Chronic undereating

micropreemiemum

Hey guys,
Basically i have spiralled into a pattern of eating between 800 to 1200 calories a day. I am 5ft 1in and have lost 2st 10lbs so now weigh 7st exactly, bmi 18.9.
I always feel awful (constantly freezing, dry sore mouth, buzzing ears, blurred vision, bruises, weakness, bones hurt when they touch e.g. knees ) and i think it is down to not eating enough everyday.
Does anyone know how much i need to eat to maintain weight but reduce these side effects? Sick of feeling rubbish. I am trying to up my intake and managed 1142 yesterday

TavistockToad

see a doctor, as you are listing symptoms that are potentially very serious.

set MFP to maintain your weight, and eat that number, plus exercise calories, or google scooby calculator to get your TDEE. add more calorie dense food like peanut butter, full fat dairy, avocado, olive oil to up your cals.

LivingtheLeanDream

See a doctor!
But it sounds like you have starved your body for too long.
At 5ft 1" and sedentary your maintenance will be around 1350. Of course if you are active that number will be higher.

micropreemiemum

I havent done it on purpose its just a normal ammount to eat for me, i used to eat 500 max a day but found i lost quicker eating more...
I find i really have to work at eating to eat above 1000... i do have meals out when i eat over but these are rare

Alatariel75

You don't need to eat more in volume necessarily, just higher calorie foods. Full fat dairy, add oils to salads and vegetables, less lean cuts of meat, avocados and nuts and nut butters...

TavistockToad

micropreemiemum wrote: »

I havent done it on purpose its just a normal ammount to eat for me, i used to eat 500 max a day but found i lost quicker eating more...
I find i really have to work at eating to eat above 1000... i do have meals out when i eat over but these are rare

if its a 'normal' amount for you to eat, how did you ever get to the point of needing to lose weight?

micropreemiemum

I was 9st 10lbs after having a baby and sitting in hospital with him for 5 months so i wanted to get healthy again...
I struggle with a lot of foods as i am sort of scared of them after restricting them for so long... meat, white bread, potatoes, white pasta/rice, cake, cream, butter, sauces, crackers etc

micropreemiemum

Okay thank you, i was worried as i had read that i need 3000 calories a day because i have starved myself for so so long and i have all those symptoms plus ammnorhea!

JustMissTracy

You already know you're not eating enough. 1200 is the minimum suggested for women, the MINIMUM. If you can't convince yourself easily to eat more, you need to see a doctor and talk about your food "fears". Your child deserves a healthy mom.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

micropreemiemum wrote: »

Okay thank you, i was worried as i had read that i need 3000 calories a day because i have starved myself for so so long and i have all those symptoms plus ammnorhea!

Wait until you start to lose hair, teeth and bone density. It is awful to live with on a day to basis.

3000 calories is an amount a lot of ED teams will prescribe people but it isn't an amount that everyone should have.

@TavistockToad is right, speak to your Doctor ASAP

Good luck, I hope you can build a healthy relationship with food for yourself and your child.

micropreemiemum

So would my eating not be considered disorder then?
My son is perfectly healthy

Alatariel75

Very low calories, physical side effects and a fear or reintroducing higher calorie foods does indicate disorder, yes.

No one is suggesting you aren't caring for your son, they're just saying he deserves a healthy mum.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

micropreemiemum wrote: »

So would my eating not be considered disorder then?
My son is perfectly healthy

I don't know, that is up to a Doctor to diagnose.

Your son will learn from you. If you are eating very little in the way of fresh food, low on protein and eating below your tdee then that is not going to give him a healthy relationship with food.

TavistockToad

micropreemiemum wrote: »

I was 9st 10lbs after having a baby and sitting in hospital with him for 5 months so i wanted to get healthy again...
I struggle with a lot of foods as i am sort of scared of them after restricting them for so long... meat, white bread, potatoes, white pasta/rice, cake, cream, butter, sauces, crackers etc

being 'scared' of food is pretty disordered.

you are in no way healthy at the moment, that needs addressing.

micropreemiemum

We eat lots of vegetables, fish, eggs and vegetarian foods so not low in any of that

micropreemiemum

Thank you, i am adding tiny extras on each day so i dont overwhelm myself and panic (did this on saturday night! Disaster!)
I know it is bad and affects my life so much which is why i asked for advice i dont want to jump high then gain lots as i know i will panic. This sucks, counting calories sucks, being ill sucks, having no social life sucks, over exercising sucks...but its not that easy to just flick the switch and change

TavistockToad

micropreemiemum wrote: »

Thank you, i am adding tiny extras on each day so i dont overwhelm myself and panic (did this on saturday night! Disaster!)
I know it is bad and affects my life so much which is why i asked for advice i dont want to jump high then gain lots as i know i will panic. This sucks, counting calories sucks, being ill sucks, having no social life sucks, over exercising sucks...but its not that easy to just flick the switch and change

which is why we have suggested getting some help to stop you feeling like that

trigden1991

Increase your calories to maintenance and see a doctor/health professional/therapist asap.

JustMissTracy

micropreemiemum wrote: »

Thank you, i am adding tiny extras on each day so i dont overwhelm myself and panic (did this on saturday night! Disaster!)
I know it is bad and affects my life so much which is why i asked for advice i dont want to jump high then gain lots as i know i will panic. This sucks, counting calories sucks, being ill sucks, having no social life sucks, over exercising sucks...but its not that easy to just flick the switch and change

I've bolded where I think your problem is. It's not with your parenting, or with your choice of food even..it's with your thinking. This is why we're suggesting you see a doctor, get a handle on the thinking. Eating food should never cause one to feel panic, unless they've eaten something they are allergic to. Panic is a sign of distress, you shouldn't be distressed about eating, as it's something you'll be doing for the rest of your life, every single day. Please get help with the thinking, I think you can be very successful if you do xo

micropreemiemum

Oh thank you for that lovely, i will act on your advice xxx

JustMissTracy

You just made my day, good to hear! xo

singingflutelady

It's so awesome that you recognize that what you are doing is unhealthy and you want to get better! That's a huge first step As a (mostly) recovered anorexic (not saying you are anorexic though you have a lot of similar anxiety around food as eating disorder patients) I can tell you that puts you a lot farther ahead than many people who do not have the self awareness that what they are doing isn't healthy. You also show a willingness to change. With some help on dealing with anxiety (which I like to call "stinking thinking") I believe you will be very successful! Good luck!

micropreemiemum

Oh thank you lovely! I am aware of how similar i am to the behaviours often seen with anorexia and now i am borderline underweight i think i need to act or it will develop into a full blown ED... i really want my periods back too so that is a big goal for me... i feel like i will still lose at 1200-1500 calories a day x

Ben_there_done_that

You got this! Good luck.

HappyGrape

I am glad you are taking advise on board. Look after yourself

agree with comments made, nothing else to say

singingflutelady

Such an awesome attitude! Don't be discouraged if you have set backs here and there as that is very normal. Just pick yourself up and remember why you are doing this and don't be afraid to ask for professional help. I know it's tough but they have the education and experience to give you many coping strategies. I think any professional would love to have someone with a great attitude and willingness to recover as a patient!

Helloitsdan

micropreemiemum wrote: »

So would my eating not be considered disorder then?
My son is perfectly healthy

Red flags everywhere

SoDamnHungry

micropreemiemum wrote: »

Okay thank you, i was worried as i had read that i need 3000 calories a day because i have starved myself for so so long and i have all those symptoms plus ammnorhea!

You should definitely make an appointment with your doctor, and potentially ask them to refer you to a nutritionist to really help out.