Im currently in recovery but only eating about 2000 calories a day. Im definitely gaining weight on this but idk if its enough for a full recovery. They caught my anorexia at an early state because I had only been restricting for about 4 1/2 months but still lost 30lbs. I went from being 142 to 111lbs in 4 months and my goal weight is currently 125. Since I've began eating ~2000 a day Ive gained about 4lbs in 4 weeks. This can't be right because I am very active (exercise 4-5 times a week). Im 5'3'' my goal weight is so high because of my muscle mass. does anyone know how many calories i should be eating a day? Im soooo confused and could use all the help i could get
Hey hun!! Amazing job for trying to start to recover!!! Most of the 4lbs that you have gained have probably been water. There is no way you are active and storing 3500 calories per week on 2000 calories. Your goal weight sounds really good! I would say you will need AT LEAST 3000 calories because you are active and if you have a lot of muscle mass, muscle itself burns a lot of calories per day! Plus, after you factor in the activity and muscle there is still some needed for repairs so you could easily eat over 3000 calories a day to recover! I hope that this helps you and I wish you the best in recovery!!! :D
thats what i thought but it really takes a toll on your way of thinking when you aren't eating enough to gain that much but you do anyways! I feel like everything is going to my stomach and thighs and am wondering why it isn't going to my top half which look like a skeleton!
also I would like to gain only .5-1lb a week. any suggestions on how to do this?
The hard thing about determining the exact amount you need to gain 1/2-1lb a weeks is that everyone's metabolism is different. It is kind of a trial and error type of a thing but then you also have to factor in water weight. The best way to figure out your metabolism is to gradually up your calories every week and see what the results are. I know how hard it is to gain weight with your ED always telling you that you are gaining in the "wrong places" but the truth is that where you may feel the weight going right now, it will all redistribute at the end of your recovery.
I have experience with metabolic repair and if you would like some help with your's I would be delighted to help!!! I hope that this will help you some!! :D
I've been in "recovery" for 4 weeks but I've only let myself eat more than 2000 calories a few times. I feel like I'm losing all control if i eat more. is that a bad thing?
Feeling like you are losing control isn't a bad thing! It is a normal thing! The important thing is that you decide recovery matters more and choosing to push past that feeling. I know that it is A LOT easier said than done but it is also essential in recovery. :)
Im slowly coming to realize this. I lost my period when I was about 125lbs. does that mean that ill have to get back to that weight in order restore it?
That's good!!! Not necessarily but it is a general guideline. I got mine back at a lower weight and I maintain that weight healthily but I eat a lot of fats so I tricked my body in a way into thinking it had more body fat than it actually does. Your true set point weight is really determined on the place where both your mind and body work at their absolute best. If that is 125 than that's great and if it is a little below that or above that, it is fine too! I know you don't want it to be higher and honestly I son't think it will be because your body composition is not the same as it was before your ED so it will probably be around 125 or slightly lower depending on how well your muscles repair. I really hope that I am helping you!!!
its comforting to talk to someone else thats been through this too! Im really scared though that once I start gaining I won't be able to stop because I had really bad weight fluctuation problems before the ED
I'm happy this is making you feel better!!! That was my biggest fear when gaining weight. I wasn't overweight before my ED but I was on the higher end of my weight range and I didn't want to be there again. The thing that helped me the most through those feelings was the reassurance that my body had changed A LOT through my ED and it would not be the same as it was before. After having an ED your metabolism and body composition is EXTREMELY different then when it was before you started it. This is because you have lost fat and muscle and your body's chemical reactions (that's what your metabolism truly is) are not the same because a) your body composition helps determine that and b) your organs and everything was affected by your ED and they even after they are repaired they still need to work harder than they did before because they were deprived and run down. Also, you know WAY more about nutrition now than you did before and while that is not healthy to obsess over, most people after their Eds do take away the healthy eating habits that include indulging every once in a while! :)
allieb: I am very similar to you. 5" 4 and lost my period at about 125 pounds. I am also very active. I started restricting a long time ago and became obsessed with exercise until i was a very low weight.
I was also overweight when younger.
Flowergirl really really helped me. I have gained but still very mmuch in recovery. If i can help at all please message me:-)
all the best
emxxx
