Sport Scared to eat more..Trying to do as trainer says!

[Hair-Envy]

This may sound silly, I apologize

I have been working with a trainer for the past 5-6months. I have went down from 141 lbs to 126 and have lost 10% body fat. I train daily. Cardio daily- running on sunny days, elliptical/treadmill intervals @ gym, kickboxing/bootcamp programs on dvds or on fittv...... usually at least an hour. I try to incorporate core work daily.
I do a split with my trainer. Mon is core/arms/back..Wed is core/legs/shoulders- 1hr session. Also, I run and do misc cardio on sunday& monday throughout the day since I am off work and do house cleaning. I am a hairstylist, so while at work through the week I am constantly working my arms and always on my feet.

From the start of my training until now, I used Fitday to keep track of my food intake. I stayed within the 1200-1400 cal. range. (I am 23 years, female, 5'4") My trainer went through a re-consult since we had met my 1st goal and got onto me for such low calorie intake. He determined that I burn around 1400 just by breathing, therefore due to my high activity level- I needed b/t 2000-2500 cals!!!! This practically doubles my intake!!
I eat clean foods, am a vegetarian, and allergic to wheat and gluten. My diet consists of lots of egg whites, eggs, yogurt, whey powder, fruit, protein shakes, all natural almond/peanut butter, whole oats,ThinkThin Bars(love them!) and I have recently included some types of sushi (salmon/avocado or tuna/avocado...first time eating meat since I was 11!!)
It seems very difficult to consume such a high amount of cals with those foods! Should I gradually increase or all at once? I am considering "zig-zagging" throughout the week- I am afraid of gaining and also don't like and don't have time to eat THAT often!
Any help appreciated! Thank you!

 

[sparrow]

I would not do that all at once. I went through this past year increasing my calories from 500 a day to 1500 a day and I took baby steps doing it. I gained and lost 9 pounds in the year and got down to 14.9% body fat. I looked thinner. I have since kept almost all the 9 extra pounds off just from keeping the caloric intake where it should be and my body getting used to that. Its now starting to lose on that number. For my activity I should be consuming the number you posted..so I will eventually start working up to that again. I increased my cals by 100 each time my weight dropped or stayed the same (over the year). The only time I started increasing, even as my weight also increasing was when I was doing heavy weights and much of the added weight was lean muscle. Otherwise after upping 100 cals I'd wait a few days to a week to see how my body reacted.
I hope this helps. I'm with ya..it IS a scary thing but try to go up slowly and see how your body reacts. You may gain a little initially-don't freak out, just stick with it a good stretch because your body will catch on and do what it should. It may just take a little longer than your trainer will want!

 

[Xenth]

Just monitor your intake as you were doing and gradually increase your intake.

Don't be scared to put on some weights eating all clean foods, trust me I exercise half of what you do, and I am actually losing weight eating 3000cal per day

Just try to keep your carb intake low and your fat and protein intake high. Especially fat is very good. In your case that would mean, a lot of nuts,salmon,mackerel,sardines, etc.

Great job on the weight loss btw, keep it up

 

[DEF]

Agreed with all of the above. Don't be afraid to do it, as it will be worth it in the long run, but I'd take it slowly and up them gradually.

 

[Hair-Envy]

Thank you all for your feedback!! I think I will try and gradually add, or zig zag depending on the amount of workout that day.
Today I did a 15 HI elliptical warmup , a 1-hr session with my trainer (core, arms, back), ran errands, then I came home and ran a 5.6K, and at night walked for 30+ min with my boyfriend and dog

I ate right at 2000- lots of small meals- protein shake, protein bars, fruit (strawberries and blueberries), eggs& egg whites, yogurt, ricew/tofu & beans, all nat'l pb & almond butter, whole oats....

My stomach always seems to be irritated at night, but other than that...I feel great- I just hate feeling full all the time! But- I do have more energy!