nutritionist's suggestion: 1300?

nutritionist or dietician?  do they have experience in EDs?

I think its rather low.  what did she say when you asked about that?

i'm to see a nutritionist for the first time next wednesday. although i'm no expert on this, it's my opinion that your nutritionist would know how to handle your individiual situation way better than anyone on here. listen to him/her. i can understand your want to get opinions of others via this website, but ultimately i would stick to the plan she/he has outlined for you. 

having said that - as for_zev pointed out, if you have serious concerns about it, bring it up with your nutritionist. but, i think you're smart enough to know not to change anything until you've talked it out with your specific nutritionist.

whew! that was rather a mouthful, wasn't it?

i hope you're doing well, regardless!

What were you eating before? Is she trying to gradually up you? I can only see this amount if you were eating a very low amount so that it is not a shock. This would be the starting point to get to a high cal recovery plan I will say as someone who has seen a few different nutritionist that it is very key to deal with someone who knows a lot about ed.

Perhaps someone should point out the obvious?  1300 was the suggested  MINIMUM, not the target.  What should the AVERAGE be?

1300 seems ridiculous, maybe you need to ask for clarification?

I once saw a nutrionist who didn't know tomato was fruit. Do not be afraid to get a second opinion EVER. If you have doubts and you don't feel your questions are being answered...see someone else. ESPECIALLY when dealing with ed.

From what stories I have heard in this forum most nutritionists prove to be total quacks when it comes to weight gain (or even generally). She may well be giving you a starting target and building you up to prevent shocking your body into harm. You really should be aiming for 2500 as your minimum, but if you have been eating very little, you have to build that up.

And as for_zev wisely mentions, a knowledge of ED workings is important. Thus if your nutritionist doesn't have ED history, you are better off finding one who does.

i have been building up my intake for at least a month now, and 1300 is not the ideal of a PUSH in the right direction i was expecting i guess. i asked her about needing 2500 to properly gain and recover and she said this would be wayyyyy too much for someone my size (5'2" with a weight around 90). this particular nutritionist works for the ed clinic, which is why i was so surprised.

perhaps she was referring to a maintenance calorie target...

1300 isn't even a maintenance target.  its a diet intake.

she probably is used to patients eating far far less than that and thinks that 1300 is a good starting place.  If I were you, I'd suggest something higher and have her help you with that.

Original Post by omonica:

i have been building up my intake for at least a month now, and 1300 is not the ideal of a PUSH in the right direction i was expecting i guess. i asked her about needing 2500 to properly gain and recover and she said this would be wayyyyy too much for someone my size (5'2" with a weight around 90). this particular nutritionist works for the ed clinic, which is why i was so surprised.

perhaps she was referring to a maintenance calorie target...

I'm 5'2 and when I was around that weight my therapist said I'd need to eat the recommended daily amount plus 500 extra - so that's 2500! If you gain on 1300 (which you won't; I didn't) what will you maintain on? I don't even think many people our height eat that little to maintain on, either: I expect I'll need somewhere around 1600-1800 to maintain when I reach my goal weight. You will need to eat way more than 1300 for sure.

You'll need a lot more than that to maintain, Girlplurality.

 

Study: Abnormal caloric requirements for weight maintenance in patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. - Weltzin TE, Fernstrom MH, Hansen D, McConaha C, Kaye WH, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.

"CONCLUSIONS: To maintain stable weight after weight restoration, restricting anorexic patients require a significantly higher caloric intake than do bulimic anorexic patients. Differences in caloric needs between normal-weight bulimic patients with and without histories of anorexia may depend on the methods used to correct caloric requirements. Body surface area may be the most precise correction factor across different subgroups of eating disorder patients. Elevated caloric requirements, when coupled with reduced food intake, may particularly contribute to relapse in anorexic patients." Am J Psychiatry. 1991 Dec;148(12):1675-82."

Either way don't focus on maintainance until you're done gaining.