depressed metabolism

[tanya71]

Depressed metabolim-

1. is it reversible?

2. How long does it take?

3. Will the body eventually let go of unnecessary fat?

4. Why do so many diets preach low calorie diet(1200 cal), or low carb?

Why is it so hard to fuel the body correctly.

I competed last year and my menu had one maybe two carb meals per day, doing 1-1.5 hours of cardio per day. I lost a ton of weight and was very lean. After the contest I started to eat per sey "normal" and put on 25 pounds. I have been struggling to get it off for some time. I want a "normal, balanced" life. But when I don't see results I get frustrated and want to go back to my old ways. I hate my body right now.

I see so many girls on this site eating so many calories and are very tiny, etc. My question is

HOW? HOW do you get to that place.Ughhh!

I am in my own hell.

[twinnett]

YES...it is reversible!

I know I have told you this many times (maybe you just don't trust me!)

I was eating 1200 calories a day and doing TONS of cardio..I would start gaining weight eating anything over that, b/c my body had become accustomed to only getting that much food. Even when you start eating more, it doesn't trust that you're going to keep giving it that food, so it holds on. After it starts to trust that you're going to keep feeding it, it will start to shed the unwanted fat. You were starving yourself for a LONG time and it's going to take awhile for you to achieve the results you want. If you go back to your old ways, you might lose "weight" quickly, but will you be happy? Do you really want to yo yo up and down for the rest of your life? By all means, DON"T weigh yourself!!! Give your body some time!

[M-R]

:)

[Eileen]

Most diets are either planned for people who don't work out (like Weight Watchers) or they are very short term plans for people who are competing and just want a quick result.

If you look round here, you'll see plenty of women eating staggering amounts compared to their size, and losing fat while they are doing it. And without doing hours of cardio every day.

[imperfectly_lou]

Definitely reversible Tanya :)

I had anorexia for several years and then consistently underate and overtrained for another few years. But I am now at a point where I can maintain my weight on about 2000-2200cals per day with limited cardio. Be patient. It does take time.

[karate_girl]

It does take time, I am still waiting but after undereating and over training (cardio of course) I am begining to see some changes, very slowly, but my body seems to be adapting and appriciating the good quality fuel that I am putting in. It is still not perfect and I would like to eat more and maintain but with the more muscle that I put on this will be a consequence.
I have learnt that when trying to regulate one's metabolism to bring it back to 'normal' in respect to the amount of activity that an active person does we have to accept that in the process our bodies will put on weight...
Since I stopped underfeeding and overtraining my body I have gained a good 10 kilos, some of this weight is muscle. some is fat and some is fluid. Despite being the heaviest I have been in a while I am also the strongest, and the fittest!
Have pateince (this is very hard) and try to focus on the fitness and strength gains that you will inevitably make whilst feeding your body well.