Will my metabolism ever improve after anorexia?

Question

My metabolism has dropped drastically because I started starving, eating only dinner and limiting it to 300 calories. I lost 10 pounds in a month, but then I started losing slower and slower and now I'm not even losing. I started a decline in loss because my body was going into starvation mode and my metabolism was slowing down so I wouldn't lose more weight. Well, I realize since I'm not losing anymore weight and it's not fun starving all day and having 300 calories a day, I need to get out of this anorexia thing. But I am maintaining my weight by eating 300 calories a day. How can I eat a little more and not gain weight? I need to eat more but I will gain weight. Will my metabolism raise to it's original amount ever? HELP!!

Hey you guys are really supportive. Thanks for all the help. I have only been anorexic for 6 months and no one diagnosed me, I read about symptoms online and all of them fit me.

Did someone just tell me to smoke marajuana? That's even more disasterous to my health!

Answer 1

I suffered from anorexia/bulimia many years ago. Your metabolism will improve if you start eating healthy.

You will probably gain some weight back at first but don't despair. You need to eat to raise your metabolism back up. It's sort of the same concept as this: You need gas to drive your car.

Once I went into the hospital and started eating again, I gained 18 pounds (which I needed to do desperately) and then it stopped and leveled off while I was eating healthy.

I ate lots of whole grains like whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, etc. I ate plenty of fruits and vegetable. I ate beans, nuts and used peanut butter (natural - not that icky fake jif stuff). I ate eggs, yogurt and drank some milk. I also ate small amounts of meat as I have never been a big meat eater nor am I to this day.

I ate 4 times a day and my weight stayed the same. Once I started eating all the junk with the white flour and sugar, the weight came back on and it was fast.

I now strive to not eat the white flour/sugar and eat mostly a healthy diet. You can have that stuff sometimes, but just not a lot. For me that kind of stuff is a trigger. Moderation is the key.

Please don't starve yourself. I used to joke many years ago when I had been severely overweight that I wished I could be anorexic. Well surprisingly, it did happen and it was hell.

I did so much damage to my body that I can never undo. Here's my list of what happened to me during that eating disorder period.

Having suffered from anorexia/bulimia many years ago, I can tell your first hand.

1. You are at risk for osteoporosis (This still hasn't happened and I hope it doesn't in the future.

2. Your teeth become so weak which makes your prone to lots of problems to fix. I've had numerous cavities and still seem to get them a lot even though I take care of my teeth now. I've also had numerous root canals and have actually had teeth break off and have had to have some pulled. Now I have to wear a partial and eventually get a bridge. It has and will continue to cost me a ton of money for many years to come.

3. If you stop getting your period because of being underweight, your female reproductive organs can start to shrivel up from being dormant (ie. Ovaries not releasing eggs) If you decide in the future to have children, it may be hard for you.

4. You will grow lots of fine hair all over your body.

5. If you are taking any laxatives you can get numerous kidney infections which is bad for your kidneys. My kidneys still ache sometimes and I always still to this day have to pee a lot.

6. It messes with your heart.

7. You can also overdose on laxatives which can have severe it not fatal effects. I did this once and almost died. I was in ICU for a while because of it too.

8. You can screw up your metabolism which you will regret.

9. Your mind is not clear because your body is not getting its nutritional and caloric needs met.

I'm sure there's more, but that's what I remember from my experience.

Answer 2

Anorexia Metabolism

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Will my metabolism ever improve after anorexia?
My metabolism has dropped drastically because I started starving, eating only dinner and limiting it to 300 calories. I lost 10 pounds in a month, but then I started losing slower and slower and now I'm not even losing. I started a decline in loss because my body was going into starvation mode...

Answer 4

Yes your body will go back to normal.

Treatment of anorexia is difficult, because people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early stages of anorexia (less than 6 months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to the hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them.

People with more serious anorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people with anorexia and bulimia. Treatment involves more than changing the person's eating habits. Anorexic patients often need counseling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, their family problems or their problems with self-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counseling.


Good Luck

Answer 5

marijuana is by far.. far.. less disastrous to your health, like sooo much.
I don't smoke it, not my thing, but many of my friends do, and do so regularly, and not once have I actually met somebody who's had marijuana related health issues. Many people smoke it chronically for medicinal purposes, marijuana in some place is actually prescribed to those with a lessened appetite, it increases your metabolism causing you to become hungrier and more gluttonous.

Answer 6

Go for kettlebell workouts — an average joe burns 400 calories in 20 minutes.

Answer 7

You know as a fellow starver, free now for one and a half yrs, its hard to hear stories still of girls having hard times with this disease. Positve sides... Im a good 95 lbs have been since i got better, i was down to 82lbs at the end of my bindge, i started to exercise alot like arobics and stuff that i could do at home. The trick to bringing back up your metabolism is to just eat whe you are hungry. When you eat, and your stomache is saying Im full, just ignore it because thats not your stomach thats your mind. You need to stretch your stomache back to normal so it will accept the food. metabolism is a game, the more you excercise the hungrier you get and the hungrier you get the more you eat. And if you can try smoking some marijuana, it is legal in some states. It helps by giving you the munchies which in return you crave sweets and other fatty foods that are good for replacing the lost fatty tissues that held in in nutrients and other stuff to help your body. And i only suggest this because I started purging because of sweets and chocolates and stuff.

Answer 8

When boredom, depression, or even stress causes cravings, find a nonfood way to fulfill them such as getting a walk, calling a friend, taking a bath, reading a book, as well as doing some yoga.

Answer 9

i had the same problem so listen up
everytime you eat your metabolism starts working right? sooo what do you have to do? eat a lil more OFTEN and exersize

first, you MUST eat breakfast! choose fruit, protein, and whole wheat(if you need it).
eat somethig light for lunch
you can eat fruit anytime as a snack because you will not gain weight.
and eat around 300 cals for dinner.

do not go to bed right after eating.
try not to eat after 6 or 7
EXERSIZE!!! run, walk, swim, jump...
but im pretty sure your body is really tierd from all the work you put into it so you can give it a break for a few days and then start to exersice.
I HOPE THIS HELPED

Answer 10

Muscle mass melts away more calories, so include three 20-minute strength-training sessions weekly.