Health & Support

I know that this question has been answered most likely in the past but I couldn't find it....

How long does it take for a human body to realize that it's metabolism has been boosted, due to an increase in calories after restrictive behaviors?

I know that every body is different, but isn't there some sort of time span in which the body realizes it is not starving and then stabilizes itself?

A week, a month, a year?

I don't know, but I sure wish mine would wake up and smell the coffee with real sugar and a side of biscotti! I keep thinking my metabolism is back to "normal" (whatever that is) but then it holds onto water for dear life on a normal hydration day, jumps a size in a week for no reason, or drops back down in two if I eat over 3000 cals a day. Wtf?  I'm learning to just let go and laugh about it but jeez, I wish my body would get predictable again already! 

I don't know for sure... somewhere before I have heard that it takes about as long as the body has been 'starving' to go back to normal... I really hope that this is not the case because if so, I still have another year to go!! :S

but somewhere else I have heard that it takes about 3 months eating a PROPER AMOUNT consecutively... this sounds a lot more accurate.

best advice is to just eat enough for your body... all of the calculators I have put my stats into have told me anywhere from about 1400-2000cal depending on the activity level, with the average being around 1700cal so I try to reach that everyday... It feels like my metabolism is speeding up because I get hungry more often now, and I feel famished if I eat less then 1500cal... a few weeks ago when I started my increased calorie diet I would get night sweats and felt warmer then usual (which is a sign of the metabolism speeding up)

i've maintained my weight around 106-108lbs for the last 7 weeks or so... give or take a few "surprise" days when I would be like 105lbs, then 112lbs! That water weight/period bloat will getcha ;)

I can tell you though that if you were to stick with eating an ideal amount for your body for a few months, things will balance out... your metabolism may of been damaged but the damage is reversable if you are willing to fix it

eek, bodies are so scarey bc theyre such a mystery.  TORPID-how long have you been eating 3000 cals and how is it going?  ive been averaging about 2000, give or take, for about 1 week but i only weigh 1/wk.  i restricted for maybe, 3 yrs, i hope it doesnt take that long for my body to recover?!

Torpidire- I am def right there with you with the fluctuations!

Carmen- I am so so glad that you posted this. It really hit home for me. I have been eating close to what you stated 1500-1800 per day and for the past week I was the same, then my weight went up (TTOM), and today it was down....and last night I went to a mexican place and got the whole nine (beans,salad,fajitas,chips, salsa, and sangria!) Isn't that weird? Like I thought I would have been up a few pounds. I really am learning to love myself and to treat my body with respect! That is interesting that it takes maybe the same time to recover as the disease happens. I think that I have heard before the 3 month thing, but I wanted to hear it from some one else. I also heard that it takes half the time of the disease, so I guess that would be like another year for me too... I hope not!

But as far as learning to love my body..I absolutely love the way I look! Today is a great day...I am soo happy that I am eating so much and practicing a healthy lifestyle!

do you guys really weigh everyday?  arent daily fluctuations not accurate?  i get hungry more often-a sign of a recovering metabolism?  im eating 2000ish cals for the past week but i restricted for about 3 years, will it really take like 2 years to get back to normal, whatever that is?

I only have been weighing in the morning every day or every other because of the fact that I am upping my cals a lot more and trying to find a balance for maintanence, although I do fluctuate 2-3 pounds mostly, sometimes more. I don't use the scale as a mood crusher, yet I have learned to use it in a more healthy way, to make sure that I am feeding myself enough and that I am not developing any weird weight gain/loss. I think once I get to a peaceful place with my calories (in the zone of trying to find that number haa) then I won't weigh in. But unlike during ed, I don't get upsite anymore, I just use it to track my body thats all!

I do think that when your body is hungry more that means the metabolism is speeding up. It is a sign that "yes I am being fed again, okay I want more!" And this is good AGRUSKIN!!! That means that you are recovering in a really wonderful way, and nourishing yourself. I doubt that it will take you that long to get back to normal (whatever that is), but it might take you a bit longer than someone who was only is the depth of ed for a few months....your body will bounce back...I guess everyone is just different!

ha, thanks LINNY.  so hopefully being hungry every 2 hours or so is a good thing then.  im going to stick to weighing 1/wk, not bc i get upset over the numbers, but bc i think it takes a week for a diff in intake to affect weight in a real and not just water weight way.  i hope my metabolism can regulate itself bc i cant imagine having to eat like 1500ish cals in the future!

Hey ladies! Just to clarify: I'm not eating 3000 cals consistently, sorry if there was any confusion on that point. I usually average around 1800, but on days when I'm less active (don't go to the gym or work my office job) I'll drop down to 1500 or go up to 2000 if I have a heavy workout day. I also do calorie cycling a bit on the weekends, mostly because for some reason I have a LOT of BBQs and parties and stuff this summer, so I'll have a little more one day, a little less the next. The trick is not to go below your BMR (at least not more than 100 cals if you can help it) because that may screw things up. Right? I don't know, I think I've stayed *mostly* consistent on this plan, so let's hope I'm right! 

Ive also been noticing I feel hungrier, but sometimes its hard to tell, I think I confused my body when it comes to hunger signals.  But I guess I should be hungrier cuz Im still only at 1500 cals, but its hard to increase while eating healthy...still so afraid of junk food.  But I hope it doesnt take that long to get my body back to normal...my first "attempt" at recovery was over 3 years ago, but it all really started even before that.  Oh well, I guess I just have to keep trying.

oh, hmm, well obviously im trying to gain weight and thus eating, maybe more than others, im averaging 2000cals, but i cant imagine going back to eating less, even after i gain weight.  body love, right?  i seriously am happier now, yes, i still think about food almost all the time and im still scared of losing control and gaining and gaining forever, but man, i have energy, im happier, i want to socialize.  yes, i need to remind myself sometimes that i want to gain weight, but when ppl say theure 5'4 and 100lbs, and eat 1200 cals and are happy w/that but if they eat more theyll gain, thats bc theyre bodies arent happy at that weight!  seriously, we need to eat to be happy and healthy, bottom line.  hmm, thats it, lol