SERIOUSLY, eat more! I did, and look what happened! (pics)

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Replies

  • HiKaren
    HiKaren Posts: 1,306 Member
    I am living evidence that eating too little will destroy your body... and eating more will do wonders for it! My story has two parts to it, the unhealthy weight loss part, and then the healthfully getting in rockin' shape part. If you aren't eating enough and wondering why you aren't seeing results or even loosing the progress you initially made, read my story!

    Ok so I've been using myfitnesspal religiously since last May. At first, I decided I wanted to lose weight as fast as possible, so I (stupidly) completely starved myself. I would aim to eat about 500 calories a day, and I would exercise for at least an hour and a half every day. Well, I did lose weight... a lot of weight, really fast.

    The first picture is before starting my weight loss, I believe in March 2011 (but it's how I looked when I started cutting calories in May). The second picture is in July 2011 (about two months later)
    CCcTJ.jpg

    Great, I thought. I started eating about 800 calories a day (still WAY too low) once I was more happy with my weight. School started in August and I moved to a new campus. Meanwhile, my health was beginning to deteriorate. I had bruises all over my body. If someone so much as poked me, a bruise would appear within minutes. My body was not working the way it should at all, and I knew why. Nonetheless, I kept eating about 800 to 900 calories a day. With school picking up, I thought I no longer had time to exercise. I basically didn't move at all except to go to class because I was to tired and weak. I would decide to increase calories, so I'd eat about 1000 a day for a few weeks, but inevitably I'd feel so bad about myself for eating "that much" and cut back to 800-900 again.

    Well, I don't even understand how this is possible, but even eating 900 calories a day, the weight started coming back on. I guess I had completely killed my metabolism and m body was grasping onto the little food I put in it for dear life. Then in February, I decided to get off my butt and get to the gym. I was disgusted with myself and new I needed to change. I started going to the gym 6 days a week for an hour each time. I did step aerobics classes and strength training classes, both of which I loved. With all that exercise, I knew I should be seeing results, but I wasn't. My body looked the same, and I felt weaker and weaker rather than stronger. So I finally listened to the voice inside me saying "Well duh, you're starving your body! Be healthy!"

    I started aiming for about 1400 calories a day. Immediately, I noticed that I could lift more at the gym and had more endurance throughout my workouts. I started CrossFit in the beginning of April. Some people don't like it because people get pretty competitive, but I love it! After long workouts, I would notice that I was still hungry after the 1400 calories, so I listened to my body and ate more! I started eating about 1600-1700 on hard workout days. My scale broke a while back, so I have no idea how much weight I've lost since cleaning up my act, but look at these pictures for yourself. The results speak for themself :)

    The first picture is from February 2012, when I had been eating about 900 calories a day or less for about 9 months (and I clearly GAINED weight since the previous picture from July 2011). The second picture is from a few days ago (April 2012) after about 3 months of serious work in the gym and 1400-1700 calories a day
    e5DpQ.jpg

    I know it seems counter intuitive, but it's true. You cannot achieve maintainable weight loss by starving yourself! Eat more, lift those weights, and get results!
    Thanks for your story. Thanks for sharing it. :smile: And congradulations on your success, and on being heathier of course.
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    wow nice job
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Rock on! You look great!
  • jamiem1102
    jamiem1102 Posts: 1,196 Member
    Wow you look awesome! Congrats! I moved my calories up from 1200 to 1400, and I noticed I started losing weight right away. :happy:

    But now I've hit a plateau... and I don't know why. Annoying. :noway:
  • kr1ssy23
    kr1ssy23 Posts: 270 Member
    Thanks for sharing! You look great! :)
  • T321
    T321 Posts: 5 Member
    Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. Not only is it written from the heart, it is clear and really hits home. (and i can say that because I am an english professor) :wink:
    Anyway, I work out a lot, but I often feel like a failure because I eat 1700 cals. a day, and the gym makes me more hungry.
    Awesome motivation, and inspirational body!
    Cheers!!
  • BPayton27
    BPayton27 Posts: 626 Member
    Good grief, you've got a rockin' body! Well done for losing it the RIGHT way. It's good to see so many people going about it correctly. I fell victim to the "starvation and over training" method when I started too. I had the same inner voice. :)

    Well done!
  • jpruder
    jpruder Posts: 19 Member
    INSPIRING.... I hope that many people read this and are as inspired by your story as I am :)
  • Errica32
    Errica32 Posts: 40
    I enjoyed this story! INFORMATIVE..
  • lydreams
    lydreams Posts: 2
    Great job, I was just saying they want me to eat 1700 calls a day ! I have 1300 to go and I already ate lunch . I also gained 10lbs in about 2yrs by eating not enough calories ,I didnt really realize it till I put my food intake in today . I have lost 5lbs last week with doing exercise dvds and walking , I added protein shakes to my diet last week to bump up the cals. I had a physical last week and the doc said my BMI was great, but my clothes are tight . I guess I have to crack down and do more exercise. I am only at 20 mins and I usually am not motivated to do it daily .I will take your advice and eat more cals for more energy .Thanks for sharing . I know this is try bit sometimes the easiest road is also a first choice even when you know better
  • sandiki
    sandiki Posts: 454
    Awesome and great info.. We could use more post like this ... YES EAT!.. Its what we are suppose to do..Amazing how the body will shut down and give clues like the bruising to ones negative trials... Glad you got healthy and did it right!
  • visalusbaby
    visalusbaby Posts: 11
    Great job!

    I always tell my customers doing the challenge with me that " YOU HAVE TO EAT TO LOSE"

    Well done :)
  • popat89
    popat89 Posts: 83 Member
    SO glad you posted this topic with pictures. Everyone says its counter intuitive, people always say it works for them, but actually seeing photographic proof is the best. Seeing is believing! Thank you!!
  • Cassie6480
    Cassie6480 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks for sharing your story! You look fabulous!
  • Bakerchk
    Bakerchk Posts: 424 Member
    Awesome story! I've told people over and over again. Different things work for different people, most importantly you need to listen to your body! I make healthy choices, but if I'm hungry and over my calories, I eat! :)
  • mogriff1
    mogriff1 Posts: 325 Member
    Awesome! I'm so glad you posted and shared your story. So many people need to read this and realize that starving yourself is NOT a healthy way to lose weight. You clearly lost weight but you did not look or feel healthy. Your last set of pics your body looks so much more healthy and toned with the right ratio of leaness, muscle and curves.

    Congrats on figuring this out. I recently upped my calories as well to 1700. I excercise 6 days a week and felt weak, drained and constantly hungry when I was trying to achieve results on 1300 calories.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    You look great :)
  • amsparky
    amsparky Posts: 825 Member
    You look fantastic - and it's great to hear you had success eating more healthy food!! Keep up the great work!
  • LikeNoOneElse84
    LikeNoOneElse84 Posts: 475 Member
    Thanks for posting this. I have been having a tough time eating a healthy amount of calories without feeling bad about it. I would eat about 1000 calories a day and feel horrible because it was "too much". I have since moved up to 1300 or so calories but I am scared that it might not low enough. I do workout a bit, usually every day, but i still feel like I need to do more.
  • knk1553
    knk1553 Posts: 438 Member
    I just upped mine because I wasn't seeing results, i'm going to keep it at this fore a few weeks to see if I notice results but if I don't then I'm going to up it again, I just don't want to feel like i'm starving all the time!

    GREAT job and thank you for posting that! you look amazing!
  • kimgettinfit
    kimgettinfit Posts: 20 Member
    bump. great post! awesome results
  • tdavis092206
    tdavis092206 Posts: 9
    You look AMAZING!!! I just changed my calories from 1360 to 1200 to try to lose more.. Now I am kind of reconsidering.. Not sure what to do.. ??
  • rebecca_florida
    rebecca_florida Posts: 184 Member
    This is a great case study which everyone on MFP should see. Thanks for posting and congratulations on figuring it out and making the choice to be fit and healthy - you look great!
  • Snuggles5
    Snuggles5 Posts: 28 Member
    Awesome
  • Oilfanchick
    Oilfanchick Posts: 32 Member
    Thank you so much for your story! Wow!
  • Diandra81
    Diandra81 Posts: 128 Member
    Bumping for later
  • cassblue21
    cassblue21 Posts: 207
    bump. :)
  • RachVR6
    RachVR6 Posts: 3,688 Member
    Very proud of you for beating that voice inside your head that was telling you to starve yourself. Like you experienced firsthand, eating that little is very dangerous to basic body functions.

    You're an amazing example of how to get in shape, feel good about yourself, and keep your body strong and HEALTHY.

    :drinker:

    I'm up to 1700ish on Rest days, and about 2000+ on heavy lifting days, netting no LESS than 1550 if I can. The weight has started falling off again.
  • UnderConstructionLuis
    UnderConstructionLuis Posts: 331
    I am living evidence that eating too little will destroy your body... and eating more will do wonders for it! My story has two parts to it, the unhealthy weight loss part, and then the healthfully getting in rockin' shape part. If you aren't eating enough and wondering why you aren't seeing results or even loosing the progress you initially made, read my story!

    Ok so I've been using myfitnesspal religiously since last May. At first, I decided I wanted to lose weight as fast as possible, so I (stupidly) completely starved myself. I would aim to eat about 500 calories a day, and I would exercise for at least an hour and a half every day. Well, I did lose weight... a lot of weight, really fast.

    The first picture is before starting my weight loss, I believe in March 2011 (but it's how I looked when I started cutting calories in May). The second picture is in July 2011 (about two months later)
    CCcTJ.jpg

    Great, I thought. I started eating about 800 calories a day (still WAY too low) once I was more happy with my weight. School started in August and I moved to a new campus. Meanwhile, my health was beginning to deteriorate. I had bruises all over my body. If someone so much as poked me, a bruise would appear within minutes. My body was not working the way it should at all, and I knew why. Nonetheless, I kept eating about 800 to 900 calories a day. With school picking up, I thought I no longer had time to exercise. I basically didn't move at all except to go to class because I was to tired and weak. I would decide to increase calories, so I'd eat about 1000 a day for a few weeks, but inevitably I'd feel so bad about myself for eating "that much" and cut back to 800-900 again.

    Well, I don't even understand how this is possible, but even eating 900 calories a day, the weight started coming back on. I guess I had completely killed my metabolism and m body was grasping onto the little food I put in it for dear life. Then in February, I decided to get off my butt and get to the gym. I was disgusted with myself and new I needed to change. I started going to the gym 6 days a week for an hour each time. I did step aerobics classes and strength training classes, both of which I loved. With all that exercise, I knew I should be seeing results, but I wasn't. My body looked the same, and I felt weaker and weaker rather than stronger. So I finally listened to the voice inside me saying "Well duh, you're starving your body! Be healthy!"

    I started aiming for about 1400 calories a day. Immediately, I noticed that I could lift more at the gym and had more endurance throughout my workouts. I started CrossFit in the beginning of April. Some people don't like it because people get pretty competitive, but I love it! After long workouts, I would notice that I was still hungry after the 1400 calories, so I listened to my body and ate more! I started eating about 1600-1700 on hard workout days. My scale broke a while back, so I have no idea how much weight I've lost since cleaning up my act, but look at these pictures for yourself. The results speak for themself :)

    The first picture is from February 2012, when I had been eating about 900 calories a day or less for about 9 months (and I clearly GAINED weight since the previous picture from July 2011). The second picture is from a few days ago (April 2012) after about 3 months of serious work in the gym and 1400-1700 calories a day
    e5DpQ.jpg

    I know it seems counter intuitive, but it's true. You cannot achieve maintainable weight loss by starving yourself! Eat more, lift those weights, and get results!

    Awesome work! Congrats to you and continued success. Really great post.
  • VirginiaWoof
    VirginiaWoof Posts: 147
    very inspiring post. this will keep me motivated to eat more. well done! happy is healthy :)

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