Expert: Joanne - 10/16/2008

Question
I just recently gained back the weight I was supposed to in a short period of time after being anorexic for three years. I'm terrified that all the weight was just fat and that it won't redistribute evenly. I am 15 years old and am very active, but since gaining the weight, my doctors say I'm just barely in my weight range but I feel like I'm huge. Is this a stage I'm going through? Will my weight I able to become more toned?
Thank You

Answer
Tayla

So sorry I haven't replied sooner!  Few of my own health issues kept me from my computer for a couple of days!

Anyway, it is really really common for you to gain back a lot of the weight you are meant to in a very short time.  This is your body trying to hold onto every spare calorie it can in order to repair itself - PLEASE DON'T TRY TO STOP YOUR BODY DOING THIS by starving again.  By starving your body, you have made it use up all the stores it requires to stay healthy and warm.  You have also caused it to break down muscle to use as a fuel source, possibly even your heart muscle!  At the moment, your body is trying to repair all that got damaged while rebuilding some stores, scared that it may be starved again.

At the moment, it is likely that your muscles are small and weak due to the strain that they have been put under and the fact that they were broken down for your body to use instead of getting its calories from food.  Your muscles will need to repair themselves, and then they need to be worked in order to increase their size, and therefore look more toned.

I would check with a physician that you are now medically stable, and that your body is well enough again to do some exercise, and then if so, begin to exercise again.  It is important that you don't try to burn too many calories with cardiovascular work, etc.  I would focus more on resistance training just now, or even swimming is a good way to work your muscles.

Whatever you do, do not try to lose this weight gain just now, and definitely not through old behaviours either.  When your body is ready, it will stop gaining and your weight and appearance will become more stable.  You need to make sure that your body can cope with exercise, and that you don't do too much.  Stop if it is sore, your are ill or injured, or you have any sort of feelings that aren't 'normal'.

It will just take time!

Joanne