starvation, messed up metabolism, weight gain, help :(?

gemma186
gemma186 Posts: 2
in Motivation and Support
Hey guys,

I never really post on message boards but could really use some help here. I've been dieting for years, and after being a really heavy kid, lost quite a lot of weight when I was around 15. I got pretty obsessed though and gained a fear of becoming fat again, and restricted myself to no more than 1200 calories a day. This lasted around 2 years with continuous gym sessions around 3 times a week too, so I got quite thin, and even managed to sometimes eat anywhere between 500-800 calories a day sometimes (I'm well aware of how unhealthy and wrong that was, but it was my frame of mind at the time). However, realising this was wrong and giving myself a real fright at what I'd been doing, I tried to convince myself I was over that 'phase' and ate everything I wanted. Consequently, over about 9 months I've gained over a stone and while I was trying to ignore it and overcome my weird fears of weight gain, I've not progressed in a positive way at all and my fear of weight gain is worse than ever now that I actually have gained all that weight and, with a metabolism that's now pretty screwed from years of abuse, losing weight is so difficult and I don't know what to do at all.

I'm basically looking for advice on how to fix a messed up metabolism, and lose weight healthily but in a way that'll keep it off so I don't have to have these fears ever again. I'm 18, 68kg, (used to be 59kg at my healthiest and want to be that weight again) and am 5ft 6 inches. I'm so clueless about what a healthy amount calories is for me, how much I should burn at the gym, what foods I should be eating, as for the past few years I've picked low calorie, low nutrition crap that's done nothing to help me today.

Thanks so much for any help, its greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • karenj_m
    karenj_m Posts: 215
    You can start here:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    That will give you an "estimate" to start with for calorie intake. Fill out the info, then scroll down.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Your ticker says you want to lose 21 lbs., so set your goal to .5 lb. per week. Learn to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Get a digital food scale, and weigh everything you eat—even packaged food.

    Eat "good" (whatever that means to you) 80% of the time. Fit yummy, portion-controlled treats into your calorie goal. Deprivation can lead to bingeing.

    The Sexypants post should be required reading for all MFPers: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-Sexypants
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    14 pounds isn't a big weight loss if you were skinny before you gained it. maybe you could go to a dietician for food advice, but i also suggest a counselor or therapist and work on a more positive body image.
  • aekaya
    aekaya Posts: 163 Member
    See if this helps, the article makes a really good point about "restarting" your metabolism, even if it takes a little while:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/238282-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing-redux?hl=700+calories
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    You'll get good advice from others about how to set goals etc. I just wanted to address your eating disorder. I had one for a long time and it was so painful and so hard on my body. I really feel for you. One of the important things you need to do is see someone who has experience with people who have eating disorders. Please trust me that you will never stop your suffering through physical change alone. You have to attend to the mental part and you need support. I'm not sure what country you're in, but I found a lot of free and low cost help here: anad.org

    Feel free to write me. I have a lot of experience with this and lots of support to give. Whatever you do, I wish you health and healing.
  • dragonbug300
    dragonbug300 Posts: 760 Member
    Don't worry about your metabolism. Unless you have a pre-existing condition, your metabolism will balance itself out pretty quickly. It probably already has. Your body is pretty great like that.
    I had anorexia for 5 years and upon recovery ended up becoming a terrible binge eater. Your mind is consumed by fear, and the fear makes your eating habits behave like a pendulum. Too much--too little--too much. That is what holds you back from weight loss, not your metabolism. The whole 'permanent damage' from eating too little is a wive's tale. Especially for someone as young as you.

    So, the obvious advice would be to steady the pendulum in the middle. It would help you to focus on maintaining weight for a while to understand what 'normal' feels like before working on weight loss. That's what worked best for me, anyway.
  • gemma186
    gemma186 Posts: 2
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