Metabolic devestation
pigsmoo2
Posts: 9 Member
Has anyone ever heard of this or have had to recover from this disorder? I have a history of anorexia and bulemia from when i was a child. However, i have been eating 1 meal, about 600 calories a day, for the last 2 decades. About 2 months ago i began eating 3 meals totalling 1200-1500 calories for the day due to the fact that my daughter was commenting on my eating habits. I work out about 6 days a/wk (mix of cardio and weights) I have now gained 5# and feel horrible and extremely frustrated. I don't want 2 go back to starving for the sake of my children, but i hate how i look and feel. Does anyone know with this type of disorder when your metabolism gets back into gear??? I have so many of the symptoms...ughhh! Any advice would be so great.
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Replies
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State your height and how much you weigh so you can get tailored answers. Even consider opening your diary. Did you just start working out? Could it be a gain of muscle? 1,200 to 1,500 is still very little calories since you exercise daily.
What symptoms are you having? Tired ? Muscle fatigue? This place is a really bad idea for people with anorexia or bulimia. For that you need to "de-focus" from food.
What are your weight goals? Your children don't care if mommy is 30 lbs overweight!!! Make sure you are not pregnant.1 -
I am 5'7'' and now way 132#. I was attempting to go from my original weight of 128 to 124 (per baby size). I have wrked out all my life and have done just about everything from spinning to hiit. I don't think it is muscle gain cause my clothes feel worse. My sx include chronic fatigue, joint pain, mood swings, immediate weight gain with any minimal change in food habits, and inability 2 lose any weight with high levels of activity and caloric restriction.0
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Weight 128. Even trouble with concentration....0
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Don't get advice on this board. Get to a doctor and talk it out. IMO your issues go way beyond calories in/calories out and are likely more psychological than physical, especially if you have a history of eating disorders.
At 5'7" and 128 pounds you are a normal, healthy weight.15 -
Don't get advice on this board. Get to a doctor and talk it out. IMO your issues go way beyond calories in/calories out and are likely more psychological than physical, especially if you have a history of eating disorders.
At 5'7" and 128 pounds you are a normal, healthy weight.
Totally agree! See a doctor who specializes in eating disorders. Your problems can not be solved on a weight loss board.8 -
I think you need advice from a medical professional in this situation. I would advise booking an appointment sooner rather than later.1
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Maybe look into your macros? Are you eating too much sugar and not enough of the good stuff? I agree with DX2JX2 though, a doctor would be the best person to see.2
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Ready2Rock206 wrote: »Don't get advice on this board. Get to a doctor and talk it out. IMO your issues go way beyond calories in/calories out and are likely more psychological than physical, especially if you have a history of eating disorders.
At 5'7" and 128 pounds you are a normal, healthy weight.
Totally agree! See a doctor who specializes in eating disorders. Your problems can not be solved on a weight loss board.
Seconded.
Good luck OP2 -
There is no such thing - at least to the medical community. Your metabolism is incredibly stable.
Agree with the previous poster. Get off the internet and talk this through with a medical professional.3 -
Visit your doctor. Rule out simple things like iron deficiency and b12 deficiency. They may also check your thyroid and D levels. You may read that this is anemia. Do NOT take iron supplement on your own without a doctors prescription. At most, just take a daily multivitamin.
Could be a million things. I had similar and I had fibroids. Concentration and mood swings could be pre-menopause?1 -
You are already at the lower end of a healthy BMI 20.6, I would urge you to speak to a professional regarding your past eating disorder and current body image who may be able to help you get back into a healthy routine especially since you seem to be going through some physical health issues as well. Take care xxx5
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First of all, well done for taking steps to get better!
Eating disorder recovery can be tricky, and you're going to need more support and specific medical advice than you can get on this kind of forum. Ultimately, strangers on the internet are likely not going to have the expertise that you need, and that can lead to them unintentionally giving you some bad or harmful advice. It's time to reach out to some medical professionals. If you're uneasy about starting the conversation, you could always print out this thread and bring it in to your appointment.
If you need help finding resources, here are some places to start:
https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources
http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/NEDA
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Thanks. I have been to the doctors a million times to r/o anemia, thyroid, and other medical dx b/c of the chronic fatigue. They always say i am stressed cause i have 3 kids.
Just tryin 2 eat right and set a good example for my kids. Next stop is the nutritionist.
Thnx 4 all the advice.0 -
Truthfully... give it time. You literally doubled your calorie intake and it's going to take your body time to fully adjust to it (think 6 months to a year). That's not to say you'll keep gaining weight the whole time, but you did a number on your entire body eating just 600 cals for 2 decades. It will go through phases of water retention, a little fat gain and other symptoms while it tries to find a new, healthier balance. But it will find a new balance and you and your kids will be much better off for it in the long run.3
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Thnx for the support.0
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You are at a healthy weight--the lower end of the healthy range. You probably need to see a nutritionist to understand what a truly healthy diet is, because you probably dont really know. You may also want to see a therapist for ongoing support as you work through your recovery and to be able to have a healthier self image. The good news is that various medical studies of anorexia have demonstrated that the metabolism generally bounces back to 'healthy person' levels after a sustained period of adequate caloric intake.4
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Thanks. I have been to the doctors a million times to r/o anemia, thyroid, and other medical dx b/c of the chronic fatigue. They always say i am stressed cause i have 3 kids.
Just tryin 2 eat right and set a good example for my kids. Next stop is the nutritionist.
Thnx 4 all the advice.
Does this doctor know you are eating so little?
Please seek a registered dietician and a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.0 -
Yes, my dr knows my intake and of course why i have seen several psychologists over the yrs. i am a work in progress.
Glad 2 know about that study. Definitely getting in 2 c a nutritionist soon. I have no idea what 2 do with food.0 -
I am a recovered anorexic going on 8yrs. I starved for a decade...roughly 400 to 600 calories a day. Since recovering I have gained weight 3 times in my adulthood (my 3 pregnancies). I'm losing the last of it now eating a lot more than 1200 calories. I just wanted to add that my metabolism didn't suffer any lasting effects. I was told that the metabolism is pretty hardy. I say to give it more time. I'm not sure how much you are trying to lose, but I know sometimes I have to remind myself it's not about the number on the scale. My goal is my strength and how my clothes fit. If you feel like you're starting to focus too hard on a number it's time for a chat with your Dr.
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Glad you are seeing a nutritionist. That should be your priority A S A P. This is not a healthy way of thinking or living. Are you taking a multivitamin? You could be quite malnourished from a decade of eating so poorly. You're not eating enough to fuel your workouts or your body, and you could be doing serious harm. Putting on muscle you may gain weight but LOSE inches. Throw out your scale. If there is more food and more water in your body, you will weigh more. It's a measure of gravity, not progress, not what you look like, etc.
My friend gained 5 pounds between the picture on the left and the picture on the right=] Weight means nothing!2 -
It takes 2500 extra calories to build a pound of muscle. By doing cardio and eating very little, your body will BREAK down muscle, NOT build it - hence why your clothes feel worse. Ever seen the kids with the giant stomachs in Africa? By starving their body began to break down their abdominal muscles to the point where they no longer hold in their organs. Muscle tightens everything up. If you want that, eat to perform, and STOP overtraining.
FWIW i recovered from an eating disorder by lifting heavy weights 3X a week, throwing out my scale, and eating to perform. My progress is now measured in my strength gains, not in how I look, but that is an added bonus. I cut at about 1800-1950 kcals, maintain at about 2200-2400 kcals. I only ever cut for 2 weeks at a time MAX. You don't want your body to adapt to eating so low. You have a lot of damage you need to focus on recovering from, and you can't do that while eating too little and working out too much. You're spinning in circles! Please give your body a chance to recover. See your therapist. See your nutritionist. And get back into fitness when you have the right goals and mindset for health.
You have made a great start by eating more. You can do this!2 -
It should be your best interest to meet with a professional. Registered Dietician and a therapist. Your eating issues are just beyond CICO.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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@pigsmoo2 Do you have and use a kitchen scale to weigh all your food? Do you accurately log your food?
What is your activity level set at? Do you log such deliberate exercise as you do, accurately?0 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »@pigsmoo2 Do you have and use a kitchen scale to weigh all your food? Do you accurately log your food?
What is your activity level set at? Do you log such deliberate exercise as you do, accurately?
No offense but, this person was eating 600 calories for a decade. I just don't think these type of questions are helpful to someone with an eating disorder.4 -
Thanks. I have been to the doctors a million times to r/o anemia, thyroid, and other medical dx b/c of the chronic fatigue. They always say i am stressed cause i have 3 kids.
Just tryin 2 eat right and set a good example for my kids. Next stop is the nutritionist.
Thnx 4 all the advice.
I don't think people meant just medical advice, but for some mental health as well. You are at a healthy weight, have a history of eating disorders and are really unhappy with how you look. Huge red flag that you're headed back down an unhealthy path. Please ask your doctor for a referral to a psychologist or contact your old treatment team for help.
Good luck! Please take care of yourself!2 -
Thnk 4 the support. It does help.
No food scales 4 me. I know that wouldn't be good.0 -
Yes, my dr knows my intake and of course why i have seen several psychologists over the yrs. i am a work in progress.
Glad 2 know about that study. Definitely getting in 2 c a nutritionist soon. I have no idea what 2 do with food.
Please go to a registered dietician and not a nutritionist. Vast difference between the two.
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Being in this place is not good for anyone with anorexic disorders. The goal is to un-focus from food. A scale would be a serious mistake.0
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Dr__Girlfriend wrote: »JeromeBarry1 wrote: »@pigsmoo2 Do you have and use a kitchen scale to weigh all your food? Do you accurately log your food?
What is your activity level set at? Do you log such deliberate exercise as you do, accurately?
No offense but, this person was eating 600 calories for a decade. I just don't think these type of questions are helpful to someone with an eating disorder.
They already stated that they would never use scales, so, I would bet that she has no idea how much she was really eating. I am unsure how long someone can remain in somewhat good health (clearly she was healthy enough to have periods and conceive a child) eating at 600 calories a day. Certainly not 2 decades. Doesn't make any sense.0
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