Expert: Ryan Hale - 3/15/2010

Question
Hi,

I have suffered from Anorexia for over 4 years now and am currently 20 years old (currently 94 pounds at 5'3). My question concerns metabolism. I do not eat much at all...maybe around 400 a day and burn MINIMUM 800 calories daily through cardio workouts at the gym (based on what the machine says when my weight and age is entered). However, I gain weight sooooo easily and am constantly battling to stay within a certain range even when excersising this much and eating so little. I do not understand at all how this can happen. How can I have such a discrepency and gain weight constantly...I do not undertsand how this works and cannot find an answer enywhere. It has come to be VERY frustrating and depressing. Also, I am easily able to gain 2 pounds literally in one day from maybe eating a little bit over than the usually caloric range. It takes just as long to loose as fat would so I know it is not water (this happened recently, I jumped from 92 to 94 pounds with no notice). I just want to know how this works and how I can fix it without gaining weight for I am sick and tired of constantly going to the gym and eating so little to maintain. I'm terrified of not going to gym to experience the weight gain or of eating more. I ahve heard horror stories of people gaining over their original start weights because of a messed up meabolism and am scared to eat normally because I don't think I could handle that at all. Any input in regards to how this whole weight gain thing works would be helpful...I'm just really frustrated and sick of it all.

Thanks in advance,

Arya

Answer
Arya- it would be irresponsible of me to tell you how to maintain a weight that may not be healthy for you.  I can say that each person's body will store and burn calories differently (somewhat based on genetics).  It sounds as though you have quite an eating disorder you have been contending with.  My recommendation would be an experienced counselor or psychologist to help you sort through these feelings you are having concerning your weight and to discuss possible changes in your behavior toward eating that could be of benefit.