What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions dieting? Eating less food – that’s obvious enough.

But what if I were to tell you that you should try eating more food while dieting? Read on to find out why that is and what benefits it offers.

Five Reasons Why You Should Eat More While Dieting

1. It Makes Dieting Suck Less

Dieting sucks because you can’t eat as many calories and enjoy your favorite foods. Eating as much as possible makes dieting more pleasurable and reduces hunger.

2. You’re More Likely to Stick With It

People often give up on dieting because hunger becomes unmanageable. Eating as much as possible makes the process easier, leading to better adherence.

3. You Have Room For Dropping Your Calories

Weight loss inevitably leads to metabolic adaptation (1). As you diet, your caloric expenditure decreases because of reduced activity and lower body weight. If you stick with a specific calorie intake, it will stop leading to weight loss at some point.

The only way to keep losing weight is to decrease your calorie intake or increase your physical activity. Eating as much as possible leaves more room for reducing your calorie intake when weight loss inevitably stalls.

4. You Can Train Better

Anyone who’s dieted for a long time knows how big of an impact it can have on their gym performance. You feel weak, flat, and unmotivated.

Eating as much as possible makes you feel more energized and provides your muscles with the fuel they need to contract with more force. Aside from feeling well and thinking more clearly, eating more can improve muscle retention.

5. It’s Better For Your Social Life

What’s the first thing you give up on a diet? Like most, you probably kiss your social life goodbye and give up on eating out. The great news is that eating more while losing fat allows you to enjoy meals out with friends and not turn into a social outcast.

How to Enjoy More Food While Dieting (2 Ways)

1. Lose Weight More Slowly

Rapid weight loss certainly has its benefits. You reach your goals more quickly and see noticeable improvements from week to week. Unfortunately, that comes at a price: eating far less food than you would like. Plus, rapid weight loss increases the risk of muscle breakdown, which is never a good thing (2).

The ideal weight loss rate is 0.5 to 1 percent of your body weight per week (3). Most people should shoot for somewhere in the middle - 0.6 to 0.7 percent weekly.

2. Move Around More During the Day

Being more active improves your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). The great thing about your body is that virtually anything you do, including brushing your teeth in the morning, burns calories. The more you move, the more calories you expend and the more food you can enjoy without gaining weight.

Sure, burning two calories while brushing your teeth might not seem much, but each bit of activity contributes to your NEAT, which can add up a lot. The idea isn’t to go out of your way necessarily but to examine your daily life and see where you might sneak some activity. Developing the mindset will make dieting easier, keep you healthier in the long run, and prevent unwanted weight gain.

Thank you for taking the time. Until next week,
Philip

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