Recovering from anorexia

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a5ian_ang3l
a5ian_ang3l Posts: 5
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi! I'm new to this site. I used to exercise 6-7 days a week for at least hour and half and restricting calories big time. I went past my goal weight and lost way more than I needed to. Now I'm trying to get back at my healthy weight range of 115-120 at 5'3. I don't know how much exercise I should still do or if I should at all.

Looking for advice :)

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  • ritaadkins2002
    ritaadkins2002 Posts: 371 Member
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    first best thing would be to consult your doctors advice. But if i had to guess i would say you could exercise 2-3 times a wk.
  • Edestiny7
    Edestiny7 Posts: 730 Member
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    3 - 5 hours a week max.
  • SimplyDeLish
    SimplyDeLish Posts: 539
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    Always follow your doctor's advice. The most important thing is to net at least 1200 calories. So you'll be eating all the calories you burn off while exercising. Because exercise is important to a healthy body, I'd say exercise - but not to the extreme.

    Congrats on your new healthy lifestyle!
  • dragonbug300
    dragonbug300 Posts: 760 Member
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    It's good that you recognize and are willing to accept such a problem. It takes a lot of strength to do so!
    While I was recovering from anorexia (started at 79lbs and gained about 25-30 over the last few years), I still exercised every day for about an hour (different things... walking, calisthenics, aerobics, strengthening). Be sure to take multivitamins and eat nutritionally dense foods. In the long run you'll keep healthy habits if you eat healthy now.
    Activity is only the enemy if you start to feel like you'll die without it. Otherwise it's important to include some activity (even just cleaning or light walking) into every day.
  • Peep_chic
    Peep_chic Posts: 369 Member
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    Way to go on your recovery! Its great that you want to get to a healty weight.
    I would think that eating nuts, whole milk and Ice cream can help you with weight gain.
    I dont know if you have much appetite but calorie dense foods sure help. If you
    might feel like not eating much an extreme would be dessert on a restaurant.
    Those are usually very high on calories. Anyway you might want to do it slow and in a
    healthy way so... maybe some healty protein bars included?
  • basschick
    basschick Posts: 3,502 Member
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    Good for you for getting help and getting back on the road to health! I've heard that anorexia is a tough disease to battle. We're all here anytime you need support. I agree with the others that your doctor can advise you best.
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
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    Been there done that. Ran until I passed out, no lie. Awkward phone conversation to have with mom at 17, "hey mom, can you pick me up, I'm just down the street but I, um, passed out and things look funny." Then I over corrected and binge ate for...oh 5 years and now I'm here.

    I have a hard time, even now, making sure I don't over exercise. But, even on nights like tonight, where I took my irritation out on the elliptical / bike for two hours, I came home and ate my calories because I remember the cycle.

    My suggestion, whatever you end up doing for exercise, do it with a friend who knows your history, and who won't let you go over. Make sure you eat what you burn and don't obsess about it. Hint, as a girl who occasionally purged as well eating back my calories in salad and chicken feel better and less guilt inducing than other alternatives.

    I've been there, it can be crazy hard, but it can be done. Def talk to a doctor and check out a Women's Center for a group if you don't already have one.
  • sunshine__angel
    sunshine__angel Posts: 366 Member
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    Definitely speak with a health care professional about it, but I see no harm in doing moderate exercise a couple of times a week (say twice a week for half an hour or less) just so you don't feel like you have to eliminate it from your lifestyle. If you can give up exercise, that may be best, but again, consult with a doctor first. I think getting your calories up would be more important, and the exercise will interfere with that.

    Welcome to the site and I wish you the best in your recovery :)
  • LaughingStraightToDaBank
    LaughingStraightToDaBank Posts: 126
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    Other than talking to a health care professional - which you should do - exercise is good for you, even if you are trying to gain weight. Exercising will help you stay active and healthy after the weight gain. But if you exercise, you also need to eat more which means you should eat the calories you burned.
  • endeavourandy
    endeavourandy Posts: 2
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    The thing to remember about exercise is that it strengthens us and is an important part of being a healthy weight. So it's fine to exercise, as often as you want, as long as you take care of your body. This means (1) feeding it with food that gives you the energy and nutrients to build muscle and stay healthy; (2) Drinking water; (3) Sleeping, which is when the muscles you have broken down during exercise get rebuilt.

    Myfitnesspal is a big help to me, as it allows me to see whether I am eating enough or too much, and whether what I am eating is giving me the right balance of nutrients to support my body given the amount of exercise I am doing, including protein and iron.

    Good luck!
  • shanny93
    shanny93 Posts: 2 Member
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    I'm currently in the same situation that you are. I've been in recovery for about 5 weeks now, and my nutritionist still hasn't cleared me to exercise.

    I've started going on long walks/biking for about an hour a day (I hate being inactive ALL. DAY.), but, unfortunately, I've actually LOST weight this week. Be careful with the exercise if you choose to do it. Cardio should be kept to an absolute minimum, and strength training will help you gain, but keep in mind that you will be gaining lean tissue/muscle, which means you will have to eat even MORE to gain. I struggle with eating as much as I'm supposed to in order to gain WITHOUT exercise (2300 cal/day), so if you have trouble meeting your gain target, hold off on the exercise.

    I know it's hard to NOT exercise (I, like you, exercised at least an hour a day, at least 5 days/week), but you will get used to it and appreciate/enjoy exercise more when you return. I will admit that I want to go running and the brief little sprints I've sneaked have been EUPHORIC, but intense exercise is not going to help you gain any weight. Just relax. Read, write, try out some new recipes in the kitchen, hang out with your friends...do the things you love that you wouldn't do before because they weren't "active" enough.
  • ColoradoCowgirl
    ColoradoCowgirl Posts: 34
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    Wow! You are amazing and I applaud your (and everyone else's) ability to acknowledge this disease and overcome it!!! As a nurse I would have to say that you need to speak with either your doctor or behavioral health specialist before you start a regular workout routine. It is easy to over do it. I would start out slow whenever you do start and make it a social thing with friends so that its fun and they can help distract you from being so focused on the workout.
    I really do think you are amazing! I have a neice who just graduted high school and is suffering from anorexia and bulemia and I can't figure out how to help her. She doesn't want to hear what I or my family have to say and its so hard to not be able to do anything. If you have any advice or insight into how I can get through to her, please let me know. Keep up the good work and remember that each day is a new start.

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