Can’t lose weight unless I starve myself??
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theresalamovsky
Posts: 3 Member
Since July I’ve been on a very low cal diet to lose weight (sometimes eating as little as 100 calories a day, but usually around 800 or so) and I’ve lost 40 pounds. I’ve tried eating around 1,200 calories but I gain weight, even before I dropped to <1,000 calories. Starving myself has left me mentally drained and I fear I’ll gain all the weight back if I don’t address the underlying problem. I’ve never seen a doctor about it before since I’m not sure it’s necessary. Anyone have any thoughts? Anything would help.
Just some background info:
I’m 5’0 and my weight fluctuates between 134 and 137 pounds.
I walk 15,000 steps a day (around 2.25 hours).
Just some background info:
I’m 5’0 and my weight fluctuates between 134 and 137 pounds.
I walk 15,000 steps a day (around 2.25 hours).
3
Replies
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See a doctor.29
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I know this isn't what you want to hear but what you are doing is not good for you. You are not eating anywhere near enough calories to fuel your body. Can I respectfully suggest seeking professional help to deal with your anxiety around food and weight gain?19
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I see a therapist and I’ve made her aware of my eating habits and we’ve talked about it. I know I’m not eating enough, but I can’t lose weight otherwise.I know this isn't what you want to hear but what you are doing is not good for you. You are not eating anywhere near enough calories to fuel your body. Can I respectfully suggest seeking professional help to deal with your anxiety around food and weight gain?
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Eating that little IS a concern! and its dangerous.
How are you measuring your calorie intake? are you using a food scale?
I really don't know how you have the energy to do 15k steps if you are grossly under eating, our bodies need a minimum amount of calories just to function, even at your height 1200 should still be your minimum plus you should eat back exercise calories too.
Your approx BMR at your height, taking in your activity level is 1295 (I didn't know your age but guessed 20 from your profile pic) - That is the minimum amount of calories your body needs to support your organs if you were comatose - in other words, normal moving around, activities during the day and exercise are not factored in that amount.
You've lost 40lbs since July, that's a lot of weight to lose in only a matter of months. But you need to slow that loss down now and eat enough calories so your body does not suffer long term damage.
Out of interest, have you been eating that little since July? are there days where you eat more?
This post is a concern - MFP does not support VLCD's.
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LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »Eating that little IS a concern! and its dangerous.
How are you measuring your calorie intake? are you using a food scale?
I really don't know how you have the energy to do 15k steps if you are grossly under eating, our bodies need a minimum amount of calories just to function, even at your height 1200 should still be your minimum plus you should eat back exercise calories too.
Your approx BMR at your height, taking in your activity level is 1295 (I didn't know your age but guessed 20 from your profile pic) - That is the minimum amount of calories your body needs to support your organs if you were comatose - in other words, normal moving around, activities during the day and exercise are not factored in that amount.
You've lost 40lbs since July, that's a lot of weight to lose in only a matter of months. But you need to slow that loss down now and eat enough calories so your body does not suffer long term damage.
Out of interest, have you been eating that little since July? are there days where you eat more?
This post is a concern - MFP does not support VLCD's.
I don’t use a food scale, I just eyeball it basically. I’m exhausted by the time I finish my last walking session (I split it into 3 sessions where I walk 5,000 steps each). I haven’t lost anything in a month and whenever I eat close to 1,200 calories my weight goes up to 137. I’ve been heavily restricting my calories since July and I would occasionally go up to the 1,000’s. I’ve been eating more recently because I’m so drained from starving and I’m constantly hungry, but never more than 1,500 calories a day.3 -
Bear in mind if you are not using a food scale your calories wont be as low as you think - thank goodness I say, because you are not doing yourself any favours IF you were eating as little as you think you are.
If you were being accurate at logging and weighing your food, you need to give it more time, a month isn't enough time eating more calories to see how your weight is doing. With all those steps you should easily be still losing on around 1500 calories or a bit more (I'm a few inches taller and maintain on 1800-1900 calories, I average 15k steps too but I'm older (50), when I was aiming to lose 1/2lb a week, I would eat 1500-1600 cals.)
See a doctor - get your bloods checked etc, just to rule out thyroid issues or something else.
10 -
If you are eyeballing then you won't really know how many calories you are eating. Often we give ourselves much more than we realise. May I suggest purchasing a digital food scale, setting mfp to whichever rate of loss is sensible for you, and working out how much you are actually eating by ensuring you weigh your food and drink.
I am 5"2 and now in maintenance, I lost 23lbs slowly and surely by eating 1300 calories a day and ensuring to eat back at least 50% of my exercise calories. There is no need to starve yourself and make yourself ill. I hope you resolve this soon.10 -
Get a food scale and stay at or above 1200 calories a day and eat back your exercise calories or at least 1/2 of them. You will lose weight if you are consistent and measure everything. What you are doing is unsafe and can do severe damage to your organs.11
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Your title should read:
“Can’t Lose Weight as Fast as I’d Like Unless I Starve Myself”
I’m also 5ft and have been consistent since July 8th. I’ve lost 22lbs in that time. Painfully slow, or so it feels when you have to wait forever for the scale to show any change.
I’ve been where you are in the past, I promise you! I’d have been standing alongside you saying that I need to go under 800 cals a day to lose at all. But it’s not true. I’m older (58) and I’m not as active as you are, stepwise. But I’m sticking to around the 1200 and it’s happening.
I’m also currently about 128 - 130lbs with an end goal of 112 -115lbs,
I am weighing and logging absolutely everything. Every cherry tomato, every grain of rice, every drop of oil etc...
Trust the process. Do it. Stick to it. Stay healthy. It does work! (Even for a short, sedentary, old(er) lady!)
19 -
I would *strongly* recommend getting a cheap kitchen scale and weighing your portions. Chances are your guesses are way off. It's why I don't eyeball stuff either, I've accidentally both gained and lost weight while trying to maintain without using scales. I'm between 5'2 and 5'3 and around 133lbs atm, walk about 1/3 to 1/2 of your steps a day, and I maintain on at least 1600ish kcal a day, and eat 1300ish (net) when trying to lose a bit of weight.3
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Eyeballing it clearly isn’t working. Get a food scale and use it. Weigh and measure everything you eat and drink accurately. Your body is telling you something regarding your exhaustion. Make an appointment to see a MD. Explain your eating/exercise routine. All the facts.
You are jeopardizing your health.4 -
Just to repeat what several others have said- get yourself a kitchen scale- it really is a revelation!!
I feel your frustration, I’m 5ft 1”, almost 47 years old and have lots of health issues. It is painfully slow for me to lose weight, I have to stick around 1300 calories a day to see any results. However, when I’m consistent with everything, including weighing foods and logging it does happen - but slowly!!
Take better care of your body- you’ll hopefully need it for a long time!
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If your calorie counts are accurate, you are gaining weight when you eat more because you are likely carrying more food and water weight due to having the proper amount of nutrition. Consider it your normal after the gain, as it should balance out, and then slowly lose with a more appropriate diet after. Your "current weight" is literally a dehydrated, undernourished state and is not sustainable.10
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Just need patience and consistency.1
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I’ve never seen a doctor about it before since I’m not sure it’s necessary. Anyone have any thoughts? Anything would help.
More than a kitchen scale, find yourself a medical professional who really cares about you. You may have to shop around. There are legit doctors and therapists, quacks and imaginary doctors. When you find the right one they will give you skills you need so you learn how to manage food and get rid of the mental drain you're feeling now.
Good will towards yourself always has its own reward. Take care of yourself today.
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Gosh, has anyone recommended a food scale yet?
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p14 -
theresalamovsky wrote: »
I see a therapist and I’ve made her aware of my eating habits and we’ve talked about it. I know I’m not eating enough, but I can’t lose weight otherwise.I know this isn't what you want to hear but what you are doing is not good for you. You are not eating anywhere near enough calories to fuel your body. Can I respectfully suggest seeking professional help to deal with your anxiety around food and weight gain?
Show your therapist this thread.3 -
I know you may not like to hear this, but right now, your concern should not be losing weight, it should be working on your issues with food. Your current therapist may or may not be the right one to deal with this issue, but at the very least, she should be able to help you get the support you need. You look very young. You can cause lifelong major health problems by eating so little that include - heart attack, inability to have children, death, and others by not eating enough to fuel even your most basic body functions. Best of luck - I sincerely hope you get the help you need!2
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theresalamovsky wrote: »LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »Eating that little IS a concern! and its dangerous.
How are you measuring your calorie intake? are you using a food scale?
I really don't know how you have the energy to do 15k steps if you are grossly under eating, our bodies need a minimum amount of calories just to function, even at your height 1200 should still be your minimum plus you should eat back exercise calories too.
Your approx BMR at your height, taking in your activity level is 1295 (I didn't know your age but guessed 20 from your profile pic) - That is the minimum amount of calories your body needs to support your organs if you were comatose - in other words, normal moving around, activities during the day and exercise are not factored in that amount.
You've lost 40lbs since July, that's a lot of weight to lose in only a matter of months. But you need to slow that loss down now and eat enough calories so your body does not suffer long term damage.
Out of interest, have you been eating that little since July? are there days where you eat more?
This post is a concern - MFP does not support VLCD's.
I don’t use a food scale, I just eyeball it basically. I’m exhausted by the time I finish my last walking session (I split it into 3 sessions where I walk 5,000 steps each). I haven’t lost anything in a month and whenever I eat close to 1,200 calories my weight goes up to 137. I’ve been heavily restricting my calories since July and I would occasionally go up to the 1,000’s. I’ve been eating more recently because I’m so drained from starving and I’m constantly hungry, but never more than 1,500 calories a day.
Op - How many days are you seeing the 137 on the scale before you start severely restricting again? If you have been eating less than 1000 calories a day for a long period of time and then bump them up you will see a short term "gain" on the scale due to food weight, waste and water retention. You need to give yourself a few weeks at a healthy calorie range to allow your body to heal before making additional changes.
I do agree with the others that a food scale will give you a better idea of how many calories you are actually eating. Maybe try weighing and logging all of your food for 2 weeks, try to hit the 1,200 calorie minimum at least and see where you land? If you find that weighing yourself triggers you to restrict maybe don't weigh yourself during that 2 week period.
Also, if you have told your therapist that you are regularly eating less than 1000 calories a day and they were fine with that then you need to find a new therapist.8
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