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A good amount to start on?

Hello, I have been throwing up everything I eat for a LONG time, and on days when I don't throw up only drinking water, or eating almost nothing. There have been a few days when I try really hard, and jump my calories way up to like 1000-2000, but its not very often. I am 17. Last night before bed I weighed 77 lbs. I drank like 32-36 oz water overnight and this morning I weighed 78 Lbs..is this water weight and will it stop and dissipate some where I lose some of it? because I know I need to gain, but I dont want to gain it all in water. I am 5'7" btw. I know I need help, but noone will accept me anymore, I want to get better more than anything. I have dreams and goals. I want to be a nurse anethesist, a lot of people have told me I should be a model ever since I was a baby, I would like that, I want a child or maybe two someday, I want to get married, I want to live a long healthy happy life, not a short painful one, so after over 6 years I have decided to do this for myself. My question is how many calories should I start with & how fast should I increase to prevent refeeding syndrome?? Also how much should I be drinking? And should I stick to any certain foods? I am home alone all week with no money, and not very much food that I'm actually not afraid of to eat..Basically what I have that Im not scared to death of is nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts) apples, frozen veggies, tuna, and frozen catfish, dry cereal, dry toast, and oj. Are any/all of these ok or will they be too hard to digest or likely to promote refeeding. I havent had refeeding before, and have jumped a ton, but I still don't want to risk it. Today I have had 6 8 oz glasses of water, 2 8 oz glasses of tea with 1 Tbsp of sugar. That is all i had until like 5 this evening, at which I had 1/2 cup of cashews, that went over really well (although I feel super guilty) so I had another 1/2 cup at 8. Its almost 11 now.I was thinking about having 1 more half a cup, but am worried its to much..that would put me at 1050ish calories..idk is that too much? I've heard real conflicting info, and have  been started on anything from 500 to 2500 cals before soo idk.. I was thinking maybe I would average 1000 for a week, then for the next 5 days or so have 1250-1750 then for the next week have 2000 then for the next 5 days or so have 2250-27 50  then for the next week have 3000,  then 5 days of 3250-3750 then a week of 4000 then for 5 days  or so have 4250-4750 then have 5000 for 8 days and that would be 8 weeks, if I havent gained enough by then then I would continue at 5000( ive heard that the more you raise it to the higher metabolism youll have and the healthier/most repair willl occur) is this true?  if so I plan on doing it..does this plan sound ok? to fast? to slow? to high? to low? esp. starting out!!!!?? Any help or advice you give I will be forever thankful for!! Thankyou!

       &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;        -Sammie_

Update to my post in your other thread (you posted both while I was asleep as I'm in the UK) - if your body will accept two 1/2 cups of nuts it's A-MAZE-ingly good as a good start! The actual bulk of what you have eaten isn't too bad so your body can handle it. Make sure you can stabilise at THIS level for 2-3 days before trying to increase it - or you may push yourself too far, too fast - then add another 100-150 for 2-3 days, and keep adding that amount every few days from there. Don't go TOO fast - get used to the amount each time and don't be tempted to push ahead, upsetting your body and undoing the good work.

OJ is excellent for adding vitamins and trace minerals to your diet. Tuna and catfish are excellent too, and frozen veggies are nearly as healthy as fresh ones because they freeze them so fast after picking.

Just remember - if you DO lose a meal, don't panic - it's still WAY more than you were on so is doing you good.

And the guilt is pure ED talk. Why should you feel guilty about eating food? You deserve to be able to eat after all the hard work fighting your battle against ED. Keep on going, carefully :)

Congratulations on deciding to get healthy.  That's the first -- and in a lot of ways the hardest -- step.  As a 30-year-old who dealt with eating disorders for over 15 years, I can tell you: there is life on the other side, and it is AMAZING.  Life is so much better when you don't spend it obsessing over what you are (or aren't) eating.

My concern for you is that you sound very confused and uncertain as to how to go about actually recovering and getting healthy, which is just setting yourself up for relapse.   You're 17, which means, presumably, you are covered by your parent's health insurance and have access to doctors.  Go see one.  Please.  I suggest starting at a general practitioner who can then refer you to good therapists and nutritionists.  You really can't do this alone.

Doctors, please. Don't try and do this alone. Let people help you. Your body will have been through a lot and it's important that recovery is as safe as possible. To start with, that might mean a lot of monitoring but please, please go and see someone and don't be ashamed. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of love. Get well, because no one deserves this. 

I wish that you would seek professional help.  I know that you've been trying to do this a while and sometimes there might come a time when you need to realise that you need more help if you do want to recover. I mean this just in general. I have heard of three people who recovered below a BMI of 12 by themselves at home. Two were AN/BN. One of them had a very rocky start at the beginning of this process. I've also been in inpatient with people who lives were blighted by the ed for years and had multiple admissions in their teens and they managed to recover and lead very successful lives later on.

In regards to eating more and maintaining on more. From a studies standpoint the way i read some studies is that it is the people who needed more calories who weren't gaining  sufficent amounts weekly and who were raised ended up maintaining on more. This study here implies this-

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/65765669?acc ess_key=key-21iql489ry8xr7flmdm2

In this study here people all went up to 3,600 but maintained on varying levels-so it can be a bit different for everyone.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8454812

http://www.sportsnutritionworkshop.com/Files/ 28.SPNT.pdf

I think if you reached 3,000 you can see how your weight gain is going and if you wasn't gaining sufficently you could raise it incretmentally. I've been in treatment with some people who had to consume 4,500 approx to achieve the necessary weight gain weekly.

I hope that yesterday went well for you.

Thankyou all soo much for your replies, they were all helpful, and I will consider all of your opinions! :)  missrising-thankyou for the links:) If anyone could give me any more adivce, that would be great, I am almost through day 4, no scales, hardly any exercise, and no vomiting!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Original Post by stargirl213:

Thankyou all soo much for your replies, they were all helpful, and I will consider all of your opinions! :)  missrising-thankyou for the links:) If anyone could give me any more adivce, that would be great, I am almost through day 4, no scales, hardly any exercise, and no vomiting!!!!!!!!!!! :)

stargirl: girl, i just have to say keep going. wow, i am so impressed with you.

our stories are basically identical, endless treatment, etc. you can do this, i can relate to you so much it's crazy. message me anytime. keep going xx

vanillalights: Thankyou soo much! :)  So you don't think I'm eating to much or being a pig or anything? lol and Wow, we do sound a lot alike..Are you better?? You can message me anytime too! :)

You need to see a doctor immediately. I am literally afraid to give you any advice because you are so malnourished and underweight. Please seek medical advice as soon as possible and get healthy. You know that if you continue and don't get better soon, you won't be able to survive like this.

2500 is the minimum to post in this forum so I have to lock this thread.

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