I think my metabolism is destroyed?

iamaceofcards

Hey, I'm 19 years old and due to a really strenuous exam year I put on around 60 pounds because I had no time to exercise and I binged a lot. Before that I weighed 120lbs and I were a synchronised swimmer, which ment 2+ hours of training a day, I also was eating too little (like stupid teens do) around 1000 calories a day. Now that my exams are over I am trying to get healthy again, but can't manage to eat more than 1000 calories, when a week ago I was eating more than 2000, and yet I don't lose weight. How much have I destroyed my metabolism? Is there a way to boost it?

Redordeadhead

Has it only been 1 week? Way too soon to judge anything.

You need to eat more than 1000 calories in any case. 1200 net minimum if you are female.

rheddmobile

athanasia_ wrote: »

Hey, I'm 19 years old and due to a really strenuous exam year I put on around 60 pounds because I had no time to exercise and I binged a lot. Before that I weighed 120lbs and I were a synchronised swimmer, which ment 2+ hours of training a day, I also was eating too little (like stupid teens do) around 1000 calories a day. Now that my exams are over I am trying to get healthy again, but can't manage to eat more than 1000 calories, when a week ago I was eating more than 2000, and yet I don't lose weight. How much have I destroyed my metabolism? Is there a way to boost it?

Except in very rare cases, a destroyed metabolism is not a thing. Even if your metabolism is lower than it should be, it will not be so low that you are unable to lose weight by eating in a deficit. It just may be that your calories per day are a little lower than expected.

Are you weighing and logging all your food? The most likely thing is that you are eating far more than 1000 calories. If you really aren’t, eat a minimum of 1200 calories. It’s not hard, one spoonful of peanut butter will take you from 1000 to 1200. Then be patient. If nothing is moving after three weeks, come back and ask more questions.

NovusDies

Are you using a food scale?

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1

Are you choosing the correct MFP entries when you log?

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

Metabolisms are not that easy to "destroy" and chances are that even back then you were eating more than you realized so it is even more of a non-issue.

Enter your information into MFP and let it set a calorie goal for a 1.5 pound per week loss and EAT THAT AMOUNT plus a portion of your exercise calories. Work on weighing your food and logging accurately and in 6 weeks not 1 week you can check to make sure you are losing at or around the 1.5 pounds per week.

At 180 you should stick to 1.5 pounds per week until you get down to 150 and then drop to 1 pound per week. At 10-15 pounds to goal the common advice is to drop to .5 pounds per week.

quiksylver296

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

EmBeatie

Building muscle is supposed to help.

psychod787

EmBeatie wrote: »

Building muscle is supposed to help.

yeah like 7 calories a pound...... OP, you have not destroyed your metabolism..... might I make a suggestion.... you are young.... I understand you want to lose weight, maybe do something I didnt when I was young and have paid a price constantly for.... take up a healthy lifestyle and let your weight go with it. just a though....

Hannahwalksfar

You can’t really destroy your metabolism except in very rare cases. You’ve probably just slowed it down from eating too little. You need to up your exercise and build calories slowly.l over time to recalibrate your body basically. I suggest getting a personal trainer who is also educated in diet and nutrition to help you do this.

jgnatca

I suggest building up slowly to minimum 1200 calories a day. This is easily accomplished with one cup of juice or soda, a bag of chips, a handful of hikers mix or a big cookie.

I think your metabolism is fine but your appetite might be out of whack.

Add some exercise to your day, maybe a long walk before supper to help jazz your appetite.

staticsplit

Your metabolism is fine. Stop undereating (but do weigh your food to make sure you haven't been underestimating), do some moderate exercise, be patient. Weight loss is not linear. Start thinking in terms of months, not weeks.

apullum

You have not destroyed your metabolism. If your metabolism was actually broken, you'd be seriously ill if not dead.

Your metabolism does not need a boost. It is not a car battery.

There is nothing wrong with your metabolism.

First of all, one week is too little time to see results in any weight loss program.

Second, if you are actually eating 1000 calories per day, then you're undereating and putting yourself at risk for various health problems. However, if you aren't using a food scale to measure ALL your food, then you're likely eating more than you think you are. In your case, this is a good thing, since 1000 calories would be undereating.

Put your stats into MFP. Select 1 lb/week rate of weight loss if you want to lose 60 pounds. Use a food scale to weigh ALL your food. Eat the number of calories MFP gives you, plus exercise calories. Do this consistently and be patient.

psychod787

jgnatca wrote: »

I suggest building up slowly to minimum 1200 calories a day. This is easily accomplished with one cup of juice or soda, a bag of chips, a handful of hikers mix or a big cookie.

I think your metabolism is fine but your appetite might be out of whack.

Add some exercise to your day, maybe a long walk before supper to help jazz your appetite.

Yes... especially if she has increased protein and fibrous veggies. Both have been shown to spontaneously reduce caloric intake.

iamaceofcards

Hey, thanks everyone, I am using a food scale, I can see that I might have been inpatient, it is just that I've never been that heavy and was always active so that's a big change in my stamina and body image. I will try to increase my calories and exercise more, thanks a lot..

CSARdiver

Metabolism is simply a collection of biochemical pathways. There is no such thing as low or high, destroyed or optimal....it either is operating or you are dead.

Weight is an output of your behavior. Take a long careful look at your behavior and implement control over this - do this slowly and gradually. Don't make drastic changes unless under close professional medical observation.

deannalfisher

i would say your hunger signals (or lack there of) could also be attributed to stress - university/exams etc can be stressful and i know for me, stress (physical/mental/emotional) = not hungry

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Losing weight when you can focus 100% on yourself is hard. Losing weight when 100% of your focus is on something else is much harder!

You need to develop good habits that carry you through even when your attention is diverted. Habits like: I do not eat pizza, beer, and ice cream in the same evening. Stuff like that.