I messed up and now i feel like a failure.?

Question

I'm trying to recover from anorexia and it's hard as h**l. It's been going on about 2 years now, but last week I finally got somewhere. I was eating 3 meals a day and everything was great. Overall I need to gain about 15 pounds and I went to the nutritionist Friday and I had gained one according to the scale even though I knew it was because I had had a lot to drink. But then two days in a row, I went back to my old habits of eating 800 calories. On both days I still ran and today I feel like c**p. My legs hurt, I have no energy, etc.

I know that I won't want to eat again tonight if I don't exercise today, but what should I do? Anyone have any advice on any of this?

Answer 1

I'm a recovering anorexic, it's been four years since I started eating healthily again. I'm glad you realize that you're falling back to old habits--that's a huge step toward recovery. Drink some water, find some fruit or veggies. I always felt better about eating when I knew that what I was eating was good for me.  Have a friend over tonight. Isn't it easier to eat when it's a social thing? Have dinner together, or even just some little snacks. If you can moderate your exercise--yoga or walking instead of running, that would be good too. Best of luck! Life is so much more wonderful free.

Answer 2

I think you need to be going to a counselor along with a nutritionist.  

Answer 3

I used to have anorexia. I ate about 300 calories... so that was a mess. You have to look at what it does to you, and what it will do to you in the long term. Do you really want your hair to fall out, and your bones to become brittle, and most importantly... do you really want to die? You have to keep eating well. It's very hard for the people you love to watch you waste away. Maybe you don't care about what happens to you (I know I didn't), but at least consider how your family feels. When someone you love is suffering, doesn't it break your heart? It breaks mine, and that's the only thing that got me to stop. When you get older, it will only get worse. You already know how depressed and weak anorexia makes you, do you really want that to consider for 10, maybe even 20 years? It's a slow and painful death. Just remember that you are loved, and listen to your nutritionist and your family, they know whats best <3 :)

Answer 4

From the bottom of my heart, I can tell you this. No one can help you, only yourself. Till today, I'm just like you. Maybe worse. It's all about HOW WE FEEL. I know I'm skinny, but, if I happen to eat something fattening and look at myself in the mirror, my face seems to "expand". It's just all in our heads.

Get over that, you're safe.

You don't have to eat fatty food! Gaining weight doesn't mean eating fatty food. You can have vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereal (I always eat that!) or oatmeal. These are REALLY low in fat. But eating them throughout the day, it will not affect your health, in the bad way. But, giving you the energy to run and healthy skin! Think about it.

Watch what you eat, but make sure, you meet the daily requirements. But it's all up to you. No one can help me.. yet. But I really want to help you. That's why I'm still sitting in front of my computer typing this even though I'm late for an appointment! As life is miserable this way! Bless you.

Answer 5

Don't worry, I am going through something way similar...

  Make a list of all the reasons why you should eat healthily and look at it before every meal.

Stick pictures of good, healthy-weighted role models in a book and look at it often.

Try and think about all the advantages of eating. You say you have no energy. Just think of how much energy you will have and how much of a better mood you will be in if you eat. You will be bouncing off the walls!

  Talk to somebody. Its surprising how much help friends and family can be. Even teachers can help. Tell them how you feel and how it makes you feel when you eat. They can help you, but not push you, towards a happier, healthier lifestyle.

You said that things were great when you were eating 3 meals a day. 3 meals, thats all it is. Take things slowly, don't suddenly feel like you need to push all this food on yourself. Eat what you are comfortable with, and slowly and steadily increase your calorie intake.

  Just because you need to gain weight doesn't mean that you have to eat fatty food like McDonalds or chocolate. Sure - eat them once in a while but start off with the good healthy stuff. It will make you feel happier about yourself because its all good-mood food =] Stay away from junk food which will give you a sugar high, but then will quickly bring you back down again. You will be on a low which won't help your recovery.

  Good luck, I hope I helped even just a little bit. I really hope all this works out for you! x

Answer 6

Your weight x 10 + 250, is your recommended daily calorie intake. If you're a guy, add another 250.

The reason you have no energy is because you dont have enough calories in you. You HAVE to eat! I myself am a bodybuilder and have a high metabolism so I can eat 2500 calories a day for a few months without even worrying about gaining weight, yet still stay healthy and fit.

You have to stop thinking that you're going to get fat. Eat 6 meals a day, that are PROPORTIONED. Each meal containing 250-300 calories, that will fuel you up and keep your metabolism high throughout the day and you wont have to worry about anything.

Your body's going to start eating itself and you'll eventually die! When you dont get enough calories your body fuels itself with your MUSCLE tissue which is crucial to exercising!

Try weight-gainers.