Expert: Joanne - 12/18/2006

Question
Hi, I was just wondering if you think this sounds normal.  I mean I know I have really messed up my metabolism by fasting, restricting, binging, and laxatives, but I just don’t think this sounds normal.  My weight usually fluctuates between 102-115 due to fasting and then binging or restricting (I’m 5’4).  Well, the end of Nov. I started another fast but only lasted 9 days and on the 9th day I weighed 103 lbs.  Well, my mom has been asking me to get help for this for a while, but I am 20 years old so she can’t force me so I guess she thought telling my dad would solve this. (My parents are divorced).  My dad just yelled out me like I was five years old, told me to get my head out of my butt (used another word), stop acting like a moron and start acting like an adult, plus he said if I keep this up he is going to drop me from his medical insurance because if I don’t want to be healthy then he is not going to carry me on his insurance no longer. So this happened 2 weeks ago yesterday and since then I tried to eat every day the normal amount of calories plus I continue to workout everyday.  I was hoping I could stop this never ending cycle and hopefully get my metabolism back on track.  So like I said, 2 weeks ago I weighed 103 lbs and today the scale says I am 120 lbs !!! I mean I know the first thing you are going to say…….its water weight…….but I don’t think after 2 weeks this is all water weight I mean I can feel this weight gain and see it!  My face, legs, and stomach look huge!  Do you think this is maybe a thyroid problem or do you think my metabolism is really messed up from all the fasting and restricting?  I mean 17 lbs in 2 weeks, this can’t be normal especially me working out everyday. I usually run/jog 2-3 miles, 30 min on elliptical, 30 min on bike machine, crunches and arm exercises, and 1 mile power walk so I mean surely you would think working out would slow the weight gain. So I can’t continue to gain weight and I have to get this weight off; so I am starting the 2468 diet today (each day you eat different number of calories; day one 200 calories and the next day 400 calories and so on).  I thought this would be better then fasting and I have heard it tricks your metabolism each day.  Do you think that this really tricks your metabolism?  I am just so confused right now, and I have no one to talk to for advice because everyone just yells at me and tells me to stop acting stupid and just eat normal, but no one understands that I gain all this weight when I try, or that I cant seems to control how my mind constantly worries about my weight.  I mean I know it is very stupid and unhealthy doing this, and here I am going to school to be in the medical field and I can’t even be healthy myself., but quite honestly I don’t care if I am healthy I like not having a period and all that matters to me is getting to my goal weight of 90 lbs.  I have to get this weight off.  Sorry for me ranting on, but I just thought maybe you would know if this weight gain is normal.  Thanks for taking the time to read.  

Answer
I know you don't want to hear it, but some of it will be water weight, but most likely, only SOME of it!  Yes it is likely that you will have gained weight.  For a 'normal' person to gain a pound, you need to eat an extra 3500 calories, but for someone that most likely has a slowed metabolism, that could be as little as 1500-2000 calories.  If you are worried that it maybe your thyroid, I'd go get bloods done at your Dr, but be honest about your eating habits as well, so that he has the full picture.

Please, however, don't let this put you off trying to eat a well-balanced diet!  This weight gain will only be short term, and once your metabolism has returned to full working order, a diet of 1500 calories should allow you to lose weight slowly and safely, and a diet of 1800-2000 will help you maintain a certain weight.

I don't believe that the 2468 thing will work.  For your body to function properly you need to be eating a minimum of 1200 calories per day.  I think the only reason people will lose weight on that 'diet' is due to the huge drop in calories that many people will have, but if you fast a lot, this is unlikely to happen.

I know that it can be hard when you have people shouting at you and telling you to pull yourself together, but you need to sit and speak rationally with them.  Explain that this is a real problem for you and encourage them to support you and help you seek the help that you need.  Maybe talk to your parents about seeing a dietician if they are unkeen for you to get help from eating disorder specialists (seeing as they don't seem to think that it is a real problem!).  A nutritionist/dietician should be able to sit with you and look at what you eat now and help you adapt that so that your metabolism is restored and you are eating what you need for normal body functioning!

Holly