Expert: Joanne - 3/25/2008

Question
I am so desperate for help. I have a nutritionist, a trainer, a GI doctor, and NO
ONE has helped me!! About 2 years ago I gained a lot of weight and weighed
about 125 pounds (i am 5'5" and have always been about 112 pounds) I
began working with a trainer at the gym and doing cardio 6 days a week and
strength training 3 days a week. I would work out for about 1 1/2 hours each
day and was eating 1480 calories/day. Over the course of about 6 months my
weight dropped to about 105 pounds. Then I had a very stressful period of
about 2 months where i blew my "diet" and ate about 2500 calories a day a
few days a week (still exercised the exact same). I immediately gained about
13 pounds, bringing me to 118. I had my body fat tested at my thinnest and
again after I gained the weight, and my muscle mass was EXACTLY the same
both times, but my fat % had increased almost 10%. It seems like my body is
holding onto the fat, maybe it is in starvation mode? Anyway, for the past 11
months, i have been STRUGGLING to get back to my normal weight of 112. I
am working out 6 days a week, but now just for an hour each day, and
strength train twice a week. I am eating 1480 calories a day again. The scale
WILL NOT BUDGE and my clothes are all tighter than ever. I have also been
having really bad digestive issues, and my GI took all the blood tests, etc and
everything is totally normal. Basically, any time I eat ANYTHING, i get really
bloated and my tummy gets really gurgly, but nothing comes out (if you know
what i mean). I suspect that it is related to all my eating issues? I am 31 years
old (female) and my RMR with daily activity (not including exercise) is 1490
calories/day. I wear a heart rate moniter at the gym and (as per my
nutritionist) only burn 490 calories each time. I make myself stop once i hit
490 calories burned. I just dont understand why for the past year i have been
killing myself with all this effort and nothing has worked. i was ALWAYS 112
pounds, so this should be a realistic goal. If i did put my body in starvation
mode, what do i have to do in order to get it to let me lose weight again?
Specifically, how many calories should i eat and how many should i burn each
day? i am so uncomfortable in this body, and it has taken  a toll on my
marriage. I am so desperate to feel like myself again. How long will it take for
my body to adjust and let me drop the extra fat?

Answer
Laurie

I think that you need to speak to all these specialists you are working with, and really make them listen to you!

I actually think that your body could be working in starvation mode, so burning a lot less calories than it should be as although you are not eating less than 1000 calories, so not following a 'starvation diet', you are over-exercising and not eating enough to balance it!  Your heart monitors may tell you that you are burning x amount of calories, but your muscles may not be as big and burning as many calories as someone of similar weight and exercise levels that is eating 2000+calories.

How was your BMR calculated?  If it was done using the formula, you can't take that as being accurate.  Other factors do come into play such as diet and exercise levels, and whether or not your body is working in starvation mode!

I personaaly don't think you should be eating less than 2000 calories a day for your activity levels and this should get your metabolism working well again if it is in starvation mode right now!  Unfortunately, to get to that you may need to gain some weight initially, which I realise is not what you want to do!  Although being 112lbs is still within 'normal' range, it would put you at the very bottom of the normal range when calculating BMI.  Plus, if you have a lot of muscle, BMI does not account for that, so there is a chance that you would be considered underweight just now!

I think that you should sit down with your trainer and nutritionist and go through your diet and work out plan, and see if they can recommend anything else!  I think that you need to think about increasing your calorie intake, but as to how much, you should discuss that with the professionals!

Joanne