Past 4 days = starvation mode?

For the past four days, my friend has been eating 750 calories a day.

She was hospitalized for annorexia about a year ago...she says she's just trying to work off 5 of the 20 or so pounds she's gained since getting healthier. I told her she needs to eat 1500 calories a day (at least) to lose about 2 lbs a week...she started that today.

Our question is, is she in starvation mode now that she's had such a low calorie intake for the past four days?

~bump~

ONce she starts eating normally again (like you suggested she do) her body will no longer be in starvation mode. The metabolism will rev up immediately. 4 days is not long enough to do any serious harm to her metabolism, so I think she will be fine.

For a normal healthy person with no past EDs, I'd say it could take anywhere from 1 week to a month for them to fall into starvation mode (depends on starvation severity).

Since her body has memory of starving often, it may drop her metabolism faster as it sees what's coming.

In anycase, it probably pissed her body off, but I think she'll be okay as long as she doesn't do it again or long term.

Since her body has memory of starving often

Bodies can remember things now?

Original Post by sunkissedbliss:

Since her body has memory of starving often

Bodies can remember things now?

For sure. Especially when you are talking about muscle memory.

and Anti-bodies.

If our bodies didn't remember things, we would have never evolved.

Oh, of course,  it was a silly question. Thanks.

and fuel usage (i.e. carbs vs fat burning)

The real question here is why on earth would anyone encourage an anorexic to lose weight, no matter at what calorie level?  I'm assuming she gained that weight under medical and psychiatric supervision.  Any change to her diet should be managed the same way.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I was shocked by the question.

As to what's happened to her body, she experienced actual starvation, not starvation "mode".  Metabolic changes occur that can be very damaging.

I'm not ENCOURAGING her. I know she's going to do it anyways, and I want her to do it healthily.

Thanks, though, for jumping to conclusions.

I'm not ENCOURAGING her. I know she's going to do it anyways, and I want her to do it healthily.

Well, i think that classes as encouragement. Sorry, but you should be 'encouraging ' her to keep the weight ON.  You don't honestly believe that an anorexic girl will be able to stop at 5lb's do you????

You are being irresponsible.  

How much research have you done on ED? It is clear that you care for your friend. It may seem very logical... well she is going to do it anyway, so I will help her do it "safely" or in a healthy way. There is no safe or healthy way for someone with anorexia to lose weight. It will always lead to disaster. Your friends desire to lose the weight she has gained... is a red flag. You should look at it that way. If you want to help... get her help. Alert someone...who can help. Before it goes too far.

Original Post by missybear25_2004:

I'm not ENCOURAGING her. I know she's going to do it anyways, and I want her to do it healthily.

Thanks, though, for jumping to conclusions.

In the words of your president (backwards like him) "If you aren't against it, you are for it."

She is seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist at our school once a week. He knows she wants to lose weight. He says that it's fine.

He did not know HOW she was losing the weight. He simply told her that if he observed ED tendencies in her behavior again, she would have to stop losing weight and continue with maintenance.

I have talked to the psychaitrist-man myself, because I'm her roommate and I originally told her that she should see him. She wants to be better, and she has been better. She just feels that she would be more comfortable 5lbs lighter.

We went together yesterday and I told him about how she told me she was eating 800 calories a day...he said I was right in telling her that at least 1500 calories a day was the minimum.

It's weird that we go together, but she's afraid of going alone and she thinks that if I LIGHTLY moniter her behaviors (since I live with her) it helps her keep on the healthy track.

I am not being irresponsible. But thanks, everyone.

Honestly...its sounds as though you care very much for your friend, but it is still extremely naive to think that an anorexic young girl will safely lose 5lbs in weight.

You have done the right thing telling her psychiatrist but I am very suprised at him if thsi IS in deed the case, at the end of the day....what is 5lbs in weight. Her desire to lose that weight is clearly showing her wish to be in control, a major factor in this disease.