Negative Net Calories

penguinmama87

user20012001 wrote: »

Thank you all, my calories tracked should be accurate as I weigh almost all my food down the closest gram or eat pre portioned things, I do definitely have binges some days. I’d like to get more lean and slim down slightly more but haven’t been able to drop weight even in this deficit which is why I posted and wondered if I was misunderstanding the net calories

Stress on your body causes water retention which is not the same thing as fat on the scale. Undereating this severely for a long time is definitely stressful. As I and others have mentioned, eating this way is counterproductive and harmful.

I would encourage you to check out the resource page posted by @kshama2001 . Consulting a doctor might also be wise.

I hope you will heed all of the thoughtful advice given on this thread.

callsitlikeiseeit

you need to lose weight like i need to add another dog to this farm.

I DON'T!

Look, what you WANT to do, even though you don't KNOW it, is called RECOMP. and its going to scare the *kitten* out of you, because its going to require that you EAT.

don't stop reading.

You are also going to take your happy little behind down to a gym (a real gym. with weights.) and talk to a person who works there. You are going to start to pick up heavy things. on a regular basis. And get stronger. And then pick up heavier things. And get even stronger. And do this over and over. And over TIME (because it does NOT give instant results) your body will start to CHANGE. No, you will NOT look like a bodybuilder. NOTHING LIKE THAT. You can not look like that without TRYING to look like that. And this, does not do that. I promise. But it WILL make you LOOK THINNER AND STRONGER. YES! BOTH! AT THE SAME TIME!

that is what recomp does.

BUT YOU HAVE TO EAT.

go eat something. then tomorrow, go to a gym and find a trainer. make a plan with them. and STICK to that plan. EVEN IF IT SCARES YOU.

It will be worth it and it IS what you want. you just dont know it.

PAV8888

From an underweight position slimming down doesn't get accomplished by a deficit and by losing more weight including muscle

AnnPT77

user20012001 wrote: »

Thank you all, my calories tracked should be accurate as I weigh almost all my food down the closest gram or eat pre portioned things, I do definitely have binges some days. I’d like to get more lean and slim down slightly more but haven’t been able to drop weight even in this deficit which is why I posted and wondered if I was misunderstanding the net calories

By "lean and slim", most people mean "toned", fit-looking, athletic-looking, like the fitness influencers photoshop themselves to pretend to look. Is that what you mean?

You're 5'5" and female. I'm 5'5" and female. I don't know your frame size, but mine is fairly narrow, so I'm best in the lower part of the normal BMI range. At 110, you're in the underweight BMI range. I've never weighed 110, though I did weigh 113 briefly when I was younger, after being ill. It was extremely thin, for me. (I now weigh in the 120s.)

There is a super-lean, strong, slim woman here on MFP who is also 5'5", every abdominal muscle visible, and the rest of her body to match, about the minimum of body fat that's compatible with health for a woman. She weighs in the 150s. I'm not saying that to suggest you necessarily want that style of body (I wouldn't mind, but I'm not willing to do the patient hard work to get there).

What I'm saying is that "slim and lean", with the usual definition of those terms, is not a function of a particular number on the scale. It's a function of being strong, with some muscle (whatever amount you personally like), and a healthy minimum of overlying fat so that the muscle shows in just the way you prefer.

At an underweight BMI, losing more fat will not lead to "lean and slim" by that usual definition. I hate to put it this baldly, but it will lead to looking stringy and bony, and is likely to lead to poorer health. It's not a good plan for health or appearance.

My advice would be to see your doctor, discuss your weight management plans with him or her, and ask for a referral to a registered dietitian to help you.

You may wish to pursue recomposition, but it seems likely to me that a very slow weight *gain* would be a better idea (you probably don't have enough body fat to power the recomp well), using a very healthy, nutritious eating style, with plenty of protein, but also healthy fats, and lots of varied, colorful veggies and fruits.

Alongside that - alongside eating maintenance calories (not net negative calories with periodic binges!) or slightly above maintenance, follow a good progressive strength training program patiently.

It will take time, but good nutrition, *adequate calories*, progressive strength training, and patience are the route to an attractive "slim and lean".

You can find suggested strength programs here:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

Please eat more routinely, and fuel yourself properly without compensatory ultra-high cheat days. Please.

user20012001

Update. Thank you everyone for the advice, support, and answers. I have an appointment for next week with a therapist who will helpfully recommend a good nutritionist as well. Now hopefully I start a muscle gain journey instead of continuing weight loss. I will try to change my mindset around food and body image, thank you all. Any advice for upcoming journey is greatly appreciated!

callsitlikeiseeit

user20012001 wrote: »

Update. Thank you everyone for the advice, support, and answers. I have an appointment for next week with a therapist who will helpfully recommend a good nutritionist as well. Now hopefully I start a muscle gain journey instead of continuing weight loss. I will try to change my mindset around food and body image, thank you all. Any advice for upcoming journey is greatly appreciated!

well done!

AnnPT77

user20012001 wrote: »

Update. Thank you everyone for the advice, support, and answers. I have an appointment for next week with a therapist who will helpfully recommend a good nutritionist as well. Now hopefully I start a muscle gain journey instead of continuing weight loss. I will try to change my mindset around food and body image, thank you all. Any advice for upcoming journey is greatly appreciated!

Great plan, good show: Wishing you all the best, going forward on this more positive track!

user20012001

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Great plan, good show: Wishing you all the best, going forward on this more positive track!

Thanks! I ate about 2,200 calories yesterday and burned about 1,100. I know now that’s still maybe not ideal but I more than doubled my usual intake. It was hard to have that much food but I feel good today. Less gym more nutrition today hopefully

user20012001

If anyone is looking at this that’s impressionable please don’t do this I just got out of months off eating disorder treatment

AnnPT77

user20012001 wrote: »

If anyone is looking at this that’s impressionable please don’t do this I just got out of months off eating disorder treatment

I'm so very glad to hear that you sought out treatment! It is generous of you to come back to let us know how things have gone with you, and to caution others. Wishing you good health and positive outcomes as you go forward.

ReenieHJ

user20012001 wrote: »

If anyone is looking at this that’s impressionable please don’t do this I just got out of months off eating disorder treatment

So glad you're in a better place now and found help you needed before great harm was done to your health and body. Thank you for sharing your experience with everyone, you never know who might be going through the same situation and is reading your words of caution.

Finding that happy balance can be very challenging. In a world where models are stick thin and beauty seems to lie in perfect bikini clad beach bodies, it's hard for some to ever feel good enough, thin enough, etc., and sometimes we all need that extra help to get us to a healthy mind/healthy body place.

Repeat after me "I am enough"

{{HUGS}}