metabolism question

i know that when you deprive your body of food your metabalism gets slower, my question is can it speed up again. about 5 years ago i was borderline anorexic (eating 500-700 calories per day) since then i have seen nutricionists and am eating a healthy 1500-1700 calories a day. dispite my best efforts to eat extreamly healthily, exersize regularly etc. i am steadily gaining weight (far faster than just over the course of 5 years, like i have gone from around 130 to 170 in only a few years) has my metabolism slowed down forever? is there anything i can do to make it speed up again? or am i just stuck getting fatter and fatter even while doing things that allow others to loose weight? thanks in advance.

Fri. Dec 8, 6:27pm

I was able to raise my metabolism by changing how I ate - I used to think I was doing so well because I was eating about 1400-1500 calories a day, but I was only sticking to meals, never snacking, and not eating enough protein. Like empty calories. I got some great advice to spread my eating out over the course of the day - every 2-3 hours, to eat something, whether it's a meal or just a small snack. So I eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day. That way my body is continually using food to burn energy and it's like keeping a fire stoked. And I eat more protein which helps build muscle which in turn burns more calories.

Friday, December 8, 2006, 6:50 PM

OP, what age are you? That can make a very big difference. Most women's metabolisms start to slow down at around age 27 - 30. Sometimes it's gradual, sometimes it's pretty rapid.

Friday, December 8, 2006, 8:39 PM

Hey there, I'm glad you were so open about this. I have the same problem but I've been too hesitant to say anything. I suffered from anorexia a few years ago and I feel like its slowed down my metabolism as well. I was thinking of going to one of those places that will test your rmr etc with various methods...to get an accurate number of the calories I burn. I'm sick of my body being such a mystery! I also feel like its strange for me to now be trying to lose weight in a healthy way when before I was being self destructive...it makes the challenge all the more difficult. If you feel you can relate and ever wanna talk let me know!

Friday, December 8, 2006, 9:17 PM

I am wondering if you hot your 40's? that killed me! I weigh more then I did when I was pregnat and was in my 30's

Friday, December 8, 2006, 11:01 PM

if you aren't doing this already-start lifting weights!! build muscle!! do yoga, resistant band training, dumbells, barbells, pilates, strength training classes etc. whatever your favorite is-do it!! muscle burns more energy/calories so the more muscle you build, the more calories you will burn during activity and during rest. it will take some time, but you CAN rev up your metabolism! Also continue to focus on eating healthy-eating frequent small meals througout the day keeps your energy levels high AND keeps your body burning calories. also, make sure you get adequate amounts of sleep, water, and take rest days in between workouts.

also, congratulations in triumphing over your eating disorder!

Friday, December 8, 2006, 11:54 PM

do your cardio excercises at a target of 80% VO2max 2-3 days a week and include a 2 days resistance training. unless you have an hormonal imbalance i think you lack cardio and you are probably eating too much fat.

it is hard to give you an answer without knowing your excercise/nutrition regimen but i tried to guess from the info you gave

Saturday, December 9, 2006, 11:41 AM

EAT! Eating raises metabolism. EXERICSE raises metabolism. If you were sticking to a certain diet and calorie intake.. and now youre weight has been plateauing... EAT MORE. Add more calories to your daily intake because your body has already adjusted to what its taking in. Our body regulates itself with our routine. Add more calories, get more EXERCISE, and the weight will come off.

Peanuts and nuts raise metabolism.

Eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. (dont make your snacks junky. Have things like a half can of tuna with one slice of wheat bread). Cottage cheese and whole grain crackers. Yogurt and Cantelope.

Eat breakfast like a king
Lunch like a Prince
and Dinner like a Pauper.

You dont need such a big dinner, you need a big breakfast to have that energy during the day. Dinner calories dont get used or burned efficiently. You sit on the couch, you got to sleep, and your metabolism slows down.

I lost 80 lbs!

EXERCISE EXERCISE! Its the most important thing. Keep moving.

Saturday, December 9, 2006, 8:02 PM

OP here, thanks for all the advice so far everybody!
i'm going to try doing weights more often.
i did ask my doctor about this and got blood taken to see if it's hormones causeing this (i'll find out tomorow)
oh and i'm only 19 so it is neither becoming middle-aged or after having a baby =P
to the 9:17 poster, i'd love to talk and i totally relate,
thanks again and keep em comming!

Monday, December 11, 2006, 2:56 PM

I would definitely consider a nutritionist, and having your RMR tested (resting metabolic rate). Also, depending on your height and activity level, and I hate saying this to someone who once had an eating disorder, but 1500-1700 calories might be too much. I'm 5'2", and am moderately active - walk a lot to get to/from work, and work out, but not really regularly - and if I'm eating more than about 1300 cals/day, I gain weight. And I actually have a good deal of natural muscle, so I'd think I'd have a faster metabolism... Guess not!

Monday, December 11, 2006, 4:10 PM

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