Anorexia/Eating Disorders/recovering from anorexia

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/15/2009


Question
I was always a bit chubby - healthy but still chubby -. Around 7 months ago I decided I needed to reduce my carbs and fat intake. This worked well as I was trimming down and becoming more toned and then after a couple of months I lost my appetite completley and went from eating 3 small meals a day to going 2 - 3 days with nothing but a cracker. I didn't feel hungry at all but I did feel dizzy and slightly tired. The cracker every 2-3 days went on for a while until I totally lost it (my weight was 43kg and I am 162cm tall) and decided with encouragement of friends to eat more, at first it was hard but I got up to eating 2 full meals everyday and now I am starting to eat all 3 meals with quite alot of carbs. I am just wondering how much weight I will put on in the next month and how to stabalise it at around 48 and keep my weight at that level.

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Keeley,

I think it's so wonderful that you're eating again!  It's not fun restricting for days in a row!!

First of all, I think that you should focus on eating mostly fruits, vegetables, and protein with some carbs -- not lots.  See about having a balae.

I don't have any idea how much weight you'll put on but I don't think you should gain more than 1-2 pounds a week.  It would also be great if you could go to a nutritionist who could give you a healthy meal plan to make sure that you gain the right amount of weight.

Let me know how you do!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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