Health & Support

I'm a 'recovered' anorexic, 16 years old, 5'6 and 118 pounds, so I'd say I'm at a healthy weight. I eat around 2200 calories per day and walk for an hour every day and do 2-3 half hur runs per week, and lately, I haven't been able to stop eating..like i'll get to my 2200 calorie mark, but i'll constantly snack on carrots and rice cakes and crackers and cereal, and sometimes nuts, and i'm guessing it adds up to around 200-300 extra calories per day and its been happening for a couple weeks now , and yes, I used to be 113 pounds so this is really freaking me out and now those ED thoughts have started to come back telling me how stupid i am to eat so much, and ya, i don't know what to do.

hi-congrats on your weight gain so far but honestly, and im sure youre aware, youre underweight.  your body is hungry thats why you cant stop eating.

I checked my BMI and its 19.6...isn't that a healthy weight?

i plugged it in above and got a bmi of 19-underweight.  even a bmi is "just healthy enough", is that good enough for you?  you should aim for a weight in the middle of the bmi range for the best chance of recovery+health.

good luck

Its really hard..like for me to jump 5 pounds ON my own, freaks me out.

And i want to get rid of it.

im recovering myself, and i hate to blunt, but, maybe youre not as recovered as you say.  think about it, a stupid number on the scale or your health, future, and a full life, wahts more important?

or maybe go talk to a doctor/psychologist

good luck

hi,  i very much undstand,  what i found it was that although I had been at my goal, set by my nutrisionalsit i had not been following her guide lines for carbs, fat and protien, so i would get to 2000 and freak out i was still hungry because i did not have any fat all day and not want to relate the two so then i end up just keep eating a half cup of cereal at a time untill i feel good enough to sleep.  sorry if that is triggering or anything, not ment to be just my experience but i decided to try even harder this week,  i am kinda at my goal weight....kinda, i dont really know we dont have a scale but i feel fat, which means i must be close

Agru: I know you're trying to help, but try not to be quite so blunt! Every recovery takes time and can be a tricky process.

Christinaa: As much as Agru is blunt she has a point: ideally, when recovering from anorexia, a good target range is at 20~ BMI. Your body may be hungry, though, depending on if you are feeding it enough compared to your activity. Then again, I think 2200 might cover that per what you described, but I do not know how fast you are running and how far, and so on. So, first and foremost, ensure you are eating an adequete number of calories.

Aim for your meals in the morning and in the day to be substantial enough - proteins, carbs and some healthy fat, and a fruit or veg serving or two for each main meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and making up other servings and what you lack in snacks - as it sets your day off right.

Related to this, we often snack on things that our diet is lacking. Do a review of what your diet looks like in terms of protein-fat-carbohydrates if you feel you will not get too obsessive. If you're lacking in something, incorporate more of it in. If you're working with a nutritionist, all the better. However if the numbers will be triggering for you in any way don't do that.

Congratulations on how far you've gotten! Ignore the stupid ED voice; I bet you feel a lot happier and healthier now compared to your lowest and that happiness and health is not something your ED can give you.

hi, sorry if i sounded mean last nite with my responses, i think it was late and i wa tired so i hooe you see this. 

i just hate to see anyone struggle with this and i wish you the best!

Christinaa,

I have one thing that I want to say to you about your situation.  The word "recovery" lies in the eyes of the beholder! I think that you are a very very STRONG person for admitting that you have a problem and working to make yourself better.  In my opinion, every day that you "eat" is recovery because that show's that you are making an effort not to go back to that lifestyle.  I am a 24 year old mother that has been considered obese my whole life no matter how much or little I eat I seem to always end up between 190 and 200 lbs.  I have never been anorexic but the thoughts are ALWAYS in my head and if I let myself lose control I know I could end up there.  I am working on taking off baby weight and getting down to a normal size for a girl  my age which I'm shooting for maybe a size 10 because I'm 5'8" and I think that would be suitable.  I am only in my early 20's so I am very aware of the pressure that society puts on young females today to look so perfect.  Everybody always says that "as long as you are happy with yourelf that's all that matters"  and that's a hard statement to cope with but it is very true.  The only problem is that it's hard to be happy with yourself when you think that everyone is looking at you shamefully.  I will tell you this, recovery is recovery, just take it one step at a time and you can make it and get past the bad thoughts in your head.  I know at 16 it's hard to immagine that everything will be OK but if you just hang in there through the rest of school, when you get out and on your own in life you will find a strength that you don't really have when you are at home with your parents and you will learn that you can do ANYTHING that you put your mind to and I hope that you choose one that will make you happy and keep you healthy.  I know it's hard to see now but in the adult world, you WILL find someone who loves you just for who you are and all the little imperfections will go away and you will have the ability to allow yourself to be happy with you, because in someone else's eyes you will be "perfect" and that will help with your insecurities.  Please stay strong, I know you are capable because you already took the first step, try to focus on the better things in life and what makes you happy and always make sure that you nourish your body because in life that's all you will ever have that can't be taken away from you!  Stay strong and god bless! ( sorry it was so long, but I hope it helps)!