Expert: Loren - 7/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I'm Jill and I'm 19 years old. I'm recovering from 3 months of being Anorexic/bulimic. I lost about 33 pounds. I'm eating better now but When I eat I keep on gaining weight right now I'm at 120lbs but when I eat i gain gain gain. How can I make my metabolism faster again? I don't want to go back to where I was before. I'm also so obsessed over the scale. I like the weight I'm at and I really want to stay at this weight can you help me?

ANSWER: Hello Jill

I'm glad to hear you're recovering now.

The only way you can speed up your resting metabolic rate is through exercise and eating smaller meals regularly throughout the day. Seeing as you've been through a period of restriction and purging I'm afraid you cannot control how your body reacts at the moment.
My advice to you is to eat healthily and incorporate some form of exercise to your day. You may initially gain more weight but may also equally lose it again once your metabolism gets back on track.

Take care,
Loren

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much that helps me a lot. I have two more questions for you, ok how many times a day should I eat? Also I have not had my period for three months I was wondering if it would come back soon? Well, one more question will it effect me on having children in the future since I was only anorexic/bulimic for three months?
Thanks Jill

Answer
During the day, I'd recommend you eat five or six small meals. Remember, by 'meals' I don't necessarily mean meat-and-two-veg sort of thing - a couple of pieces of fruit for example could do for a small meal.
Your periods will return soon enough and I do not think you have done any damage to your fertility in such a short space of time.

Loren