just need some encouragement...

You guys have been so amazing, youre all such wonderful individuals always remember that! really.  

anyway, i have to gain 8 lbs in 8 weeks or else im going to a residential treatment center.  im estimating im eating about 2100 cals, im not exercising...today i just sat at home all day. some days i walk home from school though, but no sports.  i think i should eat more (though i havent severely restricted for many months, recoveries just been bumpy), but its hard for me, especially during the day. and my nutritionist told me that sugar candy wont help me gain, that being underweight, i wont hold on to those calories, so ive been eating a lot of that (ed), but thats not healthy and i feel disgusting after.  what should i be eating? i usually have 2-300 cals for breakfast, same for lunch, iced coffee (skim milk and sweet and low :( another ed thing), and then 7-800 cal dinner and 5-700 cal snack. i always have trouble eating more during the day, saving it for night. i dont want to become buliminc too!  any tips, advice, encouragement?? thank you!

firstly try not to panic about what may happen all you can do is your best . 2500 is minimal really for weight gain so id definitely increase . you are better having semi or whole milk rather than skimmed milk and sugar instead od sweet and low this is all empty calories and not going to help . i know you have a fear of bulimia i think most people do i certainly do, but the only way to stop this is to eat plenty of calories during the day , the later in the day you leave them for the more likely you are to binge. i know this is hard but you can do it . post your meal plans and people can support you . far enough eat candies but these should be extras not instead you need proper meals and snacks to . if your fear is eating more during the day will make you bigger it wont. eating at regular times and enough is a great way to boost your metabolism . when ever you feel like cutting stuff out during the day remember that you dont want to go ip . so pull out that strength and fight those voices you can do this h x

Hey there, Tessa (Helen) gave you some good advice above. Instead of just eating a lot of candy try and incorporate some more substantial snacks into your diet, I dont mean stop eating your candy altogether but you also need to eat some more nutritious types of foods as well. There are lots of options, yogurt, peanut butter and toast, cereal bars etc. You should have a look at the threads on the top of the page, they give some great ideas for high cal foods and also the what did you eat today thread will help you plan out some of your meals.

I understand the whole saing your calories thing, its as though your scared to eat properly throughout the day because your scared you`ll end up going over by the end. Honestly if you make yourself up a good meal plan of 3 meals and 3 snacks spread over the day this wont happen. You need to give yourself a good structure to your eating and give your body all the goodness it needs.

thanks so much! i had a bowtie donut for breakfast, its 300 cals, which is better than my 200, but im having trouble having more. is my nutritionist correct in her claim that sugar candy doesnt put on weight? that i just burn it off?  

what should i have for lunch? usually its just a sandwich. and fruit

and my family is fasting for yom kippur, so we have a big bagel dinner tonight...ahhhh. and my mom wants to get me a milkshake tonight. so i need to save calories! help

Original Post by sarahbear24:

thanks so much! i had a bowtie donut for breakfast, its 300 cals, which is better than my 200, but im having trouble having more. is my nutritionist correct in her claim that sugar candy doesnt put on weight? that i just burn it off?  

what should i have for lunch? usually its just a sandwich. and fruit

and my family is fasting for yom kippur, so we have a big bagel dinner tonight...ahhhh. and my mom wants to get me a milkshake tonight. so i need to save calories! help

 sandwitches are good as long as the filling is substansal cheese chicken tuna mayo are good or how abot eggs on toast or cheese i added soup with my sandwitches to boost it up . you could have a glass of milk brillant for the bones and essential in refeeding as it stops phosphates from dropping . would be good if you could manage a bigger pudding like cake or banana and custard etc

you dont need to save calories thats the worst thing you can do dont listen to that ed voice go and have whatever you want you need the nourishment lol h x

I used to not be balanced but this time in restoration I have tried to focus on better balance through the day. That way when I am at a healthy weight I have a "normal" way of eating. You need adequate calories in the day to keep your energy up,aids in teaching your body hunger/full cues,and also will help with your fear of binging. Candy will put on weight and is ok to have as added treats but you need to make sure you get in all your other nutrients in. I think regardless 2100 is not enough. I have been on over 4000 in ip and you really don't do anything activity wise. Does your nutritionist deal with ed's? If not I encourage you to find one. This person can help establish a meal plan. As for "saving" for the milkshake that is the ed voice. The milkshake should be an addition to the regular meals and snacks you have. I often have done milkshakes as a supplement to get more calories in when I went of Ensure. So I encourage you to preplan your meals and snacks. To increase your calories challenge the ed by adding that to breakfast and lunch. You can do it and it will be hard but possible.

i just finished my whole milkshake (though i did pick the lowest calorie one- very berry strawberry icecream) but still! i feel so full! but i dont care, because my boyfriend might break up with me, im crying, i love him so much, it was our one year last week...