How Did You Begin?

Ok I have been wondering this for a while now. When You are recovering from a severe calorie restriction diet or an ED, how did you boost your calorie intake? Was it drastic like from 300 calories to 1800 on the first few days or was it gradual as adding 200 a day?

I'm recovering from an ED and just need to know how you guys coped with the calorie boost. I'm currently having 1200 calories a day (very low I know)

PLZ reply thanx

<3

For me it has been a very gradual process and one that I'm still battling with over two years on from starting out.

My doctor gave me loads of information and a leaflet about safe weight gain, and I have been told that slow and steady is best in my case.

Adding extra calories every few days or so - for example, an extra scoop of mashed potato, always have a dessert, calorie-dense snacks (nuts, seeds, cereal bars, etc....), jam on bread instead of just butter,.....

I must say that it is a constant struggle for me both mentally and physically, but I don't think I could cope if I was told to suddenly up my calories in one go.

well when i first started recovering it was like from 200 to like 2000. But that was ehen my mom was force feeding me. But that just caused me to relapse from lac of control. But then i gained the weight ON MY OWN by eating a couple hundred calories to like 3500 cals a day. I just wanted more and more food and i couldnt stop.

Inpatient treatment. And on the first day there I was eating everything, because I had to and because I finally felt "allowed" to - it really made me realise my inability to eat was totally in my head.

If you can't do it on your own, seek inpatient support.

It took a couple of months for me to go from 500 to 800, so I don’t really consider that a part of my recovery. When my weight continued to drop, my mum made me go from 800 to 1800 in the space of two days; that was a bit much, and I had really bad stomach problems. I bloated like crazy, and retained water like a sponge.

Over the next three months I slowly added calories until I got to 3000. And I got to my goal on 3000. But If I could go back I would have gone straight to around 2500ish, because going slowly at the beginning just made it harder.

Although I really recommend getting advice from medical professionals, because they can tell you what is best for you. It depends on how much you need to gain and how severe your condition is etc.
If you are really struggling, I agree with merylwhite- inpatient is the way to go.

I have gone in-patient a few times and find it very confronting and difficult to handle having my control taken away. Although alot of people find this method easier because it takes the arduous and painstakinng decisions out of the equation. The battle is set infrount of you so you don't have to map out your journey while you fight. You just go on in and head straight.

I am trying gradual increase on my own now and it seems to suit me better. I maintain some control. It really depends on the individual. Good luckhunni!

The first time round, I went from 700 to 1400, then 2000. I then added a few hundred calories everytime I didn't gain a lb in a week.

This time after my relapse, I went from 300 to 600 to 900 etc, until I got to around 1800 then I went straight up to 2500.

At first, I was told by a nutritionist (who gave me a meal plan without any calories on it) that 2000 would be the target. I found it ridiculous - due to my maintenance always being lower than that (I’m not active at all, and of course my height/age at the time). I new so much about food and calories that I almost felt like her knowledge/tactics were slightly inaccurate. In addition to the fact it was utterly overwhelming to expect someone with a severe problem with food (consuming around 250calories per day at the time) to suddenly eat that amount:

1) because of the mental fixation with food and the staved relationship with it (ie wanting to eat it in a certain way, prolonging its consumption and because of this needing to have certain foods)

2) The body’s reaction and an overwhelming sense of being out of control (I know this “control” obsession needs to be kicked in the teeth, but when someone is so dysfunctional, a gradual separation with it seems more workable).

Instead I worked with a cognitive therapist and my mother, who said that I needed to immediately up my intake to 500calories and week by week add on 100 calories at least. This was terrifying and gruelling for everyone around, but by the time I hit around a 1000 i did boost it by another 200 each week, because I had eased into the idea.

My mind was on gaining and I didn’t want to look back.

When I got to 1800 -1900 I began gaining 1lb a week.

In the early stages (building from 500-1000) I did regrettably, in effect, continue to loose weight (although far slower than before- almost like a steam engine slowing down to a hault) until I hit around 1000, where my weight stagnated (so it took about 5 weeks to stabilize).

(I’m 5’5 by the way, my lowest weight was just under 6stone)

that is very low. the best way you can do it is increase it 200 every few days stil you reach the minimal of 2500, dont get me wrong you could do with 2500 now but i dont know your stats its better to increase gradually so your body can adjust you also may be vunerable to go into refeeding syndrome i increased 200 about every month initially big mistakes it just prolonged everything and made it harder to increase. hopefully at this speed you will mentally be able to deal with it. you can do it we are all behind you it will be hard but try to think of all the reasons you are doing this to be happy and healthy. try not to think to far ahead just take each day one step at a time h x if you arnt i d recommend you see a theapist and a dietican and doctor they can check on your physical health and support you h x

Thamks so much for sharing all this!

I went to my doctor today and she had me do an EKG which turned out normal (thank God!) and I'm also gonna get some blood work. My weight is 103 and I have been consuming roughly 1500 cals before but now I am consuming 2000 a day. She said I should aim for 120 lb for my height and frame (5'5" medium frame)

 I'm a little scared but I need to do this. I hate it when people look at me with that pittiful look. I'm stronger than this ED!

The only thing that scares me is that after a week of eating 2000 cals, what if I gain like 10 lbs permanently? What if I'm one of those people who gain all the weight back immediately? ugh stupid ED talking!!!

Original Post by 4ever_hope:

Thamks so much for sharing all this!

I went to my doctor today and she had me do an EKG which turned out normal (thank God!) and I'm also gonna get some blood work. My weight is 103 and I have been consuming roughly 1500 cals before but now I am consuming 2000 a day. She said I should aim for 120 lb for my height and frame (5'5" medium frame)

 I'm a little scared but I need to do this. I hate it when people look at me with that pittiful look. I'm stronger than this ED!

The only thing that scares me is that after a week of eating 2000 cals, what if I gain like 10 lbs permanently? What if I'm one of those people who gain all the weight back immediately? ugh stupid ED talking!!!

 try not to worry about this in the beginning it is normal to gain more weight this isnt pure weight its just all the bodily systems starting to work again and alot can be contributed to fluid. you wont gain 10 ibs this is the ed talking . i gained 6ibs in my first week i was so worried but i stuck with it and i lost 2 the next week . if you are worried i think it would be adviseable for you not to look at the scales just untill you get into this . consistency is the key , i know its hard to continually keep eating when seeing your weight go up but you can do it . your bodies only aim is to get you healthy tothe lowest weight you should be for your height not fat try and trust it and if you keep ploughing through eventually it will learn to trust you again h x

Original Post by 4ever_hope:

The only thing that scares me is that after a week of eating 2000 cals, what if I gain like 10 lbs permanently? What if I'm one of those people who gain all the weight back immediately? ugh stupid ED talking!!!

Instead of just scaring yourself with "what if?" questions, try answering those questions for yourself. What if you gained back 10lbs permanently? Well - you're trying to gain, aren't you? Gaining 10lbs would be great, it would mean you are 10lbs closer to your goal and 10lbs closer to just getting on with your life!

What if you gained back all the weight immediately? Again, your body would thank you for being able to recover. You'd have more energy, better concentration, shinier hair, a brighter complexion, more interest in life. You would be less likely to suffer from the effects of being underweight, which become more likely the longer you are underweight. You wouldn't get any more of those looks from other people you dislike, and you'd be able to start a healthy maintenance plan.

Basically, even if what you fear did happen, all it would mean is that you could get on with your life a little sooner, and your body would be a lot healthier for it.

I have done recovery attempts many times in the past and all different ways ip vs op. First stay in the day of what you need to do. I know this is hard but regardless of what happens in a week or a month it does not change what you need to do today. The goal is to gain and once you get to your set point it should settle down. Your body is confused. I know for me it was very hard to watch the scale go up and also I had a lot of physical discomfort but I had to remind myself this is part of recovery. In this time of refeeding I started at 1500 and went up 200 every 2 days to 3000 and then went to 3500 to finish up. This was hard cause I was gaining on 2500 and then 3000 and then 3500. Ip I went to 3000 in one week and up to 4500. Dragging this out has no purpose. I am not saying it has to be over night but adding in a few calories every day or it taking a few months for ex like skipping said to get from 500 to 800 is not recovery and it is playing games in my eyes. I am not trying to be mean but I did that in my past just doing "better" and making small changes. Well I ended up in a crisis in the cardiac unit for a week at 19 because my body need full restoration. At that time 2000 was even starvation for my weak body. I needed the 3000-4000 a day. Hang in there and you can do it

How old are you? You look like a young teen to me and need to consume 1500 calories a day, at the very minimum. Since you are in ED recovery you should b consuming 2500-3000 calories a day. I am confused, you said you are taking in 1200, but then later say 2000???

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