Need advice/support with weight gain :(

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Just a little background context for my current situation, I've been fighting anorexia Nervosa for the past 7 years and have only ever fully weight restored once (early 2013) and since then I've been in a consistent restrictive pattern with my diet and have for the past 5 years been at a B.M.I range of 13-15. I'm a male, 5ft 7, 43kg and 21 years old. I'm currently with an outpatient team/psychologist and having a meeting with an occupational therapist nurse who keeps track of my weight weekly to see if I'm making any progress and frequent blood work with my GP, I'm recently really struggling with my approach into gaining weight. (since I'm trying to achieve a healthy body weight while minimizing the amount of fat I gain during the process) I've been looking into the idea of slowly adding in calories and approaching recovery with the reverse dieting plan that I've seen layne Norton use with his clients, but I'm curious whether or not those plans are relevant to me in my current condition, since doctors want me at a healthy weight ASAP to counter the risks of organ failure and any risks of heart failure. I'm more than willing to focus on my recovery but I'm trying to not let my orthorexia determine my choices and rituals around eating, I'm currently eating 1000 calories a day while following Intermittent Fasting and eating only 2 hours a day, usually before bed because hunger at night gives me bad insomnia. I'm also walking for my only form of activity (roughly 6-8 miles a day) Since I'm at home and we have no transport to get around and any store is really far too get to by foot, and public transport is rarely available. I've been told numerous amount of times to ditch reverse dieting and jump up to 2500-3000 calories due to my activity and eat things such as Lasagna, Ice cream and lots of protein and diary foods to help with my bone density and muscle re-growth. I have also been told to ditch my healthy eating habits and take supplements followed by high caloric dense foods. I'm so confused by everything and just want some advice on how I should approach the weight gain and exercise? Resistance training is limited to home workouts with dumb bells and calisthenics. HUGE THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!

Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
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    I'm glad you are getting professional help, and you need to ask them, not random strangers on the interwebz.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    whether you should be eating only 1000 calories while working out seems like a question for your treatment team.
  • danielgerman57
    danielgerman57 Posts: 3 Member
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    whether you should be eating only 1000 calories while working out seems like a question for your treatment team.
    The problem is, my team don't really care that much about the decisions i make.. I've even been told that even though they want to see numbers on the scales rise, they also don't seem to care if I'm losing. They even made a bold statement to me that I can basically do what ever I want... I get hardly any support from anyone, not even my family. :s

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
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    If that's true, I don't see how reverse dieting could be a bad thing. More calories is goal, right?
  • danielgerman57
    danielgerman57 Posts: 3 Member
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    If that's true, I don't see how reverse dieting could be a bad thing. More calories is goal, right?
    Should I bump my calories then or slowly incorporate tiny increases every week?

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
    edited June 2018
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    If that's true, I don't see how reverse dieting could be a bad thing. More calories is goal, right?
    Should I bump my calories then or slowly incorporate tiny increases every week?

    Reverse dieting, by definition, is small bumps each week.

    DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional and I have NO background with EDs.
  • raydara
    raydara Posts: 6 Member
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    Hi Daniel, I'm so sorry to hear you have been struggling for so long. I am in the midst of battling anorexia as well (though it is very hard to admit to). I know you asked specific dieting questions in your post, but I wanted to comment for emotional support and tell you that there are people out there who can relate to you and that you're not alone. I'm very sorry that your support system is so minimal right now. I am in a support group, and have learned that eating disorders are incredibly psychological at their core...and that working on resolving the psychological pain underneath can help immensely (you most likely know this already). I am in the midst of this right now. Sending you well wishes and strength.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    whether you should be eating only 1000 calories while working out seems like a question for your treatment team.
    The problem is, my team don't really care that much about the decisions i make.. I've even been told that even though they want to see numbers on the scales rise, they also don't seem to care if I'm losing. They even made a bold statement to me that I can basically do what ever I want... I get hardly any support from anyone, not even my family. :s

    You need to speak to them about how you're feeling.