Starving yourself to lose weight. Stupid, stupid.

I have something I want to bring up, and I need advice.

Basically, I was eating about 1,400 every day for a month or so, but then I platued, so I cut down to 1,300. Then to 1,200.

After 1,200, I platued again, I exercised etc, but I was still stuck, so I kept cutting down until I was at 400 a day.

When I got to 400, I felt moody, tired/exhausted, and depressed. But I kept losing weight. It was hard to eat like that though. I realized I couldn't live on 400 forever. I was at risk of binging and everything. Life felt miserable.

Then I started thinking, "What the f__ck am I doing?".....

So, yeah. I was being really, really stupid, and I was hoping I could get some advice on how I can eat normally again without gaining a lot of weight. How can I go back to eating normally and still lose weight?

I know I was being really stupid for treating myself like that, and I need some help on what I should do with myself now. |'m just so screwed up. Thank you.

Since you are 16, I would definitely consult with your family physician about what you have been doing.  They will be able to guide you in the right direction.


My suggestion:  Slowly add a couple hundred calories at a time.  Eat healthy foods so that you do not feel like you are mistreating your body.

Good Luck!

I think that by cutting your calories so drastically you slowed your metabolism down and forturnately you wisely recognized that it wasn't healthy.  You probably need at least 1400 calories daily just to run your basic metabolism (for breathing, pumping blood, repairing tissue damage, etc) and if you are active above this, then you'll lose weight.  The secret is to cut back on the certain foods that you don't do well with, but increase the foods that fit your metabolic type.  Each person is unique and you need to recognize for yourself what foods you do well with and don't do well with, but often starchy carbs (sugar, white bread, rice, corn, etc) are the greatest hinderance to weight loss due to their effect on Insulin.  You might look into some of the diet books that reduce the intake of simple carbohydrates.  This type of plan doesn't severely restrict calories and will provide a balanced intake of healthy carbohydrates, proteins and fats.  This strategy promotes weight loss because of the limited intake of simple carbohydrates that drastically effect Insulin levels. Good luck.

You see, what happens when you cut down calories so much is this: your body (think animal instincts) believe that you are living in a time when there's no food around (like in a winter when a wolf can't find any animals, that's what your body thinks like). So, it naturally holds onto the fat, and instead burns away muscle for food. So when you do start eating, along with doing any exercise you want, you don't have to worry about gaining weight, you'll still be able to lose.

i am doing the same as you,

thing is i have seen results so i dont want to put on anymore weight!

You are doing the reverse of what people should do when they reach a plateau. It is proven again and again that people broke their plateau by actually eating more (a little more).

My suggestion is to bump up our intake slowly to a normal level again. Back to 1400 or so.

It will take time and you can't rush this. Don't break your system.
I am glad that you realize that you can't live off of 400 cal a day for the rest of your live. And realize it early too.

Keep in mind that as you restore your system, your weight will be like the stock market. Up up up down up down up up up. It will do that until your system stabilizes. Don't despair during the process. throw away your scale if needed. Write your progress, strugles, experience here if you need. People will help move you along the way.

cordelia201 - You want a result you can enjoy? I maintain my weight 105lbs at 5-2, 35 years old, fit and healthy.  I eat no less than 1400 a day. I eat KFC, pizza, chips, chocolates, ice creams. No deprivation, just moderation.

Hi,
I did time in treatment for Bulimia in 2006. While there, I heard about the inpatient treatment for anorexia and, though I am not a doctor, I would say that the systematic elimination of calories and starving of yourself qualifies you as anorexic.

Anyway, you have to reintroduce slowly - starting to eat 2,000 calories a day will shock your system. Try 600 for a few days, then 700 for a few days, then 800, and then 1200, but aim for 1600 within a week or two. You MAY encounter a period of extreme weight loss during this time - it is called REFEEDING. Do NOT get too involved with the weight loss, your body will be signaling to you that it is functioning again and it is giving you the opportunity to be healthy about it. At that point, you will have to eat about 2,100 calories a day AT LEAST (though some people require 3,000+) just to keep your metabolism rolling. A Physician may be of use to you here.

Don't shock your system, don't get overexcited about refeeding. Just move slowly.

Hi there, I recommend reading this article:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/core_march_8. htm

It is possible that when you start to eat healthy, you will gain a few pounds, but be patient, see it through and the scale will start to go the other way.

I know this from my own personal experience. When I started here on C-C just over a year ago, my body was in starvation mode. I was so frustrated, because even though I was consuming the right number of calories and only healthy foods, I gained. It took about 3 months of sticking with it, before the scale started to go down. Currently, I've lost about 70 lbs.

The best part though, is I've made changes I can live with for the rest of my life. My body is healthier than it ever has been in my entire life. That's what I feel is the most important.

aio good for you for realizing you need to change.  For some people that is a lifetime struggle.  you can do it!