Please don't bash on me. I would appreciate solid advice.

The weight gain you see right when you increase your calories is water and glycogen replenishment, not fat, so don't worry about those few pounds. Even 1200 calories is super low, so your goal should probably be even higher. What is your goal weight? You might find eating an estimated calorie maintenance level for your goal weight to be more helpful.

Congratulations on realizing that last week was unhealthy and scheduling your appointment. It is a concern, but you did the right thing and are taking responsibility for it.

DancingMoosie wrote: »

The weight gain you see right when you increase your calories is water and glycogen replenishment, not fat, so don't worry about those few pounds. Even 1200 calories is super low, so your goal should probably be even higher. What is your goal weight? You might find eating an estimated calorie maintenance level for your goal weight to be more helpful.

Congratulations on realizing that last week was unhealthy and scheduling your appointment. It is a concern, but you did the right thing and are taking responsibility for it.

I agree with DancingMossie on the weight gain and hope your appointment goes well soon. Web advice is too risky for health concerns so stick with the ones that know you and your health locally. Have a great 2015.

Dont know your stats age height cw etc so hard to say. Obviously its worrying and hope the counselor can get you back on track. Id be worried that the need to eat a nutritional diet and make sure your body is nourished is sacrificed. Instead of going to extremes, then why not just be happy with the 1% of bodyweight loss or 1-2lb a week.

In answer to your question then id have assymed you will be on a deficit on 1200, so if its a real weight loss i.e not just water then 1200 will keep you losing rather than being at any risk of gaining. Imo 1200 is always a little low and I prefer to see people on 1400-1500.

If you gain weight it happens, just deal with it but I dont think it will. Id be mucch more concerned that you work something out in your own head in conjunction with your counselor that keeps you losing sensibly and just laughs in the face of doing anything as stupid and unhealthy as straving yourself. You seem smart, you know its wrong, so you have to kick in yourself, the bit of you that looks out for you.
Hope you get it sorted. Hope you are doing some weights.

Hi! I'm glad you're getting the help you need to address this issue. Hopefully, it will also help to know that you didn't actually lose 11 pounds of fat. The math makes it impossible that this actually happened.

A pound equals 3500 calories. So 11 pounds is 38,500 calories. Spread over 7 days, that's 5500 calories per day. This is how much deficit you would need in order to lose 11 pounds of fat. Your maintenance calories, or how much you normally burn per day, is probably somewhere in the realm of 1800-2300, depending on your height and activity level. So, even if you consumed nothing but water for a whole week, you would need to exercise enough to burn an additional 3000 or so calories per day in order to reach 11 pounds in a week. Even if you ran a marathon up a mountain every day, you'd be hard pressed to do that.

So obviously what you lost is mostly water. And you can expect to replace that water just as soon as you are no longer starving. You can be mentally prepared for that, knowing that you aren't gaining real weight, only replacing the water your muscles need to function. As long as you don't eat over your maintenance, you won't regain any real weight you lost.

I know it can be difficult to wrap your head around the concept of "real" weight as opposed to water or "fake" weight, especially when they both look the same on the scale, but math doesn't lie.

Good luck!

^^ Want to clarify that 10-13% is actually very low for women, just barely above dangerous. It's really safer to shoot for at least 14%, and probably for OP closer to 20%. Here's a chart http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/

I think it's silly for anyone to make recommendations to you about calories without knowing a lot more about you.

You know you have a serious problem and that you made a mistake last week. Go back to your therapist and nutritionist and keep going. This is a very serious disease and you need really good advice.

I'm so glad you've already made that commitment. That's a wonderful first step.

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

If you are a recovering anorexic, why in the world are you eating less than 1200 calories? Recovering anorexics eat well over 2000 calories daily.

You should not be trying to lose weight or tracking calories if they are triggering. That's a recipe for disaster.

Please see your therapist, ASAP.

She said recovered, so she probably needs maintenance. Which would likely be around 2000 (give or take), but you're probably right in assuming way more given that she is on a horse in her picture. So, I am guessing highly active (I have some riding friends on my list, and they easily eat around 3k a day).

OP, You are playing with fire again. I am sure you know that. This is why it is recommended recovered anorexics and bulimics never diet again. As often, for us, dieting can trigger a lapse or even worse. A relapse. You have recently had a lapse. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend any ways for you to eat only 1200 calories a day. I can, however, recommend you up your intake to maintenance levels. Depending on how overweight you are, this could cause initial weight loss, anyway, before your body maintains.

Upping your intake will not cause any real gains. You will gain water weight, but that will not stick around.

And please, please see your therapist.

IGbnat24 wrote: »

I think it'd be best if you got back with your therapist and nutritionist. Of course you can healthily up your calories, but it seems you need the professional guidance. Be healthy, seek help!

No one here should bash you but as many said you need professional assistance as what you are experiencing goes far beyond weight maintenance or general fitness. Your mental health should come first and then with professional guidance you can get to where you need to be. My sister-in-law was in the same place as you many years ago and with help and support groups aligned with anorexia she is now still doing very well.

mykaylis wrote: »

it must be so challenging to be in your position! might i suggest getting a portion-guided plate and other dinnerware, rather than tracking and triggering? my husband flatly refuses to join MFP and he's super obese, so i'm thinking of getting these as a guide to what a healthy serving would be so he could eat and not worry about weighing, measuring, or tracking.

they seem to pretty expensive but i'm looking at all the options. such a thing might help stop you from overeating (portion control) while still encouraging you to eat enough (again, visible portion control).

This is a great solution imo. I second it.

Wow, thank you for reaching out for help. I think you on the right track by seeing your counselor. I would normally suggest maybe find a different way to track your food instead of logging it like measuring out how much you need for that day and making sure you eat all of your food. I would suggest before taking any advice you speak with a nutritionist and get run some ideas by them. Gaining weight is bound to happen in a situation like this. As long as you don't gain more than your initial 11lbs lost I would consider it fine. Hugs and prayers for you.

I recommend eating the 1200 and working out everyday so you are getting the nutrients your body needs but still burning calories