Slow metabolism -need help!!!

[Mr.X]

I have to disagree with diamonddiceclay. Because, our friend, geness, is 126lbs and does 1hr of cardio a day with a workout to follow. I think you need to re-read the original post.
Geness, at 126 x 12=1500 BMR...needs at least 1500 calories a day to maintain her weight, now add a lot of cardio/workouts...you get the picture....more calories are required for the body not to shift into a metabolic slowdown.

Mr.X

 

[keiko]

Ill agree--Dice,. 1300 is very low. Eventually her body will just get used to such a small amount of food and her metabolism will slow even more.

Try eating every 2-3 hours, about 300-400 cals at a time. Add peanut butter, flax oil (or try the meal--I just mix it yogurt and it adds some texture), protein. Fruit is too high in carbs and too low in fiber, and fructose stops fat burning.
Don't eat on impulse, don't go by hunger. Don't skip meals cuz you don't "feel " like it. Eat by the clock. It'll take about two weeks for this to be a semi-habit and three weeks it'll be a routine.

Plan out your food in advance. I use an online food diary called FitDay, some people set up Excel spreadsheets.

Do a search or post at the women's board--several regular posters there have gone through simiilar situations, and they might have some good advice.

Also-- indeed, you might "balloon up" once you start eating more, but it's temporary, it'll even out and a few weeks of a little extra poundage is a very small price to pay compared to a lifetime of good health.

 

[Rudee34]

more calories are required for the body not to shift into a metabolic slowdown.

Mr.X

That's a very important point that the majority of people don't comprehend. Dropping calories too far below your setpoint causes the body to slow down metabolism to compensate. You can't fool with millions of years of evolution - the body is smarter than that. eat eat.

 

[keiko]

I thought about this some more, and I think you should slow down your cardio to about 600 cals an hour or lower. As little as you eat, you're not burning food or dietary fat as fuel, you're burning muscle. Same with lifting--since you're not getting enough food (total cals of protein) to make new muscles, you're using existing muscle as an energy source.

The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be.

 

[Phemomena]

I have to disagree with diamonddiceclay. Because, our friend, geness, is 126lbs and does 1hr of cardio a day with a workout to follow. I think you need to re-read the original post.
Geness, at 126 x 12=1500 BMR...needs at least 1500 calories a day to maintain her weight, now add a lot of cardio/workouts...you get the picture....more calories are required for the body not to shift into a metabolic slowdown.

Mr.X

Great advice... what ddc posted was just not right and going to the point of being cruel. How can you tell someone who is trying to recover from an eating disorder that her intake is too high???? just plain stupid and rude if you ask me...

geness... congratulations on making this step towards healthy eating and getting in shape... it's a long and hard journey and you should be very proud of yourself and your accomplishments... most of the advice you receive on here will help you tremendously...

keep up the good work...

phem

 

[X.X]

With the exception of Diamond, the advice here is a great start. I don't know you, but I am proud of you because this can be a difficult disorder to overcome. I was bulimic - seriously, for several years when I was in my late teens, early twenties. I have not had a problem with it for years, but I had to take a serious leap of faith that I could be normal again. I DID NOT want to live my life being controlled by an eating disorder. That's not much of a life. So like you, I had to take a leap of faith in order to be healed. I did gain about ten to fifteen pounds when I started to really eat again. That took about 6 months, then it slowly came off as I kept eating and exercising. Also, please realize that a lot of what we do, even eating disorders, is habitual. It is a way of coping and you get used to it, so not doing it actually feels weird and difficult for a while, but this will pass. I promise you. You WILL get through this.

 

[geness]

Thank you for the support and encouraging words of advice. While I am not fully recovered, I am on my way and doing much better. I do realize that this a habitual disease and that i use it to cope with stress or problems. It is so nice to know that their are people in this world who understand where i am coming from and are willing to help. All to often people are afraid to ask for help or advice if they have an eating disorder because they are ashamed or afraid that others will think they are weird or disgusting. Everyone has been a great help to me.

I have added some flax seed oil to my diet and I really feel good about it! Thanks Everyone!