Am I doing okay?

So I've been making an effort to gain for about a week, and I just want to make sure I'm doing this right. I'm fifteen, 5'6", and was 105 a week ago (100 at my lowest) and now I'm probably 107ish. I never had a full-blown eating disorder but I did watch what I ate and was afraid of gaining weight (I still ate fairly normally though). Now I've been eating 2,500 calories a day and more on the days I work out (stregnth training). I'm just wondering if it's really possible for me to have gained two pounds so quickly? Also, how much more do you think I should gain (if any?). I mean I know by adult standards I have a low BMI but I'm still a teenager. I don't know if I should really be making such an effort to gain if it would happen naturally (though I'm kinda doubting if that would happen). My plan currently is to get to about 110 (highest I've ever been) and see if my period comes back. If it doesn't I'll gain more. Does that sound okay?

Also, is it really unhealthy for me to do cardio? I've read that if you have a BMI under 17.5 it can be dangerous, but I've always been skinny and I've still been able to do cardio. I know it would hinder my weight loss so I'm definetly limiting it, but I just don't want to be afraid of it.

Thanks for all the help. Any advice at all is appreciated =)

Well, those two pounds are probably water weight and the actual food itself.

Your period will probably not come back at 110, as that is still underweight for your height.  You really should be closer to 120 at minimum.

I also would NOT do cardio if you are looking to regain your period.  Cardio increases stress hormones, which can inhibit menstruation and ovulation.

Your intake'd be splendid if you weren't working out. As it is your BMI is extremely low, even if you don't think it, and you need to cut the cardio. And as for_zev has said, cardio only prolongs the loss of a period.

The weight gain is likely water and food/liquid weight in itself. It takes an excess of 3500 calories over your burn to gain a pound. So no, it's not realistically going to stick around. And if it does why does it matter? That's two pounds more towards health.

As for your BMI goals, they should be 20, not anything less. A BMI of 20 means if you lose any weight unintentionally such as via illness, you do not drop back into an underweight state or severely underweight state. It also increases the chance of your period returning. You also need to make sure you're getting about 55-60% carbs, 10-15% protein and 30% fats in your intake.

And an eating disorder is an eating disorder is an eating disorder. Quit with the "full blown"; it's still dangerous to you.

People body's vary from day to day. Also I am not sure what you were eating before but your metabolism may still be slow and with water weight too.I think you are making good progress but you are still underweight so need to remain focused of getting to a healthy weight. Then you can add in a healthy excercise routine.

Okay, thanks. There's nothing wrong with the two pounds, it just seemed a little too quick to be real and that's why I was asking. Also, I just thought my period would come back because 110 is how much I weighed when I got it. I really had no idea I would need to weigh so much more. Shows how much I know, lol.

I was really just asking about cardio because of the stuff my friends and I do like go bike riding and stuff. I will cut down on that for sure.

And about the eating disorder thing- I don't think I ever had one. I just starting eating more healthily and getting less calories because I thought it was "healthy" and I was doing something good for my body. I now know how bad that was.

I really appreciate all the help. I'm new to this and I just want to make sure I'm going about this the right way. =)

Hi! Just wanted to say, I have similar stats to you. (I am 17 though and 5'7.5" ish). I have been working on gaining too. I actually understand what you mean by not really having an eating disorder though. I never restricted myself per se, just became more active and attempted to eat healthier foods. With my increased activity and lower caloric intake, I lost weight. Even when I stopped running & biking and stuff, I still seemed to lose weight! I think part of it was also insecurity with how I looked though. I also tried to eat only as much as everyone else did.

I am also gaining to get my period back. I hope it comes back soon!

Well, just wanted to share how similar we seem to be, and wish you luck. C:

Thank you! Good luck to you as well. =] That's exactly what I did. I started exercising just to be healthier. I can relate to the not wanting to eat more than anyone else as well, even though I should've considering my metabolism is pretty high. It's really nice to know that there are other people working towards the same goals as me. =) Well I'm off to have a chocolate shake, lol.

Yep. :) It's funny that I became more unhealthy by trying to become healthier. Odd. My metabolism has always been high too - I've always eaten SO much throughout the years, with little activity, and been a fine weight.

Yum chocolate shake. :] I want one!

Yeah, it definetly is ironic...

I was exactly the same way. I always ate a ton of junk food but was so much skinnier than almost everyone else my age. I even used to purposely eat things very high calorie just so I could think to myself "haha, I'm not going to gain weight from this!!" I think that's why I kinda freaked out when I actually started gaining weight (which I'm sure was normal-I was still very skinny). And that's what made me want to be "healthier." Sigh...

haha, the chocolate shake was yummy! I added peanut butter :p