I'm Jumping. . .how high?

I need advice on a calorie goal!  I'm recovering from an ed, and I am so ready to do this!  My questions are:  1. What should my final calorie goal be?   2. At what rate should I increase?  (how many cals at a time & how many days in between)

I am 20 yrs old, 5'3" and weigh 81 lbs.  I increased to 1200 cals yesterday, and was planning to go up to 1400 tomorrow.  I am sedentary for the most part.  I am aware of the risks of refeeding and want to be very careful to do this right.

I do see a doctor, so I have medical monitoring.  My family/friends are aware of my problem (I had been struggling quite a few years), and they are a great support.  I have been inpatient twice, so I'm no stranger to the recovery process.  However, this is the first time I am partaking in it willingly and wholeheartedly.  I'm all ears to the advice of those wiser than I!---which is most of you, so post away:P

Hey! Good for you that you fully want to recover! it's hard I know, but I think you need to go up to 2500 eventually. I'm 5'3 too, (but I'm only 14) and my doctor said I should be 115 at a minimum, but she also said as I grown up I'll probably be healthy at about 120, so I think you should aim for 120 at the least! And the sooner you gain the weight the better, or so I hear!

I don't know a tun about calories and refeed, I honestly still struggle with it myself! :(   I'm in recovery too, so if you ever need anybody to talk to about anything, you can message me! :) Good luck, and stay strong, remember; just never give up and keep fighting until you win!! ♥

Yes, I've seen 2500 referred to alot as the minimum to aim for, but is that even for short people?  (It's neat to hear from someone else who is 5'3", seems like everyone on here is so much taller, lol!) Also, when I tried the tool on this site and it said I should eat 1800 to gain 1 pound per week.  ???

Regardless, I'm kind of leaning toward the 2500 goal anyway.  I don't want to drag this thing out.  I want to get well and stay well!  Besides, it seems to me that my body needs all the nourishment it can get, so I probably don't need to worry about 'over-doing it'.  And for that matter, if I gained on that low of an amount, what would my maintenance be?  I'd be setting myself up to go straight back into restricting!  Hmm, not what I have in mind for my life.

Any other advice out there?  How quickly is it safe to increase?  Or is it better for your body if you go more gradually?  HELP?!

Two things right off the bat.

The first thing is that you want to take it easy on your body. Ease into it so you dont shock it and freak yourself out. Set a goal and stick to it though since being careful and monitoring sets a good environment for staying at a low level cause we get comfortable (personal experience). Have the minimum of 2500 in your head and strive for it like there is no tomorrow. Cause if you dont there might very well not be.

The second thing is that you need to stop looking for permission/ the perfect plan. I know we always surf the web asking questions every which way but loose asking for advice and what we should do and that is all well and good and helpful. The ultimate goal in recovering though is to find that inner advice and the confidence to take it. You said youve been inpatient before so im sure there has been some good advice thrown your way, couple that with nobody knowing your body better than you and you have all the tools you need in your bag and more. Know that were with you and that you rock and roll all night and party ev-er-y-day!

clay010:

Wow, I think that was just what I needed!  "Have the minimum of 2500 in your head and strive for it like there is no tomorrow.  Cause if you don't there might very well not be."  So powerful, I need to remember this one!

And you are right on with the "stop looking for permission/ the perfect plan".  *cringing*  That is exactly what I'm doing, you're right.  Arrg,  I am so motivated for recovery, but I guess this is evidence that there is still a teensy bit of fear lurking somewhere within me. . . .  I need to just summon all my courage and plunge ahead!

You inspired me (and made me get a little honest with myself:P), thanks!

This last relapse when I went back to the nutritionist we increased by 500 and then 200 calories every 2 days and then I did a 500 calorie jump to 2500-3000 was the goal. This was to allow my body to adjust. When I was ip I increased to 3000 in a week. Many of the ip I had been they start you on admit day on 1600 and the next day 1800 and that was regardless of what you were eating before. I agree with Clay and he put it very well. I will say for me there is never an easy way to gain and eat more. It is hard but the only way to better even if it feels worse at first.You can do it. If I can make progress I feel like anyone can.

Wow, when I first went ip they only started you at 800!  (Lol, and at the time I thought that was so much! I was clueless.)  They never increased by more than 200 at a time.  The highest they ever made me go was 1800.  I guess my experience wasn't typical!

The second time I went ip, (a different place) they didn't talk calories at all, so I really have no idea how many I was on.  I had two ensure+ on top of meals and snacks, so it was probably over 2000, at the least.

abbo333:  Thanks for the iput!  You're right, we can do it!