Gaining weight to re-establish metabolism

Should I gain weight? I'm 16 years old, 5'1-5'2, 102 pounds(last I checked was 2 weeks ago, I don't want to panic anymore). Right now, I'm still trying to re-establish my metabolism from dieting?less than a thousand cals to 1,200-1,400 cals). And how do you manage to eat so much in a day? I used to eat just as much and more when I was in high school(probably 3,000-4,000 cals), but since entering college I loved the diet lifestyle. Now, my body gets full so easily that I find it hard to eat beyond 1,500 cals, not to mention that I panic if I do. Also, do I have to gain weight in order to re-establish my metabolism?

I don't think that it would hurt you to gain weight, especially if you aren't naturally that low weight. To repair your metabolism it probably wouldn't be totally necessary to TRY to gain weight, but increasing calories when your metabolism is already suppressed will probably result in weight gain. Increase your calories up to 2000 now and keep eating that much, don't weigh yourself, and see how it goes. 

Eating more is really easy. Just replace the low-calorie, high bulk foods in your diet with high-calorie, low bulk ones. Instead of egg white omelettes with spinach, have a 2-egg omelette with spinach, broccoli, and swiss cheese. You won't even notice the difference.

Thanks! :) Should I jump back immediately to 2,000 calories?

Try increasing by 200 calories every day. So tomorrow try 1600, then 1800, and then 2000. Even if you aren't underweight or severely restricting, increasing too fast can make you sick. I've increased from 2000 to 3000 calories in a day and always wind up feeling dizzy and out of sorts...which is not fun.

I'll try. I'm still honestly thinking if I should gain or maintain. Thanks a whole lot, though! :)

I have heard that metabolism speeds up rapidly in recovery is this true? And is it also true that after recovery your metabolism is faster than before the ED?

Hi everyone!!

I'm also trying to recover from ED and I'm still restricting myself to under 1,200 calories. I'm honestly very scared to go over that and I don't know how to give the next step. I have been improving little by little this last month but I'm still afraid of gaining weight although I know that I need to (I'm 5'3 and 90 pounds).

I also want to know if it is true that your metabolism will speed up once you start to eat normally? Maybe that will make me feel less scared to gain weight. I really don't know how to take this off my mind. How do you stop being scare?

Hi, Erika_S! Hi, kvane! :) I upped my calories to AT LEAST 1,500. It was hard, but I convincedmyself to do it. Then I weighed myself yesterday and gained 3 pounds. :/ There was a momentary panic, but when I looked over my body and measurements, I was all good. :)) I'm thinking of working out, just body toning. That way, you can see your body all toned and you feel satisfied, and you don't have to think about the weight that mucy since muscle weighs more than fat and you can "deceive" yourself that way. ;) Gaining weight didn't turn out to be all that bad. It was hard to convince myself, but it turned out to be all right! :)

By the way, I think i gained the weight within the three weeks I didn't check my weight. I believe my metabolism was adjusting to the higher calories, which is why I easily gained weight. And now I'm upping my calories even more as suggested by sungiant. :) Gaining weight is scary, yes. And the recovery is hard since your metabolism takes time to adjust, but I think once your metabolism is re-established then the weight gained could be lost or maintained with the same number of calories you ate as you were re-establishing your metabolism. I suggest that we try to look at the measurements, not the weight. It's easier that way. :)

Hi JadeAnneMarie!!

Thanks for your advice!! I think it is a good idea to try to forget about weight and focus on body measurements. I'll try not to weight myself for these following two weeks and see how it goes. As you say, it probably won't be that bad but it just sounds hard at the beginning. I need to do this to be healthy so I'll try to be brave!! Hopefully my metabolism will cooperate. :)

I wish you all the best! :) You can do this! WE can do this! Keep me updated. :)