Period regained after anorexia. What does it mean?!

2»

Replies

  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    I use this site now to make sure I am getting enough protein, healthy fat, and calories. It was helped me recover a lot. I had an ED before even joining.

    ... Right, and so this site has the potential to set you back and/or trigger you. You need a professional to help guide you through this; you're incredibly young, and clearly still have an inaccurate perception of your body and your health. You haven't been using the site correctly, because you admitted to eating 1000 calories a day... which is unhealthy, by all standards except people who have had gastric bypass (so clearly, not you). So you're not "getting enough calories" by using the site.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Also, I don't just mean "bloodwork" for internal side effects. Your heart, brain, and multiple organs can lose mass from prolonged starving, your metabolism takes a hit, etc. Many of these things wouldn't be apparent until a problem arose, which I hope never happens for you, but it's a serious thing to consider when dealing with an ED.
  • Chinadorian
    Chinadorian Posts: 200 Member
    I use this site now to make sure I am getting enough protein, healthy fat, and calories. It was helped me recover a lot. I had an ED before even joining.

    ... Right, and so this site has the potential to set you back and/or trigger you. You need a professional to help guide you through this; you're incredibly young, and clearly still have an inaccurate perception of your body and your health. You haven't been using the site correctly, because you admitted to eating 1000 calories a day... which is unhealthy, by all standards except people who have had gastric bypass (so clearly, not you). So you're not "getting enough calories" by using the site.

    ^^ yes. We all want to see you be healthy (yay, you got your period back!!) and young and vibrant....no need to lose more weight, wahtever your body type is/was...focus on your mental health and becoming strong physically. Ask your health professional for help and accountablity with these things.
  • OP, I know people here sound like they're being hard on you, but we really just care about your health and well-being.

    Good job for wanting to be healthy! But I also think you should see a doctor, as his or her opinions and suggestions would be far better than ours c: Seriously, though, great job!
  • mscoco10
    mscoco10 Posts: 527 Member
    Well I don't really have an issue with your age because childhood obesity is at an all time high.( Yes I do know its against the rules but this isn't the biggest crime they will ever commit.) I do think you should consult a physician and a therapist because losing weight is not in your favor. Please see someone ASAP!
  • OP, I know people here sound like they're being hard on you, but we really just care about your health and well-being.

    Good job for wanting to be healthy! But I also think you should see a doctor, as his or her opinions and suggestions would be far better than ours c: Seriously, though, great job!

    Thank you very much for the refreshing positivity! And I know I should and I am working on finding one.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    When one loses weight in such a fashion, they set forth certain compensatory mechanisms which causes them to gain all the weight back during weight recovery.

    Some of the weight you lost was fat mass, the rest from fat-free mass (muscle, connective tissue, bone mass density, etc). However, during weight recovery, you only gain back a small percentage of the fat-free mass you lost. Thus, if you get back to your initial weight prior to engagement in disordered eating, most of that disproportionate gain will come from fat mass.

    Example:
    Original weight: 140 lbs.
    Lowest weight: 105 lbs.
    Total fat mass lost: 20 lbs.
    Total fat-free mass lost: 15 lbs.

    Final recovery weight: 140 lbs.
    Gain in fat mass: 30 lbs.
    Recovery of fat-free mass: 5 lbs.

    As you continue to up calories, you will continue to recover weight - mostly from fat mass. The amount of fat gained depends on your initial body fat percentage and adjusted Resting Metabolic Rate. Increasing fat-free mass is a priority as it will help speed up the time it will take for your RMR to reach optimal levels.

    Here is an article citing the above disproportionate fat mass gained during weight recovery which occurs among recovering anorexics as well as those of obesity relapse:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8696417
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    OP, I know people here sound like they're being hard on you, but we really just care about your health and well-being.

    Good job for wanting to be healthy! But I also think you should see a doctor, as his or her opinions and suggestions would be far better than ours c: Seriously, though, great job!

    Thank you very much for the refreshing positivity! And I know I should and I am working on finding one.

    I really hope you don't think we're being negative here. Many of us are just being very real; it's just not healthy for someone so young, in early stages of recovery, to be here, especially if there's no professional, "real person" help. Focus the time you'd spend on here trying to find someone to help! It's the best decision you'll make.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    It means that you are finally making some good, solid progress toward recovery and healthful living. This is a big, big step, and you should be proud.

    You need to keep focus on eating the right things, and not on losing. Wait until you're at a normal BMI, and then think about your future. You may think that you're gaining fat, but as a former anorexic, your body image feelings are pretty skewed. Might it be fat? Sure. Do you probably need it? Absolutely.
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    I would think that you finally have enough % of Body fat to have a cycle. :) Way to go on getting healthy again. :) Weight training will be great for you and your sense of strength. Way to go girlie. Keep up the great work.
  • OP, I know people here sound like they're being hard on you, but we really just care about your health and well-being.

    Good job for wanting to be healthy! But I also think you should see a doctor, as his or her opinions and suggestions would be far better than ours c: Seriously, though, great job!

    Thank you very much for the refreshing positivity! And I know I should and I am working on finding one.

    I really hope you don't think we're being negative here. Many of us are just being very real; it's just not healthy for someone so young, in early stages of recovery, to be here, especially if there's no professional, "real person" help. Focus the time you'd spend on here trying to find someone to help! It's the best decision you'll make.

    I hope my post didn't make you think they were being negative, OP. You just seemed like you were getting a little defensive ^___^
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    Didn't read all the replies and really as a single guy I know very little about the topic but just dropped in to congratulate you on your success. From what I hear it is a tough demon to beat.

    From my understanding, a period is a very natural thing so you gaining something that is natural to young women (judging by your profile pic) is signs of getting better health I think

    As for losing fat and gaining muscle, since you're recovering, you might want to consult a physician or a nutritionist however in my opinion, eat atleast 1200 calories and workout hard. Weight lifting is awesome for gaining some muscle but you can do many other workouts too including body weights (pushups etc)
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    It's her upping of calories and a sufficient energy availability, not body fat percentage, which caused her period to return.
This discussion has been closed.