Hey there everyone,

I'm seventeen years old and I am currently suffering from Anorexia. After a lot of pain, therapists, and failed attempts at recovery I realized that the only way this was every going to work was if I actually wanted to recover.

I do want to get better, but I'm really afraid of the weight gain. It would be great if someone here who knew a lot about metabolism could help me.

I've been eating a diet of about 300 calories a day for the past year or so. I have the occasional binge (about 2000 calories) and I am aware of just how screwed up my metabolism must be seeing as even at 300 calories I fail to shed a pound. I try to burn twice that every day at the gym.

I really want to start eating normally, because maybe then, food will stop controlling my life. I know that eating normally will cause a lot of weight gain. I was wondering exactly how to condition my metabolism to start working normally, or if it is even possible for my metabolism will ever go back to normal. I really can't bear to gain any weight and I fear that doing so would cause my disorder to worsen.

Please help. Anorexia is replacing my relationship with everyone who loves me and I just can't bear it anymore. I just want to be happy and be able to eat like a normal person without becoming suicidally depressed. I'm really desperate right now and I could really use some advice.

P.S. I am getting professional help but I'm living in a foreign country so any psychological help I get is very very slow indeed.

 

By the way I am 5'6 and 97 lbs

I am so sorry you are suffering. Have you thought about seeing a nutritionist? They can start you on a healthy diet and give you some very good advice.

You cannot fix your metabolisum until you start eating normally again. It will take some time but it will get better. First you must get well.

You will gain some weight in the beginning if you have only been eating 300 calories  a day. You are in big trouble and if you continue down that path you will get very sick. Anorexia kills people and being thin is not worth loosing your life over. Sorry to be so harsh but that is a fact. You need more help and if you are not getting enough help with your current treatment find someone else. Call  your local hospital for advice but do something. You are so young and have your whole life ahead of you. You need to be healthy and happy.

Are your parents aware of the situation? If not make them aware and ask them to help you.

Here are some links, use them and get some help.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/about- us/contact-us.php

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Eatin g_Disorders/self_help_3.asp

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Atisme,

Welcome to CC. Maybe you could post in the recovery thread or visit the Weight Gain forum for more support!

There are a ton of us in recovery on this site and I am sure there would be plenty of people willing to share their experiences and help you with answering questions. I would suggest that you really do aim for a small step each day.

I know when I first started recovery I had to up my calories too, and that was hard, but gaining weight is only healthy for you to truely recover. Like you said, you have to want this. I am sorry to hear about your depression, but truely confide in someone, and yes continue to seek professional help, how about a nutritionist as well?

Thanks so much for your support. Yes I am hoping to get support soon but I am an English speaker living in Spain which makes things very very very slow.

I would love to hear more about how you recovered. How did you come to terms with weight gain? Right now I am no where near ready to gain any weight and I know that doing so would just worsen my habits.

Every time I try to eat normally I just gain like crazy which just throws me into a worse state than I began in. 

 

I shall post in the recovery threat. Again thanks for being so welcoming!

hi, like the above i am also in recovery. some days better than others.

firstly you do not need to talk to someone who has a vast amount of info about metabolisms. ur metabolism is the same as everyone else's who's had an eating disorder. chances ar its quite slow and lethargic at the moment but as soon as eating habits return to normal it adjusts. the quicker you make the move up in cals the sooner metabolic rate increases. i dunno your height and weight but you should make the move towards 1300-1500 cals .

depression is definately caused by both starvation and the sense that "im locked in and can never eat normal amounts of food again". as you start to eat more your mood will lift.

like most of us you may see some gain on the scales- this CANNOT be avoided. but the majority is water weight accompanying carbohydrate intake. actual fat gain amounts are in the region of 2500-3000 cals.

the other thing is you may not see to much weight gain on calorie amounts like 1500-1700 because you are active. but you have to stop this 300 intake versus 600 output ON TOP of ur daily metabolic needs.

increase your daily intake by 100-150 cals everyday. in a week you will be up to 1000 cals DO NOT INCREASE YOUR EXERCISE to compensate... this will take you further into the disorder.either stop exercising or reduce it BIG TIME. you will stil be losing weight without exercise till you hit about 1500 cals.

you dont want to hear some of that but thats how it is. u need about 2000-2200 at ur age and u need to get up there... soon

i understand how scary it is to think about the weight gain. and i am so sorry to see that you are suffering through this. i was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 11 and I am now 16. it is something that will always stick with you, even when you are truly "recovered". but i am so glad that you are so willing to get better!!! if you believe you can do it then you will!!!

i would suggest by first going to a psychologist. i know, you probably are like i dont need a psychologist im not crazy. i thought the exact same way. but you have to come with terms that anorexia is a brain issue as well as something physical. it truly helps. if you get a psychologist that you really feel comfortable with after a few appointments, its really begins helping you. it helps you come to terms with the fact that no one wants you to get fat, they just want to help you get healthy. you can still stay thin!!! i am 5'4" and 107 lbs. im technically "underweight" but im healthy!! thats all you have to become!!! you just have to get to a point where food and exercise are not ruling your life, they are just a part.

Also, you are going to have to up the calories no matter what. just try to get to 500. 2 weeks later, get to 700, and so on. if you can do that, then your metabolism will be fine. your body wont be able to handle an average daily amount (1500-2000) per day and you will mess up your metabolism by just beginning to eat that amount. just add in the calories slowly, and you will be fine. And believe me, although you are scared to gain weight, you will feel better by doing it. its definitly a scary thought, but just get to 100 and see how you feel. i bet you will have more energy and look great!!

please feel free to message me about anything else you need help with. i know that you are probably really anxious to add in calories or even think about gaining weight, but you just need to try to not think about it so much. it will truly help!! i hope that i have helped you even the slightest bit!!! good luck!!!

You definitely need support and someone to talk to who will listen. A counselor or physiologist someone trained in helping people through this kind of thing. Don't try to do it alone. We all need love and support. Have you talked to your parents yet?