Expert: Ryan Hale - 7/8/2011

Question
Hi, I'm 16, 5'2, 105 lbs (up from 98) and beginning my recovery from anorexia.  I suffered the illness for 6 months and lost 25 lbs from it.  I would eat around 200-600 calories a day and since beginning my recovery three weeks ago, I've slowly increased my caloric intake to 1000 calories a day, and am working up to 1200-1500.  I have a couple questions though.  The weight I'm at now is something I'd like to remain at and am comfortable with.  I do not wish to gain anymore fat during my recovery.  I will however be focussing on gaining more muscle mass and once my body is toned I'll be comfortable weighing around 110 lbs.  But for now, 105 is as much as I can handle.  I'm not able to see a therapist, doctor, or even a nutritionist for that matter because due to my age, that would require telling my parents about my disease and that's not something they can handle at the moment, so I'm forced to recover on my own.  I believe I've been doing an alright job so far, and even though eating is still a difficult thing for me, I'm working at it.  I try to eat 4-6 times a day, I eat a large breakfast, my diet mostly consists of nuts, fruits/vegetables and whole grains (oatmeal).  I want to know if I'm going about this the best way possible though.  Is increasing my diet little by little the best way to start up my metabolism once again without gaining too much weight?  And how will I be able to burn the fat I have on my body to try and attain a more toned body without hurting my recovery process?  Thank you.

Answer
Sunita- Congratulations on your strength to turn things around on your own.   I'm concerned that you don't feel like you can tell your parents.  I don't know what your relationship is like with them , but if possible, it's best to bring them into what's going on.  Often, part of an eating disorder has to do with our relationships and how those relationships with others are going can contribute to whether or not we can get better.  I'd try to think of a way to have that conversation with them.  If there are issues of abuse or some emotional aspects that need to be addressed, you have to get it out there into the light.