4 signs you should eat more to lose weight

Did you know that eating too little can actually prevent you from losing weight? It’s true. When you eat below a certain amount of calories (this level is different for everyone), your body goes into “starvation mode” and tries to retain all the fat it has in order to survive.

The good news is that by eating more food, you can speed up your metabolism and start losing weight again.

Here are four signs that you should start eating more:

1. You have a lot to lose. The higher your weight, the more calories your body burns just to function on a daily basis. A good rule of thumb is to realize that [your body weight X 10] it is the amount of calories your body needs to maintain its current weight. If you want to lose weight, you have to subtract 500 from this number and that is the number of calories you should eat in a day.
2. You have a large muscle mass. Muscle burns more energy than fat, so if you have higher muscle mass, you may need to eat more calories to keep your body full of energy.
3. You do a lot of exercise. If you exercise a lot for an hour a day, five times a week, you may need more calories. Strenuous exercise burns a lot of calories, and if you’re not eating enough to maintain this level of activity, your body will think you’re starving (even if you’re actually eating) and will try to keep your fat down for energy.
4. You have reached a plateau. If you have been successfully losing weight by eating right and exercising and your weight loss stops suddenly, you may need more food. Your body has become used to this level of food and activity. Try eating an extra 200 calories a day and see if that doesn’t speed up your metabolism.

Burn Fat, Feed Muscle is one of the most comprehensive books on nutrition, weight loss, and muscle building I have ever read. It contains much more detailed information on how to eat enough food to lose weight. To read my review of this book, go to Better Off Fat [http://www.better-off-fat.com/burn-the-fat-feed-the-muscle.html].