Scared... Looking For Some Answers

Hi,

First off, I'll admit I've been lurking for a little while, and I'm so amazed by how supportive everyone is of each other. It's the first time I've come across people who are going through the same thing, and actually understand.

I'm 5'5, and even before my ED, I was really slender... like, was never able to get much above 105-110. Now I'm 91. I really don't want to have to go to the hospital; the deal I have with my parents is that if I make 1/2 lb per week I can stay home. This has been so hard on them; my dad has told me a couple times that I'm going to send my mom into a nervous breakdown if I don't "snap out of this." He doesn't get that it's really hard for me, too.

Anyway, seeing as I have no choice but to gain, I just have a couple of questions:

-How soon does weight gain become noticeable?

-Where does it become noticeable? Face? Stomach?

-How long does it take weight to redistribute? (I heard you gain primarily in your stomach first)

-Will my body eventually end up looking like it did pre-ED, or will I have to get used to a new shape/weight?

-How can I make the ana-voice in my head shut up?

Sorry this is so long. Thanks everyone!!!

Age is a critical factor here. If you're in your teensyour body might not ever go back to the way it was simply because it wasn't finished developing when you developed the ED.

Second, everyone is different. For most, myself included, tummy weight was first that's because the critical organs are in the abdominal region, not your limb

Third... At 5'5 and 105 you'd still be underweight so don't base your new goals on your prior weight.

And lastly...you have to realize that weight gain is absolutely necessary. At this low weight your health is at risk...and I mean that this is very very very unhealthy. A healthy weight gain is at least 1 pound per week so.5 pounds is literaly nothing. Usually 2 is the goal. You have to commit to it or else it will never happen.

Do you realize that you do in fact have a problem? Who prepares your meals? Are you exercising?

Thanks so much for replying. I'm 19, been struggling with an ED for maybe 6 months. I know I have a problem... :(

Honestly, I never got much above 105. My family (on both sides) is very slightly built... both my parents spent most of their adult lives at or slightly below the minimum BMI. Does this mean I'll struggle even more to gain the weight?

As for your other questions- I'm in college, so get my meals in the dining halls. I do eat the main entree/get extra bread with spread and eat dessert (not every day, but I try for a few times a week). I don't exercise, but I don't drive either, so I end up walking lots of places. That's pretty much it, though.

Thanks again for the help!!

not a problem. at least get to the BMI where you're considered "healthy" regardless of your prior weight. 

drink milk or juice with your meals

try to have more calorically dense foods like the pasta and carby items...avoid bulky veggies that make you to full to eat a lot

and you can do it!! try to avoid activity more than is necessary!! :)

hey there,

if you're feeling like you're struggling/floundering with weight gain on your own, maybe try utilizing your university's health services/nutritionist...?

good luck - and i wish you well!

You cant tell the voice to go away, and then automatically think it will go away, you can, however, acknowledge it and ignore it, dont fight it, just accept it (for the moement) but disagree with it and acto against it. Eventually it will start to dissapear, slowly but surely.

Your weight will go to tummy first, but will spread out eventually, and you need to perservere through th tummy gain to let your body protect your vital organs, and then weight will go to your arms, legs etc.., face is usually noticable first too, your skin will improove, and your eyes will be brighter wnd more colour to your face as you eat and gain.

 

What u eating now?do you caount calores?is there anyone helpig you at home?you cant do this alone, you need to maybe make out a plan with your parents about what u can and will eat at the moment, and they can hold you accountable then.

But make sure that YOU want to get better, and dont just do it for your parents.

xx

think everyone has said it all , well done in taking that step you can do it . my advice to you would be try not to think to far ahead these are questions no body can really answer as everyone is different , as regards to the voices challenge then hard though it may be it will get easier everytime you hear those voices remind youirself why you are doing this to be happy and healthy h xxx

hi, i have to say that at your bmi a gain of 1/2lb per week is ridiculously slow. you are desperately underweight and i think you (or your disorder) are playing on your parents naivety about how slow 1/2lb really is.

a minimum healthy bmi for you is 52kg or 114 lbs. now many of us (me anyway) were very thin naturally before puberty. i weight about 70lbs or 31kg til i was about 15. this was natural. i didnt restrict or anything. then with the help of hormones and nature i gained to a very normal 120 - as well as growing taller to 5'6. you need to accept that what you were before as a child is not what you will be when you finish growing.

if you go at this 1/2lb a week crap, you are looking at taking 46weeks to gain to a minimum bmi of 19 (114lbs). everyone here is afraid of gaining too fast but i think this is taking the biscuit a bit. this is still exherting uber control and it seems like with your parents that you are not prepared to relinquish control.

what are you eating calorifically now? you need to get whatever you are eating up to ~2500+