weight gain after relapse - don't understand - freaking out a bit

im slowly climbing out of a huge relapse in my battle with anorexia. i spent a few weeks eating only triple-digit calorie amounts. im trying to get back up to at least 2500-3000. but the problem is, i seem to have GAINED weight during my relapse (6 lbs!!!) and its freaking me out a bit. like, if i gain when im barely eating, then im going to BALLOON if i get back up to my regular calorie level. i know that's not true but ED is really giving me a hard time.

why would i gain weight during a relapse? it just doesnt make any sense to me. and its making me really scared to up my calorie levels even though i know weight gain is a GOOD thing.

please talk some sense to me, my ED is completely freaking out and im having a hard time shutting it out.

Two words: WATER. RETENTION. I once gained 10lbs in two weeks. A week later, and I had lost all of it save 3lbs, meaning I'd only gained 1.5lbs a week (and at my weight this was too slow anyway).

Either way don't panic. It takes about two weeks for your body to completely adjust and flush out the water it retains. And that is ALL the most of it is going to be. WATER. So breathe, take it easy.

Also remember it takes 3500 calories in a week OVER your burn to gain a pound. Scientifically you could not have gained six.

It is normal for a person to fluctuate up to and sometimes greater than 5lbs in a day for any reason. Sodium, food weight, excess caffeine, whether or not you’ve had a bowel movement… so many silly and small things make your weight fluctuate day to day.


Why The Scale Lies - by Renee Cloe, ACE Certified Personal Trainer

I'm assuming your relapse wasn't for a very long period (mine don't last long), when you go from eating a "normal" amount to cutting everything out, then your body goes into starvation mode and even though you were only eating <999 calories, you body stores every last bit because it doesn't know when it will get its next proper meal. Then after a relapse it takes a bit of time for your body to realize that the meals have become regular again and so for a few days the body will store this food also. Our bodies are designed for survival when there is limited food around. It is nothing to worry about, as you say you need to gain some weight, just the speed and the reason why makes you uncomfortable. In a few days your body will regulate itself. :D. Stick with it.

water retention:  restriction increases stress hormones = water retention.

And, what most people forget = FOOD ACTUALLY HAS WEIGHT.  When you eat more, it will show on the scale.

Give it a few weeks and the water will go away.