What is wrong with my weight? Please help

Hi, my name is Marilyn. I have been struggling with my weight this past year. I am 5'5 and currently weigh about 128. I went to the doctors a couple times about stomach problems that I was having.. but they told me it could possibly be IBS (with constipation) but one of the main reasons I was upset was because with the bloating problems that I was having (yes, I no longer have any stomach problems but still havent lost any weight) I had gained a lot of weight in just a brief amount of time.. I have read a lot of things about Starvation Mode and Im curious as to maybe this is the reason why I've put on weight.. I was 110-115 before the stomach problems started but I was only eating small amounts of food a day (around 500 - 800 calories a day).. And then I started eating more around 1000 - 1100 calories a day.. I still dont eat the recommended 1200 and I work a job as well as workout atleast 3-4 times a week (which I couldnt do before when I was only eating 500 calories a day).. So, I know Im burning off a lot of calories throughout the day as well as not eating enough but Im eating more than I used to and I cant seem to lose weight but I dont want to go back to eating 800 calories a day.. I need some advice.  Also, my weight is carried mainly in my hips and gut area, and its not just muscle weight I can tell its a good amount of Fat! Can anyone please help me and tell me what should I do, should I start eating less again or should I try to consume 1200 calories a day (not including calories burned).. It just seems like if I eat more and workout more I will only gain more weight.. I have been working out more than ever and I know Im burning more calories than before.. just eating more.. And still no weight loss.. If this is Starvation Mode, please describe to me what the hell is going on.. Im in a complete crisis here.. BTW, I dont know if the IBS has any relation to my weight.. but I no longer have the stomach problems so I just wrote that off as something else.

Your body will not retain nor gain bodyfat when you're eating far less then your requirement. Your body doesn't work that way.

You diet, in this case, is the only thing hindering your process.

Get a digital scale, count calories.

You are probably right in guessing that you've damaged your metabolism by undereating for so long, and definitely need to be eating more than 1200 calories/day. (Also, please consider whether you are at a healthy weight for your height/body type or whether you are simply uncomfortable with your weight) I would suggest using the tools on this site to really just start eating maintenance calories AT LEAST and learn how to eat healthier... it will feel like this sucksss because you may put on weight at first, in effect shocking your body by bumping up the calories, but please don't let that discourage you from making the effort to change your lifestyle and eating habits. Try to focus on these changes, and once you've sort of repaired your metabolism you can re-evaluate your weight loss goals.

It's great that you are working out, and water retention/muscle could somewhat contribute to feeling bulkier or your weight gain, but this is probably not a significant factor because you are taking in way too few calories to properly fuel your exercise... keep exercising and focus on getting enough calories and you will feel great about your body... maybe put the scale away for a while

Good luck!

I think what happened is that you are exercising and burning more calories than what you need and I think your solution is upping your calories a bit.  When you exercise you burn more calories, so therefore your body isn't probably getting enough calories because your deficit is too large.  You sound like your body may go into starvations.  Like what lahnals said, use the calculator in this site, you just have to choose if you a lightly active, moderate or etc.  Then they will tell you how many calories you need, and I'm sure that you won't gain weight.  Don't worry.

128 and 5'5 why are you even dieting?


I dunno why people come here and aska bout losing weight when it sounds like your justa bout at the weight you need to be.