Low fat vs. Low carb?! + my story

marywasadifferentgirl

Hi guys,

So first I wanted to write a bit about my journey.

As a kid I used to be pathetically skinny I just couldn't help it! My mom was always really concerned about it and she made me do hormone check ups but they always turned out fine. Then I started to gain weight gradually until I hit 140lbs when I became 16-yikes! Doctors blamed puberty as my check ups all turned out well again but I was never comfortable with my weight. People around me were always calling me names and made me feel worse and worse.
On my 17th birthday I decided to move to the UK for college, which made everything worse! The boarding school I used to live at provided awful quality food and we were not allowed to make our own meals so my friends and I were basically living on fast foods and junk foods. after 7-8 months living that way I weighed about 155lbs and i became depressed, I was really mad at myself, because at only 5'5" I was stepping into a dangerous zone! And my friends kept talking about my 18th birthday which I was going to celebrate in a month of time and I was not looking forward to it AT ALL. There wasn't any gyms nearby, that really shouldn't be an excuse tho, I remember that day I was crying so hard and so I took my iPod and went for a walk around the campus, the weather was nice and I felt a bit better. That night I ordered Jillian Michael's 30DS DVD and a pair of 0.5kg dumbbells(!) online and I had a month to my birthday party so I started to work out and ate cleaner everyday, I managed to lose about 20lbs by doing so and for my birthday and graduation party I felt fab and everyone kept telling me how good I look now and I should keep it up!
I returned to my home country for the summer holidays and my family really supported me. I signed up for a gym and did spinning classes for 3 times a week and continued doing 30DS on the days that I was off, it really helped! I didn't get hungry back there (maybe because it was too hot!?) so I mostly ate fruits and once in a while something really sweet like a piece of chocolate cake with coffee. I tried to omit the bread and rice as much as I can.
As on September 10 that I had to return to the UK, I weighed around 110lbs. I was so happy! But this time I started to live on my own and had control over everything that I eat. I learned more about nutrition and calories, and the moment I found out fat has 9Cals per gram I became paranoid about it... I started to avoid it like a plague, my diet was ridiculously high in carbs and extremely low in fat. I was also paranoid about eating after 8 PM, lol. This paranoia made me stop buying full fat products, I spent lots of time trying to find a non-fat/low-fat alternative to things, Even though I looked slim but I was always having a problem with my belly! (ever since I returned I'm regular at the gym) Soon after a month I stopped having my periods, I blamed it on stress for university. I started to BINGE every other night without knowing why. Now I weigh around 103lbs (my frame is really tiny. my wrists are around 5.8inch.)

Its been more than a week that I stopped this low-fat lifestyle, because I read somewhere that missing periods can be because of a high carb-low fat diet, which was absolutely true in my case. I feel so much better, I don't spend ages in the super markets counting the calories and fats. I try to limit my carb intake now but I usually overeat protein and sometimes fat! My weight is stable but my belly has shrunk and I don't feel bloated anymore, which is great. I also stopped binging and instead I eat a tablespoonfull of tahini/peanut butter with a wedge of laughing cow (trust me it tastes great!) before bed and I try to keep my calorie intake around 1500Cals per day.

The thing that I don't understand now is that can fat make you fat? I seriously don't want to gain any weight as I think I look fine now (no my bones are not sticking out and I'm not looking like an anorexic.)

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

you're 5'5 and 103--I'd seriously consider gaining weight. I know it's scary. You lost your period, you began binging, and you're really young eating only 1500 calories a day--you're not maintaining this weight healthily as naturally you do not fall in the "underweight category"...it takes restriction to keep you there. Is your period back?

Aerohead21

I think you need to watch out for quantity and nature of the fat. Trading out margarine for real butter, Pam cooking spray for olive oil, enjoying some avocado on occasion is good. Our body needs fat. Going out and getting some french fries and cheeseburgers...pizza...ice cream...you could make better choices.

MMarvelous

Our bodies need a balance of complex carbs, fats and protein...at least most people. You did so well and went to a bit of an extreme to remain healthy which did not work. Definitely see a gynecologist about your period to be sure you are okay especially if you would like to have kids one day. Making mistakes is a part of the journey but the most important part is LEARNING quickly from those mistakes.

GOOD LUCK on your NEW OUT LOOK of a healthy lifestyle.

marywasadifferentgirl

Well, you look skinnier than me in that picture!
Nope, It's been a week that I've built up my fat intake so I guess it will take a while
xx