Unexplainable weight gain?

S

star wisher

New member
Hi!
I discovered these Health Boards because I was searching for an explanation for my recent and bizarre weight gain.
I'm recovering from anorexia nervosa, diagnosed 3 years ago; my lowest weight was 62lb. I had a sort of plateau weight until 4 months ago (110lb/50kg; 171cm tall), below my required minimum but yet stable and rather "secure".

My diet has consisted, for some time now, of vegetables (raw or boiled, devoid of any dressing), fruit, legumes, little whole grain and non fat yogurts/cheese. My daily calorie input is around 1000cal +/- 100 (35-40% protein, 55% carbs, 5-10% fats); I exercise regularly (walking, aerobic activities..) and have no menses ever since I started loosing weight three years ago.
My bones lost density in the peak of my disease, and my osteopenia was still around last year (when I last checked) ;).

Yesterday, [4 months after I last stepped on a scale (110lb!)] not expecting a significant change, I found that I was suddenly 10lb heavier - 120lb!
I was very distressed, not so much because of the number itself, but because I lacked a reasonable explanation for it to be so.

I'm sorry for the big text, but I am still very PUZZLED and PANICKED!

Thanks to all of you who are patient enough to read this... :)

PS: I do eat humongous amounts of vegetables and drink about 4 liters of fluids (diet soda, tea, coffee and water) per day; hence my recent established tendency for water retention.
 
it really depends on when you weigh yourself as well, ie. was it during the same time of the day? did you go to the toilet before or not? remember sometimes undigested food can take up some of the weight too, and esp if your eating lots of fruit and veg, ie fibre-y stuff.

Also, becuase you're recovering from anorexia, the intitial, rapid weight gain could very possibly be due to fluid retention since your body is still trying to get back to its normal state, but this is usually temporary and it will go away.Remember sometimes the weight is INSIDE your body, not necessarily always fat or muscle - could also be because your bones are getting denser, your organs getting back to their normal size after the starvation, and such things obv does contribute to some weight gain too.

But i would suspect water weight to be the cause of the very rapid gain for you. because its impossible for the body to store that much fat or build that much muscle in just a couple of days! ie, you can't get 'fat' in just one or two days. it has to be water weight!
especially if you're consuming carbohydrates - which can cause fluid retention becayse carbs store quite alot of water in the body.

Also, if you've recently got your periods back, it might be another sign. or if you still haven't got the back - the weight gain may as well be a sign of your menstruation about to return.

Don't worry too much about it - as long as you: don't have severe edema (swelling) of any sort that shows, or if the weight gain doesn't go away after a couple of weeks - then you should definitely go back to your doctor and have it checked. it might be disorders with your lymphatic and circulatory system, which can sometimes be damaged due to starvation and needs other medical treatment.

otherwise, im happy that you've recovered, plenty of good luck to you :):)
 
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