700-900 Calories a Day And Gaining Weight?

[KittenK]

This problem may seem really insignificant on account of my healthy weight, but it's been a great source of frustration to me in the past two weeks. At 5'6, I have maintained a weight of 120 lbs for the past two years by limiting my net caloric intake to about 900 calories a day. On occasion, i'll eat as many as 1000 more calories than this, but I am careful to burn off all the excess through exercise. Otherwise I easily gain weight. Despite maintenance of this routine, my weight has hovered around 130 lbs for about two weeks now. I've even limited my net intake to 700 cals for the past week.
I know i'm not pregnant, and while I occasionally experience water retention, it never lasts for two weeks. Nor have I been consuming any more sodium than usual (i actually have low blood pressure). I do have a history of anorexia and substance abuse (diet pills), but I have long since recovered. I don't want to cut back on any more calories, so I am contemplating using pills for just one or two days to kickstart my metabolism. I don't want to risk becoming addicted again, though. I figure that at 18, I should be able to consume more than 700-900 cals in order to maintain a low weight.... What should I do? Is it worth consulting a doctor or nutritionist? Any advice would be greatly appreciated....

[sooner_ed]

You need to eat a minimum of 1200 calories per day.

Jumpstart your metabolism with food, not pills.

[totalchaos]

Yea when you eat less calories your body holds on to all of your body fat because it goes into a starvation alert mode. Increase the calories and watch the pounds come off.

[CF-OC_gal]

I think your eating and exercise habits as you describe them indicate an eating disorder and an unhealthy perception of what is ideal for your body size.

1200 cal per day is the minimum amount you can possibly consume to intake the bare essential nutrients for good health . Less than that you are squandering your future health.

I would recommend going to see a doctor or at least finding a resource in your area off of this website. www.somethingfishy.org

Sorry if that is not what you were hoping for as a response but fitness is about maintaining good health and good nutrition.

Good luck. Let us know how you are doing.

Regarding cellulite, read all of this thread:http://www.discussfitness.com/forums...ight=cellulite

[Sophie]

I agree with Brat. 700-900 cals is a starvation diet, you know that from your eating disorder history. I also suffered from anorexia and was hospitalized summer of 2005. As Brat said, you need at LEAST 1200 calories a day, more if you're exercising.

If you've been exercising more, it might be muscle. You shouldn't need to maintain a "low weight" and can't expect to if you're working out. Working out=muscle=weight gain.

Muscle weighs more than fat and it more dense.

I'd talk to someone about how you're feeling. As Brat said, it sounds eating disordered and with a history of anorexia, it's better to play it safe when it comes to preventing a possible relapse.

[.V.]

1200 is too little. That's 10 cals/lb. That's a cutting diet for exremely rapid fat loss.

You've got to start eating more and that's all there is to it. I know, I know, "if I eat more I'll gain weight"...

BS, I've heard it all before. If you don't eat enough, your metabolism slows to nothing and all you are able to do is store everything you take in as fat.

Everyone who wants to starve themselves that I've managed to convince to eat enough finally started building some muscle, burning off some fat, and looking good.

Post up some pics. I'll bet you are all soft looking at that small weight. Why? Because you don't eat enough to have any muscle.

Sorry, not trying to be harsh, but starvation is NOT a way to good health...it can only do bad things for you.

BTW, I once weighed 300lbs on less than 1000 calories/day so I know what I'm talking about. The pic to the left of this post is me this past October. I'm nothing special to look at, but my 4000-5000 calorie a day body is much better than my sub 1000 calorie/day body.

Throw away the scale, get the tape measure, find your body fat percentage, get some food in you, get in the gym and build some muscle...then you'll be fine. Don't worry about weight...the BMI and "healthy weight for height" is a terrible, harmful way to go...it will simply lead to bad health.

[DBZ Status]

everything has been said but i would like to add eat more...run more.... also when you that little amount of food you dont get that much micronutrients. I would take two vitamins a day as a start. Also i would eat more and then run more. If i ran 5 miles a day thats an extra 500 calories i get to eat for me personally

also the better cardio shape the more you burn fat because your heart rate stays in the fat burning zone. I forget exactly what it is the rule someone told me was you should be able to hold a normal conversation when you run. Your not so out of breath you cant talk

[Maxgain]

pills dont kickstart your metabolism. They stop working when ou stop taking them.

Heed the advice above.