symptoms following calorie increases?

Hi, I in the process of recovering from anorexia;

I currently take in about 3000 to 3500 calories a day to gain about 1 to 1.5 pounds per week. However, these days my weight gain has plateauded and is in need of an increase.

I have increased already to 4000-4300 calories; however, I am weirdly noticing that I am getting hungrier on higher-calorie meal plans? Does this make sense? In addition, I am also noticing that I get very gassy with all my increases as well.

Can anyone in recovery relate to me? Perhaps you guys have some answers...since I am gaining on my own.

Thanks.

I think anyone who has recovered from anorexia has dealt with feelings of insatiable hunger. Its our body's natural response to refeeding in order to ensure that you remain consistent with the food intake until Ýouve reached a healthÝ weight. Don't be alarmed and don't restrict your intake!

To minimise the gassy feelings try to eat 'little and often' choosing plenty of energy-dense, low-bulk foods.   Don't eat too many high-fibre foods, by contrast.   And make sure you're well-hydrated and that you take some short walks after meals.   Gas and bloating are usually caused by trapped wind or an overloaded digestion.  'Little and often' means not overloading the digestion, drinking plenty of fluids and taking walks helps keep everything moving.

Yes gas is or sure me. I feel by the end of the night if you put a pin in my bell it would burst. Certain things like gi stated can help. Also I read things like chewing gum,artifical sweetners,drinking thorugh a straw,some veggies/fruits etc can cause that. For me certain foods like fiber one is a no for me but in general I am ok with high fiber or things like spicy. So look at foods that may cause more issues. In general a high calorie diet can be uncomfortable but part of recovery. As for being more hungry on a high cal diet I would think it is your metabolism speeding up and also from being malnurished your body has a lot o catching up. Are you being monitored by a gp though to make sure all is ok with other conditions?

I very recently started refeeding to recover from anorexia as well, and so far I have noticed that my stomach is SO bloated after eating, from fluid retention. Also I am probably eating about twice as many calories a day as I was before, including lots more fats and carbs like bread, rice etc, and I am so much hungrier also! I think its a great sign that our bodies are realizing that however much food it needs is finally coming, so our metabolisms are speeding up to use the food to repair body parts. 

The best advice my nutritionist gave me about this hunger is to go with it! we've been hungry for so long that our bodies want and need food so if you're hungry, eat more :)

hi guys - i am in a similar boat - i do tend to get bloated and gassy as part of eating more during recovery and have started taking some probiotics to see if they help - do you guys think this is a waste of time? it is just part of the process we need to go through and over time it will settle?

My other problem is that my tummy is where i fixate my body distortion thoughts...

If i do get negative thoughts I push them out and take the attitude that cowcow described above - go with eating what you need to and when you are hungry as it is all working towards making a healthier and happier person!

as for the gassy bloating this is normal and most people in recovery get this i have , on one ocasion i ended up in hospital as my stomach blew up so much. it really is just the body adjusting to the food. im going through exactly the same thing with the hunger . i think we have starved our bodies for so long its just reaping on the nutrition its trying everything in its power to get us to a healthy weight . i have spoken to lots of the guys on here and they all say it does subside. so keep battling and be consistant i know its hard but in time it will all sort itself out and be worth it h x

You are hungry because you are probably malnourished and your system is trying to catch up and get healthy. Gas can be caused by the foods you are eating. Vegetables, beans things like that cause gas. But they are very good for you. Be sure you are drinking enough water. Maybe sip some peppermint tea. Beano may also help. Make sure you are getting enough complex carbs, good fats and protein to fill you up.

Excess bloating and tummy tenderness has long been a problem for me, both now in recovery and also when I was really ill and severely restricting.

It's difficult for me because when I have bloating problems I have a mental block and am convinced that I'm fat all over, so I'm afraid it makes me eat even less.  Vicious circle that seems to have no end.

However, I second littleshellys' recommendation to drink peppermint tea.  The warming effect is lovely and soothing.

When I was in IOP, everyone was ALL about the GasX. :-) It helps.

bsh0611: gel heat bags that you can heat up in the microwave help too!