Posts by bostonclassics

Original Post by _adrienne_:

That looks like maybe... 700 calories total?  That's not nearly enough; you will LOSE weight on that amount!  Maybe try incorporating some more calorie-dense foods?  Nuts, avocados, nut butters (soynut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, peanut butter, sunbutter, coconut butter... can you tell I like nut butters? :), seeds, full-fat yogurt, dried fruit, etc.  If it takes you a long time to eat, maybe incorporating more liquids and calorie-dense foods would make it easier. 

 I know it's not enough yet the 700 still seems like a huge number to me.

What's the minimum to gain? What if I can gain on less?

Original Post by glitterandsprinkles:

boston and others, I know what you all mean about needing something to do to fill the time in between eating. I have been off work to jump start my recovery and am hoping to be back in the next fortnight, being at home with nothing to do is so scary because im worried the hunger will mean I just sit and eat all day.

Does anyone else put off eating and then make each meal last for ages so there is less time until you are 'allowed' to eat again? I guess this is where eating for hunger comes in to play. If I am really stuffed full I dont want to eat again so can do other things without obsessing. But sometimes I find that I obsess over what snack to have and what calories should come from sugar and fat and sat fat. The ironic thing is now that I am not calorie counting my main meals I no longer do that. I think this is a sign. When you obsessively calorie count ED rears its ugly head, when you are less rigid it makes it much harder for those ed thoughts to tackle you.

In answer to filling time perhaps reading? or flicking through a magazine helps me sometimes. Or calling a friend or meeting one to catch up on some gossip! Anything where I and my food is not the focus tends to help me!

Well done for keeping going!

wow...once again same EXACT situation. i can relate so well to what you just said. i have to set aside at least 2 hours to eat one meal. i eat/chew/swallow so slowly just to make it last and i do things to distract myself to make myself eat slower, like bring a book or magazine or watch something when i eat.

sucks. habits suck. i constantly stick to the same foods too. new foods = scary.

What are you eating on top of the 3 ensures?

Original Post by vicgirl:

HI..have you tried Ovaltine or Horlicks...they are good too and you can add your almond milk and a banana and that should get you closer to the cals in Ensure.  You could also do some  yogurt + juice and fruit in a blender.

So basically I need to be eating more foods along with the half muscle milk and carnation?

Original Post by whichwayup:

Frankly and honestly? I don't think it's very constructive "comparing notes" on destructive behaviours....

You don't seem to be asking for help, advice or anything positive here - so I have to wonder...

I didn't want this to be a "comparing notes" type post, I just wanted to know if anyone else went through some of the things I've experiencing...that I'm not totally abnormal.

I actually think it helped to read through what everyone said, it made me feel not as bad about the things I do and that others have experienced this as well. It makes me want to get on the right track by realizing that these behaviors are "out there" and need to be stopped.

so thanks guys and I am sorry if I've added to any "destructive thoughts" but you've helped me, so I appreciate that.

Wow I know exactly what you're going through...well as of about half an hour ago I do.

I'm on at college and came back from break having lost a lot of weight and I just had a meeting with residence life because some of my residences had "concerns" about me. People I barely even know, apparently.

Sucks. I wish I could give advice, but I can only relate :/

xiloveyou2: It's really good to hear that the anxiety will eventually go away. It's probably the thing that is hurting me the most right now, or at least the most annoying thing. That and the increasing calories....

I know my body needs a lot more than I am giving it right now...I am trying, there is really no reason to prolong recovery (like you said) I just keep putting it off and putting it off, saying I will just do it another day. Or I'll increase tomorrow...

adrienne: Thank you for all the advice, soooo helpful! So you think it's a good idea to drink both, that it doesn't really matter where the calories come from right now? I just don't want to "overload" (if that's even possible) my body with some things over others.

Thanks to you both, means alot.

:)

Message me anytime you want to talk...i'm going through the same thing.

...this was really inspiring to read.

I've been struggling with recovery. I keep telling myself tomorrow is a new day and I can try again but I'll end up thinking about food all day and restricting all over again. Then the guilt from not exercising kicks in and I tell myself, "Well since I didn't exercise I shouldn't eat as much..." It's a constant cycle of anxiousness and counting/thinking.

This was really great to read though. Do you have the link for the blog? I'd love to read it!

You sound like you are on the right path and that helps me want to get there too. Thanks.

Original Post by nicola275:

I've had these exact same anxious thoughts about exercise in the past!

and i totally agree with scamprages......you need to slowly decrease the amount of exercise you do. I used to go EVERY day and if i didn't go or for some reason i had to do something which was out of my control i would feel anxious about the fact i hadn't worked out. I used to use exercise as a reason to eat, just like you.

However, i've found that since i've been busy with my job i've gone from going the gym 4/5 times a week to once a week (sometimes 2) and to be honest, i have more energy, my thoughts are alot clearer, i'm more focused on my work/life/relationship etc. because i've realised that NOT going the gym makes no difference to my body shape! I havent put loads of weight on just because i missed a gym session, it doesnt work like that!

In fact whats quite ironic is that when i was going the gym 5 times a week whilst on my weight gain diet I was STILL gaining weight!!! (which was great, could have been muscle).

At the moment i'm still on my weight gain diet and i'm going the gym only once a week and i feel alot more calm and i enjoy and look forward to doing things. I dont have that worry that you mention whereby you are always thinking about when youre going the gym or what youre going to do. I do truely believe its because i have reduced my exercise regime and my body and mind have kinda thought "oh, well i dont need to go the gym alot really because my body looks the same".

I only go now when i can be bothered and if my boyfriend is going. Now i would never havee said that mid-last year, so just try to reduce your exercise slowly over the coming weeks and see how you feel and if your mind set changes. It did for me :)

 

This was really reassuring to read, thank you. The anxious feelings are so incredibley annoying because I just don't have the energy to go workout but my head keeps telling me to go.

I'm going to try doing some less intense stuff, decrease time and hopefully that will help with the anxiety.

Thanks so much, that was really nice to read knowing you've gone through something similar gives me a little extra hope.