Anorexia Recover Questions

First, let me say that I'm so proud of you for getting help and working so hard to get healthy!!

Personally, as a former ana, I wish I'd had MFP to help me count calories during recovery. I basically wrecked my metabolism more because I had no idea what calories I was eating -- when I started using MFP I found that I had been eating way, WAY less than I thought I was (like 500 -600 calories during weekdays), then going nuts with binges or comfort foods on the weekend and eating close to 3000 or more some days! Crazy!!

My recommendation would be to set your MFP profile to gain however many pounds you want a week and try to eat as close to that as possible. A little under is okay, but make sure it's not under by something like 500+. Try to be consistent though. NOT 1200 some days and 2200 others.

And I don't think you should be worrying about macros and stuff until you're at a healthy weight. I find it very triggering to count things like that, and I've been out of recovery (and into obesity >_>) for years. Concentrate on getting to a normal weight for now, then worry about eating a little healthier. If counting calories gets too triggery for you, feel free to drop that too, as long as you're sure you're not undereating.

This is all just my opinion though, so please consult your doctor if you have any more questions!!

Pizza, cheeseburger? Those are just has bad as cookies and ice cream.. I think you shouldn't be worrying about how much fat is in your burger, make yourself a stir fry instead with lots of vegetables. Eat something healthy

"Healthy" is a relative term. I eat "healthy" every day, but still regularly eat chocolate and candy and takeout. There is nothing "bad" about pizza, burgers, cookies and ice cream. Nothing at all. Everything in moderation. Eating pizza, PB&Js and cheeseburgers in the same day does not sound moderate to me.

And I do agree 100% that you need to be eating more vegetables. Fill 1/2-2/3 of your plate with vegetables at every meal. It's almost impossible to crave junk when you're stuffed with broccoli.

Problem about that is that like i said im recovering from anorexia and vegetables are low in calories and fill me up quick, so i need something higher in calories which is why i ask if too much fat and sugar is alright for anorexia recovery since basically everything thats healthy is low in calories.

OP: this is why you need to take advice from a medical professional who is aware of all your medical history. People on the internet are not qualified to advise about stuff like this. Also, you can discuss your fears about fat and sugar with them.

everyone else: this proves that healthy is relative and context dependent. What's good advice for an obese person trying to lose fat is *totally* different to what's good advice for someone who's recovering from starvation!!!

Thanx, I dont have any medical issues or have fear of fat or sugar btw, I already been to the doctor and everything is fine except for the weight and trust me I love fat and sugar!

Anorexia IS a medical issue, and recovering from malnutrition is a medical issue too (yes if you're underweight from anorexia then that is malnutirtion). You need more specific advice than just "eat more"

Back to your original question, don't worry too much about your sodium. It doesn't hang around in the body so if you are drinking lots of water, you should be fine.

If tracking your calorie intake isn't a trigger, I'd say, yes, track them. Knowledge is power. And just as it's a motivation for others to lose weight, it can be motivation for you to gain weight by tracking them. If you are having a home-cooked meal, you can still make a pretty good estimate of what's in it and plug in the parts or you can go to the recipe section of the food entries and put it exactly, plus the number of portions. I've found that very useful for homemade meals you eat regularly.


Good for you for overcoming your eating issues and all the very best in keeping it up.

The people insisting on healthy foods and only veggies and things like that are usually the ones that only eat 1200 calories a day and are in no better place to tell an anorexic to eat than anyone else.

All I can say is listen to your doctor. Secondly for macros I generally have Carbohydrates set to 50%, Protein 25%, and Fat 25%. Of course I am trying to LOSE weight.. so that may not be helpful to you.

I really wouldn't obsess for now. If you have a set amount of calories you are looking to eat, just eat what you like and what makes you WANT to eat. I think that is most important for now.

Not to be rude but I disagree with everyone who has already posted.
In recovery, in particular at the beginning, you need to eat a lot of calories. Your digestive system isn't going to be able to cope if you're eating loads of vegetables and high fibre foods. Processed, high fat, high sugar foods are easily digested and won't make you feel overly full. I think it's great that you're willing to give 100% to recovery and not have 'fear foods'.
Do not get hung up on macros or sugar or anything like that - just as your doctor says they don't matter in recovery . Just listen to what you're craving and eat it. If you want more then eat more.

Yep. Your focus should be on hitting your calorie goal. I know it can be difficult because calories have been the enemy. But, hit that and worry about macros and micros later. After you put on some weight then I am certain your doctor will start a dialogue about adding things to hit different macros and micros. But, right now that isn't even appropriate.

Fat: yes, too much is bad. It will help with caloric intake and getting your weight up, but it comes with other health risks. Thin people can still have high cholesterol etc and all the things it leads to. Think about healthy (unsaturated) fats. Olive oil and avocado come to my mind, but do a google search. Also think about what other nutrients you're getting. Dairy can be high in fat, but it gives you calcium and vitamin D, so it might be worth it. Beef will give you iron. Potato chips give you nothing. The best thing would be to talk to a doctor or nutritionist and find out how much you should be eating.

Sugar: a lot of calories and no nutrients. Once again, find foods that give you something. Maybe sugar on some fruit. Breakfast cereals can have a lot of sugar, but also folic acid and B vitamins. Once again, talk to someone who knows your situation and find out what you need. Your needs for calories, weight gain, and nutrients are different from mine and the next person's.

But like i asked, is too much sodium, fat, or sugar bad when recovering from anorexia? I heard lots of people even a couple of doctors say that it doesnt matter as long as im getting enough calories to gain weight.

As long as you drink enough water and you don't have BP issues don't worry about salt. Sugar as long as you are not diabetic and don't do it every day isn't a problem either. For nou you need to be enjoying the food you eat. I would look into more protein and healthy fat foods for most days but like I said for now it is your relationship with food you need to work on.

Congratulations on your new life. Enjoy it. There is so much more to enjoy when you begin to live!

My number one tip for recovering from anorexia is: GET OFF MFP! Or at least stay out of forums. Almost everyone here has disordered eating, and people who don't are mostly trying to lose or maintain their weight, so their dietary perspective is not appropriate for you. If you want to know how to eat like a normal person, look at what normal people do. Pick up cooking magazines, and see what the meals and portions look like. Don't worry about too much sodium right now. And for sure don't worry about too much fat, especially if it's coming from things like nuts, olive oil, and avocados. It's quite healthy to get 30% of your calories for fat, and anorexics (and recovered or recovering anorexics) tend not to eat nearly enough of it. Send me a msg. and I'll give you my phone number if you want ongoing support in your recovery. Good luck.