how do u know ur metabolism is changing?

Well, this happened to me last week.

I am not actually underweight, my weight ranges between 110-115 lbs and I am 5 ft 3 inches. I usually eat around 1000-1200 kcals per day (i have a very slow metabolism). However, last

week I had 3 consecutive days of eating a lot, I was quite anxious. Anyway, I probably ate from 1800 to 2000 kcals. After those days, I weighted myself and I gained around 2 pounds...in 3 days!! is that possible? I thought it might have been water weight or my slow metabolism...anyway, those 2 pounds disappeared from one day to another when I ate like...500-600 kcals the next day (i suffer from depression, so when I am sad i do not eat a lot).

Usually, when I drink a glass of cold water or anything with ice, my hands and feet become extremely cold...do not know why. Well, since the "eating a lot", Ive been having extreme episodes of feeling REALLY hot...like I start to sweat and all, but my "cold" episodes haven't stop neither. I am really confused, because Ive been reading some posts and it says to keep eating 2000 kcals until 1 week and then weight urself....

Is it possible that my metabolism was boosting up bcuz I started eating more? How much should I weight? Is it possible to gain 2 pounds in such a short time? 

I am having provera to re-start my period, do not know if that has something to do with the heat thing...

Thank u a lot...

Hey - a possible reason that your metabolism is so slow could be because you have been under eating for a prolonged period of time.

ANY body, that eats 1000 - 1200 calories at your height will slow their metabolism down. It is a medical fact. That amount of calories has proven that it slows down the metabolism.

Even a short person who is sedentary would slow their metabolism down if they ate 1000 - 1200 calories.

Personally, my body has heated up when I have eaten more than usual and I have heard other people who have experienced this too.

What you are doing is dangerous - under eating, and then eating enough, and then restricting again. Too many ups and downs. It makes sense that your body would react throughout the stress you put it through. Heating up could be one of the ways your body reacts.

A girl/women your height who is lightly to moderately active would need about 1700 - 2100 calories to maintain their weight.

It takes 3500 EXTRA calories ON TOP of what your body can use to gain ONE POUND of fat. Therefore, if you start eating about 1700 - 2000 calories a day, you will gain weight initially - because the extra food, which also has water in it, will weigh more then a lesser amount of food.

However, if you KEEP consuming this amount of calories then over time your weight will return to normal! I promise!

I have heard about a lot of people in your position who eat about 1100 calories most days. When these people start to eat a NORMAL amount of calories they gain weight, but it is technically NOT fat or REAL weight… it is NOT their true weight! At this point many give up because me the initial and temporary weight gain.

However, if you truly want to be able to eat a normal amount of food and maintain your weight then you need to push through this uncomfortable period where you gain weight, and your weight will stabilize and you will be able to maintain on this normal amount of calories.

HI!!

thanks a lot for ur advice!!

Just to follow up, I am really sick...I discovered today, after writing this post that I was really sick. I had fever, a lil bit of diarrhea and quite a serious hedache that included my forehead, my eyes and my nose. Well,  I guess I will need to eat more...I will start tomorrow, without doing exercise I guess...(also because I am sick). It is very difficult because I am getting nausea bcuz of the sickness...dunno if it is something serious, but with some pills my mom did stabilized my symptoms. I just wanted to thank u a lot for ur advice...I will follow up and eat at least 1700 a day...how should I raise it up? How much time does it takes the water weight to disappear? Around 2 weeks? I am scared since I weight myself everyday and suffer from edema now and then.

Also...is it better to just raise it up or should I gradually raise it? I ate around 1300 today...it was a big challenge but gatorade made it up for me...

I guess I should trust my body....that heating up could be a sign of my metabolism boosting up...THANKS! 

Well done! 1300 is 100 extra calories, which is still a great improvement so well done!

Sorry to hear your sick - that sucks! I still feel like food when I am sick lol. Even when I got my wisdom teeth out (all 4) I could not stop myself eating lots haha.

I am so glad to hear you are willing to take my advice and start eating a normal amount of calories. I have heard about a LOT of people in your position, people who ate similar amounts what you have been eating, who started to increase their calories (straight away) to about 1500/1600. Most people gained a little weight initially but then were able to maintain their weight after a few weeks.

No one knows, not even experts can predict how long it will take for the temporary weight gain to even out! Our bodies are all so different and react differently to different things - you just have to keep eating enough because you know it is the healthiest thing to do for your body - and let your body dictate what it will do.

I think you would be safe to go from 1000 calories to about 1500 at first, for at least 4 days. You can then increase to 1700 - 2000 depending on how active you are and how many you need (please use this site, it has a tool that tells you how many calories you need for the exercise you do)

It is only dangerous when severely underweight people go from eating 600 - 800 calories, to 2500 calories. That is too extreme and can be harmful, and even deadly in some cases. Going from 1000 to 1500 calories SHOULD be fine from what I have read, but I am not an expert so please be careful, and do not increase to more then 1500 calories on your first go. Just to be safe!

Remember, it can be tough when people go from under eating, to eating a normal amount. The temporary weight gain puts a lot of people off! Always remind yourself that if you can deal with this initial weight gain/discomfort, the reward will be that you will be able to eat NORMALLY, as in about 1700 calories, and maintain your weight!

Being able to eat more than 1200 calories to maintain your weight is a worthwhile long term goal - it is definitely worth initially gaining a few lbs!

It would be best if you did not weigh yourself for 1 - 2 weeks. However, I know this is too hard for most people, even I need to weigh myself every time I go to the gym (a few times a week).

Please send me a PM if you need to talk about it - good luck!