WEIGHT GAIN HELP

amirakarajicc

hey, so i'm recently recovering from an eating disorder (anorexia) and my doctor told me i need to gain 18 poounds in two months! that's impossible, even when i was chubby i couldnt do that, i play sports and dance, i used to weight 138, now i currently weigh 102, i know it's underweight for my heigh (5'4'') but i need help, i wanna gain a little weight back but i dont wanna look like i do! i get cardio excercise everyday, so can somebody talk to me, even though i have enough support from family and friends , i need a strangers point of view of this

ironanimal

If you want to stay slim and gain weight, eat at a surplus to your TDEE and lift weights. Get 40% of your cals from protein to facilitate muscle growth and repair.

MoreBean13

If you want to stay slim and gain weight, eat at a surplus to your TDEE and lift weights. Get 40% of your cals from protein to facilitate muscle growth and repair.

^Good advice.
Why do you have a two month clock? Is there a specific reason?

Meg_78

I think your doctors expectation of you being able to gain that much that fast is pretty unrealistic in real life, and extremely tough. I'm not recovering from an ED but have always been under weight, I'm also 5'4" and started MFP at 97lbs, I was able to gain 10lbs in about 12 weeks eating 2300 cals a day + exercise calories (currently maintaining at 107lbs). I was careful not to exercise too often, and I tried not to burn more than 300 cals when I did, just cause I found eating 2600 in a healthy way a challenge.

You either need to cut the cardio back, or you need to be totally committed to eating A TON if you realistically want to gain anything. To gain a lb a week you need to eat 3500 above your maintenance. For people recovering I have seen calories goals set even higher but for a girl your size I'd guess at least 2300 a day+exercise. You need to eat the full fat stuff, as well as the good fats, lots of good carbs, esp if you want to gain it fast, Seriously think about strength and weight training instead of cardio to help build muscle so you are not just piling on fat. Consider supplementing with mass gainer shakes and protein shakes..

As far as the way it looks, honestly my measurements have hardly changed with 10lbs Less than an inch on my waist, hips and thighs I expected more), my clothing still fits, but now I am seeing a little muscle definition rather than spaghetti limbs. Now I look 100% better.

So to sum it up, eat big, cut the cardio as much as you can, east back your exercise calls and do some strength and weight training.

cramernh

I work in healthcare and Im pretty shocked to hear this to be honest.

Let me ask this though as its the first thing coming to my mind: are you consulting with a Behavioral Specialist? A Registered Dietician who works with ED-patients in conjunction with Behavioral Health?

Thats the first thing you should consider - an RD who works along side with a BHS is optimal in ED recovery.

Secondly... I sure as hell hope that physician of yours is recommending RD/BHS to help you with this.. you should not be doing this on your own at all....

Good luck hun!

CoderGal

hey, so i'm recently recovering from an eating disorder (anorexia) and my doctor told me i need to gain 18 poounds in two months! that's impossible, even when i was chubby i couldnt do that, i play sports and dance, i used to weight 138, now i currently weigh 102, i know it's underweight for my heigh (5'4'') but i need help, i wanna gain a little weight back but i dont wanna look like i do! i get cardio excercise everyday, so can somebody talk to me, even though i have enough support from family and friends , i need a strangers point of view of this

Not a health professional at all but I agree gaining that much weight is unrealistic. But, when you're starving your body with something like anorexia your body tends to deplete itselve of certain energy stores pretty quickly. Eating normally will gain that back fairly quick (don't sweat it, it's not fat, it's the good stuff). I think it's more important to focus on a healthy amount of food for your activity level then it is to see how fast you can pack on the fat. Though if you have a mind that tends to think unhealthy thoughts its fairly important to pack on weight which maybe thats why your doctor is telling you to do what he said. This still seems like an odd thing to come from a doctor. If I were you I'd try not to kill myself with exercise and be eating well in the 2xxx numbers. That being said with sports and dance you'll probably maintain pretty comfortably at 2xxx.