Not seeing results... could my metabolism be stopping me?

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motherconfessor

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I'm 17, a girl, 5'1 and around 113-116lbs.

Three years ago, I was 5'1 and around 110 lbs and had no acknowledgment of calories or exercise or anything. Then I started drastically cutting my calories in a desperate attempt to lose weight, some days I went as low as 600, but kept it in the 600-1000 range, while having a few "cheat" days. I worked out almost every day on an elliptical, for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much I had eaten that day.

I lost weight pretty rapidly and got down to 85 lbs, but quickly got back up to around 90 after "binging" got more frequent. Then I became 95, months later, desperately trying to lose weight by eating around 1200 calories and working out, then binging the opposite day, fluctuating my weight by a couple pounds.

This cycle went on for a few months until I realized how shot my metabolism was so last year around May I started eating more, 1800 - 2400 a day and working out only a couple times a week. I quickly gained weight to where I am now, and I've maintained 113-114 for about 5 months by eating 1800-2000.

Now I'm trying to lose 7 to 10 lbs again, because I have an extremely small body frame and I'm just not happy with this extra weight. I just want to wear hoodies and sweatpants everyday because I think I look bad in anything too tight, and none of my clothes fit me anymore.

So for the past month or two, I've been trying to lose weight more healthy by eating 1400 - 1600 a day, with the occasional 1800-2000 day, and I'm working out for about a half hour almost every day. But I got on the scale today and I'm 116, which means I've actually gained weight from this. I'm so frustrated, I don't know if I should eat less to burn more calories at the risk of my metabolism slowing down again, or eat more to lose less calories but not hinder my metabolism too much.

I'm just so confused and frustrated. Thank you for reading all this.
 
The more likely answer? You are taking in more calories than you should be. We almost always underestimate our calories but weight loss is simple. Calories in vs Calories out.

Too many people blame 'metabolism' for their slow weight loss when it is more human error.
 
I kind of doubt that, because I have this computer program called balance log and I log every single thing I eat in it.

EDIT:
Balance log takes in your BMR number (a number I had calculated at a doctor's office with a breathing machine, it was 1280 a few months ago last time I went), and you select your career (mine as student) and it tells you how many calories you burn a day. Each day, I burn around 1700 and when I work out, it tells me I burn around 2000 that day. Just additional information... I haven't had my BMR measured recently though, so maybe dieting lowered it again?
 
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I have a computer program too, but a human has to enter it.

Look, I'm not trying to be mean but you are making excuses. Weight loss comes down to calories in vs calories out. You claim it's 1600 along with half an hour of exercise. Sorry, but something is wrong with your math. There is no way around it. The blunt fact is you are eating more than you think.

You say you put everything into the software. Everything? To the exact measurements? Every snack? Everything?

But if everything you say is the truth, if you really are eating 1600 calories a day, then you are a medical mystery.

At your height, weight, age and exercise you need roughly 2000 calories to maintain. At 1600 calories you would be losing just under a pound a week.



Here is some more information here, you are 17 and still growing. You are very much in the ideal weight range (106-118 for a woman with a small frame in her 20s, you aren't even there yet). Personally, I think you should just maintain, eat healthy and continue exercising.

But if you want to ignore all that, at least then talk to your doctor about this.
 
Yes, I log every single thing I eat, correct portions and everything. I'm dedicated to this and have been. This is my problem, I am eating exactly that, and I'm looking for answers for my "medical mystery", or I wouldn't be asking on this forum. Maybe somebody with an experience similar to this.

And I've had my BMR and everything calculated by a breathing machine, I'm not pulling numbers out of thin air. I'm just wondering maybe my extreme dieting has messed up my metabolism, making me this 'medical mystery', if you even cared to read my super long beginning post about it. This isn't your average weight loss story. I'm looking for productive answers and help.
 
Actually, I've reread everything and I have one thing to say.

You need to talk to a professional.

You are 17 and wanting to become underweight. It sounds like you are obsessed with your weight. You sound like you have a body image problem and this forum is not the place for you. You need to talk to a counselor, a teacher, your parents, a doctor, someone.

Please. This isn't the right place for you, a professional is. I'm sorry.

If you keep this up, you WILL hurt yourself if you haven't already. See a doctor.

If you keep this up, you can die. PLEASE see your doctor.
 
All I'd like to add to the conversation is that you can NOT "mess up" your metabolism. It doesn't work that way. Why would you want to be SO thin anyways?? Doesnt' sound healthy to me. i agree with Jericho..talk to your dct about this.
 
using 114.5 as your weight, you have a BMI of 21.6. A health BMI ranges from 18-24. I think you should just work on maintaince....and enjoying your teen years!! Life is too short to sweat the small stuff!
 
105-107 lbs is actually not underweight for someone of my height and build, so thanks for your concern, but I'm fine.

I'd prefer not to get responses like this, telling me I need professional help, so please don't bother.

I just want someone who can relate and explain things.
 
This is a public forum, you asked for responses. I'm sorry you don't like the answers but they are correct. Your history, based on the post, says you might have a problem but I'm not an expert.

Please talk to your doctor, he/she can give you better information than we can in your situation.
 
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I just think your stressing too much. Take a deep breath. Your making this far more confusing than it needs to be.

You can not mess up your metabolism...you need to realize this.

If you want to lose a few pounds, your right, it will still be in the normal BMI range...but its goign to take time! If someone who was 100lbs overweight dieted, they'd loose 5 lbs right away...but for you being so healthy to start with...it'll take a few weeks.

Try not to get so defensive, we are here to help you...we just want to make sure your being safe and healthy and not doing anything extreme.
 
I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being rude or defensive, I'm not trying to be. I'd just rather not be told I'm obsessed or I need to 'talk to somebody', I just want an answer or any kind of help relating to the problem I asked, not the one somebody else makes up.

I really do appreciate your concerns, and I'm going to keep working at this 1400-1600 range, it's just frustrating to have only gained a couple pounds and I fear I might've put my body into a mode that's always ready, I guess, to prevent starvation, and I would like to know if that is possible.

Edit: And what is it called when your metabolism slows down and goes into starvation mode? Does that not mess it up? Then why do anorexics have to go through down a recovery road, isn't that to fix their metabolism? I'm not trying to attack you or anything, I'm just curious as to what you mean when you say 'it can't be messed up'.
 
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no prob...it just sounds like your really stressing. I think thats what Jericho means...if your really THAT upset about a few lbs, I'd suggest talking to someone too. Those few pounds do not define you!

Now, I can not get into the science of your metabolism. My knowledge on the subject is very limited. I will tell you what I do know and thats that you can NOT mess up your metabolism. When anorexics go into recovery, that is more for their mental health, and not their metabolism. "Starvation mode' is also a concept thats been greatly blown out of porportion. I'll tell you what...I'll look around the forum for a sticky or two on the matter. Our "resident expert" Steve has spoke on this issue many times. Please feel free to email him for questions on the matter too.

**off to find that sticky.......
 
Ok, heres one sticky to read....i'll try to find one more specific to what your talking about...
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/club/11548-rant-about-basic-concepts-i.html



and here is a small section of that thread....


"6. Starvation mode. So many claim to be in it. They are eating 1200 calories and not losing weight. Sadly, more often then not, based on the empirical evidence that has been presented to me, people aren't actually eating 1200 calories each and everyday on a consistent basis. Sure, some days they hit that low point. However, other days they are eating 1500+. Or, on Saturdays they binge all day or have massive cheat meals at their local restaurant. Don't lie to yourself. Be precise. If you can't do that, don't complain that counting calories isn't working when you are fudging the stats. "
 
motherconfessor said:
So for the past month or two, I've been trying to lose weight more healthy by eating 1400 - 1600 a day...
Click to expand...

If you say you have been working out for a month or two, I'm going to guess that your an estimator and your calorie count is probably high. You said you measure everything and eat appropriate portions, but not if your weighing your food. Your goal calorie intake is so close to your maintenance that a few hundred calories more a day (which is not hard at all, no matter how well your estimating your food at) is going to put you back much closer to maintenance than weight loss.
 
I'm not an estimator. I estimate dates, I don't estimate food or calories or work outs, at all. So please don't label me as such and answer the question I asked.

Edit: I also typed I put everything I eat in this daily computer software, I don't over estimate or 'forget' things. Can somebody just listen to me and what I'm asking already?


http://weight-loss.fitness.com/topic/9468-starvation-calories-adaptations.html

In that thread, he talks about the effects of starvation, which is what I did, I ate 600 calories when my maintain was 2000, that's even more than the 50% he was describing that people do. So what happens after? After you've gained the weight back, how do you lose some of it healthily again?

Also edit: "And for those of you who do things the least optimal way through starvation* are going to have a long, hard road ahead of you if your goal is actually looking and feeling good, and not just what the number on the scale says. "

What is the long hard road ahead? Can somebody just explain THIS and not give me any of this other bs I DON'T do? How do you lose weight healthily after starving then gaining it all back?
 
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I don't think anyone is trying to upset you. I think they are trying to tell you that your BMI is in a healthy range.

At 17 you are still quite young and your body is still developing so any weight you may have been previously was while you were younger still. As women develop our hormones change our body and fat levels significantly and that goes on for our entire life!

I'm don't think anything we can do will change our metabolisms. Certain medications and illnesses can have an effect but I don't think anything we do diet wise will. I think you can set aside your concerns about having messed up your metabolism in some way.

More likely your body is maturing and is finding it's 'set point' weight. The theory of 'set point' weight is there is an optimum weight our bodies want to be. We can move off the 'set point' by eating way too little or way too much but if we eat the right amount of calories and exercise there is a weight that we can readily maintain.

Unfortunately that 'set point' weight may not be a weight we like or we feel comfortable with but unless we abuse food and our bodies in some way it is the weight we are.

If I were you I would shift my focus a little. You obviously have the discipline to work out and eat the right calories. That is a good trait and you can use that to good effect.

Perhaps you could extend your exercise programme and start working on toning, building muscle and strengthening cardio vascular. Then you will naturally reach your body's ideal weight and you will look absolutely fabulous! Fit, healthy and toned to hell & back plus you are very young so you will look amazing regardless of what weight you are.

Good luck!
 
First, I'd like to tell you how happy i am that you at least care enough about being 'healthy' at the age of 17. I wish i cared about that then... because it wouldnt have been such a struggle for about a year for me to get myself in shape.

I do want you to maybe relax a bit about your 5 pounds you seem to be stressing about. I too am short and have a small frame.... but we need to not focus so much on the number and more on how we look at feel.

Im sorry but 85 lbs for some 5'1" is not exactly healthy to 'try to get down to'. if your body is hanging out at 114 pounds or whatever... esp when you stick around 1500 calories... that might be where you are meant to be. You are still growing....

also... when you get your period... you are up a few pounds those couples days... when you eat alot of salt you retain water.


as everyone has told me a million times ( and i know how hard it is to listen but they are right) stop obessing over the number and just focus on eating well and taking care of your body!!! good luck girl!
 
motherconfessor said:
I'm not an estimator. I estimate dates, I don't estimate food or calories or work outs, at all. So please don't label me as such and answer the question I asked.

Edit: I also typed I put everything I eat in this daily computer software, I don't over estimate or 'forget' things. Can somebody just listen to me and what I'm asking already?
Click to expand...

I was just curious if you were weighing your food. I read where you said you used software to log calories. The funny thing about computers is they rely completely on information inputted into them by the user. You still didn't say whether you were weighing your food, but it doesn't really affect me.

Either your eating to many or to few calories for your weight loss to be consistent. Or, you have done something no one else has ever done to their body, your metabolism is shot, and you'll never lose weight again.

The forum is to give advice and opinions to others. As the poster,you get to pick and choose what info you want to listen to.

:waving: TTFN
 
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