Eating more Calories

I have been restricting calories to about 1500-1700 for over six months now along with exercising heavily.  I got too obsessed with counting calories and exercising and ended up losing almost fifteen pounds.

I am 5' 3" and only weigh 92 pounds.  I looked online and it says I should be eating around 2400 cal/ day. I want to start eating all those calories again because I am sick of restricting everything, but I am concerned my body has gotten use to running on fewer calories. Im ok with gaining some weight back, but if I continue to eat 2400 cal/ day will my body eventually adapt back to that?

If you've lost 15lbs since starting your diet then you were already borderline underweight when you started and you're dangerously underweight now. To be honest the healthiest thing to do would be to gain all the weight back with a little interest. I'd say at the very least try to get back into triple digits.

But in answer to your question, yes. Start eating 2400 cals per day. It might take a week or so but your metabolism will adjust back to its original levels.

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your help :D

i'm SOOOO excited you approached that advice with enthusiasm!!! you have no idea how important that is! honestly you're in an anorexic wt range easily. when i was 5 foot 4 and 90 pounds, they said i was off the charts and put me in a hospital that wasn't accepting anyone because  they were full. please, i want so bad to see you get out of this....but having gone through this, i need to pass this info on too:

eating more is NOT as easy as it seems. first roadblock: thats a **** ton of food! it's hard to get that much in if you're not used to it, but use your head in condensing it and it wont be that hard. your body's starving so much micronutrients arent you're biggest concern. so yeah. PB'll be your friend lol.

second roadblock: if you're okay with gaining some weight, that's so awesome. that takes courage. that makes you strong. but that weight does NOT go where you want it to...AT FIRST...and at first means months; yes months, but it really doesnt last as long as you think. but you will keep your itty bitty arms and legs...and grow a baby lol. no im jk, it feels like that, you'll feel enourmous, but let me ASSURE YOU people will NOT be able to see it.

tell me if you have any questions...i'm so proud of you!!!!!

The first thing you should do is go to see your doctor.  With a BMI of 16.3 you're currently severely underweight and there will be health implications.  e.g loss of periods, heart weakness, malnutrition.  You've been displaying many of the symptoms of disordered eating (chronic undereating, believing you're fat when you're already thin, excessive exercising) and that needs checking out.

The absolute minimum healthy weight for someone your height is 103lbs but, if you have been suffereing from an eating disorder you'll be advised to aim for  113lbs.... that's a BMI of 20.

You'll need 2500-3000 cals a day, every day, to achieve a healthy weight and you should try to be as inactive as possible until you get there.  PB is a good food but it's not the only option.  Check out the Weight Gain board for advice on the ideal foods for gainers.

Thank you!!

You have no idea how much I need support like this.  You are so encouraging, its easy to fall off the bandwagon and resort to restricting calories agai, but its messages like that, that keep me going.

Sincerly thank you you are so sweet!

I do have a couple questions...

I have been trying to eat more calories per day but I get full really easily. Do you have any tips to help me such as eating plans or whatever?

Second how long will it take for me to put the weight back on?

I really appreciate any advice you can give me, I have struggled so much with this.

about the fullness-yer gunna have to eat the foods your afraid of. sorry! things like a lil chocolate, PB...candy bars (health food stores are great healthy sweets) look. you're not going to be a pig. but when you see it sitting around, have a little nibble everytime you see it. just a little one, it helps...for how long to come back on, depends on how many calories you add, and exercise you cut back on....obviously if you keep exercising it'll be slow and painful. no excuses. if you feel yourself getting really tired lately, LISTEN TO EVERY WORD OF YOUR BODY, your body will be burning more calories than if you WERE working out, trust me!! recovering in the hospital i was eating 4000 calories and losing, LITERALLY sitting in a wheel chair. i am NO exception. your body is amazing. a-m-a-z-i-n-g. =)))

Thanks again!!

When you were in the hospital how long did it take for you to get back out?

It just sounds so scary being there... I dont want to get to that point

i was in the hospital 3 months inpatient, 3 months partial...i suffered, and am recovering from (3 years later) post traumatic stress disorder....this scarred my life. you dont know what i'd give to have it back.