Am I doing it wrong?

shibainulover14
shibainulover14 Posts: 13
edited November 2024 in Introduce Yourself
One of my friends said that she would exercise with me and we would both lose weight. Which I was very excited about. Then she gave me advise on what to eat and when we exercise together. Which also, isent that bad. But now that I'm fully committed to losing weight. I'm afraid to eat.
I have been eating about 500 calories a day and in 2 months I have lost 17 pounds. I just want to lose my weight so bad I'll do anything to loose weight at this point. But my other friend is telling me it's unhealthy and really bad for me, but it's hard to break now that I changed my eating completely. I exercise almost every day for about a hour on the elliptical and burn about 400 calories a day.I just don't know what to do if anyone has any suggestions for me I'd really appreciate the help.

Replies

  • bq4me
    bq4me Posts: 9
    You should definitely increase your calorie intake. this is definitely not healthy. you can increase your worK outs instead.This can cause lack of nutrients in your body.
  • My_Butt
    My_Butt Posts: 2,300 Member
    Take it from someone who experienced the worst. When you don't consume enough calories, and your body can't find enough fat source, it will turn to your muscles. And what is your heart? It's a muscle.

    I had an eating disorder for 17 years. My body, literally was consuming my heart for energy. I now have two heart problems.

    Is it really worth it now to lose the weight that fast if it's just going to speed up your death?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Speak with a professional
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @My_Butt‌ all I really want is a flat stomach. And I just get afraid if I eat I won't lose any weight that month :( and I'll feel like I didn't do my best to diet. :s
  • JimFsfitnesspal
    JimFsfitnesspal Posts: 313 Member
    Are you doing it wrong? YES
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @bq4me‌ thank you for the help~ if I exercise on a elliptical for about a hour. Should I be on it for 2 hours or a hour and thirty? Because a hour on there is about 4 miles for me.
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @JimFsfitnesspal‌ then how do I do it right? Because one of my friends is saying that's ok. Then another is saying it's not ):
  • bq4me
    bq4me Posts: 9
    Well you can add weight training on top of the elliptical that will help u burn fat
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @malibu927‌ I don't know any..or where they are ): just my friends really
  • bq4me
    bq4me Posts: 9
    You don't want your body burning muscle. I can't imagine 500 calories that's insane. Where do u even get the strength to work out
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @bq4me‌ okie thank you :) I will try that tomorrow when I go to the gym~
  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    edited March 2015
    shibainulover14 wrote: »
    I have been eating about 500 calories a day ...

    Are you doing it wrong? Yes. Slow and steady is the way.
  • musicandarts
    musicandarts Posts: 187 Member
    edited March 2015
    What you are doing is not healthy, and may be dangerous. Talk to a doctor/dietician etc. You should increase your calories to at least 1200. A better option is to eat about 1800 calories and burn 600 calories on a treadmill.

    A 500 calorie diet will make all your muscles dissipate, and you will soon end up looking someone living in a famine.
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @bq4me‌ I usually try to go early and in the morning I'm not hungry. So I just go work out and when I get home I have like a 160 calorie bowl of cereal.
  • musicandarts
    musicandarts Posts: 187 Member
    shibainulover14 wrote: »
    @My_Butt‌ all I really want is a flat stomach. And I just get afraid if I eat I won't lose any weight that month :( and I'll feel like I didn't do my best to diet. :s

    You could disclose your height, current weight etc, so that your MFP friends can give you better suggestions. Perhaps you may need to talk to a therapist to deal with your perceptions about your body.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,150 Member
    My_Butt wrote: »
    Take it from someone who experienced the worst. When you don't consume enough calories, and your body can't find enough fat source, it will turn to your muscles. And what is your heart? It's a muscle.

    I had an eating disorder for 17 years. My body, literally was consuming my heart for energy. I now have two heart problems.

    Is it really worth it now to lose the weight that fast if it's just going to speed up your death?

    Quoting as a reminder and adding a link to National Eating Disorders.
    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

    Please eat more food, or even drink a shake or smoothie. Listen to your other friend who's telling you to eat.
  • snowflakesav
    snowflakesav Posts: 649 Member
    500 calories a day is too few to provide good nutrition. Good nutrition gives you pretty hair, great skin, and keeps your brain functioning.

    You can still lose weight and get great results by eating a few more calories... Check out the calculator when you set up your profile.

  • zamphir66
    zamphir66 Posts: 582 Member
    OP: This is my personal experience. Every equation that sounds like: "If I achieve X, then I will by happy," or "When I reach Y, I will be happy" is an equation that is never solved. Because these are just external proxies. You're not addressing the real source of happiness and wellness that is in your inmost soul.

    If you've truly been eating 500 calories a day, then you need to introduce yourself to a medical doctor and a therapist rather than an Internet board full of well-intentioned strangers.
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @zamphir66‌ I don't feel sick and needed some advise. I didn't know what to do...I don't feel like I need a therapist but Ty for your concern.
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @snowflakesav‌ thank you for your help~
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    shibainulover14 wrote: »
    @bq4me‌ thank you for the help~ if I exercise on a elliptical for about a hour. Should I be on it for 2 hours or a hour and thirty? Because a hour on there is about 4 miles for me.

    OP, you do not need to work out for 2 hours a day. Whether you eat 500 calories, or eat 1,000 calories and burn 500 calories, you are putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Most women should reach 1,200 calories net, meaning calories eaten minus exercise calories burned should be at least 1,200 calories.

    Being "afraid to eat" is a possible symptom of an eating disorder. You need to eat more and see a doctor or therapist to get back on the right track. As a previous reply said, if you lose weight too fast, your body will not just burn fat, it will burn muscle too. Please get some help, and in the meantime read the sticky posts at the top of each forum and eat more.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    shibainulover14 wrote: »
    @zamphir66‌ I don't feel sick and needed some advise. I didn't know what to do...I don't feel like I need a therapist but Ty for your concern.

    You're heading down the path, if not already there, to anorexia. Check out the link @zyxst‌ posted, or speak with an adult you trust. Your friend is doing the right thing by making sure you lose in a healthy manner.
  • zamphir66
    zamphir66 Posts: 582 Member
    shibainulover14 wrote: »
    @zamphir66‌ I don't feel sick and needed some advise. I didn't know what to do...I don't feel like I need a therapist but Ty for your concern.

    How you feel is't always or often a great indicator of what's going on inside your body. My grandmother didn't feel sick from lung cancer until it had reached stage IV.

    If you're really eating only 500 calories daily and working out as you describe, then your body is literally cannibalizing itself to cover the deficit. That means breaking down muscle, bone, internal organs, etc. and so on. The damage can become very severe, all while you feel fine. At some point, your body can't do it anymore.
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @kimny72‌ thank you for that advice. :) And I will try harder to control myself into eating and working everything out.
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    @zamphir66‌ so all i have to do is really just eat more calories? Instead of eatting little meals with little calories should I eat one bigger meal with more calories? Or is that not going to help?
  • mirrim52
    mirrim52 Posts: 763 Member
    shibainulover14 wrote: »
    @kimny72‌ thank you for that advice. :) And I will try harder to control myself into eating and working everything out.

    No - talk to a doctor. They are not only there to help you when you are sick, but also to keep you healthy. A doctor can give you a good daily goal and give you an example of what food to eat, or direct you to someone who can.

    I had an eating disorder when I was younger, it isn't to see when you are in it. Food is not the enemy, it is fuel. Without adequate fuel, you body will break down what it has. It will break down your muscle and organs. It will leach the minerals from your bones and teeth leaving them weak. Some results can be permanent, so saying you are just going to do it for a while then start eating normally again does not work.

    If you are at school, you can talk to the health services at school. If you not, go to your family doctor. Just tell them that you want to lose weight and improve your fitness. They will be thankful not to have someone in their office throwing up on them ;)
  • shibainulover14
    shibainulover14 Posts: 13
    Just forget all of it. :\ All I wanted was some advice and I get people saying I'm abusing this thing so whatever. I'm over it. :|
  • mirrim52
    mirrim52 Posts: 763 Member
    edited March 2015
    No one is blaming you, but you asked if what you are doing is healthy, and it is not.
    You asked for suggestions and people are doing that, but there isn't a whole heck of a lot strangers on the internet can do. Your own friend has told you they don't think what you are doing is healthy, so if you want an impartial opinion, ask a doctor whose job it is to evaluate health.

    I know from personal experience "just eat more" doesn't work when you don't know what you should or shouldn't be eating.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories