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Ok, bear with me if this has been said again and again. I’ve searched the forums and the book and haven’t found the answer. If I’ve been on a low-carb diet for a couple of years now (plus all the years of yo-yo low fat, starvation diets) and I want to repair my metabolism, is it possible to add back carbs and sugar in moderation and still get results? For example, having buttered toast with breakfast, a big sandwich for lunch and rice with dinner. I’m trying to “refeed” and find that I’m force feeding ice cream to myself after dinner even though I’m actually satisfied from dinner and not hungry. Last night I actually felt sick after eating ice cream. I’m adding sugar to my coffee even though plain half and half is quite tasty to me. Won’t my metabolism still repair by just eating a balanced diet (no macronutrient restrictions) and as long as I’m eating to satisfaction and not restricting calories in any way (say, eating 2000 or so calories a day vs forcing 2500 calories a day? Although I have no idea how many calories I’m eating because I’m not counting) I assume it would take a lot longer (maybe a few years?). I’m actually finding I have to focus on food in a way that is not natural in order to get enough and that in itself seems kind of contrary to the point. Or is there more to it than that? Do you actually need an extra abundance to repair your metabolism?
Berry, some people may think differently, but I think you are best off going slow and working with your appetite. I would not force feed. The quicker you can tune into your body’s signals the better. Your appetite will catch up if it needs to. Yes, you should repair just eating a balanced diet, 3 meals/day, as you are doing. In fact, I would argue that is the best thing you can do. If your body decides it needs more carbs or sugar, or calories overall, you will start craving them in a big way and can always adjust. Our bodies are pretty smart, and once yours senses you are feeding it what it wants, it will give you signals.
If you go against your appetite and start force feeding, you will just screw up your signals more. Really the only time it is necessary to do so is when really starving in an anorexia-type situation when people completely lose their appetites. Does not sound like that is happening for you. If 2,000 cals feels right to you, it probably is at this point. It might adjust higher later, but you can always feel that out.
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