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Yet Another Metabolism Issue?

PeachyMango333
PeachyMango333 Posts: 17 Member
edited February 26 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I'm new here, but I've been reading tons of forum posts by everyone on this community about how to lose weight, especially after prolonged issues of ED and caloric deficits. I've been trying many things, but I'm getting extremely desperate now, so I could use some more help and motivation, I guess.

I fell into anorexia two years ago, age 16, and went from 120lbs down to 97 with a body fat percentage of literally four percent; it was crazy. I hovered from 100-112 pounds up until last year when I was 17, then about a month or too after turning 17 (so I guess, 1.25 years of eating 1000 calories or less with excessive exercise) I began staying at 115 pounds, then up to 120, and now I am stuck at 130 and it completely disgusts me to see such a high number, especially since it's over my pre-ana weight.

Reading from all of the forums, It seems that my metabolism adapted to thriving off very little energy requirements, and that even if I supposedly burn 500 calories each day, it no longer matters since I've been keeping the same process up for such a long time whilst consuming a very low amount of calories; coming from more people with similar experiences, is this true?
I've been trying to steadily increase calories and maintain, such as: one week eat 1050, the next week 1100, and so on, while maintaining exercise, yet it honestly feels as if it's not working.

I do not consume a lot of sugar, or fats, and my carbs range around 140 a day (yet, that's also within a 1000-1200 caloric range, so that's not too well either) coming mostly from fruits.

Of course the weight fluctuation may be from water weight, but, I don't want to just assume, I want to know for sure what I should do so I can ease some anxiety from constantly guessing. I partake in martial arts, so I have some muscle, but I was able to stay at a weight of 115 and 120 while doing martial arts, so I don't think I can safely assume muscle has to do with this weight gain. I don't see much difference in body shape, honestly, just more around the hips and thighs (sigh), my waist is currently 24in, yet it used to be 22, but I used to hula hoop a lot, now, not much time for it :frown:

I'm also 5'6, so 130 is ranging on the heavy side now. Somebody please take time to reassure me?

Replies

  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    The top of your range is 148 so how is 130 on the heavy side?
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    130 is not on the heavy side. 24" waist is tiny. And you did not break your metabolism. Eat normally, do your martial arts, and continue ED treatment because you're not seeing yourself as you are. Good luck!
  • PeachyMango333
    PeachyMango333 Posts: 17 Member
    The top of your range is 148 so how is 130 on the heavy side?

    My ideal weight is said to be 136 with a BMI of 24, I feel at a secure BMI at 19
  • PeachyMango333
    PeachyMango333 Posts: 17 Member
    130 is not on the heavy side. 24" waist is tiny. And you did not break your metabolism. Eat normally, do your martial arts, and continue ED treatment because you're not seeing yourself as you are. Good luck!

    Even after 2 years of putting my metabolism through that much damage, it'll be okay?
    Sorry, I'm just really worried; over exaggerating even, probably. I read that if your body temperature stays at 96 for homeostasis, your metabolism is highly damaged, which worries me because that applied to me; now it's between 97.4-.8, does that have any significance?

    Also, I remember when my family and I went on vacation, I ate a LOT, I ate about 2000 calories a day, granted I was active all day, yet I lost five pounds, does that mean that upping my calories (though steadily not so largely since i won't be that active) will show improvement in a week's or two time?
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I'm no expert but from what I've read about adaptive thermogenesis, when you go back to eating normally, you go back to a normal BMR level, for the most part.

    Most of the adaptation is that you start moving less at very low calories, not that you flip some 'starvation switch' that doesn't flip back or that you burn off your lean body mass at record speeds. Yes, you might have lower lean body mass than if you'd never crash dieted but focus on eating right, exercising and not aiming for a BMI of 19 and you'll be fine.
  • Leonidas_meets_Spartacus
    Leonidas_meets_Spartacus Posts: 6,198 Member
    Eat and slowly include high intensity resistance training. I know few people who have improved their metabolism through proper diet and training.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    This sounds like something best taken up with your doctor, dietitian, and/or counselor. They're gong to be the people who know your personal history well enough to give you advice on this topic.
This discussion has been closed.

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