Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 11/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: Well, here’s how the story goes…
I was always an active kid but after my teens I gained some weight and when I was 17 i weighted around 67 kg (170 cm height). I visited a proper dietician and lost 7kg. However, I didn’t stop there and after a year I was 50kg. I was eating 600-700 cals a day and my period had stopped for a year. My parents got me to a doctor who gave me pills to bring my period back to normal and told me to eat more!

After 2 years I got all the weight back … I was almost 65kg and miserable. The only good thing was I had stopped the pills as my period was back to normal. For the next 3-4 years my weight fluctuated from 64-65 kg to 84-85 kg!! And that’s without eating much, but with overeating crisis every other day. I was never a bulimic, never purged. There were days were I was eating 500-700 calories but there were days where I would eat lots and lots especially carbs!

About 3.5 years ago I met my current boyfriend. I was so happy and in love that I stopped all the overeating crisis! I couldn’t do it anymore, it was SO unreasonable! That’s it… I though!

After 6-7 months, eating around 700 very healthy cals a day (fruits, yogurt, lean meat but almost no fat at all) I lost around 17 kg, weighted 65kg which is just normal (not over or under weight). For the last 3 years I continued eating around 700-800 cals but haven’t lost anything!! Not even after started going to the gym a year ago I saw any results! And I was going almost every day for around 40mins doing weights+cardio.

I was wondering why! It didn’t make any sense! I then found out about starvation mode. It’s been 6 months now and I think I have read every story there is on the internet about starvation mode, how to recover from it, what to do, not to do, what to eat etc

I decided to give it a go and it’s been almost 6 weeks now since I’ve been eating around 1200 daily! Porridge or yogurt with cereal in the morning, a couple of fruits until lunch, which is usually chicken or tuna salad, then a yogurt with some dried fruit and half a protein bar and dinner is always some protein, veg and some bread then maybe some nuts or a small chocolate bite until bedtime! But I’m gaining weight and freaking out!! The think is, at 67kg where I currently am, any extra kgs will get me at being overweight!!

So, the question is…will this thing work?! When should I begin seeing results?! I had a lot of determination to fight but I start loosing it! I expected after 4-6 weeks to see some results, at least stabilize and not gain more! But I feel more and more bloated! Any help....??


ANSWER: Dear Anna,

I'm so glad that you wrote me!  My guess is that your metabolism is still pretty shut down after the years of the eating disorder -- although you're exercising quite regularly.  I think that if you're able to do a combination of weights/cardio/walking for an hour 5 days a week, you'll see a change.

The very best thing for you to do is to see a nutritionist or dietitian.  A good professional who with your help can give you a meal plan that is designed specifically for you.  She/he could help you tremendously with the metabolism problem.  You have to be so careful so that you don't trigger the eating disorder again.

Eating disorder effects can trail after us for such a long time!

Let me know how you do!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
CEO/Owner
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jeannie
thanks so much for the reply!

I just have one more question...
I'm wondering, should i continue eating 1200 cals per day until (hopefully) I stabilize and then move to 1400-1500 cals etc, etc or should i increase my calories now, even though i'm gaining weight? I'm really scared i would gain A LOT of weight and i might try to go back to my old habits...
I'm just trying to get over this by myself, since at the moment i don't have neither the money or time to afford a dietitian :(

Ah, by the way, I am going to the gym usually 5 days a week for around 40mins doing weights (around 25-30 mins) + cardio(around 15 mins). I've been doing than for more than 6 months now. What do you think of that?Should I focus more on weights or cardio?

Thanks very very much again!
Anna

Answer
Dear Anna,

It would be fine for you to move up to 1500 calories for the next few weeks.  Your exercise sounds appropriate the way you've described it.  I think that what will happen as you increase your calories is that your metabolism will come back to life and you'll need more food.
I think you're doing a good job!

Keep in touch.  Let mek now how you do -- and don't hesitate to ask me any questions any time!

Warmly,
Jeannie