When will my metabolism be back to normal?

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daniellepants
daniellepants Posts: 18
in Health and Weight Loss
Or will it ever?
I've been in recovery for Anorexia for 6 weeks. I weigh myself all the time, and the number never goes up or down. It's really starting to bother me...I'm eating 1,200 calories a day. I know that I should eat a lot more than that, but I don't know how to without shoveling crap into my mouth all day long. It still seems like way too much for me. I have no idea if that's the problem or not, because I don't know anything about healthy weight gain or loss.
I've been eating lots of spicy food, adding cinnamon to my food, drinking green tea, and I've been doing everything else that's supposed to boost your metabolism, but nothing's happening.
I just really hope I don't get a lot of answers like "eat more" or "your body needs more calories to rebuild" because I CAN'T EAT MORE. It hurts, and if I go over 1,200 I cry and I feel like purging and I just want to kill myself. Even if it's 5 calories over.

And no, I haven't seen a doctor. I'd have to tell my mom I was anorexic first, so she'd take me. But she'll just get mad at me instead of helping.
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Replies

  • bm99
    bm99 Posts: 597 Member
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    Eat more. That's it.

    Wouldn't you be more comfortable on an ED recovery forum? This is a diet site, that cannot be healthy for you. Especially since you refuse the professional help you seem to desparately need.
  • lucylou9701
    lucylou9701 Posts: 194
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    bump... would like to see answers :) good luck with your recovery!
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
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    Wow all I can say is that I'm very sorry for your condition and for the fact that your parents wouldn't understand... I'm going to go ahead and say that you should most definitely seek professional help even if it is through an anonymous program... Unfortunately anorexia is just about the worst thing to have in terms of trying to boost your metabolism... And the only way to get your metabolism working normally again would be to eat a normal amount of calories... You may gain 5-10 lbs coming out of the anorexic state...this is just water weight... Please GET RID OF YOUR SCALE... the worst idea for an anorexic is to be fixated on that number... And with the day to day weight flectuations... It can drive you bananas ...it is nessisary to get back to a normal functioning metabolism...all I can say beyond that is that I really really wish you te best and to be honest I know how hard that disease can be... The fact you're seeking help for it is a good start...please please please seek a medical / mental health professional to help you!
  • pinkita
    pinkita Posts: 779 Member
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    I'm guessing your mother would want to help you, she's your mom. But if you don't want to tell her anything, you don't have to... you're 19 years old and a legal adult. You do need help though, sooner rather than later, and I'm sure a professional could help you in terms of getting your family to support you for good health outcomes.

    Take care of you.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    I am really sorry, but the only thing that will fix your metabolism is to eat more food. Your metabolism, within a range, basically adapts to what you are eating (obviously there are upper and lower limits).

    If you need your parents to take you to the doctor, your age is probably such that this site is not the best for you. If you cannot talk to your mum, is there another responsible adult that could possibly help you? If you have this negative relationship with food, you really need to get help.

    Please pay attention to what the other posters above me have to say.
  • Ange_
    Ange_ Posts: 324 Member
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    I think maybe you should not be counting calories. Clearly the 1200 number has become a big deal to you.
    And i'd go see a psychologist/help group and a nutritionist. Get a nutritionist to write you an eating plan for you and not tell you the calories in it. And stick to it!
    And if you are feeling too full from all the food, try to stick to really high in energy but healthy stuff like nuts, peanut butter etc which won't take up as much space in your stomach.

    I really hope you get better. It is really great you are reaching out for help and trying to do something.
  • yeahyeeeeahnumber1
    yeahyeeeeahnumber1 Posts: 5
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    Hey sweetheart. I think people are right...you really should seek help. You've done an amazing job trying to rebuild what you're eating. I'm really proud of you for that. But it would definitely be helpful for you to seek help. Can you go to the doctor with a friend, relative, or anyone else? Seek a counselor even if it is via your school or college? You'll soon see that with the right help you'll pull through. Best of luck overcoming this. You seem like a really strong and determined girl. Perhaps try and feel around what your parents might do...for example, in normal conversation, bring up that you've seen anorexia portrayed in a tv show and ask them what they would do if they thought you had an eating disorder. If you don't think that'll set them off, it might be worth it to see how they react. After all, parents just want to help, but sometimes the way they do it isn't the most beneficial to us. if not you might try an older relative that you get along with, or a trusted friend that might help you organize appointments, if you like. Good luck girlie.
  • yeahyeeeeahnumber1
    yeahyeeeeahnumber1 Posts: 5
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    I think maybe you should not be counting calories. Clearly the 1200 number has become a big deal to you.
    And i'd go see a psychologist/help group and a nutritionist. Get a nutritionist to write you an eating plan for you and not tell you the calories in it. And stick to it!
    And if you are feeling too full from all the food, try to stick to really high in energy but healthy stuff like nuts, peanut butter etc which won't take up as much space in your stomach.

    I really hope you get better. It is really great you are reaching out for help and trying to do something.
    I think these ideas are great :)
  • daniellepants
    daniellepants Posts: 18
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    c: I'm happy that people on this website understand. And this question isn't like a fitness question or something that actually belongs here, but how do I seek professional help...? I'm too embarrassed of my eating disorder to tell anyone about it. I'm also afraid that a doctor could make me go to a hospital because of my negative thoughts about food. Ugh.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    c: I'm happy that people on this website understand. And this question isn't like a fitness question or something that actually belongs here, but how do I seek professional help...? I'm too embarrassed of my eating disorder to tell anyone about it. I'm also afraid that a doctor could make me go to a hospital because of my negative thoughts about food. Ugh.

    You mentioned that you have been in recovery for 6 weeks in your post - what did you mean by 'recovery'? is it something you are doing yourself or are you getting help?


    ETA: you are perfectly OK to post the questions here, please do not think that I (or anyone else) meant you should not. We are just worried that you will not get the adive/help you really need from this site.
  • daniellepants
    daniellepants Posts: 18
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    You mentioned that you have been in recovery for 6 weeks in your post - what did you mean by 'recovery'? is it something you are doing yourself or are you getting help?


    ETA: you are perfectly OK to post the questions here, please do not think that I (or anyone else) meant you should not. We are just worried that you will not get the adive/help you really need from this site.

    By 'recovery' I mean that I'm re-feeding my body. I haven't gotten help from anyone, so I'm confused and I probably do need professional help. I'm just too embarrassed by it to reach out to anyone. The physical part of this disorder is getting better, but I'm getting worse mentally.
  • urasweethart
    urasweethart Posts: 123 Member
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    First seeking help would be the best thing beable to talk about it and why its happening. When I was in Hs I was anorexic and bulemic i did go into the hospital because of it. but thats what helpped me see that I had so many unhealthy relationships with food exercise and so much more. I understand you are in the very begining of this recovery but if you are so tranfixed on these numbers and your weight & by not seeking help (parent dr friend nutrientist) your not doing yourself any good and could fall back into the same old patterns. Even As big as I am now everytime I start losing weight I way over do it and i worry so much that im going to fall back into my old patterns so i sabatose(sp) my life style changes
    I wish you all the luck in the world and pray you talk to someone because not only are you talking about food issues you've also mentioned suicide. dont be afraid to talk to someone and take help.
  • urasweethart
    urasweethart Posts: 123 Member
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    question I just seen your ticker are you still trying to lose weight????????
  • daniellepants
    daniellepants Posts: 18
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    question I just seen your ticker are you still trying to lose weight????????

    Well...yes. After my body gets to a normal, healthy state again, I'm going to get to the lowest healthy weight I can be.
  • kikirina
    kikirina Posts: 4 Member
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    I recovered from an ED 15 years ago, with help from my family and therapy, therapy is very important an ED is like being an alcoholic you take it one day at the time. It is a long road to teach yourself you can eat everything in moderation and that it is ok not to count measure and control food. Look for your support group, look for specialist your body will recover but you need to give it time, it gets better I know! It gets to the point where you can be healthy and enjoy food regardless of the calorie content and thinking more on nutrient value. You took a first step that is the hardest!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    You mentioned that you have been in recovery for 6 weeks in your post - what did you mean by 'recovery'? is it something you are doing yourself or are you getting help?


    ETA: you are perfectly OK to post the questions here, please do not think that I (or anyone else) meant you should not. We are just worried that you will not get the adive/help you really need from this site.

    By 'recovery' I mean that I'm re-feeding my body. I haven't gotten help from anyone, so I'm confused and I probably do need professional help. I'm just too embarrassed by it to reach out to anyone. The physical part of this disorder is getting better, but I'm getting worse mentally.

    There is absolutely nothing to be embarassed about. You will see a lot of post from people on this side who had or who are recovery from an ED. Also, the professionals who you will be dealing with should you get professional help see it all the time.....its what they do. If you have a good relationship with your mum, she will really want to help and I doubt she will be angry, especially if you explain everything to her. I am not much help in getting knowing where to get professional help without parents knowing, but I would suggest you look into support sites (and please be careful of the pro-ana ones) that you can get advice as to where to get help. Please do not let embarasement stop you.
  • texastango
    texastango Posts: 309
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    Or will it ever?

    This is an excellent question my dear friend. The truth is we don't know the answer. If you want to eat more, in general, you'll need to up your activity level. This will provide a cushion so that you can eat more. Many people I know exercise so they can eat more - as opposed for the cardiac benefit.

    Resistance training will increase your metabolic rate, in general, more than aerobic exercise. You'll replace fat (which doesn't do much to increase your metabolic rate) with muscle (which will increase it some - there are debates as to how much...some argue - study out of UTMB in Galveston 1 lb of fat replaced by muscle will increase your metabolic rate by 5 cals per day....others say more).

    I'm not going to comment on purging, ED, etc because I know nothing about this other than it would help to have a professional in this area talk you through your feelings. If you have questions, feel free to PM me.

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  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
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    I see by your profile that you are not really 19 but are really 16. Really, you need to be talking to your parents about this because they are the ones that can provide you the help that you really need. The nutritional and emotional needs of teenagers are very different than those of adults who use these sites. This is why they require you to be 18 to use the site (not to mention the legal liabilities of discussing a lot of things with a minor)... This being said, you mentioned thoughts of suicide ... This is ALWAYS something you want to take very seriously. Please discuss these thoughts with your parents or school counselor or other trusted adult. These thoughts are always considered a medical emergency and should never be disregarded. You are a person of value and I really hope that you are able to work through this in the best way possible.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    I suspected that you were under 18 but just became aware (from the above posters comments) that you had confirmed that in your updated profile.

    Please pay attention to what he says and specifically the phrase in his last sentence - "You are a person of value". You need professionals to help you understand this.

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