Anorexia/Eating Disorders/recovery from anorexia

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Expert: Melissa - 1/17/2009


Question
Hi There
I have been anorexic/bulimic for about 3 years now. I'm 25, 160cm, 47 Kg. I
really want to recover now and am doing quite well. At the moment I'm eating
about 1200 cal  day which i know is the minimum I should be eating. On the
internet, when i calculate how many calories I should be eating to maintain
my current weight, it says about 1500. I'm too scared to eat this much
though! I know its only 300 more a day than I'm eating now, but I'm
convinced I will gain weight. Do you think 1500 is too much. I dont want to
gain any because 47 kg seems like a health weight. Thanks!


Answer
No, I do not think 1500 calories is too much. In fact, unless you're completely sedentary and are well into your forties, 1500 won't make you gain any weight. You are about 7 kg underweight, and you are not at a healthy weight for your height.
However, you need to see a doctor or dietician to determine where your weight should be.
Best,
Melissa

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Melissa

Expertise

I battled anorexia and bulimia for 6 years. I am not a doctor, but I learned a lot about the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of having an eating disorder and how scary it is to feel like you are alone in your illness. You are not alone. I can answer questions based on my experience with anything relating to anorexia and/or bulimia. I can provide information on treatment options, some specific treatment centers, resources that may help you find a treatment center, and my opinion on all of the above. I was a patient at a few outpatient and inpatient programs so I am happy to answer questions about those experiences. I am not affiliated with any of the resources I may provide. It’s strictly my opinion based on my experiences. I can NOT answer medical questions. I will NOT answer questions on how to become anorexic or bulimic or how to lose weight in an unhealthy matter.

Experience

I have recovered from a six year struggle with both anorexia and bulimia. I hope my experiences and the time I spent in and out of treatment will encourage others to never give up. I never thought I would or could recover because I couldn’t picture myself ever having a normal relationship with food. Since then, I have grown and learned that I can overcome what I once thought was impossible. Hold on to the idea that recovery is attainable!

Education/Credentials
I am attending college for an unrelated degree.

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