xXxBeautifulDisasterxXx

I'm sorry, this is kind of long, but I am worried about my metabolism and I am not sure if I am eating enough now.


When I was 16 and a half, I had an eating problem for about 6 months (I was borderline anorexia) but got over it pretty quickly with help. From then on I ate 1600 - 1800, and exercised several times a week for 15-20 minutes (walking/jogging). But then, after a while, I had a lot of things happening for me, and I got depressed really bad and was always stressed out. Since I wasn't able to go out and exercise as much and sat down most of the day, I started only eating 1200 - 1400. I am getting better from it and taking medication now and I just turned 18 in April. I haven't weighed myself in a long while, but the last time I checked I was 111 pounds. I think I gained a few more, but I'm not sure. I am 5'1, almost 5'2. But I've started to pick back up again and exercise more, like I did before, going walking/jogging for 15-20 minutes several times a week. I always try to eat very healthy and eat a variety of things to and I am a vegetarian to. (became one after I got better from my eating problem.)
but I am worried about my metabolism. Since I am trying to exercise more like I did before, should I try to eat more again to? Or is it okay to eat only 1200 - 1400? I still sit down a little more than half the day doing school work. Will I be okay?

commonsense

Exercise decreases the amount of calorie intake. Subtract the amount of calories burned from the total calories from that day and you can see if you took in enough calories for that day. It is recommended not to fall below 1200 calories a day.

sourpuss

My not a doctor and I don't know too much about eating disorders so take my advice with a grain of salt.
I would focus less on amount of calories and more on being healthy. focusing on your weight and all the numbers associated with that was the problem before. As long as you eat healthy and exercise you should be ok. Maybe go by how your clothes are fitting rather than how much you weigh.
If you are set on keeping track, for someone your height and age about 1600-1800 calories a day is ideal if you are exercising several times a week.

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Em25

you can definately eat more in your diet. sometimes if you eat too little your metabolism kinda gets sluggish, you would be suprised the amount of food you can eat with exercising and still lose weight, try adding more snacks to your diet, fruit, nuts, yoghurt anything like that and dont deprive yourself if you want a treat, its your body telling you its craving a vitamin etc.

Em25

also, i agree with sourpuss. i once got myself into a really unhealthy obsession with the scales and now i never go on them, try going by your clothes or by using a tape measure as when you exercise a lot you will build muscle which could show when you go on the scales. having muscle has been the key to my metabolism now being very fast.

WildChild

You ca nuse your search engine (Google or Yahoo) to find a calorie counter, there are several that have you put in your weight, height, age and actvity level and then calculate what you should eat to maintain a healthy weight. You can go on "Real Age" and get a lot of info too. Because you have had an eating disorder you do need to be more aware. Having been a vegetarian myself, you need to educate yourself on getting all that you need - Vegetarian Times is an excellent magazine, I'm sure there are others to give you new recipes and keep you abreast of the lastest info.