Expert: Joanne - 2/14/2008

Question
Hi.. my name is Jess and I'm  a seventeen year old living in Texas. I had an eating disorder not otherwise specified from the time I was twelve until I was sixteen. Basically, I never got below ninety pounds, I was 5'6", and I threw up almost everything I ate.

Now, I'm 115 pounds, and eating regularly, but still people bug me about how little I eat, and I get uncomfortable if I eat normally. Usually, I'll have half a bagel for breakfast, grilled chicken or something similar for lunch, and a normal dinner. I eat between 1000 and 1500 Calories a day.

How can I eat more food without getting uncomfortable? I know I need to eat more, but I don't want to go back to the way i was. Also, how can I make sure I get enough calcium without drinking milk? I haven't drank milk regularly for about five years, so when i do, it makes my stomach hurt.

I'm trying to recover... but I don't want to test my limits.


~Thank You.

Answer
Jess

Visit
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/calcium.html as this has a table of sources of calcium.  You'd be surprised of some of the sources as everyone thinks that you can only get it from milk!

I would try to add more to each meal gradually.  Soon you will become used to it and won't feel so uncomfortable.  Just be careful that you don't eat too much and leave yourself very uncomfortable, running the risk of making yourself purge. Try to add a couple of snacks in over the course of the day, even if its just a handful of dried fruit or something.

Please get back in touch if you have anything else you would like to ask!
All the best
Joanne