I want to eat normal!

I weigh 113 and i'm 5'4. I eat between 600 and 900 calories daily. I'm terrified of gaining weight and want to maintain. How many calories should i eat? 

Try 1,500 for 3 weeks, than 1,800. Oh, and maybe see a therapist.

Well, first of all, why do you only eat 600 to 900 daily? And, why did you drop it down so low to begin with? Do you have a history of eating disorders?

For your height, I'd say 113 is an okay weight. According to some guidelines, thats underweight, but not drastically so and to be honest I used to weigh 110 and 5'5 and my doctor said I was fine. However, if you have been eating 600-900 calories a day for an extended period of time, you should expect to gain a little bit of weight. However, IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL. I understand the feeling of being scared Sh_tless of gaining weight, but you need to understand that even if you gained a couple pounds from upping your calories over the course of a couple weeks (I'd say to about 2000, but it depends on your activity level,) chances are it wont even show. And you'll be happier and more energized to boot :)

You can do it hun. Hope this helped :)

Original Post by taylor23569:

I weigh 113 and i'm 5'4. I eat between 600 and 900 calories daily. I'm terrified of gaining weight and want to maintain. How many calories should i eat? 

There is no way that on so few calories you are fuelling your body with what it needs. The minimum intake for a sedentary female over 21 is 1200 calories per day. For a sedentary female under 21 or a man over 21 it is 1500 per day, and a sedentary male under 21 1800 per day. And believe it or not, that’s only the sedentary minimum. Unless you are very, very short and small, and/or if you are working out it is very likely you will need even more calories than those minimum guidelines.

Since you are under 21, CC's tools are inaccurate and you should use this calculator instead:http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html as you are still growing. Yes, even in the later years - there's more going on inside of you that you simply can't see.

Eating too low a calorie intake, or having a deficit from your BMR greater than 1000 results in something called "survival mode", where your body holds every last thing it can get in expectance of a famine. Water, food, calories. Explained:

• Dieting & Metabolism - This article explains starvation mode and why undereating is counter productive.
• The Body Neglected - This is what happens when you undereat for an extended period of time. 
• "Obesity on 700 Calories" - A tale of starvation mode's devistating effects, and proof you don't have to be underweight to be starving.
• From Ask Mary, the segment provided by our CC nutritionist Mary Hartley: On the dangers of undereating and what it does to your body.

The physical dangers that come with undereating are numerous. You put yourself at risk of osteoporosis, of loss of fertility if you lose your period, hair loss, electrolyte problems, a weakening of the immune system, low blood pressure, blood disorders such as anemia, heart problems, and even death. The mental woes that come alongside can be just as devestating. Depression is common in undereaters, as well as distorted perceptions and problems like Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

You are describing a disordered eating pattern even if you claim otherwise and this is something you need to talk to your doctor about even if just to hear a professional opinion on top of CC. Crash dieting will do nothing to help you lose weight as the weight will likely come straight back on, and undereating can easily do more damage than good. Think about it - your health or your vanity? Weight is easily lost if you do it in a healthy and sustainable manner which is what CC is all about. 

If you want some online support try http://www.something-fishy.org, and take a look through CC's Eating Disorders Health, Resources and Info Thread. But your most immediate concern is your health - and for that that means you need to talk to your doctor before you begin dieting again as your mentality should be your priority. But know this: Calorie Count's mission is to promote healthy and sustainable weight management and if you are not seeking to manage your weight healthily we cannot and will not help you.

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You are not eating enough calories for a normal person of your age/height/activity and etc you are not eating enough.

If you are maintaining your weigh on too few calories then:

Your metabolism has slowed down to product you from starvation

Or you are maintaining a weight that is a little too low for you

If you increased your calories to a normal amount for your status (age/height/etc) then you will initially gain weight; it is unavoidable because food weighs something, and if you eat more food you will have more weight from the food in your body; you will physically immediately weigh more, but REMEMBER; you cannot gain fat, “true weight” over night. You need 3500 more calories than you BURN to gain a pound.

So when you first increase your calories to a normal amount you will gain weight initially, but it is not REAL WEIGHT; it is not fat. It is PURELY the extra water and food weight of the actual food.

Over time, if 113 lbs is a natural weight for your body type, than you will be able to maintain it on a NORMAL AMOUNT of calories!

So do not worry! If 113 lbs IS the perfect weight for you, then you will be able to maintain it through eating a normal diet!

However, if your natural weight is a little higher, then you will gain a little weight from 113 lbs after you start eating normally.

Either way, remember you will look and feel your best if you eat the right amount of calories. The better quality, natural, minimally processed/altered foods you eat, the better skin you will have and the better you will look, feel, and function over all.

Are you SURE you're only eating 600-900 calories and not underestimating? Can you post an example of what you eat every day?

I mean, I have your exact stats (actually I'm 111 pounds) and I start losing weight if I eat under 1700. And I DON'T exercise. I don't even go to work, I'm in my summer holiday - all I do is sit in bed and read books, and go shopping (for food).

Chrissy1988 is exactly right! Thanks for giving us the healthy perspective :)