Eating 600 calories a day, want to increase but terrified...
lovesthesunsine
Posts: 3
Hey all
I started this diet at around 160 pounds and I am now 122 pounds at 5'5 (healthy bmi) I have 8 more lbs to go until my goal weight.
I used to eat about 1,300 calories but ever since I got a desk job I became terrified at the thought of gaining weight due to not moving around so much during the day so I cut my intake to about 650 and have been living like this for a few months.
I have come to realise that I'm probably harming myself doing this so I want to increase the number of calories I eat. I have decided to add 100 cals to my limit each week until I am eating enough calories but still losing weight.
I do about 2 hours of walking a day as well as 24 mins abdominal workout.
I am just terrified of gaining weight, I have worked so hard for so long and if the numbers on the scale crept back up I don't know how I would cope.
Anyone have any advice for me? Please no bashing, I know what I did was wrong and I'm just looking for help.
I started this diet at around 160 pounds and I am now 122 pounds at 5'5 (healthy bmi) I have 8 more lbs to go until my goal weight.
I used to eat about 1,300 calories but ever since I got a desk job I became terrified at the thought of gaining weight due to not moving around so much during the day so I cut my intake to about 650 and have been living like this for a few months.
I have come to realise that I'm probably harming myself doing this so I want to increase the number of calories I eat. I have decided to add 100 cals to my limit each week until I am eating enough calories but still losing weight.
I do about 2 hours of walking a day as well as 24 mins abdominal workout.
I am just terrified of gaining weight, I have worked so hard for so long and if the numbers on the scale crept back up I don't know how I would cope.
Anyone have any advice for me? Please no bashing, I know what I did was wrong and I'm just looking for help.
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Replies
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Increase your calories to whatever your healthy weight loss limit is, but limit your carbs. If you stick to under 100g carbs a day you'll keep losing weight. Avoid processed foods, bread, pasta etc.
More info: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/#axzz1zd4j2S8Q0 -
You may need to seek professional help. What you're describing has all the qualities of an eating disorder and a bunch of strangers on the internet can't possibly get to the root of your emotional relationship with food the way someone trained to deal with EDs can.
Whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck in your journey.0 -
I used to eat about 1,300 calories but ever since I got a desk job I became terrified at the thought of gaining weight due to not moving around so much during the day so I cut my intake to about 650 and have been living like this for a few months.
Don't you get hungry?0 -
You may need to seek professional help. What you're describing has all the qualities of an eating disorder and a bunch of strangers on the internet can't possibly get to the root of your emotional relationship with food the way someone trained to deal with EDs can.
Whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck in your journey.
She really is right. Of course you want to hold on to the weight loss you worked so hard for. But you're eating too little and netting even less. You can't live like that forever. Lots of thin people have desk jobs and eat.0 -
I'm glad you're realizing the damage you can cause and are taking the initiative to change it. I agree with 100 calories daily, you might want to stick with it for 2 weeks, then the next 2 weeks 200 calories more daily, etc.. The lower carb approach is good too, lower meaning healthier carbs, like fruits, etc..Just make sure you get to your healthy calorie intake, which should be anywhere from 1500 up based on your age.
I also wouldn't depend on the scale too much - too mental.0 -
I used to only eat around 500 - 600 cals a day, I'm now up to 1000 - 1200.
I just went for it, increased my calories to nearest my allowance as I could because I figured I would gain some back anyway from eating so low I may as well just get that over with and start over 1200 or there abouts.
The trick to gaining as little as possible is eating clean, nutritious food that your body needs. I only gained 5lbs then started losing again. It was painful at first and I was so sad that I had done it but the two weeks following I lost 4lbs again.
I know my way is probably not the way you want to go but you can add me for support and to look at my diary for ideas.
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Probably not, hunger often isn't a feature of very low calorie (or carb) intakes.Don't you get hungry?0 -
There's a small bike type thing you can put under your desk and do seated exercise, google pedal exerciser. It's a great way to keep active even while at your desk. I think 600 calories a day is way too low, hopefully incorporating some light exercise in your work day would help you feel better about eating more. Good luck!0
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I have the same exact problem...0
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Increase slowly. Maybe 100 - 200 calories at a time. Eat at that level for a couple of weeks before introducing more to give your body time to adjust.0
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Thank you all so much!0
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http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/494091-i-just-don-t-care-anymore
You absolutely need to read that page^^^. I am the same height as you, and started at the same weight! I also ate at the rate you are eating and let me tell ya.. it won't matter if you reach that goal of 8 pounds more. I did. and NOBODY should be that flabby at 115. Sure, I was smaller than the 150 I started at and sure, I was wearing a bikini for the first time ever. But what's the point of all this WORK if you don't look fabulous. After many MFP message board discussions and research, I've come to terms that I lost so much muscle and my low calorie diet. I have raised it from 700 calories to 1200 calories over the past few weeks. My weight has remained the same. Personally, i'm ABSOLUTELY okay with gaining weight, as long as its muscles and I lose inches. 120 is NOT a high weight for women our size. Furthermore, I kept lowering my goal weight because I thought, "I still have fat... guess I need to go lower". 100 pounds? I don't think so!
And don't worry, I was TERRIFIED TOO! But much encouragement and strong facts and amazing people like the woman who's link I posted up there for ya have inspired me to get right, be healthy, get my nutrition and build lean muscle back!0 -
Hey all
I started this diet at around 160 pounds and I am now 122 pounds at 5'5 (healthy bmi) I have 8 more lbs to go until my goal weight.
I used to eat about 1,300 calories but ever since I got a desk job I became terrified at the thought of gaining weight due to not moving around so much during the day so I cut my intake to about 650 and have been living like this for a few months.
I have come to realise that I'm probably harming myself doing this so I want to increase the number of calories I eat. I have decided to add 100 cals to my limit each week until I am eating enough calories but still losing weight.
I do about 2 hours of walking a day as well as 24 mins abdominal workout.
I am just terrified of gaining weight, I have worked so hard for so long and if the numbers on the scale crept back up I don't know how I would cope.
Anyone have any advice for me? Please no bashing, I know what I did was wrong and I'm just looking for help.
You should be more terrified of suffering from some sort of nutritional defficency. It can end allot worse, I assure you.
That being said I found maintaining 120 at 5'7 to be a snap. Not going to lie your in a situation now that you will probably gain weight temporarily, but nothing that's going to be hard or long to get off. It's mostly going to be your energy stores like glycogen coming back because you're probably not producing much if you're eating that little.
When I was sedentary I was eating about 1700 and now that I'm active I eat more. If I'm smaller and taller then you, it is absolutely 100% possible to net about 3 times as much as you're eating now and very easily keep the weight off.
Also like the above poster said, this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/494091-i-just-don-t-care-anymore
But also this if you need directions for help on how much you should be able to eat:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-120 -
As someone who grew up fighting an ED, then grew up to study the psychology of it in school, I don't really think you have an ED. Many people on MFP will see someone going under 1200 constantly and instantly go, "OMG ANOREXIA."
You recognize this isn't healthy. You've taken steps to correct it. You don't want to go lower--you just don't want to go too far up. It's a understandable concern (although it's slightly concerning that you're SO terrified).
That being said--you most likely won't really gain weight. The gradual steps you're doing are good to get your body into a good "maintenance" mode. Watch the foods you're eating, try and fit in exercise still, and try not to STRESS about gaining weight (even the stress can put on weight/stop weight loss!), and you should be okay.0 -
What they said ^You may need to seek professional help. What you're describing has all the qualities of an eating disorder and a bunch of strangers on the internet can't possibly get to the root of your emotional relationship with food the way someone trained to deal with EDs can.
Whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck in your journey.0 -
As someone who grew up fighting an ED, then grew up to study the psychology of it in school, I don't really think you have an ED. Many people on MFP will see someone going under 1200 constantly and instantly go, "OMG ANOREXIA."
exactly. an ED is a *symptom* of some kind of psyhcological problem. some people need to watch that show "intervention". in almost every case, they're abused or have traumatic memories of some sort or just have mental problems.
ANYWAY
just follow the advice of people here. slowly up your calories week by week. don't worry, 1200 calories a day isn't going to make you balloon back up. maybe a few pounds or so but it's not like you're going to go back to your starting weight.
it'll be okay good luck! 0 -
Slowly increase your calories up to AT LEAST 1,200 if not more.
You will most likely gain weight originally but it will come off. Your body is used to getting 600 cals a day so you will gain some temporary weight in the beginning.
Don't weigh yourself for a few weeks!0 -
Go up to 1200 calories but keep your carbs between 50 and 100g, At 50g, you will lose weight faster than at 100g. Also make those carbs healthy carbs, cut out the processed sugar, pasta and bread if you can. Have more veggies than fruit. Fruit has more carbs per unit than vegies.0
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Hey all
I started this diet at around 160 pounds and I am now 122 pounds at 5'5 (healthy bmi) I have 8 more lbs to go until my goal weight.
I used to eat about 1,300 calories but ever since I got a desk job I became terrified at the thought of gaining weight due to not moving around so much during the day so I cut my intake to about 650 and have been living like this for a few months.
I have come to realise that I'm probably harming myself doing this so I want to increase the number of calories I eat. I have decided to add 100 cals to my limit each week until I am eating enough calories but still losing weight.
I do about 2 hours of walking a day as well as 24 mins abdominal workout.
I am just terrified of gaining weight, I have worked so hard for so long and if the numbers on the scale crept back up I don't know how I would cope.
Anyone have any advice for me? Please no bashing, I know what I did was wrong and I'm just looking for help.
Hey
You've taken a great first step in realising that 600 calories a day is a bad idea. The second thing to realise is that as much as sitting at a desk all day is different to waiting tables all day (or such like), it doesn't negate any exercise you do. I have a desk job, and maintain my weight netting more than 1700 a day. I was losing weight at anywhere between 1300 and 1600 upwards.
What I would suggest is to change your goal back up to the 1300 you were used to. Whether or not you can make that every day is irrelevant in the start, but it gives you something to aim for. .What you have to realise is that upping your calories, in the first instance, may make you gain weight. This is purely because you have been starving your body and it is going to want to make the most of those extra calories. What is very important to remember is that any extra weight you put on will come off and then more if you keep netting a small deficit. I would always suggest eating at least your BMR (there's a BMR checker at the top of the page) and its worth knowing what your maintenance calories would be to put things into perspective (you can check this by setting your weight loss goals to lost 0lb a week).
Give this time, I'm talking 4-6 weeks without freaking out and giving up - and you'll want to carry on after that. Good luck!0 -
You may need to seek professional help. What you're describing has all the qualities of an eating disorder and a bunch of strangers on the internet can't possibly get to the root of your emotional relationship with food the way someone trained to deal with EDs can.
Whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck in your journey.
Agreed.
I think my dogs probably eat more than 600 calories a day. I don't say that to be mean; it's that I can't imagine eating so little0 -
I'm at a desk job as well and I actually gained 30lbs in 2 years from it because I used to waitress before that. And I know that it was because I stopped excersizing and would go out to eat because there were so many chains to go to around my office, so I just wouldn't eat healthy and then would sit back down for a 9 hour day. I'm just starting to take control again and I've been using MFP for 2 weeks now and it set my calorie intake for 1200 and I've lost 2lbs already following these set guidelines So do not be afraid of the higher calories, if it didn't work it wouldn't be apart of everyones daily nutrition. It's working for me and it's what your body needs to function appropriately 0
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In your 600 calories a day what type of foods do you eat? Are you eating good quality foods, or a fast food value meal a day?
When I started with a trainer a few months ago, I was netting (calories I ate per day minus calories burned per exercise) only 800-1000 calories a day. I was doing this while running half and full marathons. I was running on empty and not losing weight, not gaining muscle, and not doing great on my runs.
He told me to stop counting calories for 2 weeks. That TERRIFIED me! I still had weight to lose, and I didn't want to put any weight back on. He told me to eat good quality foods for 2 weeks. All the fruits, veggies, raw nuts, clean meat, fish, eggs and full fat plain yogurt, full fat milk, full fat cheese that I wanted. I was netting 1500-2000 calories a day (because I really couldn't stop counting, lol) I lost 5 pounds and several inches!
After the 2 weeks I added back in healthy grains, and I have never felt better. My body is getting healthy foods for a change.
I used to think that as long as I stayed under 1200 calories a day I could eat the McDonalds value meals, and cake, and all that crud. And I'm not saying that I don't have the occasional treat, or even slip up, but eating good foods has made me feel better and finally able to lose the weight I couldn't lose before.
Don't be afraid of eating, just make good choices!
Hope this helps a little!
Editing because it sounded to me like I was saying it's okay to eat 600 calories a day as long as they are healthy ones. I don't think that way I also followed Hello it's Dan's advice on what I should be netting a day. Just adding my trainers advice in they types of food to get me there! 0 -
This spreadsheet and instructions will help you find how much you SHOULD be eating, not how much you think you should be eating... and use anything in this folder... Follow Dan's rules for losing weight and you can't go wrong!
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B3kFzsaVmRjmd1k4YjA1SlVWaFU/edit
Mike / BC0 -
I would also add: you may find it difficult to get to your "goal" weight and keep it there, regardless of how low your calories go. It's a very low goal weight for your height.
I just don't want you to be upset when/if the scale does creep up.
You know you should be eating more. Find a way to do it in a healthy way.0 -
I really encourage you to check out this girl's story on her blog. She was terrified just like you were that once she stopped moving all the time (due to an injury in her case) that she was just going to pack the pounds back on...but she didn't! I find her story really motivational, hopefully she can help you toohttp://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/ 0
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You need professional help, seriously, not being mean.0
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Great news!!! You recognize that you need to increase your calorie intake. You recognize that you could be harming yourself... and YOU are doing something about it!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Also, you are still at a healthy BMI... so please do not go to low end of healthy BMI just now... perhaps just maintain current weight for a few months... see how it feels on your body... get back to healthy eating habits first... then perhaps just pace it down a notch to trim up the few extra pounds you may decide you want to lose... But you may be surprised... You may decide you like where you are... if you wear it for awhile and are able to bring yourself to a less terrified place regarding weight...
Your plan to increase your calorie count ... slowly to ease yourself in... sounds on surface... a sound and thoughtful thing...
But I think a wise lady commented earlier... we are not professionals here... just souls trying to get and maintain healthy also. We do not possess the wisdom or experience in dealing with Eating Disorders. I don't know if you have ED or not. As I am not a professional... but you sound quite intense in your terror of gaining even an ounce... so it is at least a yellow flag... which you so bravely recognize already.... Again... well done.
You will get through this very well with the attitude which you excude in your post. These are just my thoughts... another soul searching for answers to his own challenges... smiling. Take them for what they are worth and the good intentions and spirit they are offered....
Good luck!!0 -
You may need to seek professional help. What you're describing has all the qualities of an eating disorder and a bunch of strangers on the internet can't possibly get to the root of your emotional relationship with food the way someone trained to deal with EDs can.
Whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck in your journey.
This, and truly I hope you do.0 -
Here's the kicker -- everything you have done so far, losing weight, that's the easy part. Maintaining the weight loss is going to take work and I recommend starting to think about that now. What calorie level are you planning to eat in maintenance? You sound like you are shooting in the dark as far as how many calories you need -- to lose the last 8 lbs, tell MFP you are sedentery and set it for a 1 lb per week loss. Eat some of your exercise calories, monitor your loss to make sure it is around 1 lb per week. You might need to change this to a 0.5 lb per week loss as you get closer. Yes, it will take you a couple of months to lose it, but you will be using that time to adjust to maintenance.
An eating disorder is a state of mind that has nothing to do with how many calories you eat. I totally understand being afraid to gain it back -- I feel the same way. I am in maintenance now and watching myself like a hawk. You can do it, you just need to look at the big picture and work towards a sustainable calorie level that will only require minimal adjustment once you reach the weight you are happy with. Good luck.0 -
I'm still battling anorexia, and I think people on here may assume you have an eating disorder but people don't really understand that it's not based all upon how little you eat, it's about the mindset of the individual. How are you around food? I'm just going to use myself as an example, for years I struggled with consuming a simple glass of water, it has no calories and logically I knew that but I feared drinking one glass would make me gain weight and I would lose the control I had. I would throw tantrums, cry, anything just as long as I didn't have to drink it, I was scared of water and if I was forced it I would throw it back up again.
Having anorexia is not necessarily about weight loss, it's about being in control, and if you are displaying any strange symptoms then I would definitely consider talking to your doctor. If it's about just being afraid to eat more in case you stop losing weight then, check out the eat more to weigh less group. You can EAT, lose weight, maintain it and live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Good luck though:) xxx0
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