Trying to gain muscle, how much should I eat/exercise?

rainbowxelephant

I was worrying about you last night and called my psychologist friend who specializes in eating disorder recover stuff. She said no sane professional would be allowing you to exercise until your BMI was in a healthy range. She said even with weight training it should be held off until the patient is in a healthy weight range because the danger is so high. Please seek some professional help. If you aren't going to do that, you need to focus on gaining weight first, exercise once you are in a healthier weight zone. Professional help is your best option. You said you are formerly anorexic, but a BMI of 16.1 suggests you are very much still struggling with this issue. Take care.:flowerforyou:

Agreed, keeping your bodyweight under 85% of the expected minimum clinically classifies you as still very much anorexic.

Please please PLEASE don't start lifting, please stop working out in general, and see a doctor. Get on a meal plan. You need to gain until a bmi of about 20 before you should even consider lifting or really working out. Honestly, you have much more than 10 pounds to gain. Speaking as a former anorexia sufferer who is weight restored- eat. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.

matt6050

I would like to gain roughly ten pounds and tone throughout my body. I'm 5' 6" and 100 lbs. I do 20-30 squats and 20-30 lunges every day, 20-30 bench push-ups, and workout my core for about fifteen minutes every day. Several times a week I hike for about an hour or two. My concern is that I haven't gained a pound, although I do look more toned than before and notice my strength and stamina have improved. Before I could barely do five push-ups or ten squats a day. Any who, I would appreciate any advice on what my calorie intake should be, I would say I eat about 2000 a day. I don't always have time to eat healthy but I'm working on this as well. My main goal in the long run is to get a butt(: Thanks for your help!

Given your post below sounds like you excise a fair bit. When I'm doing a lot of exercise I need about 3000-4000 cals to keep me from losing weight. So I'd say 2500 is a good place to start (if you're keeping up with your activity). Look up TDEE calculator. And don't underestimate your activity level.

If you're recovering from anorexia like you said, sometimes the increase in cals can feel like quite the unbearable punch. Increase gradually (but progressively, just like weight training). Snack on high cal foods but keep it nutritious: avocados, salads with dressings, edamame, plus topped with seeds/nuts, meats with currys with coconut milk etc. That way the quantity of food isn't such a punch in the face either. Eat early! Eat often! Eat late! Food is a beautiful thing that can help fuel for a beautiful body. I'm glad you're trying to recover. Goodluck to you. Keep in mind many people here are over weight and trying to lose. Don't let that skew your thoughts into doing what those around you are doing.

Just to give you an idea this is the difference of me putting on 10 lbs of weight:
120lbs->130lbs:


If you ask me my bum looks way better now

thanks so much for your advice! yeah typically when I hike and do a workout in the same day I eat probably closer to 3000 calories. and I've definitely decided I should increase to at least 2500 a day to see progressive weight gain. and great idea about healthy snacks like you mentioned, I'll try eating more healthy foods like that too(: thank you!

you guys are amazing! I'm recovering right now and just wanted to interject and say how inspiring ^this is. thank you!