Should I count calories to gain weight?

[Lilly-2]

I'm trying to gain weight on my own to recover from anorexia do you think it's best to count calories to make sure I'm eating enough or will this just keep food on my mind more and make me recover more slowly?

[MEJones]

Hi Lilly-2

It’s good to have a rough idea so you know you’re not eating too little but personally I wouldn’t (& didn’t ) count. You are recovering so there’s no such thing as too many calories or a set limit. As you said counting can just become a new obsession & recovery is about feeling your kind from those ED tendencies and behaviours. Eat when you’re hungry, if your head tells you not to do something then you should 100% do it e.g oh I don’t need Pudding = I need to go have pudding as the first though came from your anorexia not you.

Really good luck with your journey, it’s hard but there is nothing better than a. Life free from ED x x

[Lilly-2 in reply to MEJones]

Thank you so much you have been really great help since I've been trying to recover all your advice has helped me 😊

[MEJones in reply to Lilly-2]

You’re more than welcome, I know how hard it can be and how having some reassurance can make all the difference. It’s not easy but it’s 100% possible 😊 x x x

[crazycrossstitcher]

Great you want to recover - doing it alone is really tough and if you could contact your GP and get some dietary support from an ED centre that I am sure would help you. Have you tried contacting ABC they have a part-time dietician? As to counting calories - that's a tough one - its likely to make things worse from experience - the ED uses it and makes your brain into a calorie counter and I found it made me restrictive and more focussed on food - shopping became a nightmare with continual looking at packets for the calories - your GP practice nurse might have portion size based diets which might be more helpful - I know a small slice of cake can look huge in my mind - so buying slices - or ready meals which were person portioned helped me see what is normal. Hope this helps and good luck.