Confused...

Okay, I will just cut right to the fact of the matter.

Six months ago I began a very healthy and very effective new lifestyle, and went from 160 pounds to 103. I am 5'8" and I looked very beautiful at aroun 120 pounds, and now I am extremely underweight, and was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. I am scared because I also suffer from amenorrhea. In the past two months or so, I have gained seven pounds and am now hovering aroun 110. I KNOW that I have to gain weight, even though it is hard to while dealing with an eating disorder. Basically, I am confused as to how many calories I should be consuming to get healthy again, and what I should weigh. I am 15 years old and I am a girl.

Thanks for reading!

~Kaiyuh

Do you have access to a dietician via your doctor or whoever is treating you for the eating disorder?  That's often not a bad place to start. You can't beat expert help.

The usual advice to people in your situation is to aim for 2500 cals a day as a starting point for weight-gain.  Plan your day in advance with the aim of eating 'little and often' so that you don't feel too overloaded with big platefuls of food you're not used to.  If you include plenty of high-calorie, low-bulk foods in the mix that also keeps the meal-size manageable.   Good examples of these foods can be found in the 'Weight Gain' forum.... things like nuts, nut butters, oily fish, avocados, olive oils.  Should you not gain weight on 2500 then increase it steadily, 500 cals at a time

As for a target weight... the usual advice for people in recovery is to get to a BMI of 20.  In your case that means around 131lbs... 

Loosing 55 pounds or so in 6 months and now being under is a reason for concern.  I understand being scared but you don't want a alot of damage done to your body by extremes. Part of having a healthy lifestyle is balance and moderation. It is good you are in the weight gain process. You said you have gained 7 pounds. Have you increased your calories to do that? If so and you are still undereating I can suggest what my nutritionist is doing with me by increasing every 2 days by 200 and I am reaching for a starting point to 3000 but you may need less or more as everyone varies depending. Who dx with you with anorexia and can you ask them if you can get the support of a nutritionist and/or therapist

I'm glad you're aware that you need to gain weight.  But you need to be talking to a doctor at this point.  A dietician who can help you ease your body back to a healthy size, and maybe a therapist to help you with some of the psychological causes of anorexia.  Are your parents aware/helping you with this?

Thank you everyone for you help and information!

I have been seeing a psychiatrist and that has been marginally helpful. My calorie intake has been between 900-1300 over the past couple of days, so I guess I will try and up that to around 2,000 or at least 1800. Thank you everyone!

~Kaiyuh

oh yes, and my parents are being wonderful and are very supportive, and I feel really blessed that they aren't completely nuts or angry over it.

IT's a good thing you are ready to recover, but just remember to take "baby steps" and that recovery is a slow lifelong process. My counselor always used to tell me those things. Also, you may slip every now and again and start listening to ED's voice again, but just be strong and remember what got you out of your rough spot, and what helped you get through your ED. It is ok if you are taking 2 steps forward, and one step back, because you are still gaining progress. Don't rush the process, because it won't help in the long run, trust me. And also, try to get to the root of your problem, becuase your unhappiness with your body isn't the real problem, and when you figure out what is, recovering will be that much easier!

♥Serena♥

thank you so much! my psychiatrist has been really good with trying to find the actual root of the poblem, so that has helped greatly. I still have problems skimping on meals and that kind of thing, but I have been good about eating other things other than my 'safe foods'. Time will heal all wounds...hopefully:)

Hi! I read about you being underweight and I think it's great that you realize you need to gain weight. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to help you out, because while you're trying to gain about 15 pounds, I'm trying to lose 15 pounds. But, if I'm suppposed to eat about 500 calories less than I burn, then i can only assume you have to eat about 500 calories more than you burn. I'm only assuming, though.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with gaining weight. :D

A healthy weight for you would be anywhere in between 122-160 pounds. Becuase that would give you a BMI of 18.5-24.5, all being in the helathy range for your height.

thanks everyone!

Serena- Thank you so much for the weight suggestion, it really helps me get motivated when I have a set target, so your informationr really motivated me!

Susanaa- thank you for your support! i know that i took the weight loss way to far, especially due to the anorexia, but for awhile there, I was losing excess weight healthily. I found that daily exercise really made a difference, as well as getting at least nine hours of sleep. if you wanna talk or need support or anything feel free to message me!

~Kaiyuh

Original Post by kaiyuhrose:

thanks everyone!

 it really helps me get motivated when I have a set target, so your informationr really motivated me!

Unfortunately, that information doesn't apply to you.  Yes, 18.5 could be a healthy weight for someone that isn't recovering from an eating disorder.  But if you are recovering from being extremely underweight doctors like you to get to a BMI of 20.  If you only get your weight up to 122lbs and you have a relapse or a short illness you're straight back into being horribly underweight.  I know it's probably more appealing to look at 122lbs than 132lbs but you can't afford to take any chances.... go for the higher of the two numbers.

Original Post by gi-jane:

Original Post by kaiyuhrose:

thanks everyone!

 it really helps me get motivated when I have a set target, so your informationr really motivated me!

Unfortunately, that information doesn't apply to you.  Yes, 18.5 could be a healthy weight for someone that isn't recovering from an eating disorder.  But if you are recovering from being extremely underweight doctors like you to get to a BMI of 20.  If you only get your weight up to 122lbs and you have a relapse or a short illness you're straight back into being horribly underweight.  I know it's probably more appealing to look at 122lbs than 132lbs but you can't afford to take any chances.... go for the higher of the two numbers.

^Agreed.