What Is Reverse Dieting and Signs You Need It

When losing weight, you are likely to search for effective diets, most of which suggest giving up your favorite food to shed pounds fast. Not only is it misleading, but it may lower the quality of your life significantly. After all, the whole point of losing weight is to stay healthy and feel confident while enjoying your life, right? Following a strict diet indefinitely doesn’t always yield successful results, but the time (and perhaps the mental and physical damage) of these strict programs cannot be reversed. 

That’s why, at Strong with Sarah, we personalize nutrition for our clients, allowing you to enjoy your favorite wine, cake, or cupcake in moderation. 

But what if you have been following expert advice and your scale hasn’t budged yet? It means you have reached a weight loss barrier. One way to overcome this is to…eat more! 

I know, I know – it sounds crazy! But bear with me while I explain… 

Reversed dieting is based on increasing your calories to help you lose weight or to maintain your weight loss results. Sounds confusing? Keep reading to find out why this phase of dieting makes sense and whether you need it. 

What Is a Reverse Diet? 

Reverse dieting involves gradually increasing your calorie intake for a certain amount of time. This is done to help you boost your metabolism and make your body burn more calories. It can also be done once you’ve reached your weight loss goal and are ready to return to maintenance.

Reverse dieting is also known as a diet you follow after another diet, especially if it is a rather restrictive one. For example, if you are in a calorie deficit, it means you’re consuming a reduced amount of calories. In order to maintain weight and not gain the pounds back, you need to slowly introduce more calories into your diet and sustain your weight.  

This kind of dieting is popular among bodybuilders who follow a restrictive diet before a competition and switch to a reversed diet to return to their sustainable body composition. 

Is Reversed Dieting a Fad?

Quite the opposite–reverse dieting is a strategy used to prevent gaining unwanted weight. It is suitable for professional athletes and bodybuilders, along with people who follow a less restrictive diet for health benefits. 

How Does Reverse Dieting Work?

When you consume fewer calories than you burn, your body adapts to this change and slows down your metabolism. This, in turn, makes your diet less efficient, but reducing calories even further isn’t always the right solution for everyone. 

Instead, switching to a reverse diet helps you normalize your body for a few weeks, maintain a sustainable weight, and make it easier to lose pounds when you start a new calorie deficit phase.