How do i prevent regaining the weight Ive lost?

[shantanuhp]

I used to be 11 stone and 1 kg. Over last 6 weeks Ive been following a crash extreme diet of only 2 glasses of mango juices a day (216 cal) and exercising by staircase running for 1 hour (-300 calories).

I have reached my target weight of 9 stone and I wish to start eating healthy. The problem is my body has started storing calories because of my diet and going back to a regular diet is making me fat at a fast pace. What can I do to prevent regaining all this weight that I have lost?

[Jaquta]

Perhaps you need some professional support through this.

In my opinion, none of what you're doing is going to work.

It is normal (and essential) for us to carry some body fat.  It's unrealistic to expect none of it to return.  I know you say 'all' but I sense you mean 'any'.

You know, if you lightened up and weren't so inflexible with your thinking, you would be fit and healthy.  This applies to me too.  I know it's hard to translate everything into healthy results which are sustainable.

You'll be at risk for all sorts of complications from what you're doing to yourself and your body.  Many, I expect, you won't have thought about.

You need to stop what you're doing and get help.  I'm extremely concerned about what you're doing.  The most disturbing thing for me is that you're caught up in that mindset.  You keep trying to fix the problem with something that is dangerous and doesn't work.

I don't know how to offer you support when I feel the process you are using is doomed for failure and I expect a lot of negative self-talk.  I understand this can feel like a critical time but I honestly don't know how to help (especially if I choose to only advocate positive (healthy) methods.)

Take care.
J

[shantanuhp]

Theres gotto be something I can do to stop it! No?

[shantanuhp]

Thanks for the advice. Thing is, I have the worst of both worlds. I'm fat, have man boobs, and 3 tyres when I sit and lady like love handles, but at the same time Im horribly anorexic. Ive been trying for the last 3 years to reduce weight by exercising extreme and eating normally, but it didnt work, so I gradually started decreasing my eating to only 200 cals a day. It worked amazingly. Im finally thin now. I'll devastated if it all the fat comes back. Ill do anything. Exercise like crazy if I have to, but I cant have all of it back.

[Jaquta]

I think it is inevitable to put on some fat (this can be healthy though, especially for a person with anorexia).
I think a lot of people with anorexia need specialist support (like an eating disorders clinic for example) to achieve a healthy weight and to be able to establish healthy eating behaviors.  I think there is also an important psychological aspect that also needs addressing.

From someone with experience in disordered eating I can see where you're coming from.  I think the way you're trying to deal with the problem also keeps you stuck in the problem though.  The doctor has some good advice about starting from scratch.
It is easier to start eating healthily now and not in six months time when something else will present itself and so prevent you from following through.

Eating disorders are extremely dangerous.  Don't go there.  If you're having problems see your doctor.

J

[shantanuhp]

Thanks James. I understand what youre saying, but I read somewhere that if I gradually increased my diet over a time period of 6 months and equivalently increased my exercising I can prevent this from happening. Also how do anorexic people get to normal diets without putting on fat?

Thanks  

[James G Beckerman, M.D.]

I think you're experiencing the downside to fad diets.  They don't work!

Fad diets can definitely help you lose weight, but because they can't be continued long term, the weight gain afterwards is inevitable, even with a healthy lifestyle.  My recommendation is start from scratch with an exercise regimen you can maintain - something reasonable that you actually enjoy - and a balanced diet with reasonable portion sizes.

The good news is that now that you've experienced it, you have learned something that you can take into the future.  Thanks for sharing with the rest of the community.

Dr. B
www.twitter.com/jamesbeckerman