Is it possible to gain weight from not eating enough

[Kbz]

Should I be following what my Fitbit suggests to eat? I'm always under budget. And I've gained 13 pounds since June. I have not done anything different. I'm always counting calories and most of the time eating under my bmr. Help someone suggestions please I also deal with water retention and inflammation. I have lupus and other things.

[DT7____]

yes it is possible you should be consuming more calories than your BMR if you are exercising to fuel your body but less than you are burning e.g. burned 3000 calories ate 2500= total burned 500 calories. Eat more to fuel you for exercise 

[Dominique]

If you have been eating at a deficit for four months and have gained 13 pounds, either you are underestimating your intake, or your Fitbit is overestimating your energy expenditure, or both. It is generally not advised to eat under your BMR. What is your BMR, what average deficit have you had and what is your activity level like? 

[Kbz]

My bmr is 1508 and I burn average 2300 when extremely busy 2600 and when
not extremely busy 1900 something. I average about 6000 steps a day when im
really on the go over 10000. I log everything I eat and even at 1300
calories I don't lose. I was following what fit bit said to eat in may and
was actually losing. Prob should try that again lol

[A_Lurker]

I know I don't lose weight when I'm not eating enough.  I'm eating almost 25% more than I was about 70 pounds ago.  I have to work a little harder to keep the calories burn up, but I trust the numbers at the moment. 

If it was working for you in May, why the change?  Generally it isn't considered a good idea to eat under your BMR for a long period if time.

[Kbz]

Isn't that crazy right. And I got scared eating more lol. But following what fit bit says now.

[Im4HIM]

KMZ

I have Lupus & misc. also.  It is very important to my health to NOT just exercise to lose weight.  We are not like other people!  I believe portion control and what we eat makes the difference.  I am feeling so much better and losing weight slowly by going gluten & dairy free along with gentle building stamina exercise.  If you really want to lose weight and get healthy it can not be just about losing weight or you are setting yourself up for failure.  I love my fitbit and it helps me tremendously to be aware of my cal. burning and movement.  Smaller portions and healthy foods dear.

Fellow Lupie, Leslie

[SunsetRunner]

The short answer is yes, you can gain weight by not eating enough.

Th reason is that your body goes into a stravation mode and reduces your metabolic rate, i.e. uses less fuel in order to conserve what is available. In extreme calorie reduction the body will even start to burn up muscle rather than fat. Its a defense mechanism against starvation, get ride of what burns the most fuel (muscle) and keep the high value fuel (fat).

The fitbit calculates your "burn" rate based on statistical models so it is not 100% accurate and doesn't account for a body in stravation mode which is burning even less.

[Iamem]

Not eating enough can cause your body to go into starvation mode. Which causes your body not to let go of the weight. Try eating closer to what is recommended  and maybe one day a week eat just a little over.