for so long. Don’t waste your time eating salad when you could be eating sweet potatoes and banana pancakes. Eat more and get fit. It actually works.”

Related Posts

Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Give the Gift of Luxury

NewBeauty uses cookies for various reasons, including to analyze and improve its content and advertising. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for more about how we use this data. By continuing to use this site, you agree to these policies.