Advice needed please
ashleygroizard
Posts: 181 Member
Hi I’ve slowly over time reduced the amount I eat. Now I don’t eat much at all and I’m worried if I start eating more I’ll gain weight. If I was to eat six very small meals a day would that help me lose weight and get my metabolism up and burn away the fat or will my weight slowly creep back up? Or should I just keep doing what I’m doing to keep up my weight loss because it’s working? I’m worried if I’m not eating much my body will store fat and not burn it with eating less and exercising. I’m confused. I know I post a lot but it’s good getting different information off people. I usually eat two small meals a day and one or two snacks. Sometimes I don’t eat snacks. Would love some advice if anyone would like to comment. Thank you
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Replies
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How many calories are you eating and what are your stats?
Whilst you probably need not worry about the body storing fat (your TDEE may drop if you're in a deficit long term due to metabolic adaptation, but not enough to stop weight loss altogether, it would just slow it down.)
Undereating on the other hand, is a very bad idea for your health - 2 small meals and a snack doesn't sound like a lot of food.
Meal frequency and timing will have little to no impact on your weight loss, it's a personal preference for satiety and adherence to your calorie goal.
To lose weight you must simply eat less than you burn.
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I’m eating 1000-1200 calories.7
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Two small meals and two snacks and days under 1200 calories sounds like you’re seriously under eating. But you haven’t shared your height or weight or age.
You should set MFP for reasonable weight of loss and eat all those calories. Your weight may go up temporarily as your body replenishes glycogen stores, etc, but this won’t mean that your body is holding on to fat. Give it time to work itself out.
You don’t want to eat tiny amounts of foods forever with the anxiety that you’ll gain if you eat more, right? That’s the mentality that can lead to binges and eventually throwing in the towel.4 -
Unless you weigh about 70 pounds, that is not enough food. I am very small - only 5 foot and about 104 pounds (and am also 54) and can maintain that weight on 1600-1700 calories a day - eat some more!6
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Worrying about gaining weight is not emotionally sound. Sustained weight loss requires lifestyle changes not just caloric reduction.
The problem many people like you face is that as soon as you start denying yourself enough food, the body reacts. If you aren't getting enough calories it won't matter how often you eat. Your metabolism will slow and you are likely to retain fat stores as a protective measure.
Besides, look at it this way, how long do you plan on keeping your intake so low? a month, a year?
You need to recognize that there is a difference between "dieting" and sustained weight loss. Dieting typically focuses on calorie reduction whereas weight loss requires changes in lifestyle.
Eat healthy, nutritious foods - stay away from packaged, processed and fast food. Reduce sodium intake to 1600 - 2300 mg per day, cut out refined sugars and get regular exercise focusing on both aerobic and resistance (weights). Do this and the weight will take care of itself. Remember it doesn't come off overnight so don't expect to be shedding pounds quickly. Half to one and a half pounds per week is safe and expected for sustained weight loss.25 -
Have you mentioned how little you are eating to your doctors/treatment team? I believe you mentionned you were diagnosed with an eating disorter. we can help encourage you and offer some supprot to eat but health issues should be first and foremost be discussed with treatment team.
You are under eating. that can lead to major health issues. it is crucial for your wellbeing that you eat more.9 -
In a previous post you mentioned you were recently diagnosed with Anorexia, and like the suggestions in that post, a lot of your mindset around weight loss is disordered and you should discuss your weight management with your treatment team. MFP may not be the best place for you whilst you're trying to work on your relationship with food.13
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tinkerbellang83 wrote: »In a previous post you mentioned you were recently diagnosed with Anorexia, and like the suggestions in that post, a lot of your mindset around weight loss is disordered and you should discuss your weight management with your treatment team. MFP may not be the best place for you whilst you're trying to work on your relationship with food.
Absolutely this. The really insidious thing about undereating is that cognition is altered and it's hard to get that back, so things that are dangerous start looking like a good idea.
OP, you are going to hurt yourself. Please call your treatment team for immediate help.8 -
Try changing your goal weight to your current weight and practicing eating the correct amount to stay the same size. I still track now that I am in maintenance because it frees me up to enjoy food and realize I can still eat enough without being afraid of gaining.0
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I haven’t got anorexia. I appreciate everyone’s comments thank you.2
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ashleygroizard wrote: »I haven’t got anorexia. I appreciate everyone’s comments thank you.
Have your providers changed the diagnosis of atypical anorexia that you said they’d told you?6 -
I believe they got it wrong. I’m just a fat girl trying to lose weight, and I should never posted that I have an eating disorder8
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ashleygroizard wrote: »I believe they got it wrong. I’m just a fat girl trying to lose weight, and I should never posted that I have an eating disorder
Your posts would suggest otherwise, your anxiety around gaining weight is not that of someone just trying to lose weight, you are maybe 15-20lbs above a healthy weight - that isn't fat, it's a little overweight, that is not a reason to be eating as low as you are or starving yourself for 3 days trying to live on coffee.
Don't ignore what your doctors are telling you because you think you know better, what you're doing to yourself isn't healthy and has the potential to get worse if you don't address it.
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ashleygroizard wrote: »I believe they got it wrong. I’m just a fat girl trying to lose weight, and I should never posted that I have an eating disorder
I believe that if you went for treatment there was a part of you that knew something was off. The diagnosis confirmed it. Please go back before this gets worse.10 -
I'm a old guy so take it for what it is worth. I started at 268#. I'm at week 16. I'm at 225# (43# lost so far). I average 3.1# loss per week. I set my MFP goal at 2# per week. My goal is 165.
I eat 1500 cal a day. Without exercise I'm lucky to loose a pound. I'm exercising 600 to 1800 cal per day.
I have no thyroid (cancer).
Eat more and exercise more works for me.2 -
emilysusana wrote: »Two small meals and two snacks and days under 1200 calories sounds like you’re seriously under eating. But you haven’t shared your height or weight or age.
You should set MFP for reasonable weight of loss and eat all those calories. Your weight may go up temporarily as your body replenishes glycogen stores, etc, but this won’t mean that your body is holding on to fat. Give it time to work itself out.
You don’t want to eat tiny amounts of foods forever with the anxiety that you’ll gain if you eat more, right? That’s the mentality that can lead to binges and eventually throwing in the towel.
My height is 175cm my weight is 78kg and my age is 31. I’m not eating tiny amounts of food I am eating enough. I’m hoping to lose weight get to a healthy weight and hopefully tone up my stomach and maintain that weight for life that’s my goal and to hopefully get a bikini body if I can, not sure it’s possible but that’s what I’d like to do.0 -
Besides, look at it this way, how long do you plan on keeping your intake so low? a month, a year?
I plan on keeping it up until I get to a weight I am happy with and then I will eat abit more to maintain my weight well that’s the plan. Not sure it will work out like that but I’m hoping it to0 -
ashleygroizard wrote: »My height is 175cm my weight is 78kg
While BMI isn't an abolute measure of body health it is a good indicator for most, at that height and weight your BMI is 25.5, which is pretty darn close to a healthy weight range for your height. A better indicator for you is possibly a dexa scan to see where your body fat percantage is at.
You may want to consider taking the focus off the scale weight and work on weights/resistance (while ensuring your are eating sufficient for your height and weight - 1000 to 1200 is not sufficient). Exercise with the correct levels of calroies and macro nutrients would see you lose body fat while gaining lean body mass....your weight could well remain the same you you'd be visually smaller.
If you determined to continue down the road you are heading, fairly low calories, anxiety about gaining weight etc you are heading down down a unhealthy road in which your physical and mental health will continue to deteriorate.
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emilysusana wrote: »Two small meals and two snacks and days under 1200 calories sounds like you’re seriously under eating. But you haven’t shared your height or weight or age.
You should set MFP for reasonable weight of loss and eat all those calories. Your weight may go up temporarily as your body replenishes glycogen stores, etc, but this won’t mean that your body is holding on to fat. Give it time to work itself out.
You don’t want to eat tiny amounts of foods forever with the anxiety that you’ll gain if you eat more, right? That’s the mentality that can lead to binges and eventually throwing in the towel.
My height is 175cm and I’m 77.7kg and 32 years old. I don’t mind eating less I’m actually use to it now. I am really trying with this weight loss and I’m determined to keep losing weight but I’ve heard of a thing called set point weight just not sure what my set point weight is as my weight has been 57kg and as big as 126kg I know a big difference. I’ve quit heavy drugs and got put on heavy mental illness medication and quit cigarettes and ate to much and not exercised so I’m really trying to stay into my walking 7.9km walk and eating less and I’ve cut out most junk food except chocolate. I eat that sometimes. I’m not to knowledgeable about a calorie deficit I’m learning about that. I’m getting there. I’d love to get back to 57kgs but atm I’m just trying to get to 75kgs0 -
Weight loss takes time I suppose I’m just trying to hurry it up a bit. Some people lose 20kgs in two months where some people take years to lose 6kgs. It can be very frustrating, have u got any tips on weight loss?Pipsqueak1965 wrote: »Unless you weigh about 70 pounds, that is not enough food. I am very small - only 5 foot and about 104 pounds (and am also 54) and can maintain that weight on 1600-1700 calories a day - eat some more!
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Worrying about gaining weight is not emotionally sound. Sustained weight loss requires lifestyle changes not just caloric reduction.
The problem many people like you face is that as soon as you start denying yourself enough food, the body reacts. If you aren't getting enough calories it won't matter how often you eat. Your metabolism will slow and you are likely to retain fat stores as a protective measure.
How can I stop my metabolism going slow and not retain fat stores? Please help0 -
Have you mentioned how little you are eating to your doctors/treatment team? I believe you mentionned you were diagnosed with an eating disorter. we can help encourage you and offer some supprot to eat but health issues should be first and foremost be discussed with treatment team.
You are under eating. that can lead to major health issues. it is crucial for your wellbeing that you eat more.
What happened was the treatment team may have got it confused with dieting. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with losing weight. It’s kinda become an addiction a good one. I’ve calmed down a lot and I am still trying to lose weight but in a healthy way now. It’s slower but it still works. Thank you for being so concerned but I’m okay. Sometimes even doctors can get confused. I’m just keen to lose weight and keep the weight off. Have you got any suggestions to lose the last 20kgs and keep it off for life?2 -
tiptoethruthetulips wrote: »ashleygroizard wrote: »My height is 175cm my weight is 78kg
While BMI isn't an abolute measure of body health it is a good indicator for most, at that height and weight your BMI is 25.5, which is pretty darn close to a healthy weight range for your height. A better indicator for you is possibly a dexa scan to see where your body fat percantage is at.
You may want to consider taking the focus off the scale weight and work on weights/resistance (while ensuring your are eating sufficient for your height and weight - 1000 to 1200 is not sufficient). Exercise with the correct levels of calroies and macro nutrients would see you lose body fat while gaining lean body mass....your weight could well remain the same you you'd be visually smaller.
If you determined to continue down the road you are heading, fairly low calories, anxiety about gaining weight etc you are heading down down a unhealthy road in which your physical and mental health will continue to deteriorate.
I know I am closer to a healthy bmi then I use to be. I have increased my calories a bit. Thanks for your comment0 -
ashleygroizard wrote: »Have you mentioned how little you are eating to your doctors/treatment team? I believe you mentionned you were diagnosed with an eating disorter. we can help encourage you and offer some supprot to eat but health issues should be first and foremost be discussed with treatment team.
You are under eating. that can lead to major health issues. it is crucial for your wellbeing that you eat more.
What happened was the treatment team may have got it confused with dieting. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with losing weight. It’s kinda become an addiction a good one. I’ve calmed down a lot and I am still trying to lose weight but in a healthy way now. It’s slower but it still works. Thank you for being so concerned but I’m okay. Sometimes even doctors can get confused. I’m just keen to lose weight and keep the weight off. Have you got any suggestions to lose the last 20kgs and keep it off for life?
- set MFP to lose 1lb/week
- pick an appropriate activity level (without exercise, since MFP uses NEAT and not TDEE)
- weigh and track your food accurately
- eat a variety of foods that you enjoy and can stick to long-term
- be patient!2 -
Thank youMichelleSilverleaf wrote: »ashleygroizard wrote: »Have you mentioned how little you are eating to your doctors/treatment team? I believe you mentionned you were diagnosed with an eating disorter. we can help encourage you and offer some supprot to eat but health issues should be first and foremost be discussed with treatment team.
You are under eating. that can lead to major health issues. it is crucial for your wellbeing that you eat more.
What happened was the treatment team may have got it confused with dieting. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with losing weight. It’s kinda become an addiction a good one. I’ve calmed down a lot and I am still trying to lose weight but in a healthy way now. It’s slower but it still works. Thank you for being so concerned but I’m okay. Sometimes even doctors can get confused. I’m just keen to lose weight and keep the weight off. Have you got any suggestions to lose the last 20kgs and keep it off for life?
- set MFP to lose 1lb/week
- pick an appropriate activity level (without exercise, since MFP uses NEAT and not TDEE)
- weigh and track your food accurately
- eat a variety of foods that you enjoy and can stick to long-term
- be patient!
0
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