Gaining weight on a lower calorie diet

nickleforapinickle

Stats: Female, 19, 5'4, 135 lbs (now)
Exercise: 4 times a week min.
Student, lightly active
Highest weight: 230 lbs
So, I have spent the past two years struggling with my diet. When I was at my highest, I drastically reduced my calories and lost a significant amount of weight in say 6 months. Went from 230 to 150... so yeah. Basically, the way I got there was bad so maintaining (how do u spell) that constant progress grew difficult. I started binge-restricting (for a year basically) and after a while and got down to 130 lbs last month.
I started resistance training as recommended by my bf to gain muscle and lose the loose fat that has lingered on my body. But i'm freaking out a bit (just a bit) because I have had to increase my daily calories from a mere 500 -1000 to about 1400-1700 because, you know I'm feeling hungrier after doing something other than just pure cardio. So, with my horrible diet cycle and all, I'm freaking out more because i'm seeing the scale just go up.
My mile time has gotten better, as has my stamina, so I know i'm getting healthier(?) So i want to continue. But is my metabolism too low now? I'm worried that some of the weight i'm gaining is fat?
Essentially I just need general advice/help/anything at this point.
Sorry if this seems whinny or ranty. Thank you

collectingblues

You've replenished your glycogen stores. A 3-5 pound gain is absolutely normal when you do that, and it'll level out. Plus, you've started a new workout routine. That's also going to bring water weight.

It'll all settle out in 6 weeks or so.

You were eating way too little before. You're eating healthily now. Keep doing that, and let your body adjust.

Step away from the scale if that's what you need to do.

bunnyaa

When trying to maintain you should add back calories gradually. I've heard 100 calories a day for 2 weeks and then another 100 calories a day for the next 2 weeks and so on until you notice weight gain and then adjust calories accordingly. Some weight gain is normal with weightlifting. Previous post is right about the scale, maybe weigh yourself once a week just to stay on track. Day to day weight fluctuations can do a number on you mentally especially with new weight loss.