Refeeding-weight gain TOO fast!?!??!

hey, im 14 (162cm ~ 5/3), although i have been diagnosed with anorexia(and depression) i feel i have been turned around. i weigh 45 kilos (~90 pounds) but have been told to get to 55kilos (~110pounds), so i have gained enough courage to eat more; which i have partly been excited about, reconnecting to my food. my RDI is something like 1700/1800 cals, but last 4 days i have been eating 3000 cals, my apetite has returned and i feel minimal guilt too! me eating more is a good thing but i gained 2 kilos (~4 pounds) over these 4 days, is this water weight? will it subside?  feel like im binging.

My doctors recommend carbs, fats and proteins, now my family eats  reasonably balanced meals but my snacks (or what i feel are binges of 600 cals a sitting) are like chocolate and lollies (nuts, yoghurts, banana, custard being my healthier stuff), is that why im gaining so fast? or is large sodium intake cause for water weight? my mum only cares about be being bigger, so she says eat as much of whatever you want, is ths good?

my docs have said gain 10 kilos (20 pounds) "as soon as possible" im not sure whether they expect a 'healthy gain' of 1 kilo a week or literally A.S.A.P.  interperate things so many different ways. i want to continue enjoying weight gain,so not downing intake from 3000cals but should i?is it normal for a body starving for several months will gain that fast, even initially? but i see him again earl september, so he definately wants me to be recovered by then, yes i am recovering from home. and have been told no exercise until im like 50 kilos (100 pound) (mums watching that with a sharp eye, otherwise id be exercising)

sssooo sorry for the long post, just wanted good background info, hope i haven't missed anything....THANK YOU!-in advance

Don't over-analyse it... If you're gaining weight and you keep gaining it then it's healthy.    ;Eradicate the word 'binge' from your vocabulary because it doesn't apply to you ... there's 'eating to get healthy' and there's 'not eating to stay sick'.  As you are very young, your body needs more energy than an older person anyway.   All food (including chocolate & lollies)  is useful in different ways and you should listen to your mother because she sounds like a very intelligent woman.    As you've been very badly undereating and as you've been very underweight your body will naturally grab onto everything and want to keep hold of it.    So it wouldn't be unusual to gain a lot initially.   (And that's what your doctor is telling you to expect)  As you keep going - and do keep enjoying the full 3000 - the gains will settle down and you'll feel more normal about eating.

Good luck and well done.

First of, congratulations in getting into recovery. You've made awesome steps so far. To your questions:

i gained 2 kilos (~4 pounds) over these 4 days, is this water weight? will it subside?  feel like im binging.

You're not bingeing at all. It takes 3500 calories over your burn to gain a lb. Thus, those four pounds will be water. As some general advice, stay off of the scales for a couple of weeks until your gaining regulates and the initial water you cling to flushes. As Jane said, your body will hold onto everything for all it is worth at first before it shakes out of the idea that you might still be starving.

My doctors recommend carbs, fats and proteins, now my family eats  reasonably balanced meals but my snacks (or what i feel are binges of 600 cals a sitting) are like chocolate and lollies (nuts, yoghurts, banana, custard being my healthier stuff), is that why im gaining so fast? or is large sodium intake cause for water weight? my mum only cares about be being bigger, so she says eat as much of whatever you want, is ths good?

Again: it's not a binge! Think of food as fuel in your tank on the road to health. Mind your salt levels, certainly, but this is something any person should do. However, I would not worry so much about percentages because, on a gainer diet, you will be getting larger amounts of everything than usual. And your mum is right: eat what you want to eat, and DON'T SAY NO to anything (unless it is for a valid health reason, eg, an allergy)!

i want to continue enjoying weight gain,so not downing intake from 3000cals but should i? is it normal for a body starving for several months will gain that fast, even initially?

It is normal, yes, but as I've said - it's largely water. You may find it flushes after a while and will be able to get a better indication of what your gain looks like. Stay off the scales for two weeks; if you find you are maintaining after 2 weeks or have gained very little you may need to go up from 3000. But DO NOT drop below it! That's a very good number to start from, so stick with it!

You have done brilliantly to get this far and if you have any more questions do ask. Keep at it!

omg thank you SSSOOOOO much, i really needed some one else opinion, a great confidence booster, and so fast to respond! you saved me from fasting myself in preparation for a party 2moro. Your right, i probably still obssess over food and nutrition a bit, i need to let go to fully recover. My mums AWESOME she's doing everything and anything for me, for a bit though i just felt she was doing the force-feed thing. so basically if im deciding between say lollies and nuts go for the nuts? salt im not too concered about, anorexia has slowe by heat and lowered blood pressure so mum reckons not to stress about my intake but it wouldn't be helping the water weight.

one thing i really think is worth trying, as you said (thankyou, your right) stay way from the scales! lol i weigh myself up to 10 times a day. but i may get a bit disturbed so ill leave it for a week, you sure i won't go over 55 kilos (110 pounds) by then, like a 20lb gain in week, even if it is just water. to help should i drink more water? i drink at least 750ml i can't see it being much more than a litre.

when i start to execise (which will build up muscle and strength right?) how intense and what sort should i try, i can imagine my doc will let me know but if you have suggestions?

yeah, i read somewhere a binge is like 2000cals at one sitting, which is like wow! OMGish im going to my cousin's b'day 2moro, all-you-can-eat-resturant, thanks to you guys im feeling really happy about it, all i can eat is an understatement with my new apetite :P im gonna eat 'til im stuffed.

so there is no weight gain dangers!?!?? i was just so supprised to be given 2-3 months to gain 20lb when it's so easy, do most find it harder?

wow, ive felt so restricted for so long, it's a lovely feeling to be allowed ANYTHING, lol, like my doc says "all fat good fat" (me and mum call him Mr. all-fat-good-fat").

*hugs* i luv you!!! :P

 

Haha! You're more than welcome. Your mum does sound awesome. Having someone there to help you through recovery makes it much easier than going alone.

If you're torn between nuts and lollies, pick the one you want most at the time. Salt, again. Don't worry too much. Your mum is correct in just not fretting over it and eating what you like. You're fourteen, remember - live your youth rather than focusing on what's going in your mouth! :]

Scales are devils, so definitely do keep away from them! You won't balloon in a week or two. If your mum is okay with it ask her to hide your scales from you. And yes, water actually helps remove water. Aim for about two litres a day.

When you are permitted exercise again, focus on weights, strength and resistance and not cardiovascular. For good workout ideas, try asking in the Fitness forum.

I really wouldn't worry about bingeing at all. You have the right mindset! Enjoy that birthday buffet! I missed out on SO many fun times like my mum, dad, and various friends' birthdays because I was so deep in my ED then I was more focused on food than enjoying myself. You have no idea how much I regret it, so don't let it happen to you!

I think it varies from person to person in gaining. I have gained 13.5lb per last weigh in from my lowest, and have to eat about 3000-4000 a day to see movement. I began recovery in late May.

Haha, I like the sound of your doctor too! I have a lovely GP. And he's more or less right, too. Even saturates will help you right now in restoring yourself to a healthy weight. Aim for more omega-3's and EFA's (essential fatty acids) where you can, mind - oily fish, nuts and nut butters, avocado, and healthy oils like olive oil are good startpoints.

Again, you seem to have a very healthy motivation and mindset in this and I am honestly happy to see it. Good luck, and enjoy the party!

Original Post by holbee:

 to help should i drink more water? i drink at least 750ml i can't see it being much more than a litre.

Yes! That's way way too little water. (If that is per day) Ironically, in order too avoid excess water retention, you must drink more water. Also, if you're someone who eats stuff high in fibre, without the water, you'll get pretty hard stools and you'll find yourself feeling bad.

Personally, I find myself drinking more than 4-6 litres a day, but that's because I'm weird. If I'm not wrong, the recommendation is 8-12 glasses a day (2-3 litres)

I recommend popping in the 'what did you eat today' thread in the weight gain forum, lots of friendly people and advice there.

By the way, I'm 14 too (Not sure why I feel the need to declare this. Moral support? Sycophant behaviour?), good luck on your recovery!

lol i actually got mum to hide the scales, i still feel the urge to check but she's hidden it well :P

yoga good? it helps with stress which for me is a major problem.

yeah alot of my food is fibre, mainly 'cause mum buys that kinda suff for me 'cause she knows its my fave (which it is) yeah, i should drink more water. i checked my drink bottle, its 750ml and i usually finish one bottle a day, so im gonna start having like 3!

hm, when i was really far into ED at family functions i would get funny/concerned looks...OMG-ish i just got back from b'day party today, i ate LOADS even for a gainer, but feel sssoooo bloated/full my poor stomach so painful, but its good, so im not concerned- so far im guilt free-and probably will go back to gainers diet tomorro, not fasting :) but what i found almost heart-warming was that when i went to the toilet after to pee (lol) i came back and heard my aunt and nan asking mum if she thought i was throwing up. she of course said they shouldn't worry, they looked so reliefed.....:P just thought i'd share.

this post more than anything is to reply, and hopefully give motivation to some one else, for now, im on a positive way, just want to avoid uncontrolled/unportioned eating so i don't end up guilty, developing bad habbits or go bulemic or something-they're my only worries.

once again a huge thankyoufor smoothing over the rough edges, relapse looks unlikely *hugs*

Yoga is very good! I am taking up yoga with my mum and sister. Pilates, too. They are strengthening exercises that don't burn many calories.

Lots of fibre is good as LONG as you keep your water intake up. Perhaps, if you mum will allow it, log your water intake along with your food on your meal plans? And remember that fluid intake is net - it can come from other sources than water (tea, coffee, if you drink those). But, water is the best source for water! If I'm having a busy day I drink my water from pint glasses so I know I'm getting my 2 litres still.

I'm so glad that you enjoyed the party. Lol, I get questions like that still and I'm a few months into my recovery (I have never, ever thrown up my food, as an aside Dx). But be glad they are concerned for you, it's sweet in an... odd way.

If you feel like you're going to binge (remember a binge is more than "a cookie" or "a half of a small bag of grapes" and what have you; I realise you probably know that but I see binge misused a lot!) or are slipping in that direction sit down with your mum, as she sounds reasonable and understanding, and express concern. That, or stick to your meal plan as solidly as you can - don't forget to allow yourself freedom once in a while - and you'll be okay.

I'm really glad you're getting along well, and I've seen your posts relaying help to others which is also fantastic. Many hugs back! :D

tea is good for you, taste good, i might start, i mean i never drink anything but water. as for throwing up, ive tried, i physically cant, which i suppose is a good thing.i really only get the binging feel when i feel deprived or tempted, like if my bro is eating nuts i'd be like wow i need some, and im allowed too, but sometimes go too far for it to be a snack (not a binge as such tho..yet..) i think im getting the message that food is easily acessible, mums willing to do anything now that im open, i savour every taste; so i dont feel the need to eat so much any more, its hard to describe. i want to develop maintainable eating habbits, how often should i indulge or give freedom, during recovery an once healthy? i've always struggled with judgement, i was really overweight before i lost heaps hence the anorexia, only 'healthy' for a couple of weeks which were easter, my birthday and friend's (multiple) birthdays, where i fastedand felt deprived.

is me exercisin aimd at strength or maintaining a calorie controlling thing for when i do get healthy? should i top yoga with something?

you reckon water intake would increase fullness and dullen an apetite to 'binge' or eat more than nessicary??

lol im a bit technologically impaired, how do you make a friend request, ill give it another shot, but cant find anything....:P