Expert: Reverend Abbott - 6/6/2007

Question
I'm 16 years old and was diagnosed with anorexia two years ago. Initially I gained back 15 of the 35 lbs I had lost, and it seemed my weight had stabalized. About a year later I began to slowly gain weight again. I was eating about 1600 calories a day,and hadn't changed anything in my diet or excercise. In the last year I have gained another 13 pounds or so and it's really starting to scare me. I've cut back to 1000-1200 calories a day and I'm excercising 4-6 days a week, but I'm still not able to lose the extra pounds i've put on. I know I'm not eating enough, but honestly I'm scared. I don't want to keep gaining weight and I really don't know what else to do. I tried to hang in there eating ay least 1500 calories a day so my metabolism could repair itself, but I've given up on that and really don't know what to do now. How long it takes for someones metabolism to start working again? I know there are a lot of questions about this sort of thing already, but if you have any advice i would really appreciate it! Thank so much,
Mary  

Answer
I've found that most of the questions like yours aren't so much about the calories or even the weight, but a reaching out to get support and reassurance that you're not only doing the right thing, but should continue.

It takes time.  You've got to distract yourself from thinking about the numbers all the time. Not easy, I know. I look at a serving of something and immediately start calculating! We're walking, talking calorie guides.

If you were diagnosed anorexic and had lost 35 lbs, regaining ALL of those 35 lbs is ok. No matter what - you should not be trying to lose anything.
And our metabolisms only self-correct when they have a reason to. That is, when the body realizes that regular and adequate amounts of food/calories are coming in on a daily basis.

You shouldn't be anywhere near a scale you know?  I'm more than 5 years into my latest recovery and still don't have a scale in the house.  When my clothes get tight, I cut back on the extras - otherwise, I remind myself daily that I am not a number, I am the differences I make on this planet.

I've got a good outline of foods to select and how to eat right without really focusing on it - it should help you get to and remain at the weight your body should be (not necessarily what certain media appreciates).

 Check it out and let me know how you do. You're not alone.  You're alive ;)

 www.GetTheReal.info