+10 pounds?!

Hey everyone,

here's my situation: recovering from ED. 5'5', 17 y/o female, approx. 107 pounds.

I obviously need to gain some weight now I'm actually eating enough to maintain this one, and my doctors say they want me at LEAST 120 with a BMI of 20... however I've only just accepted to aim for the 110 mark, with a BMI of 18.3. 13 pounds seems like a crazy amount to me, though I'm obviously very keen to put on some for the sake of my health. Is anyone else in a similar situation? any words of wisdom?

thanks for reading, will appreciate any replies!

i'm aussie so i go by kg, if my conversion knowledge is correct, 10 pounds is about 5 kg? from when i started refeeding i had 20kg to gain, so about 40 pounds! im half way there:)

what you're thinking is quite normal, my aim weight is 55kg, i just found out yesterday that this would still be classified as 'underweight' and i should be aiming for 60kg. although you think you look and feel great, it's whats going on inside your body that matters. the healthier weight you are, the better everything functions!

I was very overwhelmed with the amount i needed to gain at first, but i really did just get used to it and tell myself 'this is my life, and this is what i need to do to keep it and make the most of it'

good luck, here to talk if you need it x

The healthy range of BMI STARTS with 18.5, so your goal (18.3) is under. Also, it is ESPECIALLY important for recovering anorexics to aim for a BMI of at least 20 to be healthy AND in case of relapse. For example, I am 5'7", and I am supposed to aim for 125, even though all through high school (before ED), I maintained 120. This is to be safe, to allow my body to repair, and to make sure that if I ever do "slip" again, I won't be in the "danger zone".

I know it's hard, but learn to accept a more healthy body weight and enjoy some feminine curves! I was 130 at the end of my sophomore year of college (after a bit of drinking, I admit I put on a few pounds haha), which is a BMI of OVER 20 (22 maybe? not sure), and I got LOTS of good male attention. GUYS LIKE CURVES! :-) And women can be beautiful no matter what their size!

Please just listen to your doctor's advice. You want to be able to be active and healthy, right? Message me if u ever need support :-)

try not to think to much about weight gain at the moment just focus on steadily gaining . your doctor is right the higher you are the healthier youll feel , thats not at all hi gh he could of said a higher bmi which my past doctor said tome. i know its not what you wanted but try not to think about it ,else it might make it harder for you move forward . you dont know how youll feel anyway when youve started gaining you might decide yourself it would be better to be heavier/ healthier. at a bmi of 18 there no scope for illness or bad days h x

Their recommendation is based on your body's being able to repair the damaqge done to it, and of course it is taking into account your fertility. It is not a high weight at all. My guess is that you are a medium frame - you could even go higher, but I won't stress you out with those thoughts. The truth is, that weight is what you need to have a healthy, functioning body and properly working hormones - and you NEEEED and WAAAANT those hormones to work properly, TRUST ME!

thanks heaps for the support guys! tessafairy I'm aussie too, had to do some crazy calculations for those numbers hah, but as a fellow metric follower you probably understand that magical 50kg number. 

all those replies are really helpful, it's good to hear ED recoverers/recovered with normal perceptions. anyway every day its easier to think screw you, its just a number, fingers crossed.  

xo