Feeling ill

rawk_fairy_666

Hi, im looking for some advice as i haven't been feeling well for the last week and i think its related to my diet.

I ended up getting a takeaway last night and going over calories because i felt too ill to even cook for myself, and that is not like me.

I have been on 1200 cals for 6 weeks and have lost 15lbs. Start weight 176, current weight 161, goal weight 126, height 5foot6.

I felt a bit weak and tired at first, so switched my meals around so i was eating more during the day, and less in the evening. This seemed to work really well and i have had plenty of energy, able to exercise and run around after my toddler, all fine.

For the last week, i have felt rotten. I constantly feel tired, keep feeling dizzy and sometimes feel faint. I am going to go to the dr, but thought i would ask for any advice here too as my gp isn't that good. I'm definitely not pregnant, no known health problems apart from PCOS, but that shouldn't cause me these issues.

My diary is open, but just to clarify, when it looks like i have been under my calories, it is because i have eaten with family/friends and had to estimate the calories, so allowed some wiggle room. Friday there is no entry for dinner, but i had shepherd's pie with veg, i just don't know the ingredients as it was made for me. I never starve myself, so why am i feeling like this?

Today i have started an iron supplement to see if that helps, and have increased my cals to 1370 to see if it makes it better. I am also going to cut out dairy as it has been making me bloated so i'm not sure if that is the problem. Am i missing anything? is 1200 just too low to sustain?

Any advice would be very greatfully received, I just want to feel better.

janejellyroll

What is your activity level?

rawk_fairy_666

lightly active, i have a toddler so im on the go quite a bit, i walk or swim for exercise most days usually. Im supposed to be swimming tonight but just dont feel well enough.

jemhh

I would feel like garbage too if I ate that little. 1200 at your height and weight is too low. Even 1370 is too low. Are you eating back any exercise calories?

I'm 5'6". I went fro 202.5 to 150 last year, never averaging less than 1750 per day total calories eaten. Right now I am closer to my ultimate goal and I average 2000 calories per day. I exercise 6 days a week so I'm not sure how that compares to you but I am certain that 1200 is too low. EAT. Fuel your body.

rawk_fairy_666

i have been eating back around half of my exercise cals.

janejellyroll

rawk_fairy_666 wrote: »

lightly active, i have a toddler so im on the go quite a bit, i walk or swim for exercise most days usually. Im supposed to be swimming tonight but just dont feel well enough.

Did MFP give you those calorie goals? What did you pick as your goal per week?

I'm not a doctor (obviously), but it really sounds like you aren't eating enough, especially since you are lightly active and exercising on top of that.

rawk_fairy_666

I am in no real hurry to lose this weight now, i just want to feel better. its really upsetting me that i dont have the energy to run around with my little girl. mfp seems to think that i use 1880cals in a day, so 1200 would be a 680 deficit. If i eat 1750 i would barely lose though would i?

rawk_fairy_666

janejellyroll wrote: »

rawk_fairy_666 wrote: »

lightly active, i have a toddler so im on the go quite a bit, i walk or swim for exercise most days usually. Im supposed to be swimming tonight but just dont feel well enough.

Did MFP give you those calorie goals? What did you pick as your goal per week?

I'm not a doctor (obviously), but it really sounds like you aren't eating enough, especially since you are lightly active and exercising on top of that.

i put in 2lbs at first, i didnt realise how extreme that was, im new at this.

i have changed it to 1lb now, and mfp is giving me a calorie goal of 1370

janejellyroll

rawk_fairy_666 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

rawk_fairy_666 wrote: »

lightly active, i have a toddler so im on the go quite a bit, i walk or swim for exercise most days usually. Im supposed to be swimming tonight but just dont feel well enough.

Did MFP give you those calorie goals? What did you pick as your goal per week?

I'm not a doctor (obviously), but it really sounds like you aren't eating enough, especially since you are lightly active and exercising on top of that.

i put in 2lbs at first, i didnt realise how extreme that was, im new at this.

i have changed it to 1lb now, and mfp is giving me a calorie goal of 1370

Is your activity set to lightly active and you're getting the goal of 1,370?

jemhh

The number that MFP gives you is an average. You likely set yourself up as sedentary. I would set your activity level as lightly active and set it up as a 1/2 pound per week weight loss. Eat at least half of your exercise calories back. I eat them all but I am guessing you will think it's too much food so just eat half for now.

If you set yourself up at a moderate deficit that lets you feel good and be active, you are likely going to stick with the program. If you set yourself up at a steep deficit (eating less than 2/3 of what you need to maintain is definitely a steep deficit) you are going to drop off because you will feel like crap (which you do already) and won't be able to enjoy yourself (running around after your child, etc.) In the long term, what is going to be better for weight loss, a slow yet maintainable program or one that you quit because you can't handle the side effects?

jemhh

.

jenncornelsen

i think your activity level is set to sedentary. mine is set to lightly active and 1lb a week and i get 1520 cals. I'm 5'4 and 154lbs. we are probably also close in age and at this calorie range i lose about 1.5lbs a week and am rarely hungry. i too tried the 1200 cals a day and felt like garbage.

rawk_fairy_666

you are right sorry i had it set to sedentary. I think when i started i thought to myself that i am not as active as a salesman/teacher. Perhaps i have underestimated the amount of cals i burn running around after my toddler. It is now telling me to eat 1600.

jemhh wrote: »

The number that MFP gives you is an average. You likely set yourself up as sedentary. I would set your activity level as lightly active and set it up as a 1/2 pound per week weight loss. Eat at least half of your exercise calories back. I eat them all but I am guessing you will think it's too much food so just eat half for now.

If you set yourself up at a moderate deficit that lets you feel good and be active, you are likely going to stick with the program. If you set yourself up at a steep deficit (eating less than 2/3 of what you need to maintain is definitely a steep deficit) you are going to drop off because you will feel like crap (which you do already) and won't be able to enjoy yourself (running around after your child, etc.) In the long term, what is going to be better for weight loss, a slow yet maintainable program or one that you quit because you can't handle the side effects?

I completely agree, i want to change long term, and be healthier, not just slimmer. I feel a lot better about my body already, so im more than happy to slow it down now if it means i will feel better.

rawk_fairy_666

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i think your activity level is set to sedentary. mine is set to lightly active and 1lb a week and i get 1520 cals. I'm 5'4 and 154lbs. we are probably also close in age and at this calorie range i lose about 1.5lbs a week and am rarely hungry. i too tried the 1200 cals a day and felt like garbage.

garbage is a good word for it!

janejellyroll

rawk_fairy_666 wrote: »

jenncornelsen wrote: »

i think your activity level is set to sedentary. mine is set to lightly active and 1lb a week and i get 1520 cals. I'm 5'4 and 154lbs. we are probably also close in age and at this calorie range i lose about 1.5lbs a week and am rarely hungry. i too tried the 1200 cals a day and felt like garbage.

garbage is a good word for it!

Yeah, I was eating too low when I started here. I was losing weight at about the same pace that you are. I also felt like "garbage." I upped my calories and began eating back about 25-50% of my exercise calories and felt better almost immediately.

Good luck!