Eat more but how much more?

Forumbetta4

Hey guys. questions for all those more experienced and knowledgable !
I'm trying to gain weight. Here are my stats:
Age : 19
Height: 5 foot 9 and a little
Weight: 99 lbs
So basically I'm wondering how much I should eat. Should I take my BMR, 1330, and add 500? Or should I take my TDEE (1565) and add 500? Or something completely different?
Basically, the more I add as a surplus, will weight gain go faster? Or is it better to take it slowly?

Ps. What's wrong with this site? I signed up with a target goal weight ABOVE my current weight and yet it gives me 1200 and tells me to lose 0.8 lb/week!

mortuseon

You probably want to increase your calorie intake slowly (due to something called refeeding syndrome, although that depends on your current condition). You will want to eat more than your TDEE, not just more than your BMR.
Since you are so underweight it is really worth seeing a specialist doctor who can work out the proper intake for you. You'll get all sorts of uninformed responses on here and it's better to go with professional advice for something like this.

Forumbetta4

You probably want to increase your calorie intake slowly (due to something called refeeding syndrome, although that depends on your current condition). You will want to eat more than your TDEE, not just more than your BMR.
Since you are so underweight it is really worth seeing a specialist doctor who can work out the proper intake for you. You'll get all sorts of uninformed responses on here and it's better to go with professional advice for something like this.

Yeah, I have gotten expert advice but they really only affirm what I decide so its good to have input.
I actually started low, increasing to about 1800, however my weight has not increased. Wondering if I should just stick with it for longer, or go into overdrive

mortuseon

PM'd you, but I think you will definitely need to be eating in excess of 1800 to see appreciable weight gain. Increasing 100 per week or so until you see change is usually a safe bet.

janicelo1971

Did you have an ED or how did you get so underweight ? This is ALL assuming you have an ED and not some other medical condition. In my inpatient programs —we start patients with 1,900 calories a day. Within a week and a half, a patient may be consuming 3,000 or more calories a day. The danger is that these patients may experience refeeding syndrome, which can lead to numerous complications including cardiac arrhythmia, when trying to return to normal diets too quickly. These patients also may have developed digestive disorders like constipation, diarrhea and reflux disease. They may vomit involuntarily because the stomach and digestive capacity is diminished. (assuming you have been severely restricting for months)

And there are the psychological concerns. Starvation affects cognitive ability and often counseling cannot be effective until weight is restored. Until then, patients with eating disorders are prone to continuing aversions to food.

Some people who are fed aggressively and gain weight quickly set their recovery back in the long term.

Your stomach shrinks when you don’t eat, so it feels like Thanksgiving, every day, when you are in the hospital getting large quantities of food. It’s physically difficult to walk around afterward, and it’s hard to keep it all down. I know this from experience!

Anyway, I don't know your background or what led you here, or I even provided the info your looking for, but If not ignore it and I wish you the best:flowerforyou:

mortuseon

Did you have an ED or how did you get so underweight ? This is ALL assuming you have an ED and not some other medical condition. In my inpatient programs —we start patients with 1,900 calories a day. Within a week and a half, a patient may be consuming 3,000 or more calories a day. The danger is that these patients may experience refeeding syndrome, which can lead to numerous complications including cardiac arrhythmia, when trying to return to normal diets too quickly. These patients also may have developed digestive disorders like constipation, diarrhea and reflux disease. They may vomit involuntarily because the stomach and digestive capacity is diminished. (assuming you have been severely restricting for months)

And there are the psychological concerns. Starvation affects cognitive ability and often counseling cannot be effective until weight is restored. Until then, patients with eating disorders are prone to continuing aversions to food.

Some people who are fed aggressively and gain weight quickly set their recovery back in the long term.

Your stomach shrinks when you don’t eat, so it feels like Thanksgiving, every day, when you are in the hospital getting large quantities of food. It’s physically difficult to walk around afterward, and it’s hard to keep it all down. I know this from experience!

Anyway, I don't know your background or what led you here, or I even provided the info your looking for, but If not ignore it and I wish you the best:flowerforyou:

+1

Forumbetta4

Ok, good to know! I increased to 2400 this past week and gained just over a pound. Is this weight gain too fast? Could it be dangerous?
As well, sometimes I find myself physically stuffed, yet my brain is still telling me I am hungry! IT's terribly frustrating, has anyone experienced it?

hlm711

yes! having recovered, relapsed and currently gaining weight again from anorexia, you will feel hungry, very very hungry at times, so make the most of this and eat!! Your body is clever, and our cravings (real ones not just passing fancies which everyone has) are our bodies way of telling us what it needs.
Your body has got a very welcome kick into overdrive from your increased calories and its sending these hunger signals to make sure you keep the healing nutrients and calories coming!
Dont be put off or anxious by the weight gain (which isnt too quick btw) water retention has alot to do with early weight gain, so do not worry that this is actual body composition weight.
Sounds like your in a positive place mentally, so well done and keep at it!!

Forumbetta4

@hlm711 thanks for your reply! Thing is, how do I distinguish a healthy craving from a binge-type emotional craving?

SideSteel

@hlm711 thanks for your reply! Thing is, how do I distinguish a healthy craving from a binge-type emotional craving?

By getting professional help.