Is anybody out there?

missmilarae0213

Hi pals...

I'm feeling kind of lost. I needed to reach out and this seemed like an appropriate outlet. About me...I'm 5'9, currently 245 and I'm in a size 14/16 (large framed). I was 300-310ish so Ive lost quite a bit of weight. My goal is 160ish. (I'm excited to be almost half the size I used to be...) I've been stuck at this weight for almost a year now. Its aggravating, but I really have no one to blame for that but me. I'm also a bulimic with body image issues. The purge is controlled, though the binge is not as easy. I don't know if I'll ever truly know what the outside world sees when they look at me. So bear with me. I'm trying to get outside world opinions...

My metabolism has more or less shut down the weight loss program. My doctor instructed me to calorie cycle. I tried it for a month and no success so I'm wondering if I'm doing it right. MFP put me at 1560 calories to lose 2 lbs a week. One lb a week puts me 1800 something calories. I went to a website that was recommended and it put me over 1900 on low calorie days and 2500 on two high calorie days. Are these supposed to be base calories or net calories? (I should have 1900 AFTER exercise has been counted) or should these numbers be my starting point for the day...I'm trying to get better about adding all my stuff to the logs (If you look at my diary it isn't accurate. I'm trying to get better about that.)

Anyone with eating disorders, how do you cope? I've been struggling for months now. Its hard to explain that kind of pain to my beautiful, skinny friends. What has worked for you?

Thanks for listening. Sometimes you just need to know you aren't alone in this battle.

Venturin

I'm sorry I don't know how to help with your eating disorder but I do believe we all have the strength inside of us to overcome any obstacles. I hope you find your answers and find a way to deal with the eating disorder and follow MFP closely by entering ALL your food. It really helps if you commit to doing this full on.

Good luck!

-V-

Symonep

Come and look at eat more to weigh less http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less

It really does make sense, well to me anyway...you need to reset your metabolism, and start eating the right amount of food. Maybe if you start eating the amounts of food your body needs you won't feel the urge to binge and then purge (as much, I know it is mostly a psychological thing).

I could go into a big spiel on why I think this way of living is fantastic, but then I'll just sound all preachy. Just have a look at the link to the group I have provided and decide for yourself

missmilarae0213

I will check that out! Thanks!!

dvisser1

My understanding of the philosophy behind the calorie cycling is that you are trying to remind your body that it will have a consistent minimum food / calorie intake. Once your body gets comfortable that your food intake might go up and down (the cycling) but that you will always eat a certain minimum level (no major purges) then your metabolism will pick up again.

As for the numbers on this website, the calorie goal is before exercise. The website estimates your BMR (basal metabolic rate - metabolism rate at rest) based off your vitals (height, weight, age, gender, etc.) and estimates your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) based off that BMR and the lifestyle activity level you input. When you put in your goal weight loss (say 1 lb per week) the website takes 3500 calories (needed to burn 1 lb of body fat) times the goal and divides by 7 days. The MFP calorie goal is your estimated TDEE minus the daily calorie deficit from your weight loss goal. When you exercise, your TDEE is increased by the number of calories you burned exercising, so you can eat back those exercise calories to meet your net calorie goal (the MFP goal).

dandes

I congratulate you on losing all that weight! That is really fantastic! You have reached a plateau and I am not a doctor, nutritionist or dietitian, therefore I cannot help you with the calorie cycle... What kind of exercise do you do? Have you tried a 'clean diet'? No processed foods, mostly protein, complex carbs and whole grains. Look up Tosca Reno on the web. She has a few books out and a great site to get you motivated and inform you on the plan. It's a lifestyle change, I have been following it for 5 weeks now and feel great. I haven't lost lots of weight, but I've lost inches, I feel great and my body composition is changing.
You can friend me, I will encourage you all the way! Welcome to MFP! Sincerely, DD

dvisser1

And I just want to say, you've done great things in getting your weight down to where it is now. Losing 60-70 lbs is great! You're getting the proper help with you ED and working on your weight.

What you are doing is absolutely awesome! Please keep going with it.

aquapup

Congratulations on working so hard to get healthy! It sounds like you are doing amazing. I don't have a lot of advise, but I can give you a shout out of support so holla girl! you are taking control. I will tell you what I do when I plateau that makes me feel better. I buy at least one outfit that looks and feels great on me for the weight I am RIGHT NOW. It helps remind me of how far I've come and that I am looking good and helps keep me from slipping back into bad habits or from being depressed that I still don't fit into my smaller clothes from back in the dark ages. If I end up loosing weight I figure I'd rather waste the bucks on clothes than the time on gaining and trying to re-lose the weight yet again (ugh). Plus in the mean time I feel much more fabulous than in too big or too small clothes. Stick with it, keep working, and stay positive, you are doing great!

ddky

I am older than you, but I am also 5'9 and big boned. I feel silly giving you advice since you have lost more than I have, but what is working for me is 1400 calories on most days and 1600 if I do a lot of walking that day. Walking is pretty much my only exercise, other than some hand weight exercises. I am losing 1 or 1.5 pounds a week. If I go over on calories one day, I try to eat a little less the next day. Congratulations on your weight loss so far.