underweight and need advice, please help me.

pagophagia
pagophagia Posts: 24 Member
edited March 2019 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I'm having a really bad time and I'm sorry if this is really jumbled I just need advice.



In December, I started to gain a fear of gaining weight out of nowhere. My metabolism is pretty fast and I was afraid that once I hit 20 (i turned 20 in july) that meant that it was going to slow down. Obviously thats not how it works but nevertheless I started counting calories and working out a bit more to maintain my weight. At the time, I was 110-108 lbs. For some STUPID and IDIOTIC reason, I lowered my cals from 1700 to 1500,then 1500 to 13/1200,and I started working out almost every day mainly cardio. I currently eat 1288 avg calories a day. I honestly thought this wasn't a bad idea and thought I wasn't doing anything wrong because I didn't care if I lost maybe a few pounds or maintained my 110. Well, I went to the doctor today and it turns out I am 96lbs. I'm sure it was gradual and happened when I dropped my cals but I never wanted to be underweight. I'm 5'1. That is underweight.

I obviously want to gain a bit, but not much , I want to ideally be 106/108lbs again. My doc said to increase calories an work out less. How do I start, do I do it gradually, and also any other tips and advice you could offer... I don't even know what to do. How do I make sure I try not to go over my goal weight?

Replies

  • pagophagia
    pagophagia Posts: 24 Member
    i have a therapist guys, i was just scared to bring it up to her. i will now though. i never ever wanted it to be like this. i just wanted some advice on what to do. it is honestly so weird because i don't even think i look different per se, I think that I still look at least in the 100 pounds range. My arms have gotten skinnier, so have my legs but it doesn't look like a 15 lb difference. I don't know I just know that I need to gain a bit....
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,260 Member
    edited March 2019
    pagophagia wrote: »
    I lowered my cals from 1700 to 1500,then 1500 to 13/1200,and I started working out almost every day mainly cardio. I currently eat 1288 avg calories a day.....I want to ideally be 106/108lbs again. My doc said to increase calories an work out less.

    You increased exercise (I started working out almost every day mainly cardio) and lowered cals (from 1700 to 1288)... and the result was a gradual loss of weight.

    *IF* you cut exercise and increase your calories by the same degree that you lowered them you will regain that weight in approximately the same amount of time (there is a difference between a single weigh in and your weight level but we can talk about that another day).

    If you don't cut exercise then you will have to increase your calories beyond your original starting point, or weight restoration may take much longer, or it may not quite reach your original level.

    This is one reason people often recommend that you drastically reduce your exercise if trying to restore your weight.

    If you don't increase your calories beyond your original 1700, you will likely stop losing and possibly regain partially towards your original weight... but you probably won't manage to quite get there. It is however a good and minimum immediate first step to take.

    So, your first step is to start eating at the 1700 you started from and to stop all the additional exercise that you introduced.

    Or to start eating 2000 if you want to be slightly more aggressive towards getting yourself back to being weight restored, again while cutting all new exercise.

    It is quite likely at this stage that you would benefit from a referral to a specialist. You really should go back to your doctor and ask for a referral and some help.

    Please take care of yourself!
  • pagophagia
    pagophagia Posts: 24 Member
    edited March 2019
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    pagophagia wrote: »
    I lowered my cals from 1700 to 1500,then 1500 to 13/1200,and I started working out almost every day mainly cardio. I currently eat 1288 avg calories a day.....I want to ideally be 106/108lbs again. My doc said to increase calories an work out less.

    You increased exercise (I started working out almost every day mainly cardio) and lowered cals (from 1700 to 1288)... and the result was a gradual loss of weight.

    *IF* you cut exercise and increase your calories by the same degree that you lowered them you will regain that weight in approximately the same amount of time (there is a difference between a single weigh in and your weight level but we can talk about that another day).

    If you don't cut exercise then you will have to increase your calories beyond your original starting point, or weight restoration may take much longer, or it may not quite reach your original level.

    This is one reason people often recommend that you drastically reduce your exercise if trying to restore your weight.

    If you don't increase your calories beyond your original 1700, you will likely stop losing and possibly regain partially towards your original weight... but you probably won't manage to quite get there. It is however a good and minimum immediate first step to take.

    So, your first step is to start eating at the 1700 you started from and to stop all the additional exercise that you introduced.

    Or to start eating 2000 if you want to be slightly more aggressive towards getting yourself back to being weight restored, again while cutting all new exercise.

    It is quite likely at this stage that you would benefit from a referral to a specialist. You really should go back to your doctor and ask for a referral and some help.

    Please take care of yourself!

    Thanks for the info, should I do the 1700 gradually or should I start it right away? Also, do macros really count for this or should I just forget about them and focus on my total caloric intake?
  • MmeZeeZee
    MmeZeeZee Posts: 18 Member
    Is there something else going on in your life right now that you're worried about?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    as a way to build your cals up, I usually suggest adding 100 cals to your day for a week, following week another 100 cals, and repeat until you get to your desired intake. though there is nothing wrong with jumping right to 1700 either.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    Not much more to advise here other than let your therapist know that you are having obsessive thoughts about calories and calorie counting and macro tracking. It's likely that you don't need to track any of these and focus on simply eating more food. It's a tough rabbit hole to get out of. It could be that you need an elevated level of care. I wish you all the best on your recovery.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Based on your other threads, it sounds like you have anxiety around eating enough to properly nourish yourself. This is a really common problem! Be candid with your doctor about your anxieties so they can help refer you to a specialist. Good luck getting healthy! Being underweight isn't good for you so don't worry so much about going over your goal weight. What you think that is now may be really different than what you eventually decide it is.
    You're right in the middle of this illness and that's not the best spot to be determining your long-term goal weight. I know "don't worry" is easier said than done, which is why you could really use professional help with navigating this.

    This. Great advice.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    pagophagia wrote: »
    i have a therapist guys, i was just scared to bring it up to her. i will now though. i never ever wanted it to be like this. i just wanted some advice on what to do. it is honestly so weird because i don't even think i look different per se, I think that I still look at least in the 100 pounds range. My arms have gotten skinnier, so have my legs but it doesn't look like a 15 lb difference. I don't know I just know that I need to gain a bit....

    She can’t help you if you don’t put it all out there for you. She’s not there to judge, she’s there to help. And hearing about your food fears may be the thing that clicks for her and really helps her, help you.

    Body dismorphia could be affecting how you see yourself. You want to be healthy and not negatively affect your body, talk with your therapist so she can help before your habits become more unhealthy. You’re the only you, you’ve got. Please take care of yourself.

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