I want to recover . but not gain weight

[handsbreak]

So I have a BMI of about 19.5 or 20. On the low side but still healthy!

I want to stop worrying about food & eat & enjoy it like everyone else.. I don't mind the way my body looks right now.. I don't want to gain weight. but I really don't want to loose any either. because if I do I feel like shit & im always tryed & weak. I want to be strong again, physically.

Is there anyway I can make this work without gaining and weight, or looseing it either? :\

[Nubzor]

I think your desire to drop & maintain is shared by almost everyone with an ED (granted, some just want to keep right on going). In all honesty, your body calls the shots. There is a certain "set point", a natural weight that each of us will hover around if we ate without thinking about it. Some people are overweight because they eat at McDonalds every day, others just have it built into their genetics and there is honestly not much that they can do.

Is there a way to "beat the system"? Maybe, but I sure as hell don't know how to. Either you eat normal and return to this set point, or you restrict and your body objects. I do believe it's possible to maintain at lower than normal weight, but you're going to have to maintain fighting your body at the same time. It should be easy, shouldn't it? It's our body. We should be able to call the shots. And thus the controlling, struggle for power ensues.

[willowrose28]

Yes, it may be healthy, but is it healthy for you as an individual? Maybe, maybe not. And honestly to recover you will have to just learn to accept your body at it's natural set point so yes you may end up gaining weight. Recovering is about being physically healthy and mentally healthy so start eating a proper amount (if you're an adult min. 2000 if teen min. 2500<--needs more to grow!! Seditary teens too.) and I assure you that you're body will get to it's set point which is where the mental recovery part comes in and you need to learn how to accept your body at it's healthy beautiful set point! Good luck <3

[lassi]

Recovering is about being physically healthy and mentally healthy so start eating a proper amount (if you're an adult min. 2000 if teen min. 2500<--needs more to grow!! Seditary teens too.) and I assure you that you're body will get to it's set point which is where the mental recovery part comes in and you need to learn how to accept your body at it's healthy beautiful set point! Good luck <3

While I agree with you about recovering being about becoming healthier, the calorie amounts you posted are not accurate at all. If I eat 2500, I will gain at a rate of ~2lbs per week.

A BMI of ~20 is perfectly healthy. However, I don't think it's possible to both stop worrying about weight/food but also desire to maintain a weight that isn't necessarily what your body wants to be. Start with calculating your maintenance calories and work out healthy and easy eating plans. When you're used to eating in that manner, it should be easier for you to stick to that number roughly as opposed to very strictly and you can ease off the plans. Maybe that'd work for you?

[jinxysmom]

What is eating normal? That is the determination you have to set for yourself. I think it's perfectly fine fr me to eat a banan for breakfast and a granola bar for lunch, and maybe sushi for dinner. But sometimes I'm simply starving and I b/p by dinner time.

I think to start "beating the system", you have to do it in steps. 1.) Throw away the scale 2.) Trow away the diet pills and refuse to buy anymore 3.) Set goals for yourself and plan what you will eat healthy that day and try to stay on track 4.) Make plans on what you are going to do to occupy your time so you're not thinking about food (that's my biggest problem... if I'm alone, forget it! My strength has collapsed)