Feedback - I'm so rubbish at gaining!

I wondered if anyone could give me some quick feedback about what I am eating and whether I will gain ok on it. I have been at an outpatient clinic for a couple of months and was originally told that I would just gain and start eating naturally as I got better emotionally. This didn't happen and I have been losing weight despite eating more.

Then today I saw a dietician who said 'just eat normally, you know how to do that, you aren't stupid'. Considering that I am losing I clearly don't know how to eat normally, but I sat down and thought about it.

This is what I plan to eat on an average day. Is this OK?

B: 1/2 cup porridge with milk and honey

s: 1 fruit

L: wholemeal sandwich with hummus or tuna or egg and salad

s: cereal bar

D: chicken breast or fish fillet with pasta or rice and vegetables

s: soya yoghurt

plus lots of milk in tea during the day.

thanks so much for any feedback.

No this does not look like enough at all. I know some ed treatments they feel when the underlying issues are worked on then you will want to take care more and eat. I have not found that true because yes the issues are important to be able to focus on them you need to have a healthy body. I also think just eating with hunger is very hard when your mind and body is connected so much and also you are used to not eating much. I am not sure if you are able to try to see someone else but that may be something to look into. There are many sample menus on the board. Like many have stated it is around 2500 as a min. I have no clue how much this is as protions are not stated but I would think 1200-1300 unless you are drinking milk non stop. Can you increase do you think? I see lots of adding places like add toast and pb to breakfast, a yogurt to snack etc. Also I would tell your team what you need and your struggles cause maybe they can help you better

Thanks so much for the support - you seem to provide lots of it on this website, it's very kind.

I'm sure I could increase, it just feels like I'm already eating constantly and I do have big portions, or so my brain tells me!I probably just need to include some more calorie-dense foods. To get the count up with less volume. I have checked out the sample menu forum to get an idea what 2500 looks like, but it is so confusing when different professionals and people with different experiences give you conflicting advice. Oh well, I'll get there in the end!

Original Post by kookymonster1:

I probably just need to include some more calorie-dense foods. To get the count up with less volume.

 It seems like you already have some of the tools to help yourself. that was exactly what i was going to suggest until you took the words out of my mouth. one of my favorite higher cal foods is peanut butter. maybe a piece of toast with pb & banana as an addition to your bfast. or a snack aside from just the fruit. also, when you say a cereal bar - what brand do you mean? something like a Luna bar or Kashi Go Lean chewy bars are really yummy and have like 200 cals with lots of fiber & protein too. you should also be sure you're eating whole milk (not skim). Nuts are also really good because they're so small yet usually rich in cals & other good stuff. good luck! apply what you already know and you'll be okay :)

That looks like a diet plan, not a gain plan. How may calories does that make? I'd guess around 1200? Perhaps if you started to tot up your calories, you'll be able to understand why you're not gaining.

Why not eat a cup of oatmeal made with whole milk, plus some scrambled eggs? Peanut butter on your apple slices? Add Nutella to that sandwich, plus a salad with olive oil, nuts and avocado? Eat ice cream / soy dream for dessert?

You don't necessarily need to eat things in volumes, but you can pump up the fat and calorie content quite a bit by making changes to your plan. Good luck!

Thanks for all your supportive messages.

I have no idea how many calories what I am eating is, as I am afraid to go down the obsessive calorie counting route in case it triggers me to relapse. Having said that, if NOT counting means I don't get enough then maybe I should consider making a more formal plan rather than just looking at others and trying to emulate them.

As for cereal bars - I have high-calorie ones, but sadly in England we can't get Lunabars or Larabars though I have heard amazing things about them.

Hi. No problem and I am glad I can help you can pm me too. Anyhow I think if this is a current change even though a low meal plan right now it is going to seem like you are eating all the time just because it is more but not enough. I am not taking away from your progress but you need to keep moving forward. I understand the confusion when people tell you different things. I know you don't want to count calories but how about an exchange meal plan. That would look for ex like for one meal breakfast 3 carbs,dairy,fat,fruit

So that could be oatmeal with milk,toast with butter,apple. Just an ex. It gives you structure but tries to not lead to obsessive counting.

I am not sure your current weight but if under you have to remind yourself that and that part of recovery is not only weight gain but repair. That takes extra calories.

That may seem normalish to you, but if you think about it properly, it's more normal to have a diet that includes things such as calorific drinks, food eaten out, and many desserts and higher calorie snacks. Convience foods are also common. Sometimes all these things make up a large amount of the calories someone eats, and they may well be taking in the right amount of calories for them. If you've cut out all these things, then you're not going to be getting enough calories unless you eat a lot more foods or swap for some more higher density *healthier* foods such as peanut butter and avocados. You really look as if you really need more fat in your diet. Do you think fat is unhealthy? We actually all need dietary fat, it is a very important part of the diet.