Feeling dizzy despite only semi-restricting
TW: calorie numbers, specific detailed behaviors, self-invalidation of ED
So I’m really confused about what’s going on and I was hoping someone could explain to me, physiologically, how this could happen.
Basically, I’ve been taking a harm-reduction approach to recovery, meaning rather than full recovery, I reduce the harm of my behaviors as much as possible.
I have been losing weight (slowly) for some time now, but am not underweight. Recently, I had a 3-4 week “break” where I ate almost a normal amount of calories, like >!almost 2000 ish!<.
After not losing weight, and actually gaining >!a couple pounds,!< I’ve gone back to my usual semi-restriction: >!1600-1700 calories!<. This excludes once a week when I have a large >!binge purge episode!<, and once a week when I >!fast until 5 pm!<.
I know I’m not supposed to feel good while losing weight. I know. But lately it’s been pretty bad. I haven’t felt this bad since eating >!1200 calories!< for a long period of time and losing >!a ton of weight!<. I feel dizzy, out of it, hard to concentrate, lightheaded, and when I go walk or go on runs, I feel even worse. It’s getting harder and harder to finish my runs, I get out of breath, dizzy, and need to take breaks (and no, they’re not super long runs, they’re usually about >!20-50 min!<, >!a few times a week!<.)
The thing is, I recently got my labs back and they were all normal, electrolytes and everything, except vitamin D. My weight loss has been slow and I’m not underweight and don’t have low body fat. I get a period despite PCOS and my ED. I have slightly low blood pressure.
This might be my invalidation towards myself, but it just doesn’t medically make sense to me. It’s not even my normal to feel this bad on this many calories (based on experience), and in my mind, most women my size could eat >!1600 calories!< and not feel this bad. Tired? Sure. Irritable? Yeah. Dizzy and weak? No, not really.
I know many people with EDs have fast metabolism but I’ve gotten my BMR and muscle mass tested multiple times and I actually have a slow metabolism, as in my body burns less calories than expected for my size.
TLDR:
Harm reduction approach to behaviors. Losing weight slowly. Recent refeed for a few weeks, almost >!2000 calories!<. Back to >!1600 average!<. Feel dizzy, lightheaded, out of it, bad. Exercise intolerance. Normal labs, not underweight, normal body fat, get period. Slow metabolism, not fast.
Why do I feel this bad, and not just a little tired or irritable like most people on this amount?