Starving yourself...

irisheyez718

Plus.....I've never seen an anorexic that looked GOOD. Sure they were skinny, but they didn't look good.

littlepinkhearts

My daughter is I feel starving herself. She has lost about 15 pounds in 2 weeks. I feel bad because I haven't done near that, but I am doing it in a very healthy way. I haven't had a regular soda in over a month, maybe a few diet ones, but altogether find myself drinking way more water:o) I also have 1/2 the weight she does to lose, and I am proud of her for any effort she gives whatsoever.

Awwww I don't think you should feel bad at all for not keeping up with your daughter's "progress". My daughter is on here also and she's the one that introduced me to this app.and i'm the one that was eating VLC for years prior. I think that puts us (being mom's) in a very important position in modelling good weight-loss practices and weight-loss maintenance. I Have been steadily upping my cal intake since being on here and have made numerous other important health changes in my life. I think it's awesome that you are doing it properly for yourself AND for your daughter. Keep up the great work!! :flowerforyou:

FlaxMilk

Ummm - if I read your profile correctly; you're 19 and 5'6" and weigh 94 lb - and you're on MFP to lose more??? You say you're getting medical treatment which is a very good idea, and I don't think you should be using this site to support your further weight loss, when your BMI is worryingly low and your periods have stopped. Use it to gain in a healthy way to a reasonable weight that allows your body to function, and we will cheer you every step of the way...

She says in her profile she wants to regain her strength and positivity. I didn't see weight loss but I might have missed it.

missprincessjenny

Because you'll end up like me...40 overweight and finding it very difficult to lose weight because of years of not eating enough.

Helloitsdan

To gain strength and be healthy she needs to eat at or above maintenance.
At 5'4" at her age and weight that would equate to around 1800-2200 calories daily.

Rosa1213

I know exactly what you mean, OP.
Sometimes that thought creeps into my head too, but I know it's unhealthy, just like you do. I know it takes longer this way, but I want a healthy body that I can kick *ss with, not an ill one.

nicehormones

Muscle burns more calories than fat does. Therefore, when your body DOES go into a state of starvation, it's going to release what burns the most calories for survival. So it's going to mostly hold onto your fat for fuel and shed your muscle. You don't really want that, now, do you? To be flabby and not have much muscle to look healthy and fit. Also, remember that since muscle burns more calories- when you get to your "goal weight," you won't be able to eat very much at all since all of your muscle has been burned away. The more muscle mass you retain, the more you will be able to eat later at maintenance. What is your rush anyway? Your profile says you are starting a lifestyle. Start eating the way you want to eat for the rest of your life now. Do this for your health first and foremost. Respect your body.

mixedfeelings

I can understand why you think that, I thought that too and about ten years ago that's the way I went. At first I lost weight healthily but when I was about 21lbs away I was getting frustrated and wanted quicker results. That's really when it took over my life. I started cutting more and more calories, exercising more. I was angry at everyone, I couldn't go in supermarkets. I would have 570 calories on a good day although some days I would convince myself not to eat, Say if I was preparing something and I spilt a bit I would tell myself it was a sign and that I shouldn't eat and I wouldn't, sometimes if I did I would hit myself. I reached my goal weight and I kept going, eventually my periods were all over the place. All this from what had originally started as a normal healthy diet. Because of the way I had done it I was still saggy even with the exercise I did I still didn't look athletic. I also blacked out quite a lot, including in a bar which was very embarrassing.

Eventually I had no energy to do anything and spent months in bed, around 5. I started eating more food after this, around 1000 calories a day. I still felt shattered and gave up exercise altogether. Even though I was eating little I gained weight, this sent me spiralling out of control, I would live on around 700-1000 calories a day, sometimes I wouldn't eat until tea time. But then at weekends I would eat up to 1500. Nothing I did would help I just kept gaining weight. Eventually I ended up gaining more than I lost. A couple of years back a benign tumour developed in my right kidney, every year I have been tested and last year it had grown to 7cm. I had it embolised and it was while I was off work recovering that I discovered this site - I realised how little I was still eating, I still was in denial and felt the only thing to do to lose weight was to cut more calories and exercise more giving myself a negative net. Since starting this site I've started eating more, I can now do more exercise I eat back my exercise calories, I'm eating more than I have done in years and I am losing weight, it maybe coming off slowly but I'm happy and I just hope when I get close to the end I don't lose control again.

I know you possibly weren't expecting such a waffled in depth response but I think it's important to know how it can take over your life and also that even though seeing skeletal photos is scary most people do tell themselves they won't go that far but also that it messes with your body in other ways and you can just gain it all back. Being healthy, taking it steady means that it's a long term solution.

I still struggle now though but I tell myself if I eat too little my body will burn muscle and not fat. Muscle burns more than fat at rest so if you aren't getting enough calories it will get rid of what is using the most energy.

Silverberry1331

I can only talk from my personal experience and impressions. I starved myself for YEARS....I was hospitalized for it. The health issues that were occurring while I was "skinny" (i.e. bones and skin to cover) didn't actually deter me from starving. Let me tell you what might deter you....it is after when you go through all the therapy, the hospitalization, and all that jazz.

I think I "broke" my set point.

What does that mean? My body doesn't seem to know what weight it wants to be. It fluctuates drastically. For example, I went away for three weeks with a friend abroad....we both indulged on local cuisine, and since we ate together almost every meal, I seriously doubt I ate anymore than she did. She never had these issues. She gained five pounds on our return. I GAINED 24 pounds. Yes. 24 pounds. People say "how is that possible?" The answer is: I don't know. I use to be able to lose weight just that fast. No problem in three weeks down 20 pounds or more.

I have gone through periods, especially when I travel when I come home unable to wear the clothes I left in. People (that I am with) comment on the weight gain, which is unusual since you can't notice weight gain when you see the person every day. As I have gotten older, the weight comes off slower and slower. I can no longer tolerate diary, spicy, or heavier foods because my body became accustom to such a small amount of bland cuisine.

Now, some may say that I am unique, and maybe I am---again I can't talk to anyone else's experience but mine, but I am forced to live in a constant state of vigilence-just to maintain. If you feel like possibly living like that, then by all means, starve...however, I wish I could go back and do things differently.

tracypk

I still have thoughts of reducing cals to dangerously low numbers. This site has helped me immensely with these thoughts. I know that a day of low cals will not hurt me just the same as a day of very high cals but do it for a long time and it will affect your health. Increasing my cals has been difficult and so I will take a day to eat a little less. For some a cheat day is to eat more but for me it's the opposite. It's a control thing. I was diagnosed with anorexia although the only long term negative effect it had on me was mental. I'm one of the lucky ones.

cmurray234

It really IS so tempting. This is the first time I've tried to lose weight without starving myself. I actually find myself having the following conversation with myself. "Cheryl, if you aren't hungry, you aren't going to lose weight". I have this conversation even when I DO lose weight, and you can imagine what it's like when I have a week where I stay the same.

But I know that starvation doesn't work. I mean, it WILL make you lose weight. I lose lots and lots of weight very quickly. But I only stay thin for as long as I'm starving. The moment I eat like a normal person (i.e. over 1000 calories a day) I swell and regain in a matter of months.

I've had enough of this. I'm willing to plug away at this for as long as it takes. I'd rather take 2 years to lose the weight and keep it off than lose, gain, lose, gain over the course of 15 years as I've been doing.

fraser112

As long as you have fat then fasting is safe for a normal healthy adult.

The big problem i can see is eating tiny amounts each day, your body switches to burning fat, tiny meal your body burns it. switches to fat over and over.

when your body switches to burn fat it first must eat a little muscle until the process finishes.


really a fast is safer than tiny meals. the body evolved for feast and famon. Eat right or let your body do its thing.

this only applies if you have fat.

before people jump in yes i get anorexia is an eating disorder but we cant disregard an entire effective weight loss system because people with an illness abuse it.