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Malnutrition and calorie deficits
jjrscott
Posts: 16 Member
I've been eating at a 1000 calorie deficit for the past three days. It's been tough, so I think I might lower the deficit to 700 calories, and eating 1500 a day.
My question is whether that's still too low if I'm coming out of malnutrition? I'm a college student, not doing much over the summer, and I don't eat this much green/veggies in a week as I have the past few days. Wit that being said, I see why I'm gaining weight, not having a period in 1.5 years, having thinning hair. I'm probably eating 90% empty calories and not getting nutrients.
If I take a multivitamin and eat at 1500 cals, should I still lose weight at a decent rate? Or should I still bump that up?
EDIT: I just realized this sounds like I'm anorexic. I'm not. Just fat, not eating enough nutrient dense foods... Or any at all. That's what I mean by malnutrition.
My question is whether that's still too low if I'm coming out of malnutrition? I'm a college student, not doing much over the summer, and I don't eat this much green/veggies in a week as I have the past few days. Wit that being said, I see why I'm gaining weight, not having a period in 1.5 years, having thinning hair. I'm probably eating 90% empty calories and not getting nutrients.
If I take a multivitamin and eat at 1500 cals, should I still lose weight at a decent rate? Or should I still bump that up?
EDIT: I just realized this sounds like I'm anorexic. I'm not. Just fat, not eating enough nutrient dense foods... Or any at all. That's what I mean by malnutrition.
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Replies
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If you are truly malnourished, you should not be trying to lose weight.0
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I would worry about getting your health back in order first. Have you seen a doctor yet?0
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I'm afraid of going to a doctor. I want to see if I can get my period back with diet first. I read that being overweight could cause not having one.0
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Why not just eat at at maintenance for a couple of weeks and see how you feel?0
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I don't think I can eat 2k calories of healthy food, lol. Seems like a lot.0
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I'm afraid of going to a doctor. I want to see if I can get my period back with diet first. I read that being overweight could cause not having one.
Don't be afraid of doctors. They have a lot of education to contribute that we can't! It sounds like your body is fighting hard right now and an evaluation of what nutrients you are missing is very important, rather than just throwing in a multi vitamin. I honestly recommend pursuing your health concerns other than weight FIRST because a deficit right now could make things worse!0 -
Don't be afraid of doctors. They have a lot of education to contribute that we can't! It sounds like your body is fighting hard right now and an evaluation of what nutrients you are missing is very important, rather than just throwing in a multi vitamin. I honestly recommend pursuing your health concerns other than weight FIRST because a deficit right now could make things worse!
I don't have insurance aside from student insurance, so I probably won't be seeing a doctor until a month from now, even then, it's not a real doctor, I don't think. I have a month to try to fix things on my own.0 -
So can being underweight.
What are your age, height, weight, and activity level?
I'm definitely obese. 19, 230ish (I'm guessing), sedentary.0 -
I don't have insurance aside from student insurance, so I probably won't be seeing a doctor until a month from now, even then, it's not a real doctor, I don't think. I have a month to try to fix things on my own.
Be careful! What are your stats? How do you figure your deficits?0 -
I don't have insurance aside from student insurance, so I probably won't be seeing a doctor until a month from now, even then, it's not a real doctor, I don't think. I have a month to try to fix things on my own.
A month won't be long enough. Can your parents help you out with getting in to see someone at home?0 -
But none of us are better than the almost-doctor
If this is related to an eating disorder, there's specific advice on how and when to increase calories. (I'm not familiar with it myself, but I know it's usually done in a particular way.)
If it's related to your year and half of not having a period, something hormonal (and complicated!), you're definitely going to need medical attention.
I'm sorry it's not available to you
You're in the States, right? What about the ACA? 0 -
If all of this is true, you need a doctor, dietitian and a therapist. Most colleges have at least medical care for free.I've been eating at a 1000 calorie deficit for the past three days. It's been tough, so I think I might lower the deficit to 700 calories, and eating 1500 a day.
My question is whether that's still too low if I'm coming out of malnutrition? I'm a college student, not doing much over the summer, and I don't eat this much green/veggies in a week as I have the past few days. Wit that being said, I see why I'm gaining weight, not having a period in 1.5 years, having thinning hair. I'm probably eating 90% empty calories and not getting nutrients.
If I take a multivitamin and eat at 1500 cals, should I still lose weight at a decent rate? Or should I still bump that up?
If you continue to lose, you will end up in the hospital, tied down to the bed, and with a tube down your throat. Or dead.
A treatment team is your best shot at health and at happiness.
Be smart. Get help. No excuses!
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But none of us are better than the almost-doctor
If this is related to an eating disorder, there's specific advice on how and when to increase calories. (I'm not familiar with it myself, but I know it's usually done in a particular way.)
If it's related to your year and half of not having a period, something hormonal (and complicated!), you're definitely going to need medical attention.
I'm sorry it's not available to you You're in the States, right? What about the ACA?
I don't have an eating disorder. I tend to eat my feelings, but I don't have any serious problems like that. Does the ACA just make sure I come out with a $3k bill instead of ten? Lmao.0 -
If all of this is true, you need a doctor, dietitian and a therapist. Most colleges have at least medical care for free.
If you continue to lose, you will end up in the hospital, tied down to the bed, and with a tube down your throat. Or dead.
A treatment team is your best shot at health and at happiness.
Be smart. Get help. No excuses!
Wait, why do I need a therapist?
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EDIT: I just realized this sounds like I'm anorexic. I'm not. Just fat, not eating enough nutrient dense foods... Or any at all. That's what I mean by malnutrition.0
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Yeesh, so much silliness in this thread.
1). OP is correct, it is entirely possible to be overweight or obese and malnourished, even without "dieting". In fact most morbidly obese people are clinically malnourished.
2). A 1.5 year lack of menses in someone not dieting is not explained by malnutrition. You SHOULD see a doctor.0 -
Why do you say you are "...coming out of malnutrition"? That makes folks concerned that you are dealing with an active eating disorder, and it would in fact make your situation more urgent.
Under the ACA, if your parents have health insurance, you can be covered under their insurance plan until you are 26.
Make sure there are really no student health services available to you at the moment. If there aren't, then you're right to try to eat healthy food and not take your calories too low for the next month until you can get in to see someone.
I don't know your height, but 1500 may still be low for you. It's hard to say, and I don't want to speculate, really, since the thinning hair and lack of a period are both troubling symptoms - which I know you know. That's why you're posting.
So aim for at least 1500 calories if not more, and focus on foods that are nutritionally dense: Dark green veggies, beans, eggs, berries, whole grains, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, salmon, lean meats. There's lots of food that has very high nutritional value while not being high in calories.
I said it because it is malnutrition, essentially. I ate junk food as meals-- a bunch of empty calories with no nutrients. I didn't mean for it to sound so bad, though. I'm 5'3, and a website I looked at said that my intake for maintaining should be 1950 to 2150, and to lose weight would be 1450 to 1650.
The only thing about this is that I really hate half of the things you listed. I hate beans (other than green beans), hate eggs, dislike dairy for the most part, hate fish. As far as veggies go, I'm more into carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage. I'll try to add spinach to my salads, but idk. 
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MFP figured it for me, I just went with it.
Did you set it to -2 lbs a week? Go with maintenance or the -0.5 lb a week option. Don't eat less food than that, with these health issues.
If money's an issue, I know lots of American posters (I'm not one) have offered great ideas on eating nutritious food for less $, in a bunch of threads.
(Myself, I like nice meat, but I hate paying for it. So I get choice cuts the day they go on sale. That'll be the exact day of the "best before" date, but if you freeze it, it'll be totally fine. Dried beans are cheaper than canned, but they're more of a pain to work with if you're not used to dealing with them and you're single; myself, I'd get a bunch of canned generic brand beans on sale and rinse them really well. Veg and fruit, maybe you're lucky and your university or neighbourhood runs a community garden? Or I've seen people mention Aldi here a lot. Sorry if you've got all that down, I thought maybe you wouldn't, since you said you weren't eating much nutritious stuff.)0 -
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Did you set it to -2 lbs a week? Go with maintenance or the -0.5 lb a week option. Don't eat less food than that, with these health issues.
If money's an issue, I know lots of American posters (I'm not one) have offered great ideas on eating nutritious food for less $, in a bunch of threads.
(Myself, I like nice meat, but I hate paying for it. So I get choice cuts the day they go on sale. That'll be the exact day of the "best before" date, but if you freeze it, it'll be totally fine. Dried beans are cheaper than canned, but they're more of a pain to work with if you're not used to dealing with them and you're single; myself, I'd get a bunch of canned generic brand beans on sale and rinse them really well. Veg and fruit, maybe you're lucky and your university or neighbourhood runs a community garden? Or I've seen people mention Aldi here a lot. Sorry if you've got all that down, I thought maybe you wouldn't, since you said you weren't eating much nutritious stuff.)
I don't have an issue getting my hands on healthy foods, but thanks.
It's just going to the doctor that's going to cost a fortune. 0 -
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Alright, I think I got the gist of things. Chill on trying to lose weight for now, eat close to maintenance, concentrate on eating healthier/more nutritious foods and go to the doctor. Thanks, guys!0
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Good luck
(FTR, as an explanation for possible silliness, I experienced a lag on newer posts, so missed key info as the discussion progressed.)0 -
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She's overweight with signs of PCOS. Extra androgens are causing your periods to stop and your hair to thin, not "being malnourished."
Eat less. Lose weight. Eat first to get in the basics: 3 servings veg, 2 fruit, protein to your macro settings. Then fill up what's left with whatever you want.0
This discussion has been closed.
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