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Author: Andi
Date: 05-06-03 15:48
I need some help. A few months ago, with no changes in eating habits or activity, I sarted gaining weight. I went from 120 to 145, but have been at 140 for several weeks. I am going to the doctor to rule out a thyroid problems. But I think that I am eating too few calories a day. Including beverages, I am usually under 1,000 calories a day, usually less, sometimes as little as 200-300. My problem is I just don't know how to diet in moderation. I am a recovered anorexic, and the "fixed" my to the point where I pretty much ate whatever I wanted. Now that I've started gaining weight, I reduced my calorie intake, go to the gym and do cardio and weight training 3 days a week, and talk a brisk, hilly 30 minute walk 3 days a week. It has been over a month of this with no weight loss. I think my problem is that I am eating so few calories that my body has gone into starvation mode. I just can't seem to diet in moderation. It's either all or nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am so frustrated to be putting forth so much effort and seeing no results. I am reluctant to join a group that tells you what to eat and gives you recipes. I am a picky eater; I hate vegetables. I love fruit though and have been eating plenty of it. I mostly eat fruit, yogurt, high fiber, low sugar cereal, and chicken breast. If anyone has any advice on how I can diet moderatly, I would love to hear from them. I'm am so frustrated with this extra weight.
Thanks,
Andi
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Author: NancyB 160-149-140
Date: 05-06-03 18:16
Andi, you should see a doctor and/or a nutritionist.
I will say, though, that from what I've learned 200-300 calories a day is definitely dangerous, and even being under 1000 is not good. You're probably right about your body trying to save itself from starvation.
At this point maybe what you eat is secondary to how much you eat. You might need more help with your former anexoria. Please get medical attention, and good luck to you. Keep us posted.
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Author: Andi
Date: 05-06-03 19:10
I've made an appointment with my doctor, but since I'm not urgently ill, I can't get in for a month.NancyB 160-149-140 wrote:
>
> Andi, you should see a doctor and/or a nutritionist.
>
> I will say, though, that from what I've learned 200-300
> calories a day is definitely dangerous, and even being under
> 1000 is not good. You're probably right about your body
> trying to save itself from starvation.
>
> At this point maybe what you eat is secondary to how much you
> eat. You might need more help with your former anexoria.
> Please get medical attention, and good luck to you. Keep us
> posted.
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Author: GymMachine
Date: 05-06-03 20:19
your essentially not losing weight because your screwing with your metabolism...under 1200 odd is dangerous to your health...its funny by eating more you can lose more weight....dont be afraid to try and do so because your exercise efforts will take care of the rest.
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Author: miranda 230/149/140
Date: 05-07-03 05:29
I don't believe there is any such thing as "starvation mode" for most people, i.e., the idea that you stop losing weight if you eat too little, but I also don't know how anorexia can affect one's metabolism. I strongly agree that you should see a doctor, rather than trying to lose weight on your own (my doctor has been very helpful to me). If you are indeed eating that little and not losing weight, there is something wrong that you should not try to handle on your own. In the meantime, it might be a good idea for you to eat normally, and then very carefully track your calories on Fitday.com or a similar tool. Fruit, for instance, can have a lot of calories. And you have to count everything, including small snacks, "healthy food," etc., in order to get an accurate count. If you wanted to do this, it might give you and your doctor a more accurate idea of how many calories you've been consuming, so you can make the best of the appointment you have to wait so long for. Just a thought.
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Author: Brandy 260/248.5/160
Date: 05-07-03 08:43
i think there probably IS such a thing as starvation mode
but the question is How long can it last?
your body can refuse to lose the weight for a while but think about it? if you are not giving yourself the fuel you need, your body is forced to use any fat stores that are left ect. The problem is that in doing this your body is forced to use supplies that are needed for proper functioning. If things continue this way for long periods you start to have damage to vital organs. Your body needs so much fat to survive. This is why you start to see things like your hair falling out ect...
Starving yourself to this point is Not the way to go
I agree with Gym sometimes eating more, you will actually lose weight because you will increase your metabolism and your body will not be trying to hold on to things..
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Author: sg 190/158/130
Date: 05-07-03 09:39
I agree with miranda 100%. In my case, I really believed I was eating 600 calories a day but I was eating a lot more (I'd guess around 1800+) I was eating foods that I underestimated the calories for, and subconsciously.. the next day I would end up starving myself during the day (probably from the prior night's binge) and eating 10x more at night. I tricked myself into thinking "hey you didn't eat anything all day. why aren't you losing weight?" and ignored the fact that I was eating like a horse, albeit healthily, at nighttime. I even had an episode of hypoglycemia where I almost fainted and broke out into a drenching sweat during the day. I was ready to give up at this point. I thought "my body won't let me lose weight."
This was not the case. I wasn't spacing out my meals properly and I was eating way too many calories in the evening. I started to keep better track of my calories and within a couple weeks, I lost a couple lbs again. So I'm back on track. I don't feel hungry, I space out what I eat in a more sensible manner, and as a result, I don't binge anymore either. In the end I am eating less calories (around 1100 per day), losing weight, and feeling good. Our minds can rationalize that cookie or that ONE spoon of peanut butter but our bodies absolutely do not. bottom line is that you can't negotiate with and you can't fool your body. the only thing you can do is make sure you burn more than you eat either through exercise, reduced calories, or my method -- a combo of both.
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Author: Andi
Date: 05-07-03 15:58
I do compulsively measure my food and track my calories. The fruit I eat is generally low cal (cantalope, strawberries). So I assure you that eating too many calories is not my problem. I've gotten a little better, but for a while I ate 1/2 cup high fiber, low sugar cereal w/ 1/4 cup milk. I skipped lunch, and then ate 1/2 cup low cal fruit for dessert, possibly a container of yogurt or a plain chicken breast instead if I wanted to treat myself. This usually added up to 200-300 calories per day, so I assure you that eating too many calories is not the problem, and I am not under estimating.
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