How long?

xDawnsgrace

Okay, I've destroyed my metabolism with an eating disorder, consuming very few calories a day, and I've recently bumped my calories to 1800(maintenance). How long should i be eating 1800 a day before i can lower to 1440(TDEE -20%)? Or are there any signs to look for?
Thanks in advance!

hung3r

Don't count calories. Calories are the same thing that shelters the ED. What I did was I started eating fruits and veggies with everything else in the smallest portions. It worked really well! When I used to starve myself I wasn't really "losing weight" I just didn't have anything in my bowels/stomach so it had seemed like I lost weight. Now my pants (that barely fit back then) are literally falling off. And if you ever feel uncomfortable with what you've eaten, drink green tea, and for your next meal eat something high in fiber to flush it out faster. But 5 meals a day of leafy greens and fruit should be enough to help you get back on track. Then add grilled chicken and fish into your diet gradually. Soon your body will start metabolizing faster so you'll be at the point when you can have a cheat meal once a night and it won't show!

Siege_Tank

Bless your heart, you have the best intentions. Let me fix it for ya

You Don't have to count calories. Calorie counting can be a trigger for certain Eating Disorders, but it doesn't apply to everyone. What I did was I started eating fruits and veggies with everything else in the smallest portions. It worked really well! When I used to starve myself I didn't immediately see myself "losing weight" I just didn't have anything in my bowels/stomach and I was retaining water while undereating so it had seemed like I lost weight. Now my pants (that barely fit back then) are literally falling off. And if you ever feel uncomfortable with what you've eaten, drink green tea, and for your next meal eat something high in fiber to flush it out faster(Don't say this, you're talking to someone with an eating disorder, and encouraging her to evacuate a guilty meal with fiber will lead her to the conclusion that if fiber is better, laxatives would be PERFECT.). But 5 meals a day of leafy greens and fruit should be enough to help you get back on track. Then add grilled chicken and fish into your diet gradually. If you start moving more your body will start metabolizing faster so you'll be at the point when you can have a cheat meal once a night and it won't put you into a calorie surplus!

Fixed it for you!! =D

The most common advice I give is to listen to yourself, your body. You will know when you have more energy in your day, and you don't feel deprived. Once you feel fine (even though that nagging feeling of eating too much will still be there) then you can restart your cut. But you have to keep moving to keep your metabolic rate up.

ETA: I hate doing that, but I don't know how else to agree with 90% of your post, while disagreeing with the other 10%, and sounding like a jerk. But we have the same way of approaching this

xDawnsgrace

Thanks(: i have/had anorexia purging sub-type. I'm really trying to be healthy, and to see myself in a positive light. It's hard for me to eat so much, and it's actually extremely uncomfortable for me to eat much( i just had one piece of wheat bread, 2 oz of tuna, and some salad dressing, and i'm uncomfortably full), but i'm trying. Thankfully, i was never one to use laxatives. ^-^ But thanks to both of you for the help!