Please help, I'm spiraling into bingeing....

Basically, for the past year, I've been pretty restrictive. My average intake for the past month or so has been about 900 calories... maybe more than a month, they've sort of flown by. Anyway, before that I was probably averaging 1200. My last period was in late August. At the beginning of this strict dieting I lost weight, and was about 116, at 5'7". I gained some weight over the holidays and was about 119-121, so I decide to limit my intake even more, thus 900... but I went to 120-123. This really freaked me out as I'm absolutely terrified of gaining weight... I was fat when I was younger and Im really afraid of that being me again... so I've been trying to restrict even more, not calorie wise, but limit the splenda, no fat free reddi whip, etc. But then I started eating even more of these foods, sometimes eating whole cans of the whip cream... which scared me even more. It all backfired on me today. I was triggered by two cookies I got in orchestra and a piece of chocolate in lit class. When I got home I told myself not to snack, but I completely binged... peanut butter, ice cream, jicama, more whipped cream... I'm scared of becoming a binger and I'm so afraid of gaining weight! 

I would be very concerned about the missing periods. If you were my daughter I'd take you to a doctor.

My best advice is use the tools on this site to calculate what calorie intake you require to maintain your ideal weight. Starving yourself on 900 calories a day is not a good idea. "women should not consume any less than 1,200 calories per day,"

Once you realize how many calories your body will burn by just being alive you will find it easier to resist bingeing because you won't have to deny yourself a treat once in awhile. 

Yes, the missing periods are not good... my doctor apparently isn't very smart, because he seems to be really unconcerned. After I missed 3, my mum told him about it, but he said it wasn't a big deal. He still knows I haven't had one. My mum is searching for a gynecologist for me to go to. 

Thank you for the advice, I'll try harder to increase my intake... I was doing that for awhile, getting up to about 1400, but the initial gained weigh scared me so much. :(

HI,

If you are 5'7 and weight 123 your are underweight.  It sounds like you are slowing down your metabolism.  You should really check the charts and see what you should weight.  1200 calories don't sound like enough to me.  I am 5' 7.5" and my target weight is 148.  I know you are much younger so 135 would be good for you.  Unless you get healthy nuitrition, you may become ill.

I think you will be fine if you watch WHAT you eat.  Load up on good snacks.  You can get Weight Watchers deserts for your sweet cravings. You will fine that if you eat more and eat healthy you will lose weight.  I have been on this program for a month and have lost 17 pounds.  I have NOT cheated 1 time.  How?  I loaded up my fridge and cupboards with healthy food.  I cook only healthy food.  I have plenty of snacks on hand but find I don't need them as often as I thought.  I eat a wide variety of foods.  Also, I read all labels rather than just look at the calories.

I also went to Google to find out how much protein, carbohydrates, sodium, fat, sugar and fiber I should eat each day.  That makes a huge difference.  I make sure I eat all the proper amounts AND count my calories.  Most days I am under my calories and can't eat any more, but I have satisfied all my food groups. 

Try it.  You will find that you will eat all day and lose weight and speed up your matabolism.  Good Luck to you - you can do it!

there is a strong possibility that because of the way you lost weight your body will resort to binging unless you start eating a healthy amount of cals. the body goes into a stage called post-starvation hyperphagia. post starvation being where you are and hyperphagia meaning having excessive appetite. it will try its very hardest to return to the weight you were maintaining before you lost weight. and the more you restrict the harder it will try.

you are clearly not meant to weigh what you currently do if you do not have a period. just let your body weigh what it wants to weigh or you will be miserable.

Original Post by kathryth:

My best advice is use the tools on this site to calculate what calorie intake you require to maintain your ideal weight. Starving yourself on 900 calories a day is not a good idea. "women should not consume any less than 1,200 calories per day,"

 I completely disagree.  The best advice is to not calculate your calorie intake.  Recovery is soooooooooooo hard, but even harder when you calculate and log and obsess over EVERY, SINGLE calorie (you know like counting the 3 calories in coffee or the 2 calories in sweet n' low).

Just to put things in perspective calorie-wise.  I am 5'3" and weighed 87 pounds at my lowest.  I ate about 1700 calories a day, but exercised ALOT.  I thought that if I ate any more than that or exercised any less I would BALOON up to like 150 pounds in a month..... Fast forward.  I ate about 3500 calories a day for three months and went from 95 (my weight when I REALLY started recovery) to my current weight 105.  So in three months I ate 3500 calories, did exactly 0 minutes of exercise and I STILL only gained about 10 pounds.

A few extra hundred calories here and there is NOT going to make you gain a single pound - I promise.  Accepting that notion is the first step to being able to start really helping yourself recover.

Original Post by sylvie_cerise:

Yes, the missing periods are not good... my doctor apparently isn't very smart, because he seems to be really unconcerned. After I missed 3, my mum told him about it, but he said it wasn't a big deal. He still knows I haven't had one. My mum is searching for a gynecologist for me to go to. 

heya,

yea i have the same problem. the missing periods i mean. and my doc was the same way. i still haven't had my period in ages, but the last doc i told about it was not at all concerned. 

Do you know the #1 cause of bingeing?  Restricting.  It is quite often something people go through after periods of restricting their food intake.  

I would see your doctor about the missed periods, and up your caloric intake to probably 2000+.  It sounds like a lot, and you may gain a little weight initially, but it's mostly water weight, and your weight will even out eventually.  If you are eating enough to sustain your body's needs, you most likely won't binge.