Need advice on how to start gaining...

Hi,

I have had anorexia for 5 years and have had enough. I have been eating stupidly low cals for about 3-4 months now and have recently lost a stone and am now about 80-85lbs. I want to start eating properly again and have lots of exp with IP and doing it at home but have never managed to get my intake above 2000 at home before which I think is why I relapsed-as I never fixed my metabolism. I want to do this now but am afraid I will just gain really fast on hardly any cals as I have done before (but am hoping it was because i wasnt eating enough)

Sorry I am rambling, so anyway should I start at maybe 1200, then go up by like 300 every 2 days ie 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2500, or is there a better way to do this? Should I wait and see what it does to my weight first?

I just want to fix my body! Please help, I will be grateful for any advice you can give me.

i dot know ur stats or anything about u

but just eat.  its not a science.  2500.  go from there.  youre going to gain on any amount, might as well make it a decent one.

what is your height? 2500 is the minimal to gain weight but if you have been eating very little it may be better to increase gradually so your body can mentially and physically deal with it , also so you dont risk going into refeeding syndrome.that dosent mean to say that you dont need 2500 because you do. i suggest you take advice from your doctor and theapist if you have one if you havnt ive would get one. id say 300 every few days is fine you dont need to wait on the weight initally weight gain isnt always accurate as your body is adjusting fluids extra and your metabolism is probably very slow . i understand your worries but you have the power to fix your body you need to be consistant and able to deal with the weight gain . your metabolism will speed up like i said to someone else on here today i gained 3ib on 2500 at first last week i lost a pound .ive been in that place to of in and out of hospital , i just wanted to say it is possible to recover at home its not the place thats important its about your ability to challenge those negative thoughts . goodluck and pleased to meet you h x

h-Thanks so much for an honest no bs answer. I have read lots of your posts and feel like I know u already, a bit stalker like but i hope ul see it as a compliment-i find u v inspiring and keep up the gd work! My dr is useless, i wetn to him a while ago at a low weight with sleeping issues and he goes-do u exercise? u should do more exercise and be more active, ur not tired enough!!! I didn't listen to his advice thankfully, but it hasn't helped. How long did it take you of being on 2500 for it to settle and not increase so much? I don't mind gaining more for the first couple of wks but i wouldn't want it to be like that for too long as it would just trigger me...in IP they started me on 1200 and ive never needed massive amounts (more than 2600) to consistently gain before...I just want to be able to gain reasonably steadily, and then maintain on a normal amount ie 2000. At times I can be v strict with myself-in fact all the time, I guess, I just have to make sure im pointing in the right direction...Im another black and white thinker im afraid. Any other suggestions or exp will be gratefully recieved!

i dunno who u were talking to when u replied but regardless-

if u can psychologically, get to 2500 asap. some doctors+nut. r retatrds, i never found a good one.  yes, ull gain very fast the 1st week, dont get on the scale, if ur at 1200 then eat 2500 for 1.5 weeks, then weigh, u probly will have gained, if not increase.  but just do that 1st.

u never mentioned ur weight+height or ur activity level.

dont overanalyze, just eat.

what an idiot , i had a similar doctor who advised exercise little did he know i was an exercise addict. i cant say how long it will take for your metabolism to speed up, its different person to person but it will happen you need to trust us . the best thing to do in order to make this happen is to keep going consistantly if you gain a little more at first dont let this trick you into going back again, this will just confuse your body even more . initally your body will be so scared you arnt going to feed it again it will be trying to hold on to everything . as soon as it feels able to trust you it will start to trust you and use the nutrition efficently. im a very black and white thinker but resently ive learned somethings got to give .i think as you restore your weight this will improve it has for me you are not only feeding your body and organs you are feeding your mind to . its also a well known fact that as you increase weight your metabolism naturally speeds up , common sense really when you think the heavier you are the more you need to feed your body. its going to be hard but you can do it feel free to pm me anytime  Helen xx

ps glad youve come out of stalking

EGGY BUM FLUFF

ahahaha are you serious? lol very nice

good luck on your journey

I am serious, lol it was a saying me and my best friend from like 10 years ago had...ive never actually envisioned it before but it is pretty gross...like belly button fluff...still at leats its anonymous and untraceable!lol

I know it is hard but I think trying to stay in the day is key in this. You are worring about maybe things that may not happen. Also it does not take away what you need to do today to be healthy.

"Also it does not take away what you need to do today to be healthy."

So true. Thanks so much for this, I think I will use it as a mantra and try to stop overcomplicating things and worrying about things that have yet to happen. Cross that ED bridge when I get to it lol!

I hate to be harsh, but you say uou are afraid to gain fast? Isn't that the idea? You need help from an outside professional, without medical supervision and therapy your road will be tough.

I am posting the same answer from your other thread (I locked that one since it's a duplicate topic):

You are so dangerously thin that anything we tell you could endanger your health. We are not medical professionals and even if we were, this is not the forum for anyone who isn't already in active recovery and getting outside professional help.

Please consult these links for helpful information and please get help from outside sources! You don't have to do this alone!

http://caloriecount.about.com/c-e-d-forum-lin ks-related-ft156142

Im not afraid to gain fast, im afraid of the complications that come with it-ie refeeding syndrome. as in 4lbs in 1st week would freak me out but not stop me. 10lbs however would be dangerous due to what it would likely indicate, and my pottasium levels are already low. I AM getting help from outside but my Dr doesnt have first hand knowledge obv, so that was what I was after. Thanks for those helpful replies and I will try not to duplicate again-I didnt even realise I did that, sorry!