Am I Eating Enough?
Cats2626
Posts: 27 Member
When I was younger, I was very overweight. Then when I became a teenager I started starving myself and got much thinner. I ate between 0-600 calories a day, and if I ever went above that (which I rarely did), I made myself throw up. Although I never had a severe, full blown eating disorder, it controlled my entire life for over a year and a half. I only lost 65 pounds, but I also grew 3-4 inches as I was still very young. I lost 4-5 pants sizes. I eventually started eating again. I maintained my weight for a while, but eventually regained some. I am now trying to go on a healthy diet, but I don't really know how. The only way I've ever known is through starvation. Since I began my diet, I have been eating anywhere from 500-1200 calories a day. I feel like this is still too little. MFP set my limit at 1280 to lose 2 pounds a week. Does anyone have any advice that could help me? Thank you very much.
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Replies
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Yes, 500 calories is too little. I think you did have an eating disorder when you were a teenager and should seek treatment for this now.0
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Sounds like a full blown eating disorder to me, honestly. Your current habits still resemble those of an eating disorder. What are your stats that you're aiming for a two pound loss per week?0
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Yes, it's too little, and you should speak with a professional about your past and current habits.0
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I relate a lot to this post. I had a similar experience, I was a very over weight child and then I lost a significant amount of weight as a teenager with disordered eating. Extreme restricting, under 500 calories a day. Like you, I put some back on when I started living a "normal" lifestyle. Now, how do you go about losing weight when the only way you have done so has been so successful yet so unhealthy? I struggle with this everyday as well. The thing is, just because you weren't 70lbs in a mental institution does not mean you didn't have an eating disorder, or a type of disordered eating (truthfully, don't we all?!) It's hard finding that balance. For me, I want to do this the healthy way now. I'm not 17 anymore, I'm 29 with a career and a family and I'm getting married next year. Yes, losing weight quickly is nice, but living your life and not starving yourself is more important. I would also suggest speaking to a professional but I know that sometimes it's not an option/you just flat out don't want to. MFP sets 1,000 calories as the base line for how little calories ANYONE should eat, regardless how fast or slow you want to take the lbs off so I would say try to at least eat above that. It's hard, I get it. Just... Try to be easy on yourself. Try to love yourself.0
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yes, you did have an ED and you are not eating enough. the minimum on MFP is 1200calories
I might suggest asking a professional to ask you to help you eat the right kinds and amounts of food so you are healthy0 -
sherrilynndolan wrote: »I relate a lot to this post. I had a similar experience, I was a very over weight child and then I lost a significant amount of weight as a teenager with disordered eating. Extreme restricting, under 500 calories a day. Like you, I put some back on when I started living a "normal" lifestyle. Now, how do you go about losing weight when the only way you have done so has been so successful yet so unhealthy? I struggle with this everyday as well. The thing is, just because you weren't 70lbs in a mental institution does not mean you didn't have an eating disorder, or a type of disordered eating (truthfully, don't we all?!) It's hard finding that balance. For me, I want to do this the healthy way now. I'm not 17 anymore, I'm 29 with a career and a family and I'm getting married next year. Yes, losing weight quickly is nice, but living your life and not starving yourself is more important. I would also suggest speaking to a professional but I know that sometimes it's not an option/you just flat out don't want to. MFP sets 1,000 calories as the base line for how little calories ANYONE should eat, regardless how fast or slow you want to take the lbs off so I would say try to at least eat above that. It's hard, I get it. Just... Try to be easy on yourself. Try to love yourself.
+1
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Eat the calories MFP recommends. Split into 5-6 small meals. Watch the nutrient guide at the meal log pages bottom. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. Exercise as much as possible. Veggies are your friends. While not zero in calories great as " filler". Weigh everything, read labels.0
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diannethegeek wrote: »
Quoted so it doesn't get missed.0 -
Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate it.sherrilynndolan wrote: »I relate a lot to this post. I had a similar experience, I was a very over weight child and then I lost a significant amount of weight as a teenager with disordered eating. Extreme restricting, under 500 calories a day. Like you, I put some back on when I started living a "normal" lifestyle. Now, how do you go about losing weight when the only way you have done so has been so successful yet so unhealthy? I struggle with this everyday as well. The thing is, just because you weren't 70lbs in a mental institution does not mean you didn't have an eating disorder, or a type of disordered eating (truthfully, don't we all?!) It's hard finding that balance. For me, I want to do this the healthy way now. I'm not 17 anymore, I'm 29 with a career and a family and I'm getting married next year. Yes, losing weight quickly is nice, but living your life and not starving yourself is more important. I would also suggest speaking to a professional but I know that sometimes it's not an option/you just flat out don't want to. MFP sets 1,000 calories as the base line for how little calories ANYONE should eat, regardless how fast or slow you want to take the lbs off so I would say try to at least eat above that. It's hard, I get it. Just... Try to be easy on yourself. Try to love yourself.
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Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate it.sherrilynndolan wrote: »I relate a lot to this post. I had a similar experience, I was a very over weight child and then I lost a significant amount of weight as a teenager with disordered eating. Extreme restricting, under 500 calories a day. Like you, I put some back on when I started living a "normal" lifestyle. Now, how do you go about losing weight when the only way you have done so has been so successful yet so unhealthy? I struggle with this everyday as well. The thing is, just because you weren't 70lbs in a mental institution does not mean you didn't have an eating disorder, or a type of disordered eating (truthfully, don't we all?!) It's hard finding that balance. For me, I want to do this the healthy way now. I'm not 17 anymore, I'm 29 with a career and a family and I'm getting married next year. Yes, losing weight quickly is nice, but living your life and not starving yourself is more important. I would also suggest speaking to a professional but I know that sometimes it's not an option/you just flat out don't want to. MFP sets 1,000 calories as the base line for how little calories ANYONE should eat, regardless how fast or slow you want to take the lbs off so I would say try to at least eat above that. It's hard, I get it. Just... Try to be easy on yourself. Try to love yourself.
That's wrong. 1200 is the limit for women; 1500 for men. Plus, you need to eat most of your exercise calories back.0 -
Insufficient data. Specify weight and age.0
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It's noteworthy that the only person the OP thanked was the one with advice that included far too low of a caloric intake baseline ... especially for a person doesn't accept that their past (and possibly current) behaviors were a "full blown eating disorder".0
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brianpperkins wrote: »It's noteworthy that the only person the OP thanked was the one with advice that included far too low of a caloric intake baseline ... especially for a person doesn't accept that their past (and possibly current) behaviors were a "full blown eating disorder".
Yep0 -
I think OP is acknowledging the most sensitive and clear piece of advice.
Mfp does have a baseline of 1000 - if you eat below it and confirm there is a health warning, if you eat above it it allows you to confirm and complete your day's diary. If OP is eating 500 some days 1000 may seem more approachable than 1200 min.
Having this issue in the past, I honestly know for me that getting to be aware that the diary won't confirm unless you reach the 1000 was probably the turning point from seeing food as an enemy. It became a goal to reach 1000-1200, not just a goal to eat as little as possible. However I got away with this a bit as I'm 5'1 and was actually only at a 600 deficit and eating exercise calories back.
OP, could you let us know your stats so we can know you're not in too large a deficit? Are you exercising much at all?0 -
Please, read the link below and consult your doctor. Eating 500 calories a day is disordered, and it would be best if you discussed this with your doctor before trying to lose any more weight. So many things can go wrong with your body if you aren't fueling it properly (brittle hair and nails, bone loss, infertility/amenorrhea, muscle loss -don't forget that your heart is a muscle also).
http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources0 -
First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.0 -
First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.
This has to be one of the biggest myths about eating disorders. You can have one at any size, you don't have to be skinny. You don't think most morbidly obese people have an eating disorder? Long term disordered thinking and behaviour surrounding food is an eating disorder. I'm afraid, in the nicest possible way, you need to confront the FACT you have and still do have disordered eating. You need to see someone specialised to help you, not an internet forum.0 -
First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.
Okay OP your tdee may be close to 2500 calories a day! I really suggest that you work toward making your daily goal around 1500 calories to lose 2lb a week.
This might seem like a lot, but its what's right for your body. I realise that coping with that much physical food might be too much for you, so I suggest adding in say a glass of fresh juice in the morning or hey if you want you could set aside a calorific dessert with that many calories to spare!0 -
Please seek professional help for your relationship with food. You have a long life ahead of you. It will be much more fulfilling and meaningful if you aren't struggling with an eating disorder.0
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First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.
http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources
^Have you visited this link yet? It includes a summary of what healthy eating can look like as well as a quick checklist and description of various forms of disordered eating. I really do think it would be a helpful read for you.0 -
I ate between 0-600 calories a day, and if I ever went above that (which I rarely did), I made myself throw up. Although I never had a severe, full blown eating disorder, it controlled my entire life for over a year and a half. The only way I've ever known is through starvation. Since I began my diet, I have been eating anywhere from 500-1200 calories a day. I feel like this is still too little. MFP set my limit at 1280 to lose 2 pounds a week. Does anyone have any advice that could help me? Thank you very much.
It sounds to me like you had a full-blown eating disorder! And that you still don't have a healthy relationship with food or your body.
Please consider using the links for help and seeing a therapist. The way you feel about yourself isn't going to go away no matter how much weight you lose. You can't diet away those feelings.
No, you're not eating enough. Your profile says you want to lose 90 pounds. How tall are you and how much do you currently weigh? That seems like a big loss goal for someone who is 18 and spent some of her recent teenage years starving. Is losing weight what you need to be focusing on right now? It seems like health and self-esteem might be more crucial for you to work on.
Generally, the recommendation for weight loss to develop sustainable habits and fuel your body is .5 lbs/week for every 25 pounds you lose. Netting such low calories a day isn't healthy for your body. Outside of exercise, your body needs a minimum number of calories just to maintain organ function--it's called BMR (Basic Metabolic Rate). If you burn so many calories, your body will turn to lean muscle for fuel--that's the last thing you want! It's not an instant change, but it will happen over time if you maintain this current activity and calorie level. Even with your burns being high, it doesn't seem like you're eating enough to preserve lean tissue. Meet Scooby, scooby can help you figure out your numbers, including TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure). http://scoobysworkshop.com/calories-burned/
Give yourself the patience and grace to develop the habits you need to maintain so you don't start cycles of losing and gaining and then losing and gaining again and again.
Please take care of yourself--for now and for the future! You were brave and posted here asking for help, knowing you're not doing what's right for your body. Now maintain that courage and take the next step and seek professional help!
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Just because you didn't look like someone who would have an eating disorder doesn't mean you didn't have one, nor that you don't at the moment. There are more than anorexia/bulimia/bingeing. Please speak with someone, even just to clear your mind.0
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First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.
Doesn't look like you've read the link people keep posting, so I will include it again plus some content. As you can see, you don't have to be super skinny to have an eating disorder.
http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources
Types of Eating Disorders & Symptoms
While eating disorders may first appear to be weight-focused, food can also become a coping mechanism for feelings or emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming. Over time, these behaviors will damage an individual’s physical and emotional health, self-esteem, sense of confidence, and control.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Characterized by repetitive, uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food in a short period of time, without behaviors to prevent weight gain. People who suffer from BED may frequently experience feeling out of control when eating––they may eat when not hungry or in response to emotions, eat to the point of discomfort or eat alone out of shame for their behavior. Binge-eating is sometimes, but not always, associated with obesity. Learn more
Anorexia Nervosa (AN): Characterized by restrictive eating (such as fasting or extreme dieting) that leads to weight loss. Compulsive exercise routines and other persistent behaviors may also be taken to prevent weight gain or promote further weight loss. Those suffering from AN commonly exhibit an intense fear of weight gain and/or an obsession with weight. Some sufferers of AN may also exhibit an obsession with athletic performance and will engage in strenuous exercise and dieting to an unhealthy extent. Learn more
Bulimia Nervosa (BN): Characterized by frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, feeling a lack of control over eating and followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain. These behaviors include but are not limited to 1) self-induced vomiting, 2) abusing laxatives, diet pills, diuretics or enemas, 3) fasting and/or 4) compulsive exercising. People suffering from BN may also exhibit an intense fear of gaining weight. Learn more
Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS): Includes feeding or eating disorders that cause significant stress or impairment, but does not meet the criteria for the eating disorders explained above. Disordered eating presents in many different ways. Learn more
Seeking Help
Eating disorders affect people of every age, race, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status. Much like the individuals they affect, they are unique and complex, and may not fall into a clear category. If you are concerned about your own eating and exercise habits, or thoughts and emotions surrounding food, physical activity and body image, or if you’re concerned about a friend or loved one, we urge you to seek help.0 -
First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.
So because you denied and hid it, therefore it didn't exist? More red flags to go with your first post.0 -
Yes, you did have an eating disorder. That's pretty much the textbook example of one:Cats2626 wrote:when I became a teenager I started starving myself and got much thinner. I ate between 0-600 calories a day,
and if I ever went above that (which I rarely did), I made myself throw up. Although I never had a severe, full blown
eating disorder, it controlled my entire life for over a year and a half.
eating very little, throwing up, "controlling your life".
.
No, you're not eating enough, unless you're on a medically-supervised plan.
Talk with your doctor.
See if you can meet with a nutritionist, and even a counselor dealing with eating disorders.
.
Glad you're wanting to be healthy.I am now trying to go on a healthy diet, but I don't really know how.
MFP set my limit at 1280 to lose 2 pounds a week. Does anyone have any advice that could help me?
If you're really very overweight, losing 2 lb / week is reasonable. But as you get closer to a healthy weight, the
rate will slow. Soon even 1 lb a month will be reasonable & healthy.
Here's a post about setting healthy / reasonable goals: weight, calories, nutrients.
It includes links to several resources.
Here's a post I did compiling a bunch of newbie help info.
Definitely read sexypants several times.
To increase calories & nutrition without increasing how much you eat, change your food choices a bit.
Have a little more of the nutrient-dense things. Don't go overboard, just have a little more.
Use whole milk instead of skim, regular yogurt instead of lite, higher-fat cuts of meat, regular salad dressing.
Eat nuts, nut butter, avocados. Add olive oil to your salad or pasta. Use a little more cheese on your pizza.
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5'7" and 176 lb
Yet your ticker shows that you want to lose 90 lb, putting you at 86 lb???
That is not realistic, nor is it healthy.
Talk with your parents, talk with your doctor. You need to get help. Should have had it years ago.
Going by BMI, a healthy weight range for your height is 120-155 lb.
So 140 would be just about the middle of the healthy range.
For now, how about aiming for 150, eating a healthy balance of foods & amount of calories, and doing reasonable
amounts / types of exercise (30-60 min/day, including weightlifting).
This calculator from the Baylor College of Medicine
says that an 18yo woman who is 5'7" tall and _inactive_ needs 1876 cal/day to maintain 150 lb.
At 176 you need 2040.
So if you aimed for maybe 1700, that would be a deficit of 300/day, which means you should lose about 0.5 lb / week.
And it would take you to a healthy goal weight without further adjusting your calories.
BTW, that calculator will also tell you how many servings of the various food groups you should be eating.
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Being fat doesn't preclude having an eating disorder.Cats wrote:My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
Fat people can still binge eat (a practice some here call "one meal a day" or "OMAD"), or be anorexic, or be afraid to
gain weight, or force themselves to vomit, or eat strange combinations / limitations of food, or have a distorted
idea of their weight or body condition, using laxatives inappropriately, feeling shame for your body or eating.
Anything.
Info on eating disorders from the Mayo Clinic.
And from the National Eating Disorders Organization.
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I had a bulimic roomie in college who was about 5'9" and 250lbs.0
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EDNOS is gone. Most people who were EDNOS are now OSFED.kshama2001 wrote: »First of all, I appreciate everyone's comments. I would like to tell you why I don't consider myself to have actually had an eating disorder. I never got super skinny like most people imagine someone with an eating disorder to be. I was also never hospitalized. I didn't tell anyone. My friends at the time picked up on my eating habits, and they insisted that I had an eating disorder. I told them no, I'm too fat to have one. I still believe this to this day.
I obviously regained weight once I started eating again. I just weighed myself yesterday for the first time in forever.
As of now I am 5'7" and 176 pounds. I exercise 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time.
Doesn't look like you've read the link people keep posting, so I will include it again plus some content. As you can see, you don't have to be super skinny to have an eating disorder.
http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources
Types of Eating Disorders & Symptoms
While eating disorders may first appear to be weight-focused, food can also become a coping mechanism for feelings or emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming. Over time, these behaviors will damage an individual’s physical and emotional health, self-esteem, sense of confidence, and control.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Characterized by repetitive, uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food in a short period of time, without behaviors to prevent weight gain. People who suffer from BED may frequently experience feeling out of control when eating––they may eat when not hungry or in response to emotions, eat to the point of discomfort or eat alone out of shame for their behavior. Binge-eating is sometimes, but not always, associated with obesity. Learn more
Anorexia Nervosa (AN): Characterized by restrictive eating (such as fasting or extreme dieting) that leads to weight loss. Compulsive exercise routines and other persistent behaviors may also be taken to prevent weight gain or promote further weight loss. Those suffering from AN commonly exhibit an intense fear of weight gain and/or an obsession with weight. Some sufferers of AN may also exhibit an obsession with athletic performance and will engage in strenuous exercise and dieting to an unhealthy extent. Learn more
Bulimia Nervosa (BN): Characterized by frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, feeling a lack of control over eating and followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain. These behaviors include but are not limited to 1) self-induced vomiting, 2) abusing laxatives, diet pills, diuretics or enemas, 3) fasting and/or 4) compulsive exercising. People suffering from BN may also exhibit an intense fear of gaining weight. Learn more
Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS): Includes feeding or eating disorders that cause significant stress or impairment, but does not meet the criteria for the eating disorders explained above. Disordered eating presents in many different ways. Learn more
Seeking Help
Eating disorders affect people of every age, race, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status. Much like the individuals they affect, they are unique and complex, and may not fall into a clear category. If you are concerned about your own eating and exercise habits, or thoughts and emotions surrounding food, physical activity and body image, or if you’re concerned about a friend or loved one, we urge you to seek help.
OP, you don't have to be underweight to have an ED. I won't say that I know you have one, but it couldn't hurt to go see a therapist who specializes in EDs to talk out your food stuff with. They can let you know if you have an ED and may be helpful, even if you don't.
Can't hurt!
Good luck.
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OSFED (formally EDNOS) actually has hirer mortality rates than anorexia or bulimia. The reasoning for this is people who are not severely underweight often aren't treated.
OP your behaviour sounds very similar to myself as a young person and the lowest weight I ever was 130 lbs a 5'6''. I was diagnosed first with EDNOS and later with bulimia and referred to inpatient treatment. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE THIN TO HAVE AN EATING DISORDER! I suggest you see your family physician or a community mental health centre.
It might help you to know that after focusing on recovery I maintain a healthy weight on 2000 calories a day. You can lose weight in a healthy way but you need to address your ED first. Best of luck.0
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