Anorexia - Gaining weight by not eating enough

JoshClinth
JoshClinth Posts: 5
in Food and Nutrition
Hello,

I was just thinking about everyone saying you will gain weight/not lose weight by not eating enough. So what they basically say is that you will need to use a healthy diet to lose weight. But why do people with extreme anorexia lose weight then? I don't really believe that they take in 1200 calories a day.

Please explain this to me, I could of course be completely wrong

Josh Clinth

Replies

  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    Because the people who say those things are full of it. Starvation mode as it has been previously advertised does not actually exist.
  • JoshClinth
    JoshClinth Posts: 5
    So, i´ve been stuffing myself with food for no reason...
  • sweetilemon
    sweetilemon Posts: 122 Member
    1200 is the basic cals you need to let your body repair itself and get enough nutriants.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    So, i´ve been stuffing myself with food for no reason...

    I am not sure what you are asking?
    Do you have an eating disorder? Your goal weight seems very low for a male.
  • Biggirllittledreams
    Biggirllittledreams Posts: 306 Member
    Because the people who say those things are full of it. Starvation mode as it has been previously advertised does not actually exist.

    Exactly. Starvation mode = your body starving to the point where it consumes your organs, normally a day or so before you die of starvation. It doesn't equate to a SLIGHTLY slower metabolism, which is also greatly exaggerated.

    As somebody who is recovering from Anorexia, i can assure you that weight = calories in, versus calories out. This applies to everybody, and doesn't exclude those with eating disorders/those starving to death.
  • yellowlemoned
    yellowlemoned Posts: 335 Member
    Personally, I've never known someone to gain weight from not eating enough, It's when you start eating again that you put all the weight on. Medically I could be wrong, but this is what I've noticed.

    The problem with not eating enough is that you aren't just losing fat. You're losing muscle as well. It also can weaken your bones, stunt your growth, and cause a slew of other health problems.

    If you want to lose weight, do it correctly. It won't be fast, but it will be easier to maintain and a lot healthier for your body. Also, loosing a lot of weight, very quickly, especially without exercising, will result in lots of loose flabby skin that will be very hard to get rid of.
  • LoveMyLife_NYC
    LoveMyLife_NYC Posts: 230 Member
    So, i´ve been stuffing myself with food for no reason...

    I am not sure what you are asking?
    Do you have an eating disorder? Your goal weight seems very low for a male.

    ^^This.

    You are a 6 foot tall male and have a goal weight of 110 pounds. I'm a 5'5" female and I would be severely underweight with a goal like that. Please talk to a healthcare professional about your relationship with food.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    So, i´ve been stuffing myself with food for no reason...


    Since eating an adequate caloric intake for your bodily functions to continue functioning properly and for you to have enough energy for your daily needs is not stuffing yourself, you might need to further clarify before we're able to understand your question. While "starvation mode" as it's advertised is certainly a myth, what's not a myth is the gallstones, dental issues, lackluster hair and skin, premature aging, extreme fatigue, and the effects of numerous vitamin deficiencies. And did I mention gallstones? Gallstones are no joke, and you can create them by eating a very low calorie diet. One of the most painful things you could ever experience, right up there with kidney stones and child birth.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    <deleted after realizing OP very possibly has an ED>
  • JoshClinth
    JoshClinth Posts: 5
    I am actually seeing a healthcare professional in 2 weeks. Already seeing a psychologist. I just don't want to lie to myself about my unhealthy goal. At this point eating is something I don't really like to do, I've weighed a lot less before and my psychologist has helped me to get back to a bit more than I'm at the moment. At the moment I just have a lot of stress. My psychologist also knows I want to achieve this goal, that's why he insisted me to go to a healthcare professional. I hope this makes a bit of sense.
  • silenceinspace
    silenceinspace Posts: 142 Member
    Personally, I've never known someone to gain weight from not eating enough, It's when you start eating again that you put all the weight on. Medically I could be wrong, but this is what I've noticed.

    The problem with not eating enough is that you aren't just losing fat. You're losing muscle as well. It also can weaken your bones, stunt your growth, and cause a slew of other health problems.

    If you want to lose weight, do it correctly. It won't be fast, but it will be easier to maintain and a lot healthier for your body. Also, loosing a lot of weight, very quickly, especially without exercising, will result in lots of loose flabby skin that will be very hard to get rid of.

    I'd like to second part of this but would also like to disagree. Several years ago, I starved my way through 60 pounds in 3 months. I was severely obese at the time, but that's still very drastic. I did gain it all back (unsurprisingly) when I began to eat again.

    I'm currently around 225 and it's taken me a year to lose 90 pounds. I did it healthily (1.7 lbs/week, certainly healthy for someone whose starting weight was 315 pounds) and ate a balanced diet. My extra skin is severe and I will certainly need surgery at this point.
  • meganjcallaghan
    meganjcallaghan Posts: 949 Member

    I'm currently around 225 and it's taken me a year to lose 90 pounds. I did it healthily (1.7 lbs/week, certainly healthy for someone whose starting weight was 315 pounds) and ate a balanced diet. My extra skin is severe and I will certainly need surgery at this point.

    preach. there comes a point where age/genetics/amount of skin don't give a rat's how fast or slow you lost the weight. I stand no chance of ever looking normal/attractive again short of surgical means. too bad i'm poor.

    that said, silenceinspace, you're only 21. you stand a far better chance of yours shrinking back than I do....at least some.
  • silenceinspace
    silenceinspace Posts: 142 Member

    I'm currently around 225 and it's taken me a year to lose 90 pounds. I did it healthily (1.7 lbs/week, certainly healthy for someone whose starting weight was 315 pounds) and ate a balanced diet. My extra skin is severe and I will certainly need surgery at this point.

    preach. there comes a point where age/genetics/amount of skin don't give a rat's how fast or slow you lost the weight. I stand no chance of ever looking normal/attractive again short of surgical means. too bad i'm poor.

    that said, silenceinspace, you're only 21. you stand a far better chance of yours shrinking back than I do....at least some.

    Thanks, and I hope so! I know that feeling...I'm too poor for surgery as well. I guess we'll see!

    That said, I didn't mean to hijack the topic. I'm glad the OP is seeing someone soon. Eating disorders are horrendous and no one deserves to live like that.

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