how do I go back to eating normal?

Hi Christiesieve, It is hard to answer your question without knowing a little more about you. How old are you? What is your current height and weight?

As you know, 500 calories a day is absolute starvation, but 1,200 is still considered to be the absolute minimum for weight loss in a sedentary, older woman, it is not 'eating normal again' particularly if you exercise - depending on your stats, normal could be anywhere from about 1,800-3,000.

It may be that at first you DO gain, just because your metabolism if pretty depressed by what you ate for the last 2 months, but as soon as your metabolism recovers, (and your body needs some serious repair work after starving it as well) then you get to maintain a HEALTHY weight (again, we don't know your current weight IS healthy) on far more calories!

Eating so little, weighing every day, and being over conscientious/extreme about only eating 'healthy' food are, as you say, all danger signs that you COULD be developing an ED, but only your doctor can determine that one. If you feel you can't increase your intake to a healthy level, than I strongly recommend seeing your doctor for a professional opinion.

So, anyway, if you could give us your stats, and an idea of what you eat, that would help.

Original Post by machgogogo:

I have to admit, yes, it can be done. I did the low calorie restriction myself last August...I went from 131 to 118 (I'm 5'11) and I have stayed that size since. I wouldn't wish it on anybody, it has been a hell of highs and lows, but since you are in a healthy weight range maybe it will not be so bad for you. My advice is to begin eating more right away because I dawdled at 800, 1200, and back down again, and it has been a big fat waste of time and energy and anxiety. I am currently above 1200 and working my way up to 2000. It is going to be very hard for me and involve some gain because I dragged the process out so long, so if I were you I would try to increase at least a little every few days, even if it's just 100 at a tine. Don't make yourself go months on some other suboptimal (but seemingly high) caloric amount that will just dig you into a hole. Hunger has copped me out of some really important things that, at the time, did not seem as important as avoiding eating. We're both 20 too, and coming out of my teens, I'm thinking that we should be enjoying our youths now instead of giving it away to the eating disorder. Because time flies with that stupid thing, and it goes absolutely nowhere, and you only realize once it's gone!! Please increase, I know you can do it! If you pace yourself the weight will not come back. Eat lots of varied foods as well, because the urge to binge may or may not be tremendous, and this gets exaggerated if you don't eat a good balance. Hope I helped!

^^What she said!!

I wish both you ladies luck in getting back to a normal (2,000+) amount of food. Subsisting on 1,200 is like a slow death...

Go see a psychiatrist. NOW.

I'm still recovering from anorexia. It was a hellish thing at the beginning, having to listen to the doctors and whatnot, but I have no regrets seeking help.

AN/EDs have horrible physical consequences. The damage, both physically and psychologically, is hard to reverse. I can guarantee you that, both as an AN sufferer and a psychology major in university.

As a quick guide, what I can say is that if you feel angry/guilty/frustrated etc. because you failed to keep to your calorie/exercise goals for the day, then you have a problem.

Please seek help!

For some reason when I am eating I think more positivly and make decisions. When i am eating a meal i think, 'yeh i like this i can do more of this and have this, that and al sorts and I will do this and that ect...' but when i am not eating i do not think like this and i am like 'why did i think like that, i cant do that!!'...wierd!

xxxxx