Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 9/27/2008

Question
Hi Leigh-Anne

I've been suffering from an ED for the last 3 years now. It started off as anorexia and
then turned into a combination of anorexia and bulimia. I really want to recover now, and
get my health and peace of mind back.

I haven't purged now for 11 days (and although that doesn't sound like a lot, it is for
me). I've tried eating 1100-1200 every day since then and I've managed to do so. My
problem is that whenever I've tried to recover before, I end up freaking out about gaining
weight just because I'm eating - even if I'm not gaining. I don't want this to happen
again.

First question:
I actually feel like I've lost weight over the past two weeks (my clothes feel looser and I
feel a little thinner) but when I got on the scale, it showed that I'd put on about 1kg
(which obviously freaked me out A LOT). Is there any explanation for this - It really looks
like I have lost but if the scale shows I'm heavier then I must have put on weight right? (It
was in the morning when I usually weigh myself so it wasn't because I'd just eaten or
drank a lot or anything like that)

Second question:
Is 1200 max a realistic daily intake? I'm 25 yrs, 5'2, 47kg (this is my ideal weight - I
don't think it's too low now).

Thanks for your help!
Kathy

Answer
1) your metabolism may have gotten a jump start so you may be losing some, but retaining water. Weight in women varies day by day... sometimes several pounds. Get rid of the scale and concentrate on recovering... the scale isn't going to do you a bit of good... you just need to concentrate on eating healthy foods... the numbers on the scale will settle at a healthy body weight for you if you are eating healthy!!!

2) you are at a reasonably healthy weight (gaining a few more wouldn't hurt, but you are by no means at a dangerously low weight) 1200 calories a day isn't too bad, but generally speaking I would suggest nothing lower than 1400 calories a day... and that's if you are not a big xerciser. If you are incorporating exercise into your daily routine, then you need to up your caloric intake... 1200-1400 calories a day is spent on daily bodily functioning.