Fighting another plateau

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

I was doing well until last week, following my calorie count, and making real progress.  But I started feeling hungry last week.  And can't seem to fight past that hunger, unless I really pick up my activity, like Sunday when I basically worked in the yard virutally all day.  Last night for example I was still feeling hungry about mid evening.  So even though I didn't over eat, I did eat more than I usually was eating prior to last week. 

So I am going to do 2 things.  First, increase the size of the meals I do eat, still staying below my calorie count, but not trying to undercut my allowed amount by so much.  My plan allows me to eat about 1600 calories a day, and up until last week I was normally averaging a net of 1200.  Now I can eat slightly larger meals (400-500 calories) and a snack (200 cal) and still stay within my range.  Provided I perform the second part of my plan.

Part two, step up my exercise.  Since I have a little more time now for lunch sit I don't have to run home and let the dog out.  I can start up the Couch to 5K plan on my lunch breaks, and still comfortably have time for lunch.  That will increase my calorie burn 3 days a week.  And as I progress I will start to really see a difference from that. 

The thing is, while I am in a slight plateau (hovering at 194), the formerly tight jeans I bought are feeling looser.  So I think that what is happening is my metabolism is changing, and the muscle that is being built needs more calories, and the last thing I want to do is starve it while it builds, so I think that I can increase the intake a little so long as the burn increases as well.

What it boils down to is another tipping point.  I got here by eating less, and getting more exercise.  But if I want to lose even more I will need to step up the exercise.  Which has the advantage of transforming my system.  But that transformation makes my body burn calories more efficiently, so while I can start to exercise and work longer, I need more food to compensate. 

Of course this is my semi-informed take on all of this, I could be off, but I don't think so.  And I base this knowledge on what I have seen actually work so far.