College weight loss, livin in a tiny room

DeepFriedLawnmower
DeepFriedLawnmower Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
Heya everyone, this is my first post, and I'm new to dieting in general, so forgive me if I'm ignorant in advance. I just need some advice some some concerns I've been having with my new diet. Really sorry if it's long, but any insight I would be thankful for :3

So I'm about to finish up my last year here at college, and I've slowly gained about 10 pounds worth over the years. have very severe social anxiety that I've struggled with treatment with, and I basically live inside my tiny private dorm room. I have access to a microwave and a mini fridge with a decent sized freezer. I had to buy a meal plan here since I live on campus, but I've only been to the cafeteria a few times since I started school, way back in my freshman year... So I lived off processed foods and microwave dinners for a long time :/

I have taken dieting very seriously the past few weeks, and since I've been home for the summer I lost five pounds, before even starting my diet in the first place. For years I've been about 140 pounds, but I'm now 135. I'm 5'1" to put that into perspective so, I'm chubby but not terribly overweight. I want to lose about 20-25 pounds. I did some research and tons of looking around and, I think having a low carb/moderate protein/high fat diet would be best suited for me because I'm too scared to go out and be in front of people to exercise. However because I'm so dependent on some processed food here and there, I don't think I could cut what I eat cold turkey. I think my best bet is to slowly introduce myself to new vegetables and fats, weaning myself off of sweets a d processed stuff... then start taking that kind of diet more seriously.

Problem is I can't ever seem to get over 800 calories in each day. When I touched into low carb dieting that number was even lower. I have had this issue for years where I can't seem to eat enough, and whatever I do choose to eat is usually processed and bad for me. I have a picky palette when it comes to food so I have been trying things left and right to see if I can swap my crap food with better choices. I can't seem to enjoy many fruits and vegetables, honestly. I have to make myself eat em. Cheese makes it loads better though!

I know I shouldn't touch sugar, or even artificial sweeteners or diet drinks/foods. I should stay away from sodium, and at least watch my carb intake.

I wonder, has not eating enough led me to gain weight? And if I started eating more to fill my 1200 calorie limit, would I start gaining weight because my body has to deal with a sudden increase in food?

And, what kind of proportions should I make in my diet plan? Should I stick to my low carb/moderate protein/high fat diet, or go for something else since I'm still dependent on a small variety of foods?

Replies

  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    I mean this kindly, but with a BMI of about 25, you're not over-weight because you don't eat enough.

    Can you explain a bit more about your situation? You say you're home for the summer. How many weeks is that, and what is your access to better cooking and food storage options? What options do you have for exercise at home?

    I'm guessing that you'll be back at university around September time, so you have a fantastic opportunity here to make real progress towards your goals before then.
  • DeepFriedLawnmower
    DeepFriedLawnmower Posts: 2
    Whoops, I thought I didn't give enough info.

    I have about eight weeks left till I go back to school. While I've been at home I've been eating a lot more healthier foods, but most healthier options are so expensive I can't afford to buy what I need to supply my diet without a little sacrifice in food quality... Fresh food is hard to keep buying, and just as hard to find really where I live. In town we have one grocery store that charges outrageous prices for fresh foods, and the other options to buy those foods is over an hour away. I don't think many markets even exist around here. I live in the backwoods, lol.

    But anyway, most of my current diet is made up of mostly lean meats, nuts, cheeses, and I've been experimenting with new veggies. I just hate to waste my money on something that I won't like and struggle eating. I have tried making salads with some classic staples but I don't really have access to too much variety, and of course I use some overly sugary dressing to go with it. I can tolerate most veggies I try, especially greens, but I'm not crazy about them. I guess I need to keep experimenting with flavors.

    I have access to lots of good foods, but I would be the only one eating them, and money is really tight. It's also easy for me to eat almonds and other nuts, and I try to go for the unsalted kind. I have a soft spot though for canned soups like tomato and the rich chicken-broths kinds, but I know I should watch the sodium content in those kinds of processed foods. I can probably order some foods online for cheaper, so I'll look into that too.

    And exercise is pretty much impossible. Even if I had the courage to go to a fitness center, there's not even one in town. And the road I live on has at least seven stray dogs on it at once, and they aren't afraid to bite you for the most part. Usually I try and get outside to take care of our horses, and sometimes basic yard work not much other activity other than that though. And I really need my privacy to do some at-home activities, but with so much going on half the time with my autistic brother I just gave up trying to get that in.

    Some idea foods that I have written down that I can keep in my room include:

    Cups of low carb fruit
    Unsalted roasted almonds
    KIND Bars
    Salad mix rich in fiber, dark greens
    Salad dressing (low sugar or sugar free)
    Frozen grilled chicken meat, etc
    Almond butter or peanut butter with low sugar
    Low sodium soups, get them as minimally processed as possible
    Sunflower seeds
    Flax seeds
    Frozen vegetables mixes (no carrots or potatoes)
    Eggs (can be made in microwave - still yummy!
    Yogurt with no sugar,, full fat
    Snack cheeses (cheddar, cheddar jack, mozzarella) full fat
    Shredded cheddar cheese for broccoli etc
    Blueberries (frozen)
    Beef/deer jerky with low sodium -can be made at home
    Cheerios (won't eat much of this if I stick to low-carb diet)
    Butter
    Lindt's dark chocolate bar 75% of cocoa

    I really don't understand though, Ive always been told I don't eat much food, and usually I can barely stick to two meals a day. I'm not sure how else to put it. Some days I don't even eat at all. I just guessed it was what I was eating for the longest time. Also I am on and off many anti depressants and I'm probably going to be put on Paxil soon, because of its effectiveness treating anxiety in general. Those kinds of meds usually lead to even more weight gain so I'm reluctant to stay on them. I was also on contraceptives for years and that might have something to do with the slow weight gain. Years before I got on them I was about 120, and since I started them Ive been gaining about five pounds every year. I stopped taking them about six months ago when I got out of a bad relationship.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Who told you that you don't eat much food?

    Have you checked with the people in student housing or at the counseling center about your difficulty getting to the cafeteria? There is help for you if you reach out. College is communal -- it is not a do it yourself thing.


    Buy frozen fruits and veggies -- they are cheaper than freshen and just as nutritious.

    Search youtube for exercises you can do at home: tai chi, walking/ marching in place,, isometrics, yoga, calisthenics,.. .
  • sarahsc31
    sarahsc31 Posts: 24
    Your body may be in starvation mode because you are not eating enough calories. I would do some research (CDC, online medical journals) to get more information. I know if you don't drink enough water, your body will retain what water it can and that is why people get bloated. Their bodies are retaining water. The solution = drink more water. This may be the same problem with food. Try eating a couple of big meals (larger piece of grilled chicken, double servings of the fruits/veggies that you like, etc.) and see if that helps. If you only like to eat certain things, just eat more of them.
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    Well, I think you have a lot going for you, especially your willingness to try new foods and recipes. I am struggling to imagine a shop that doesn't sell fresh fruit and veg. What country do you live in? What veggies are grown locally?

    A few thoughts...

    - Do the shops sell frozen veg? If so you could try stir-fry and sneaking root vegetables in to mince and tomato sauce dishes and still get the benefits of "sealed in freshness"(!).

    - I like green leafy vegetables cooked with garlic or braised with stock cubes (I'm a bit of a salt-addict).

    - As money is tight, you might find some good money-saving tips from the "A Girl Called Jack" blog.

    - Exercise. Can you try some YouTube videos in your bedroom? I like the Fitness Blender videos for when I need something quiet in a hotel room. I guess yard work is things like mucking out? Can you create jobs to do such as cleaning tack that's already clean or giving the stables a deep clean? Any movement helps! And you'll already know that exercise can help with depression and stress.

    - Re not eating much. A lot of those food choices sound high in fat. You choose a lot which are "full fat" is that because you choose not to eat diet food for some reason?
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    Sorry, another question. Do you have access to scales so that you are weighing your food and counting calories accurately?
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Your body may be in starvation mode because you are not eating enough calories.
    No. Just no.
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    That's strange. The OP has left MFP.

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