Can't stop losing weight:-(

Srendon1111

I reached my goal of 105 over a month ago, but I still kept losing weight. When I hit 100 I thought okay I'll maintain from here and give myself a 5 lb margin, but since then I still can't stop losing. I'm currently 96 lbs and scared to eat more than 1400 calories during the week On weekends when I get a cheat meal I make it a cheat day and eat about 2,000 calories over my maintenance, but by the next week I lose another lb. I lost all this weight and I'm scared to gain any back, but every time I see the scale drop it makes me think what am I doing. I also would weigh every day until my husband had to take away my scale and it gives me anxiety not knowing my weight. What is going on with me? I know it's okay if I gain weight or maintain, but my mind is holding me back. Any advice? I just want to be healthy for my family.

_Resolve_

Start increasing your calories by 200 every couple of days until you start to maintain.

terbusha

If you are still losing weight, than you need to eat more to a level where you maintain. Check this video out on reverse dieting to get your calories back up with minimal to no fat gain. It's by Layne Norton, who is a natural body builder/powerlifter, a highly regarded fitness competitor coach, and he has a PhD in nutritional science.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3gTGLulLnI

It's not healthy to go underweight. For you health, you need to eat more. Add in slowly, and you won't gain much if any back. I had the same fears when I started to add back in calories, but it works.

Allan

Commander_Keen

Gosh, I wish I had this problem.

Tanie98

I reached my goal of 105 over a month ago, but I still kept losing weight. When I hit 100 I thought okay I'll maintain from here and give myself a 5 lb margin, but since then I still can't stop losing. I'm currently 96 lbs and scared to eat more than 1400 calories during the week On weekends when I get a cheat meal I make it a cheat day and eat about 2,000 calories over my maintenance, but by the next week I lose another lb. I lost all this weight and I'm scared to gain any back, but every time I see the scale drop it makes me think what am I doing. I also would weigh every day until my husband had to take away my scale and it gives me anxiety not knowing my weight. What is going on with me? I know it's okay if I gain weight or maintain, but my mind is holding me back. Any advice? I just want to be healthy for my family.

eat more and 1400 calories for maintenance sounds too low

AllOutof_Bubblegum

Eat more calories. Start introducing high-calorie foods toy your diet. Nut butters, olive oil, avocado, full-fat dairy/cheese, etc.

michellesz

I reached my goal of 105 over a month ago, but I still kept losing weight. When I hit 100 I thought okay I'll maintain from here and give myself a 5 lb margin, but since then I still can't stop losing. I'm currently 96 lbs and scared to eat more than 1400 calories during the week On weekends when I get a cheat meal I make it a cheat day and eat about 2,000 calories over my maintenance, but by the next week I lose another lb. I lost all this weight and I'm scared to gain any back, but every time I see the scale drop it makes me think what am I doing. I also would weigh every day until my husband had to take away my scale and it gives me anxiety not knowing my weight. What is going on with me? I know it's okay if I gain weight or maintain, but my mind is holding me back. Any advice? I just want to be healthy for my family.

You are being obsessive compulsive about the whole thing. If you want to be healthy for your family, you need to be healthy! You can't obsess over a number of calories & obviously can't count on just the extra calories on a cheat day to make up for the deficit. Stop being scared to gain it back; besides you obviously have gone 5 lbs below your margin & 10lbs below your goal weight! You need to gain that weight back by slowly increasing your calories especially if you are working out hard. You can't continue to lose weight & be healthy. Your husband was right to take away the scale. Pick a piece of clothing that fits you right at your goal & use that as a measure & by how you feel; at least for now.

CyberEd312

You really only have one option and that is to up your calories until you find maintenance. If you can't do that due to emotional issues that you just can't get past then I would work on that part of the equation. You have to get into the right frame of mind for maintenance the same as you did for weight loss. It Is no different for those bulking, it is all a mental game first and foremost and you have to gain control there first if you are to be successful at any of it... Best of Luck

healthygreek

If you can't gain on your own-please seek professional help very soon. What you are doing will have disastrous consequences if you're not able to stop!

Spiderkeys

Same situation here, my weight can Fluctuate up to 8-9 pounds, then I think I'm gaining and eating too much, so a re-adjust with a semi fast day between and get back in control to find out I lost even more weight, in fact I surprising lost over 18 pounds below my goal weight since switching to maintenance back in March this year, and worried just to go and gain it back tor he fear the losing control, and I dont want my body gaining new pounds of fat after I got of the old, and this is me who eats 2,200 to 2,600 calories and lost all this weight which is ridiculous. 2,600 seems to much after a few days then 2,200 seems way too little after a week on it, already my underweight range is in sight, and if I accidentally lose another 18 pounds then I'm in big trouble. so I hope you can find a way to stall your weight for good just as I planning, I can live with my weight now and be happpy with it, as long as It doesn't drop any further.

elisa123gal

The entire food thing is a mental game. eating too much and out of control..and then the opposite….which you are experiencing.


Trust yourself. You have lost weight by being in control. You weight loss didn't just happen . You did it. You are in control. Just increase your calories by 200 or 400 a day. You can do that. You won't gain it back, think about it logically ….you are in control. you got this!!!

marilandica

This maintenance thing is hard, I know because I'm trying to figure it out myself. Please don't be offended if I say you sound like you might be on the fine edge of an eating disorder. Stop weighing so often and increase your calories, certainly, but maybe even more fundamentally, it might be time to talk to a professional about this. Better to be proactive than react only after your health is compromised.

codiebreanne

It really sounds like you have an eating disorder. Complaining that you "cant stop" losing weight and then admitting that you are scared to eat more in the same breath is ridiculous. You just answered your own question. I think you should see a dietitian and not a website.

mscheftg

I reached my goal of 105 over a month ago, but I still kept losing weight. When I hit 100 I thought okay I'll maintain from here and give myself a 5 lb margin, but since then I still can't stop losing. I'm currently 96 lbs and scared to eat more than 1400 calories during the week On weekends when I get a cheat meal I make it a cheat day and eat about 2,000 calories over my maintenance, but by the next week I lose another lb. I lost all this weight and I'm scared to gain any back, but every time I see the scale drop it makes me think what am I doing. I also would weigh every day until my husband had to take away my scale and it gives me anxiety not knowing my weight. What is going on with me? I know it's okay if I gain weight or maintain, but my mind is holding me back. Any advice? I just want to be healthy for my family.

1400 on maintenance?! That's way too low. I imagine that you exercise, as well. (Hard to know for sure any details cause your profile is minimal.)

I don't want to label, discourage, or judge, but it sounds like you are heading in the direction of an eating disorder. Please get some professional help (either with gaining & then maintaining -or- the psychological side of this).

stealthq

If your mind is holding you back, then this is where you should be thinking about seeing a therapist who can help you.

Try adding back calories slowly like others have said. Add 100-200 cals per day for a week (I mean eat 1500-1600 every day for a week). Next week add 100-200 cals again. Continue like this until you reach maintenance. If you can't make a solid start on this on your own in the next week or two, then you NEED to see a therapist ASAP.

Once you are in maintenance, if you want to gain a bit more weight - and it sounds like you should - head over to the Gaining Weight forum for some good advice on how to do that in a nice controlled fashion.

sagreenious

I'd suggest going to see a doctor and telling him/her what you've just told us.

peanutbutter_runner

Hi so I've never posted on here and just looking for advice. First and foremost I started counting calories to lose my baby weight. My initial goal was 110 lbs. I'm a shorty 5'1 and the smallest I had ever been was around there and I loved it. Well I achieved that goal and thought to myself, I wonder if I could go down to 105 lbs and yes I'll be happy then and I'll work on getting fit. But then I decided to keep going and I came down to 100 lbs and I thought okay I'm good now, but then everyone said I was too skinny. I thought I looked fine. I love seeing my muscles, my abs, but my husband hates it. He thinks I need to gain 10 lbs back, but I feel great being a size 0 and I feel I don't look skinny. I feel I look fit. Lately when we go out to eat i eat everything I can, sometimes to the point I feel sick, but then on Mondays I go right back to eating around 1300-1400 calories and it's become a cycle. But right now I feel if it's getting serious because I've since lost more weight. And now I'm around 97-98 lbs and I don't want to go over that. I've become so obsessed with the number and calorie counting. I'm actually worried about myself and my husband does not like I'm always on my phone calculating every single thing I put in my mouth. Is it just me or am I becoming unhealthy trying to be healthy? Any advice?
Please no judgments

You posted the above post on July 4th. I am certainly not judging, but it seems to me you "can't stop losing weight" perhaps on purpose and would probably benefit from seeing a therapist if you cannot increase calories yourself and bump your weight back up on your own. There is no shame in that. I am starting back with one myself at the end of this month. This is not a path you want to let yourself go down.

VeryKatie

Sounds like an eating disorder. Can I suggest seeing a professional - it seems to me that you may have anxiety relating to food. Good luck!

Ondreacrandall

Yes... what she said

kitka82

Eat more calories. Start introducing high-calorie foods toy your diet. Nut butters, olive oil, avocado, full-fat dairy/cheese, etc.

THIS. If you're still eating fat-free, low fat, etc, this is the easiest way to add calories. You will be fine. Congratulations on reaching your goal. Have you set your MFP calories to maintenance?

earthboundmisfit

If you're scared to eat enough calories to achieve a healthy weight you should probably tell your doctor. Is sounds might you might be sliding into an eating disorder. I'm not a professional, i don't presume to diagnose you, just writing from my personal experience with anorexia.

Srendon1111

Thank you everyone for concern. I have thought about seeing a dr but really what are they going to do? Tell me what I already know. I know which foods are better for me. I know portion sizes. I know not to indulge if I really set in my mind I will not eat out of excess. I do eat. I'm not starving my self and yes I eat a lot on some weekends, but I can control it. Some of you are right I need to slowly up my calories and I will. I told myself I will probably not log for a couple weeks and see if my anxiety goes away and I can be healthy again. I have maintained a weight of 115-120 before I'm just smaller now and I don't want to let myself gain much weight back. I do want to gain muscle. I just need to learn to do it the right way. Which I can. It is mental. I have to learn to overcome it and stop losing anymore weight.

earthboundmisfit

I think it's a good idea to stop logging for a while. Taking your focus off the numbers might help ease your anxiety. Just think about eating healthy. Best of luck to you.

mymodernbabylon

Thank you everyone for concern. I have thought about seeing a dr but really what are they going to do? Tell me what I already know. I know which foods are better for me. I know portion sizes. I know not to indulge if I really set in my mind I will not eat out of excess. I do eat. I'm not starving my self and yes I eat a lot on some weekends, but I can control it. Some of you are right I need to slowly up my calories and I will. I told myself I will probably not log for a couple weeks and see if my anxiety goes away and I can be healthy again. I have maintained a weight of 115-120 before I'm just smaller now and I don't want to let myself gain much weight back. I do want to gain muscle. I just need to learn to do it the right way. Which I can. It is mental. I have to learn to overcome it and stop losing anymore weight.

Seeing the doctor isn't just about the food...it's about the mental aspect. If you find that you can't overcome it, you need to talk to a therapist and your doctor would be a good start. The mindset you are in right now is very much a disordered eating mindset moving on its way to an eating disorder. If you want, you can also start with one of the overcoming books (it's a CBT workbook you can do on your own)..you would want the anorexia one.

TavistockToad

Thank you everyone for concern. I have thought about seeing a dr but really what are they going to do? Tell me what I already know. I know which foods are better for me. I know portion sizes. I know not to indulge if I really set in my mind I will not eat out of excess. I do eat. I'm not starving my self and yes I eat a lot on some weekends, but I can control it. Some of you are right I need to slowly up my calories and I will. I told myself I will probably not log for a couple weeks and see if my anxiety goes away and I can be healthy again. I have maintained a weight of 115-120 before I'm just smaller now and I don't want to let myself gain much weight back. I do want to gain muscle. I just need to learn to do it the right way. Which I can. It is mental. I have to learn to overcome it and stop losing anymore weight.

you know all those things, but you arent able to do it... thats the aspect that a doctor could help with...

3laine75

Thank you everyone for concern. I have thought about seeing a dr but really what are they going to do? Tell me what I already know. I know which foods are better for me. I know portion sizes. I know not to indulge if I really set in my mind I will not eat out of excess. I do eat. I'm not starving my self and yes I eat a lot on some weekends, but I can control it. Some of you are right I need to slowly up my calories and I will. I told myself I will probably not log for a couple weeks and see if my anxiety goes away and I can be healthy again. I have maintained a weight of 115-120 before I'm just smaller now and I don't want to let myself gain much weight back. I do want to gain muscle. I just need to learn to do it the right way. Which I can. It is mental. I have to learn to overcome it and stop losing anymore weight.

Yes, you are starving yourself if you're treating 1400 cals as maintainence, even though you're still losing.

Eat more.

ButtVibes

That happened to me about a year ago! Eat more. I know, it's scary, but just eat more. If not, it's just going to back fire on you (I can tell).

peanutbutter_runner

Thank you everyone for concern. I have thought about seeing a dr but really what are they going to do? Tell me what I already know. I know which foods are better for me. I know portion sizes. I know not to indulge if I really set in my mind I will not eat out of excess. I do eat. I'm not starving my self and yes I eat a lot on some weekends, but I can control it. Some of you are right I need to slowly up my calories and I will. I told myself I will probably not log for a couple weeks and see if my anxiety goes away and I can be healthy again. I have maintained a weight of 115-120 before I'm just smaller now and I don't want to let myself gain much weight back. I do want to gain muscle. I just need to learn to do it the right way. Which I can. It is mental. I have to learn to overcome it and stop losing anymore weight.

That's why I recommended a therapist, not a doctor. A therapist can help with the mental problem.

Dennis4766

I lost over 100 and fell into simiilar circumstances. Developed eating disorder. My recommendation: stop weighing daily if you are, increase your calories. And if you continue feeling the need to lose, seek help as soon as possible. I waited too long.

BTW, I met with therapist, nutritionist, and also my doctor. All 3 have helped in one way or another. I let it go too long and developed health problems.

proudjmmom

I can relate, as we already discussed. I was there. It was hard. You need to break that mental block against eating more, or only eating 1400 cals. My goal was 125lbs, I lost a further 9-10 lbs bringing me to 115-116 as my final weight.

With loggin, I couldn't bring myself to eat up to my calorie goal. I see it getting close then I stop. This is what made me keep losing. No matter what I couldn't eat up to my cal goal. I knew this wasn't healthy, and I had to change it fast, or I was going to be well underweight. The fix for me, was stopping logging. Eating healthy, and well portioned well rounded meals and wise snacks. No logging, and I stopped losing weight. I have maintained perfectly since I stopped. Soon as I started logging again, the same mentality came back, can't eat up to my cal goal, and I start losing again. My maintenance cals the last time I tried logging were up to 1940 calories. This seems to work for me, I think. I rarely ever hit that goal when tracking. But I think I can comfortably eat about 2000 cals a day and not gain.

You really need to break this relationship you have with food, and losing or regaining weight. You will be much happier, I promise.

Srendon1111

Thank you so much for that! Glad to say I didnt lose or gain this last week. I'm trying to redevelop my relationship with food. This week I upped my calories to 1485 since Mfp gives me a maintenance of 1390. This week is my sons birthday and I told myself I'm gonna stop logging and see if I could do this on my own. I just want to enjoy my life and instead of time overthinking my calories. I'll spend that time with my family:-) and if I gain a couple of lbs it's okay.