I'm new and I think I need advice

Hi everyone, Im Julie

I just joined this site and I am so glad I did. I have been dieting for the last 3 weeks but now I see I was probably just making the situation worse. I am not sure how many calories I was eating but probably around 500 a day. I even went a day or two with just eating a few pieces of fruit.  I have lost a little over 10 lbs in the last three weeks which I was really happy about. Now I am just worried when I go to the 1200 calories this site recomends I will gain it all back and maybe more.  Is there a way to up my calories to 1200 without gaining the weight back? Do you think I messed up my metabolism? has anyone done this before?

thanks

Julie, 1200 cal is the minimum suggested for a woman over 21 years of age and to be quite honest, I believe it's simply too low anyway but that's my personal opinion. I would stronly suggest you do consume at least 1200 cals a day. You may experience some temporary weight gain due to water retention but you need to do this for your health. Undereating is extremely dangerous.

in three weeks you have not done any permanent damage to your body or metabolism. this should be what you are worried about.

you may gain the weight back, but stick around here and you'll figure out how to lose it again, and more, forever (or forever-ish), staying healthy and sane all the while!

welcome and good luck. go slow and be kind to yourself :)

Cordie

you can't exist on 500 calories for long so really you have no choice and no there is no way to increase calories without gaining weight, you just have to do it NOW!! you wait longer and you risk muscle loss and severe damage to your metabolism. it's best to just eat 1200 starting today and perhaps increase to a more appropriate level.

1200 calories is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM...AND HERE IS WHY

Your body needs at least 1200 calories per day to survive. Here is a very rough scientific break down provided by a dietician for a  5' 2", 19 year old female weighing approximately 100 pounds, sitting around all day and doing nothing:


-The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals) 

Reference: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/3178  ;.html#6

In the long run, you won’t lose weight faster by eating LESS THAN 1200 calories a day.  Under-eating deprives your body of essential nutrients and leads to muscle breakdown to provide energy.  With less muscle, you require fewer calories and you reach a weight low plateau more quickly.  Restrictive dieting also places you at risk for binge-eating which can lead to weigh gain and a life of yo-yo dieting. 

I HOPE THIS HELP!! what are your stats anyway??

Thanks Everyone I will eat 1200 today.  Yesterday I ate around 900 and the scales are already showing a 1lb gain.  I bet that is from the weight of the food or something.  This is kind of depressing because I just met a new guy and want to look my best right now. I guess that is what started all this.  I should have just done it right to begin with.  One more question...when I increase my calories now is it also okay to increase exercise? Maybe that will help.  oh ya I am 24 around 5'1 and currently 133lbs. thanks again.

Wow eating 1200 after hardly anything sucks! I feel gross today and like I really don't want to eat anymore.  I will though. This site has been very informative I am so glad I found it.  I am still confused a little.  Won't my body get used to whatever amount I am eating say I eat 1300 a day to loose. When I try to go back to eating normally after I loose the weight will I start gaining it back? Also, this site says I am burning around 1550 a day.  Any suggestions on how many calories I should eat and how much exercise I should get to loose as much as possible but in a healthy way?  

There are a few things you need to learn about all of this first. 

3500 calories = One pound of fat

Being a 24 year old female at 133 pounds and a height of 5'1 you burn 1550 calories a day.  That is just normal body function.   Breathing,  blinking your eyes, etc etc.   You would burn that much if you never got out of bed today.   To maintain your current weight,  you would have to eat just as many calories as your body is burning.   Meaning you have to take in the 1550 calories that your body is burning for basic function.  And that is just to stay the same weight as you are now. 

Your goal with all of this should be to lose body fat,  not "weight".   You don't want to lose lean muscle mass in the process of trying to lose weight.  To lose fat, you need to create a calorie deficit.  You do this by eating less calories than your body is burning,  therefore the body has to burn the fat to get the energy it needs.   Some people choose to just eat less than they're needs.   Others choose to go to the gym and burn off the calories through exercise to create that deficit,  some do both.  If you stay at a consistent low calorie intake for too long, you will hit what some people call a plateau.  Your body will stop losing weight because it thinks it is being starved and will preserve that fat so that it has more energy to draw from.   To prevent your body from reaching a plateau, have a cheat meal once a week.   Meaning you should eat at least the 1550 calories if not a few more to trick your body.  Your body doesn't know the difference between a diet and starvation.  It knows what it needs,  and knows when it's not getting that much and will slow down your metabolism to conserve those calories.

Believe me, you did not gain a pound from eating 900 calories.   If you are checking the scale daily, the changes in weight you are seeing is water weight.  And that will vary significantly throughout the day.   The best way to weigh yourself is once a week, at the same time of the day each time.   Be as consistent as possible.   Don't worry about day to day weight,  it is going to change, regardless of what you do.

I hope this helps