So lost on maintaining!

Yes, so I am so lost on maintaining. I was always losing in a stupid fashion for the past few years and then I had to gain to compensate for the obsessive losing streak but how on earth do I maintain??? I have no idea?

I weigh in weekly for the most part. I am where I want to stay. I just don't get it. If I eat anything above 1400 I gain weight?? Does this happen to anyone else? Just curious?

Depends on your activity level.  If you don't do weights, I'd consider adding them in three times a week.  Muscle burns more than fat, then you can slowly add calories in - say 100 a day  - so to 1500 and maintain for two weeks - make sure the weight doesn't go up  - then after a full month at 1500, add another hundred.   Depending on your height, weight, muscle composition - 1400 may be correct for you to maintain.  If that's true, the only way to change it is to increase your natual calorie burn through building muscle.

Try to find a healthy weight for you and work to maintain that, fashion doesn't have anything to do with healthy!   Keep in mind some of those people are that way naturally, and the rest are throwing away their long term health to follow the crowd.

I have a friend who has two kids, doesn't work out and maintains 105 pounds while eating like a football player.  If I tried to maintain her size I'd be doing cardio 24/7 and living off of 1200 calories a day - not healthy!   Everyone is different.

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

hi postivelinny,

Don't be so lost.  I am lost.  What do you mean "If I eat anything above 1400 I gain weight?? ".  Is that 1400 calories you are eating or a question that if you eat over 1400 calories you will gain.-? 

Personally, I do not set in stone 101 pounds, weight will vary up or down (I say about three pounds) based on sodium retention, plain old water retention, water lost and what I ate in general.  You're pretty good at weighing only once a week (something I have yet to master).  All I do is eat based on the food pyramid guidlines and maintain.  I have not gained at all.  I did eat out at hibachi grill (1000 calories at least with the butter cooking) a couple of weeks ago and that didn't make me gain weight. I do eat out two - three times a week, no weight gain.  I make sure that 90 - 95 % of the time I eat healthy (all the food groups, especially all the vegatables and fruits).  The key, I think for me is moderation and continued "physical activity" (exercise).  I pretty much trust in me now.  Time for you to trust in you.

Did you use the expenditure tool on this site for calorie intake ?  Did this tool tell you 1400 calories ?  I only ask because I do not know height/weight and I do know/think 1400 calories is a bit on the low end.

Best I can tell you eat healthy, eat right, eat in moderation a bit of everything and keep up the exercise/"physical activity" (most important) and trust in you.

Be well postivelinny!

is it possible you lost the weight initially way too quickly??

Hi linny,

If you are still gaining at 1400 that sounds like your body hasn't yet fully recovered from being underweight.  Eventually it will catch up, and you will be able to maintain on a normal 2000ish number.  Are you still working with a nutritionist who can help you? 

Hey everyone thanks for helping a bit.

Slrogersvancouver, I am basically a student who walks everywhere, but other than yoga I don't really do tons of working out. And I am 5'7, female, 112-120 it changes like everyday.

playergirl, what I was saying is that if I eat above 1400 I gain weight, like a few pounds in a day or two, it is so weird. I was eating above maintanence and started gaining rapidly and then I cut back to let my body adjust. I stopped counting for a week and just tried to focus on eating healthy, but then I was gaining on healthy food and so I started counting again. I then have stayed at where I am for about a month give or take like 5 pounds, but I am not sure what I am doing wrong because if I do eat above 1400 then I gain. My maintanence is 1700..

alevin, thanks for your input. I agree that my body is probably adjusting still, but I have been in recovery now for 8 months? I just feel like this is enough time to get things normal again. I am not working with my nutritionist anymore because she did not take my insurance and it was like $200 a session, but I do follow her plan still and it is around 1700. But I gain on 1400 or more. So weird. I just want to be normal. And I wanted help from others on how to find that perfect spot of where I need to be!!

Thanks, please continue to offer advice, I truely need it!

hmm... could you afford one or two sessions out of pocket?  your have a special health situation and we ordinary calorie counters can't be as helpful as a pro. Although someone who has been through recovery might have personal experience that would help.

have you ridden out the weight gain? i.e. hit 120 lbs and keep eating at maintenance

i mean you're 5'7 isnt that underweight anyway?

keep it at maintenance, see where it levels out then move from there

maybe its your bodies way of saying you weight too little

I think you need to ride it out for a few days.

Yeah the scale may go up at first, but eventually it may actually come down. Chances are the scale is going up because your body is adjusting to having more food in it.

What type of foods are you using to increase calories? 2 tbsp of peanut butter weighs a lot less than a cup of rice.

Thanks!

Dm, you were right about the fluctuations. I mean seriously I think it must have been water or something because I went down today again. Ohh well I am just going to work on the types of foods and work from there. I have a time with my carb level, and I also tend to eat tons of pretzels and frozen dinners (sodium is high). I never really eat rice, but I do see what you are saying. I eat tons of fruits and so many that has to do with the fluctuations also. I was just concerned at first and need somewhere to reach out. Hopefully I will just even all out pretty soon and remain at a stable number along with allowing myself a good 5 pound leeway. I am going to increase my exercise (considering I really don't do much other than walking) and I am going to watch my percentages on the food log analysis. I always seem to get A's, but I am always at like 65-70% carbs. Maybe I need more lean protein.

I was also told that drinking tons of water flushes out the body of toxins, thus giving a proper weight estimate.

Any thoughts>??

70% carbs is probably too much, because it means you aren't getting enough fat and protein.

Honestly, you probably shouldn't be logging your food unless a professional told you to. You should just eat and exercise.

Hi positivelinny,

I would say that you might be putting your body through a lot. 112-120 for 5'7 is definitely underweight. Moreover, if you don't exercise, you metabolism might be too slow, and basically, when it comes across fat, carbs, or even protein it will just store it, and you'll gain weight.

If you want to stay that thin, you will propably always have to stay under the 1400 line. But then, be really careful for what you eat. You should choose your foods very carefully because it is not a lot of calories to get the right amount of nutrients. But I am not sure if it is good for you.

The bottomline is that you should definitely start working out, and build muscle, you will be able to eat more (watch those extra pounds of muscle you will gain at the beginning, it's normal).

Cheers