My eating habits are out of control

doIIparts

Earlier this month, I put myself on an extremely restrictive diet of 1,000 calories per day, only raw fruit and vegetables, no carbs or dairy. I kept it up for a few weeks but then slowly started to slide. This week, I have gone in the complete opposite direction. I have been living off instant noodles and potato chips, and have been consuming up to around 1,700 calories a day. Past 'diets' have included starvation, and living off soup alone. I am so scared that my eating habits from this week will make me gain weight.

I can't seem to control my eating or stick to a healthy plan no matter what. I go through cycles of extreme deprivation/restriction, to extreme irresponsible eating habits. I enforce all these rules on myself and put so much emphasis on what I eat, that when I slip up I hate myself. It's all I ever think about.

I am 18 years old, 5'3 and 119 lbs. If I gain any weight, I will definitely begin to look fat and that terrifies me more than you could imagine. Yet I've eaten mindlessly for a whole week. I need help, some advice or anything. I want to stop this. Also, is it likely that I will gain weight from a week of overeating following weeks of deprivation?

doIIparts

I'm also afraid that I may have messed up my metabolism from my irresponsible eating habits. I don't know what my BMR is because for all I know, it could have slowed down. Thus, I don't know how many calories to eat.

PikaKnight

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1122891-9-reasons-fat-loss-is-always-slower-than-you-d-like

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105036-article-on-flexible-dieting-by-armi-legge?page=1#posts-17068746

clarkeje1

I would see a nutritionist to help you figure out a meal plan or a psychologist since it sounds like you are struggling with a possible eating disorder and may need some help to look at food in a healthy way instead of going through cycles of restricting and then letting it get out of control as you mentioned.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1122891-9-reasons-fat-loss-is-always-slower-than-you-d-like

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105036-article-on-flexible-dieting-by-armi-legge?page=1#posts-17068746

Read all of these.

If you find that you cannot implement the principles laid out in the links, consider seeing a counselor to discuss why you continually go through these cycles.

Human beings have a strong survival instinct. If you try to starve yourself the result is often binging and uncontrollable cravings. Eat a modest deficit, eat a variety of foods. Get enough fat and protein. Treat your body with kindness.

vanguardfitness

Those all fruit diets are no good. You need protein and fat in your diet. Are you exercising with weights?

Letje_Lux

First, take a deep breath. 1700 calories is not going to make you blow up into a super fatty overnight. In fact, 1700 is close to your maintenance level.

What's your goal weight? You're already pretty skinny, so your deficit is going to be small. Try running maybe a 250 calorie deficit and take the weight off slow so you can stop the binge cycle. Somewhere around 1400 calories would probably be good for you.

Mr_Knight

I put myself on an extremely restrictive diet of 1,000 calories per day, only raw fruit and vegetables, no carbs or dairy...I can't seem to control my eating or stick to a healthy plan no matter what.

Don't you have to try a healthy plan first before concluding you can't stick to it? What you described was not a healthy plan, even before you dove head first into a bag of potato chips.