ED Recovery Help!!

I'm really stuck right now. Over the past couple months, I've developed anorexia in an effort to lose weight, and due to some major life changes. Anyway, I currently am 15 years old, male, 5'7" and 120 lbs. I eat about 1500 calories per day, and I try to get AT LEAST 4 days of exercise per week. 

For several months, I was eating about 1000 calories per day, and obsessively counting every crumb that entered my mouth. But I decided to try and stop all my nasty habits and gain some weight. I've tried upping my calorie intake to around 1500 or maybe even *gulp* 1800, and in less than a week's time, I could feel myself blow up like a blimp!! I swear, I'm not imagining it. My skin feels 'thicker' when I pinch it, and even some clothes don't fit anymore!! O_O Worst of all, my belly is getting bigger with each passing day! However, I find it strange that the scale hasn't moved at all with my recent gain. In fact, it's been quite steady at 120 lbs. Does anyone have any tips on how many calories I should eat without gaining too much weight? I'm too ashamed to tell my parents or teachers about this. :-( I could also use some assistance on where my calories should come from (fat, carbs, or protein), as I've heard so many conflicting facts. I really appreciate any help you guys can give. :-)

how could the "scale not move at all with your recent gain?" if the scale hasn't moved then you haven't gained. there is more food in your stomach that's it. eat calorically dense foods like peanut butter, nuts, avocados, full fat dairy, dried fruits, fruit juice, whole grain bread, pasta, cheese, etc. and you'll easily be able to up your intake and realize that it's not that bad. ultimately you want to gain weight, so the faster you get to that point the easier and faster your body will adapt and get back to normal...the longer your stretch it out the more harm you'll do in the end. you'll gain weight because of water retention and just generally more food in your intestines but putting on actual weight will take some time. ultimately though you need to put on actual pounds in order to be healthy. you don't want organ failure or to inhibit your growth. you're very young and need the energy. you should also not be exercising at all during recovery, but if you must then try going on walks...it's relaxing! you are imagining the thick skin and big belly...think logically. how much does it take to gain 1 pound? 3500 calories, so if you bumped up from 1000 to 1500 then you'd gain 1 pound in a week...that's not enough to cause thick skin. it's the Ed talking and you need to do what's best for your body!! EAT!!

Ok Gooby (may I call you Gooby? ;)  the gain is ALL IN YOUR HEAD!  Anything that is not is just water weight/bloaty-bloat.

It's supermegaawesome that you're overcoming your ed!!

YEY! <3

But i think you should eat about 1500cals of mostly PROTEIN and FIBER.

you won't gain weight, but you'll get healhtier, if that makes sense :)

Goob,

It is great that you are trying to get your ED under control. However, you can't do it alone. My advice is to seek your doctors help, especially for how many calories are appropriate for a growing 15 year old boy. Most teens (boys and girls) that I have ever met, eat their families out of house and home and still maintain an appropriate weight. Best of luck to you.

Thank you all for your replies! They're much appreciated! :-)

I do eat many of those things you listed, Chrissy. But I'm curious, does it matter what time of day I eat them? Because I've heard so much about how it's bad to eat carbs in the evening and stuff like that. I really don't want to end up like other recovered anoerxics who've gained all their weight back and then some. And the only exercise I've been doing lately has been 30-45 minute strolls around the neighborhood. Not the 2-3 hour full intensity jogs and sprints I used to do, just a little stroll. The walks also serve as a bit of a stress relief for me instead of purging or starving.

leronia, no matter what I did, even before my ed, I could barely eat half of what teens my age eat without gaining weight. But unlike them, I had a fairly clean diet that included lots of fruits, veggies, and lean meat, which confuses me even more. I almost wonder if I have an underactive thyroid, since BOTH my parents have hypothyroidism, along with their parents, and their grandparents, and so on.

You have not eaten enough to gain weight and restore your metabolism, I can tell you that. Your body is probably still damaged from your severe restriction. I agree that you need to go to a doctor. Also, initial increases will cause water retention no matter what, but that retention only goes away if you continue to eat enough and well as your body will no longer feel it is starving or going to be starved.

Furthermore, a boy under 21 should not eat less than 1800 calories a day, period, and for you you're only on the cusp of a healthy weight. Realistically you need to be at a BMI 20 - and that means 3000 calories a day, no less. Sedentary. As you work out you'll need more than that.

But you really need to go to your doctor. This is only a forum. You should not be seeking primary help for these issues here and from the way you type you seem to be treating this process as a joke, not a means of getting well.

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Original Post by goobyb:

Thank you all for your replies! They're much appreciated! :-)

I do eat many of those things you listed, Chrissy. But I'm curious, does it matter what time of day I eat them? Because I've heard so much about how it's bad to eat carbs in the evening and stuff like that. I really don't want to end up like other recovered anoerxics who've gained all their weight back and then some. And the only exercise I've been doing lately has been 30-45 minute strolls around the neighborhood. Not the 2-3 hour full intensity jogs and sprints I used to do, just a little stroll. The walks also serve as a bit of a stress relief for me instead of purging or starving.

leronia, no matter what I did, even before my ed, I could barely eat half of what teens my age eat without gaining weight. But unlike them, I had a fairly clean diet that included lots of fruits, veggies, and lean meat, which confuses me even more. I almost wonder if I have an underactive thyroid, since BOTH my parents have hypothyroidism, along with their parents, and their grandparents, and so on.

no, it doesn't matter what time you eat them.

If you are concerned about your thyroid, get a blood test.