Weight restoration essential to those recovering?

One quick question...

In recovery from ED, how essential is it for my weight to go up from where it is now if the psychological aspect of it is conquered?

I  17, 5'10.25, and 117 lbs.

I am wondering since i do have a healthy relationship with food again, is it really that essential for my weight to go up? I really feel fine, i maintain on 2500cals, i exercise an hour everyday, eat healthy along with no restrictions at ALL anymore...

I see myself as skinny, but im happy with it... and dont know how i would look with a few more pounds on. Is it really that important for me to gain?

thx guys!

SERIOUSLY-YESSS

WHY EVEN ASK? SERIOUSLY, RECOVERED, OK...

good luck w/your future and all

actually, scratch that, no, you dont need to gain weight, you dont need to do anything, you dont have to be healthy in 10 years either, whatever

*Cough* If you'd like a slightly less spaztic answer...

You are currently quite underweight. While you may feel perfectly fine, there are things happening that you can't see right now. You're at a greater risk of osteoporosis, are probably quite a bit weaker than you could be, have a greater risk of death if you become ill for any sort of reason, etc.

I would recommend trying to gain some weight. =)

agreed with wistfulthinking.

i know what you mean and how you feel but seriously you will feel so much better and if you like to exercise then maybe use this opportunity to increase muscle mass not fat. everything will work out and recovery takes a long time. admitting that you need to gain weight is important, and you do. youd on't have to be chubby or fat you can still be thin just healthier.

hope that helps

best of luck

You wouldn't expect an alcoholic to recover while still drinking, would you?

Your BMI is 16.5

That is defined as "severly anorexic". Until you are at a healthy weight and regain your period, you will still be clinically anorexic.

You knew the answer, didn't you?

If you're severely underweight but "see myself as skinny, but im (sic) happy with it"  then you haven't conquered the psychological aspect unfortunately.   It's a sad symptom of eating disorders that sufferers are convinced they 'look OK' and that everyone else is making a fuss over nothing.  

It's great that you're feeling good, eating more, that your relationship with food is healthier and you're not restricting.  That gives you the tools to get the important job done... ie. get up to a healthy weight.   When your BMI is up to 19 - 20 and you're still happy with yourself then you can say you've truly recovered.   Go with 3000 cals to get the ball rolling, reduce the exercise to half an hour a day.  Very best of luck.

Hey:)

i totally understand how you feal. I am a recovered anorexic (sorta... but whatever... long story). anyhoo, i get how you may be concerned about how you'll look after you gain back some more weight. i was afraid id look COMPLETELY different with 5 more pounds on...

but trust me, i look virtually the same. i looked the same after gaining 10 pounds back. it was a miracle:) for me, anyway.

your body really needs the weight to function. think of it as your doing your body a favor....   and also remember, nobody can make you feel insecure without YOUR consent. Get yourself back to a healthy bmi and you'll be happier and stronger!! (please trust me... youll barely look different at all. if anything i noticed my skin was brighter and i looked "fresher", but i didnt notice a ton of weight on my thighs like i was worried about..)

Thanks to everybody with their constructive replies...

The thing is that i did gain alot of weight back but no one noticed until i told them that i was down to 117lbs... i have never ever lost my period however.

Its not the weight gain thats bothering me. Im just uncertain of how comfortable i will feel with (to start) 5 lbs on again. Im going to be (and have started) gaining anyway reguardless of the way i feel when i look in the mirror because i KNOW its unhealthy, i have enough motivation for that sole aspect of HEALTH to get my weight back up again, that is not the issue im concerned about here...i just need to keep motivated by becoming aware of the health aspects of being underweight to keep me going...

WELL DONE live your life - if HEALTH is your MAIN focus, then you have the RIGHT attitude to truly move forward from your anorexia!

It is GREAT that you have a better relationship with food and you are committed to doing the right thing for your body

After I recovered from most of the NON physical aspects of anorexia and I was at a healthier weight, I STILL needed to gain weight

At about 5’4 - 5’ 5 I was about 105 lbs for most of this year, last year, and the year before and I FELT fine but this year I made the decision to gain weight because the medical experts have proven that being under weight makes you more at risk of MANY health problems!

Many of the problems associated with being under weight have NO symptoms, so even thou you may feel very healthy, you are still as a much higher risk of these health problems simply because of your weight.

I am now about 113 lbs with a BMI of about 18.7 - 19, and I look no different and I actually feel better, even though I already felt fine before!

If you maintain on 2500, try 3000 calories and if you don’t gain weight increase to 4000 calories and etc, until you BMI is at least 18.5 - 19.

Thanks personaltrainer87!!!

Im going to keep on going doing what im doing (im downing 4500 cals a day!:-) so at this pace im sure ill get up to a healthy BMI in no time... ive been consistent with my calories and its the calorie goal i set for myself and really have been sticking to it!

Thats awesome that you gained and feel healthier, and this is exactly where im headed towards now.... ive increased my weight exercise and have stuck to my cardio so hopefully, i wont turn flabby! :-)

can i just ask for an example of your daily foods and meal plan to get 4500? thanks

Allo2: A meal plan for 4500... well, honestly? I'd look into something like dense shake or drink recipes, as that is a LOT of food otherwise. So, try:

Breakfast: 850
Snack 1: 400
Lunch: 850
Snack 2: 400
Dinner: 850
Snack 3: 400
This leaves you 750 more calories. You could have another snack for about 300-400 calories, which would then mean you'd have 350-400 calories to put into a shake or dense drink, or just a drink for that much. Liquid calories can be very helpful and still be nutritious. For food ideas, try reading here: The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason.

Rebel's Meal Plan from IP - Grand total of a Whopping 4400-4600

Breakfast: about 800 calorie

Snack: Ensure Plus (420 mL = 620 calories)

Lunch: about 800 calorie

Snack: Ensure Plus ( 620's worth)

Dinner: about 800 calories

Snack: Ensure Plus (620's worth) AND a snack - (about 200)

Lots of fluid calories here though. I had to have 16oz of fluid at every meal, and only got to have 8oz of water at one meal per day, and only when the food was dense enough.

Upon discharge, I was told I'd have to drink about 6 Ensure Plus every day in addition to 2200-2400 in food. I learned to make wicked good high-cal shakes instead because the the thought of another Vanilla Ensure Plus made me nauseas (my IP only gave us vanilla. 6X a day for almost my entire stay. boo!) Honestly, at the amount of calories, I was grateful to have so much in liquid form. I was nicknamed "Warrior" by the boys because I had to eat more then any of them, and I still ended up with extra Ensures every other day when I plateaued at around 105 for a solid week before I was discharged.