Help! Gain weight won't stop

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loorita90
loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone!
I am 23 years old and 5.2 feet tall. I need help.

I am helpless. I don't know what to do.
It all started 3 years ago when I started counting calories just for fun (I thought). It turned out to become anorexia!
MY beginning (and healthy) weight was at 49 kg (108 lbs). I lost a lot restricting my calorie intake to no more than 200 kcal a day.
I went down to 34kg (34lbs) until I realized that I was close to dying (and my family also made me recover..)
Anyhow. This lowest weight was in November 2011, after that I stopped counting calories and just ate as much as I wanted (turning out in huge binge sessions every night) I gained weight fast -> it was June 2012 I had 42kg (92lbs) and December 2012 I weighed 48kg (105 lbs)

I somehow was worried about gaining so fast and got back to bad eating habits. I starved most of the time but then, of course the binges got even worse so I consumed about 3,000 calories at the end of the day. Soon I was at 53kg (116lbs).
But since I hit this weight I started restricting back a lot. I set my goal to 600calories a day but sometimes it can even be 1000, or 12000. No more than that.
I weighed myself again and I gained 3kgs (7lbs) AGAIN!! I am currently at 56kg (123lbs)!!

I want this weight gain to stop. I knew after recovering from anorexia there would be a rapid weight gain until you reach your normal weight. But what is wrong with me right now? It seems like it wouldn't even stop if I fasted every day. Should I lower my calorie intake???

please help me.

I opened my food diary, sorry it is in German but maybe you'll understand anyway
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Replies

  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
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    You should really seek out a therapist who deals with eating disorders. They work with dieticians to help you get back to normal eating patterns and a normal, healthy weight.
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    But why am I gaining weight right now even if I eat no more than 1200 calories?
  • Crystalynn84s
    Crystalynn84s Posts: 2
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    Your metabolism is probably out of sorts. They say to eat 6 small and healthy meals a day along with exercise and you should maintain your weight or at least get to where you want to be at a healthier pace. How old are you? I hope you can be comfortable in your skin and not worry so much what the scale says. I think we all fall victim to that and I commend you for asking for help and sharing your story. Feel free to add me if you would like. Best of luck to you.
  • tootchute
    tootchute Posts: 392 Member
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    I read some where a woman's daily intake is 2000 calories, so I don't understand why you are gaining weight. I also thing 123 isn't something to get terrible bent out of shape for, but I agree you might want to seek out some professional help.
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    Oh sorry: I am 23 years old and 5.2 feet!
  • miqisha
    miqisha Posts: 1,534 Member
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    I am so sorry you are going through this, I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it must be for you. The 1200 calories believe it or not maybe too low, based on what your body has been through. Try to make your eating as clean as possible and try increasing your calories and workout and drink tons of water

    However, it may be a good idea to see a dietitian who can help guide you and steer you in the right direction. Someone mentioned a plan above they used that might work, do your research and see if you can find what works for you, so you can get your system used to a healthy routine, because right now it seems its out of sorts and storing everything as fat, which can be the reason for the weight gain.

    Good luck
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,630 Member
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    But why am I gaining weight right now even if I eat no more than 1200 calories?

    Go see your doctor and therapist. It is irrelevant why you are gaining, get yourself sorted out first.
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    apart from needing help (which I'm sure I do but I want to try to tackle the probem myself just as I got out of being extremely underweight without professional help)
    Does anyone know why I'm still gaining?
  • JossFit
    JossFit Posts: 588 Member
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    But why am I gaining weight right now even if I eat no more than 1200 calories?

    Because 1200 calories is probably still only about HALF of what you should be eating, so your body is still totally stressed out. Add to that the damage you did previously, and you have a recipe for some serious metabolic adaptation. Your body is under stress, and therefore it's not going to start releasing fat and leveling out at a healthy weight until you eat the right amount of food.
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    But I've been eating "normally" since I started recovering. ( 2012 - today)
    I had my daily 2000 (and more) for about 1 year. And I was gaining weight (of course).
    So my body should be recovered now, and not in a "starvation mode" anymore?
    It had more than 1 year time to get back to normal functioning.
    I can't continue eating more than 2000 because it will only lead to further weight gain...?
    that's why I restricted again
  • chantels1
    chantels1 Posts: 391 Member
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    You are at a healthy weight for your age and height, I do not understand the need to restrict calories. You are obsessed with a number and not fitness. You need to rethink your goals here. Do you want to be healthy or do you want to be anorexic. I understand you don't want to become overweight. None of us do, but when you slipped into anorexia, you confused your body, and now that you are healthy, your metabolism is screwed up and you are going to have to give it some time to recover. This may mean weighing more than your goal weight, but being healthy is more important than your goal number! I would exercise and eat right with a minimum of 1500 calories per day. Make them healthy calories. You may want to have your thyroid tested with your doctor in the meantime. He may scoft at the idea of a 123 lb woman asking for a thyroid test, but if you are gaining no matter what your calorie count is, it could be your hormones out of whack. So explain all the details to your Doctor and see if he/she will rule out thyroid issues. Also do some studying on recovering from anorexia. You are still struggling, so educating yourself is the best thing you can do! Good luck!
  • silken555
    silken555 Posts: 477 Member
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    Loorita, I'm sorry to tell you but it will probably take far more than a year for your body to sort itself out. It can take years and years which is why people here are telling you to seeing a dietitian and therapist that specializes in eating disorders and recovery. As admirable as it is to try tackling this issue on your own, you are probably setting yourself even further back without the proper knowledge and support. You basically really, REALLY screwed up your body and it's on major survival mode right now. If you don't want to slide back into an eating disorder, please find those specialists ASAP!
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    I got my thyroid tested and everything seems fine!
    I have been studying on this topic for 2 years now. Everywhere it says that You will first gain weight but it will go down again.
    So I knew what would come. However it just doesn't feel healthy anymore. It feels like something is wrong inside my body.
    Should I get my insulin resistance tested. Someone messaged me telling me my sugars were way too high. I always believed in the calorie system as functioning the same no matter what enters the body -it all becomes an entity of energy. If you don't consume that entity it will be stored.
    I don't trust any specific diets. I think you should have all three components carbs, protein and fats. (but very low fat)
    what do you think?
  • maybeazure
    maybeazure Posts: 301 Member
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    I think you restricted calories too much. 600 calories is too little for anyone, even someone trying to lose weight.

    I agree with others that it really would be a good idea to talk to a professional, simply to get a personalized plan. You don't have to talk to them forever, just long enough to get you started maybe. Going up and down in weight isn't healthy. I bet a nutritionist would be able to help you figure out how to maintain weight, and I think that would help your anxiety a lot.
  • j6o4
    j6o4 Posts: 871 Member
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    But why am I gaining weight right now even if I eat no more than 1200 calories?

    You screwed up your metabolism by undereating way too much, now your gaining at a calorie intake that you should be losing weight at. Might as well add some resistance training so that if your still gaining hopefully it be in the form of muscle, so that way when your metabolism is recovered by Not undereating that you can take it slowly this time and eat at a moderate deficit to get the body you want. Do it slowly and keep as much muscle as possible when you lose weight so hopefully the weight you lose is fat. if you lose more muscle than fat then that means your bodyfat percentage will go up and you wont be lean.
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    Thank you for your help, support and kindness!
    I appreciate all of your answers. I just found the address of an endocrinologist. I will go see the doctor soon.
    Please, if there are more people who can come up with ideas or maybe even went through this. Pls answer to this thread or message me. feel free to add me as friend.
  • rachseby
    rachseby Posts: 285 Member
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    Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I went through something similar. Instead of spending tons of money on doctors, I just bought this plan from a weight loss/fitness site on tumblr. It was only $10 and you lose 1 lb a day without starving or doing anything unhealthy. I know it sounds like it won't work but it actually does. I can find the link if you want.

    STOP telling an anorexic how to lose weight.
    This!
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
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    Based on your height, 1200 calories may not be a deficit sufficient to cause weight loss. At 5'2" it may be closer to what your body generally NEEDS on a day to day basis. 123lbs sounds like an excellent weight for 5'2", there really isn't anything wrong with that.

    At this point, I would recommend tossing your scale. You seem too obsessed with it. I say stick to healthy foods, avoid anything deep fried, snack foods, and eat mostly protein, fruit and vegetables.

    Just exercise. Make that your obsession instead of your scale. Worry about how you FEEL, screw the numbers. A friend of mine (recovering anorexic: was at her lowest 85lbs at 5'6") is now a healthy distance runner at a size 2.... but she only has about 15% body fat. Girl looks great. I'd say she likely weighs about 130-135lbs. She's also become a professional drug & alcohol counsellor, because her dietician and anorexia counsellors were such a help for her. She didn't feel that becoming a counsellor for eating disorders would be emotionally healthy for her... but she appreciated her counsellors so much, that she wanted to do for other people what they did for her.

    Check it out. Counselling won't kill you. Anorexia can.
  • lilcassers
    lilcassers Posts: 163
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    Because your body is going into starvation mode. 1200 is very low. You need nourishment.

    I think you need to seek a professional for this.
  • loorita90
    loorita90 Posts: 21 Member
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    do you all really believe in the "starvation mode" myth? I read so much about it. I came to the conclusion that it is very unlikely to happen. maybe if you do not eat anything at all you body may retain all the fat for a little bit but eventually will lose it after a while

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