Eating too few calories is a thing. And it will f*ck you up.

When I was eating a higher amount of calories, between 1000 and 1200, I had no problem losing weight and powering through my workouts. But as you guys know, a few weeks ago I got braces put on my teeth. As a result, I had to go down to a very restricted diet of only liquids (mainly soups and milkshakes). During those first weeks, I was experiencing a high amount of pain and was restricted from eating the diet foods I had come to know and love. Even so, I was losing weight because I kept going to the gym. Even if my visits only lasted 30 minutes at most. 
Last week, I meal prepped on Sunday like I always do, but I noticed a major difference. The foods I had prepared for myself were very low in calories and other nutrients. I didn’t think much of it, because hello, less calories in = less calories that can cause you to gain weight. I thought it was a win-win situation!
But I’m here to say, I was wrong. Because I was eating fewer calories than I’m supposed to, my body didn’t have the nutrients it needed to make any more energy than was required for me to function. As a result, I was constantly tired. I still went to the gym every day, but I don’t think I did more than 30 minutes at a time. 
At the end of the week, I weighed in like I always do. But for the first time, I saw an increase, and not just a few ounces. Two and a half whole pounds. I shrugged it off, saying it was probably my scale or I had set it on an uneven bit of floor. I didn’t think much of my gain over the weekend, and on Monday morning I stepped back on the scale again. Only this time, I was a full eight pounds heavier than my lowest weight exactly a week before. 
I was shocked. Everything you’ve heard about bad eating habits is true. During the week, my body had gone into starvation mode because it barely had fuel to function. And when I finally ate like a normal person (over the weekend), it immediately stored all of that food because it was anticipating that it would starve again in the near future. 
There’s no telling how much irreversible damage I did to my metabolism last week. Previous to last week, my body had settled into a very regular cycle of eating, digesting, and fueling. This week, I can tell that my energy levels are lower as my body readjusts to my normal eating habits.
I know I haven’t posted much this week. Being eight pounds heavier has taken its toll on me. That’s eight pounds I desperately fought to lose, that I now have to lose all over again because of my own ignorance. I hope all of my readers take this into consideration. Don’t deprive your body of the fuel it needs to survive! Food to your body is like gas to your car. I know I learned my lesson.