I've had enough of under eating basically. I lost weight relativly fast and although I am not underweight, I have this lose skin and flab I need to tighten. But thats besides the point. See, I am scared to eat even semi normal again because I know my metabolism must be in starvation mode and eating more could make you gain weight. I was thinking though....if I slowly increased my caloric intake say 50 calories a day, and began to exersise a little more doing cardio and weight training....is there a chance that I won't put on the weight again because I am doing this at a slow and steady rate? I figured doing this slow and increasing exersise while increasing my intake would balance it all out. But I am afraid to make this move if it won't. In your honest opinion, could I beat starvation mode on my own?

Macy, macy, macy...

Adding just 50 calories a day into your diet is still undereating. Recovering anorexics are encouraged to add 500 calories per day back into their diet. Also, because your metabolism is in starvation mode, your body is going to USE those calories to help your body function. Remember, it is not calories that make you gain weight. It is EXTRA calories that make you gain weight. I am a recovered anorexic so I know how you feel. It doesnt sound like you're willing to recover. I know it is a very hard mindset to break. And changing your eating/exercise habits is scary. Or at least it was for me...you can beat starvation mode. You can beat it by eating and eating enough. You probably need to see a doctor or dietician. Please get help.

Macy, macy, macy...

Adding just 50 calories a day into your diet is still undereating. Recovering anorexics are encouraged to add 500 calories per day back into their diet. Also, because your metabolism is in starvation mode, your body is going to USE those calories to help your body function. Remember, it is not calories that make you gain weight. It is EXTRA calories that make you gain weight. I am a recovered anorexic so I know how you feel. It doesnt sound like you're willing to recover. I know it is a very hard mindset to break. And changing your eating/exercise habits is scary. Or at least it was for me...you can beat starvation mode. You can beat it by eating and eating enough. You probably need to see a doctor or dietician. Please get help.
Well I wanted to add calories slowly until I am up to a healthy amount. So...you didn't gain weight after your ed? Everyone says that in recovery you gain because your metabolism is slowed so even eating normally will make you gain. Now I am not in recovery I am doing this on my own. I think in recovery they don't really focus on how much weight you gain back but simply focus on getting better. I am trying to do both. I think by doing this slowly I may have a chance to beat it. Because I know wating 500 calories a day more WILL make me start gaining and I don't want to risk it because I know I will stop doing it if it does. At least I am trying to change though...

Hi Macy,

As someone who is going through the same thing right now, I understand the feeling of motivation to get better while still having the fear of food/gain ever-present in your mind. It is VERY hard. I don't have a therapist and am using medication which makes good choices much easier for me, but here is what I have done. I realized that even though I'd had eating disorders for YEARS and could recite the fat/calorie counts of any food by heart, I didn't know a thing about actual nutrition. So I read online and in library books until I knew that approximate number of calories it would take to support my healthier weight, and what ratio of carbs/protein/fats it would require. Then I used a food tracking website to make myself a meal plan, and paid careful attention to getting all those nutrients met. I kept exercising and was AMAZED to see my metabolism keep up as I slowly added a hundred calories every few days.

I started eating whole grains, more fiber and lean protein, lots of dairy and vegetables. That gave me a lot more energy. I tried every new food or calorie limit as an experiment - 'let's see how this works' - and believe it or not, I've gone up quite a bit in calorie intake, but have yet to gain weight. I am actually having trouble getting myself to do so. I think you have to take care of yourself both physically and mentally - go quickly enough to allow your metabolic rate to slowly go up (exercise helps!) but slowly enough for you to feel safe and learn to trust your body and hunger instincts. Make yourself a goal for the day, but give yourself plenty of options to reach it. If you feel over-full, break it up into small meals (I have 6 or so a day, feeling full is not something I can handle yet) of approximately the same number of calories so you can choose something that feels ok at the time. Have some meal shakes on hand to help yourself catch up if you don't manage to eat enough during the day. The most important thing is to keep trying. It's not something you decide and just do, it's something you have to convince yourself of a hundred times a day...but it's possible!

As for the loose skin...I lost quite a bit of weight and it just takes time, exercise, and maintaining a stable weight - the up/down yo-yo just makes the problem worse. I found light calisthetics to help a lot with firming up. And finally, I'd always echo the suggestion to have a nutritionist evaluate and guide you on this. It is tough.

Another help with loose skin is dry-skin brushing. Buy a long-handled brush with soft bristles and following your shower, dry off and brush your skin for several minutes. On arms and legs brush upwards towards the heart, as well as on your stomach and buttocks. Brush your back as best as you can, which is why a long-handled brush makes this easier. This not only feels great but helps rid the skin of dead skin and leaves you feeling invigorated.