Trying something new for weight gain

[Lunar*Fey]

So I've finally taken the plunge and upped my fat. I really feel better on like 10% fat and beside fresh avocados I never find myself wanting nuts and have to force myself to eat them. Unfortunately, I can only get avocados when they show up on the reduced produce rack so I haven't had them in a while. Any way, to get to the point...after gaining to a healthier 95 lbs (forced at an IP place, meatless SAD...very very sad sad sad and I must admit mostly gross) I lost weight without knowing it back to the weight i had previously been...I'm around 88-89 pounds and my body seems to refuse to budge. So after being threatened back to inpatient...I decided to take the plunge. THe last two or three days I increased my fat intake to about 20% fat....keeping the approximate 10% protein and 70% carbs. This can totally fluctuate somewhat-- that is just approximate. Prior I was unknowingly doing an 8-1-1 sort of thing, almost...with fat ranging from 7% to the usual 13%.
SO what do you guys think? Is this increase a healing thing or something that will just bloat and block me up while burdening my body with more fat than it can handle? I know I'll probably just have to wait it out and see...I guess I would rather have more raw fat than to have to leave and eat absolute crap constantly and be told over and over that I have a full blown eating disorder. But do you think it will work? It increased my calories a lot :) TOday I had like 3200 or something and I was like woo go me! I NEED to prove that I CAN be healthy on raw...maybe then they will love and support me. It's weird, although my weight is quite low none of my bones really stick out unless I bend-then my spine and some back bones show but otherwise I don't look any bonier than I ever did in my life. I guess I was always a skinny thing...always had twiggy arms and legs any way...rather spider like shape. ah well, I have decided to love my body regardless of its given shape or mal-shape. I guess I just want feedback. Any one else eat a similar ratio? Remember, the weight gain for me is really the high calories, i am not saying only eat that ratio to gain weight.

thanks everyone!

[Sleek98]

Sounds great, I hope it will work for you to get to where you need to be. I think that if you have major digestive issues then you should be able to eat as much fat as you feel comfortable with. I think that some bodies really do need more to flourish, and some situations need to cut way back to heal.
I would definately try more in your situation.

[misslinda]

(((( I don't get it ))))))))


They want this for mental relief--right?

Lunarfey, if you [feel] better doing it the other way, it's going to be interesting to see how you [feel] upping the fat intake. I don't necessarily agree that increasing fats is going to heal you per se. Gain weight? I don't neccessarily believe it can be healthy gain either....that'll be for you to judge to see your body feel internally.

Please don't think that stuffing yourself with calories after calories is healthy either......they body can only handle so much at a time........

Boy it seems your family has really distorted thinking to the point that no matter what you look like, they are wearing those same "glasses."

How is your circulation lately? still red/purple hands?

[Sleek98]

Oh honey, I just re-read a line in your post that makes me sad! I'm sure they love you no matter what you eat. They may not be able to show support for something that they don't truly understand. But I hope that you can know how much you are loved, and how important you are as an individual. ((hugs)) Hang in there!

[luckitri]

LunarFey . . .I don't count that stuff. I go totally by how I feel so I cannot advise. I just want to say hi and request that you get some kind of intervention. It is horrible but once you get a label - even eating disorder label - now they say the eating disorder is in your head and it is easier for them to claim other things are in your head as well. Get intervention, get counseling, something that will help, please. . . .regardless if your family wishes to deny their affect on you and claim it is in your head - you are still suffering and need help and support. I am not saying intervention for food but for your feeling lack of support and love at home. Now I am going to love on my kid.

[Ginger]

Do you work out with weights? Can you put on some muscle as weight gain? That would be healthy! I would suggest if your body is used to low fat raw, that you increase slowly, maybe a few % a day, so you can ease your way into the higher fat feeling.

[Solace]

Do you work out with weights? Can you put on some muscle as weight gain? That would be healthy! I would suggest if your body is used to low fat raw, that you increase slowly, maybe a few % a day, so you can ease your way into the higher fat feeling.This is what I have heard time and again. " When your 100% raw you must workout to KEEP the weight on and gain. If you don't workout you may stay very thin." I don't know if adding fat will help unless you do some muscle building work.:confused: That info came from people like Storm- http://www.thegardendiet.com/

[luckitri]

LunarFey? Are they forbidding you to exercise?

[SmilingRawDancer]

I know that lots of people follow lower fat diets, and give all sorts of reasons why to NOT eat lots of fats, but I've also read studies of people who have lived on coconuts and done wonderfully. (Udo and his people?)

Anyways, I'd say to keep upping the fats Lunar*Fey, and don't worry about the results, just see what they are. If you feel AWFUL, then lower the fats. But I think fats would be a great tool for you to use to gain weight.

BUT, I also think that after lower caloric intake your metabolism might slow down, and thus make weight gain quite a bit easier.

You can disregard evrything I just said if you so choose, as I know that lots and lots and LOTS of people are constantly giving you tips and opinions on weight gain, and if I were you I'd be a bit tired of it....but I just want you to succeed and flourish on raw! I am so sorry for your family situations :(

Good luck on the gaining!



http://www.healself.org/weightgain.html

[rawstrawberry]

Hey Lunar*Fey,

I feel so much for your family situation and know they do not treat you as they should! I think deep down your mom loves you so much and may be terrified something may happen to you, but that does not condone abusive behaviour!

But as a online counterpart LOL I have can understand eating disorders and have been to clinics but for compulsive eating. Are you sure you are ok? If I was a friend or mother or a sister and saw my friend at 88 pounds I would be very concerned and scared for them.

I really hope you get to see a nutrionist/doctor that is supportive and can help you design a meal plan that doesn't make you sick but can help you body adjust to real food and keep on the weight.

I wish you health and happiness. I moved out when I was 14, it was a very hard road but follow your heart, go to social services do what you need to do to take care of your health. You know in your heart what you need to do to take the stress off your insides.

Raw Strawberry

[Lunar*Fey]

I just want everyone to know that I don't ever mean to blame my mother for my problems or make her sound bad at all. I love her and I know she really loves me and wants me to be healthy...she just has some issues of her own that get in the way and skew her vision of things and such. you know?

Sleek,
thanks :) I figure I might as well try it. What can it hurt? I can always go back to less fat if I see negative results. This attitude is new for me, I think it {{might}} be a good thing. My problem is that I really like the fresh fats and although I used to love nuts I am really not into them much...I just don't desire them. I don't have any fresh fats (avocados, etc) around right now..so this is hard! thank you for your support and opinions. again thank you so much *returns HUGS*

MissLinda,
I understand what you mean totally. This is sort of something I have decided to do. I don't want to go back to an IP place and I am sick of everyone constantly putting me down because of my weight...it really affects me because they are in control of me. otherwise, although it might still bother me, I would shrug it off as I am a steadfast sort of person.
"Boy it seems your family has really distorted thinking to the point that no matter what you look like, they are wearing those same "glasses."" --I know it is the most frustrating thing! I just need to get out of here and be out on my own where I can flourish by my own standards...surround myself with tons of glowing sunshine, love, light, joy, tons of any fresh raw foods I desire, healing exercises, etc.
Thank you so much for your care and concern MissLinda :). I still get red hands although as spring comes it is not so bad. I always get healthier in the summer/spring...I can always feel when it is coming to...smell it in the air, hear it in the songs of birds. According to blood tests, my bones suddenly weren't so healthy or something...apparently my body was taking from my bones or something. That is when I started to ENSURE that my calories were above 2500 a day and the fat was higher. I started by making it about 15 percent and now its about 17-20 where I will probably stay for a while. I figure I might as well give it a chance. I am trying to fit in some strength training and today I rode my bike as there was sunshine! hte sun has been shining and since I have been getting more sunlight/increased calories my bones haven't gotten achey. I don't know if that is due to other factors though, who knows. I agree that simply mindlessly stuffing my body is NOT healthy and that my health should not be based on a weight. But at the same time I have lost weight since going IP and need to get it back up to where it was in order to be accepted by the doc and family...I am thinking that doing it this way where I am able to go to school, eat raw, and even get some exercise is much healthier than going IP simply to gain weight would be...and how unfair to all those who truly horribly struggle with a disorder.
I don't know...

Lucktri,
thank you so much for your support. You are such a loving person. I agree that I probably should. But I don't desire another therapist right now, I mean I already analyze everything in my head and look at it from all the different view points and figure out motives and all that! Its then that one knows they have had too much therapy. LOL. no but I just don't think I could handle going to therapy right now, all it succeeds in doing is making me think more and more about my "problems" when I already think about them far too much.
you know what I mean? All the therapists I have talked to say there is nothing that can be done about my situation and focus on the no longer existant "lack of eating" that took place like 2 years ago. So I don't know. Also, yes I am supposedly not allowed to exercise. I remember my mom recently said no you aren't suppposed to be walking that far! although once in a while we take walks together with my little half-sister so I don't know. I try to do some strength training in my room when I can. Otherwise I walk home from my bus stop which is only like 3/4 of a mile or something. I rode my bike today because I could before anyone else came home. Its so nice getting some sunshine. So my mom doesn't outright forbid it but I am not supposed to.

RAwVeganMom,
Thanks for the advice :). I try to work out a little. But its hard when that is seen as an eating disorder thing. I squeeze in a little in my room most days. Mostly upper body.

Solace,
thank you. *Smiley face* What I wrote to RawVeganMom applies to what you have suggested as well. I agree that exercise is important for health. I am going to try to make sure I can do some! I just hope I am doing it correctly.

SmilingKyle,
I agree. I mean the Crete people ate all olive oil as their fat source and never had any heart attacks with a dit of 40% fat. I am not saying I think that is optimally healthy...but it goes to show that one diet might not be right for every person and that raw healthy plant fats are probably used much more healthfully by the body.
I was never eating less than like 2200 calories on raw. Recently I was probably getting about 2500+ a day with 10-13% fat...so I figure why not up it to like 3000 and 20% fat...I mean IP I had to eat tons of awful crap food at like above 3000 calories with mucho fat and dairy and all processed crap so I figure this is better than that no matter what. Maybe my body needs more fat, which will be a hardish concept for me to accept unless I actually TRY it. Thank you so much for your support and concern. *smiley face*

RawStrawberry,
aww thank you soo much. I know 88 pounds seems very concerning and I agree it is low. But its weird...all my health is good except white blood cell count is slightly low. and I have been this weight for a long time. The highest I weighed naturally at this height was like 95 lbs not that that means anything. I am a teenager and should be growing/developing as I feel my body doing. I have my period although I don't bleed. I do have a very small frame and have always been a lower weight than the average my age. Its in my genes. But that isn't taken into account. Even so I should gain weight. I agree, what I really need is to releive the stress and put myself into a glowing sunny loving happy environment filled with multitudes of fresh delicious fruits, greens, vegetables, and such. thank you again :)

[luckitri]

Hah! I understand what you are saying exactly. Some exercise would be great for giving the mind a break and refreshing. I used to be 5'5" and 88 lbs. No-one was concerned.

Times have changed.

Exercise makes you hungry and then you eat more and you gain more and you grow more. . . so I am totally lost on that one.

Be well!

[Lunar*Fey]

I totally agree about the whole exercise thing Luckitri. *sigh* They say that being underweight makes me too unhealthy to exercise. Wow you were really underweight. If I were 5'5 they would stick me in a hospital bed and tube feed me. I am 5'4...although I technically should be growing *crosses fingers* as my whole family is really tall and according to my previous growth I should eventually be between like 5'7 and 5'10 but my doc says you stop growing at my age :(. I have trained myself to be able to eat even when not hungry because of two IP places and a strong will. Anyway I, too, think it is totally wrong to take a way exercise which really really helps relieve stress and makes me feel strong and free...gets my mind of things and allows me to have fun. *sigh*...another reason I need to gain weight so I will be allowed to participate in athletics again. It's been a long time...I hope I still have the drive.

[rawpriestess]

It's good to read you again, Lunar*Fey,

sending you hugs :o)

[Sleek98]

Now that the sun is shining hopefully you'll be able to get for more bike rides and walks and get that vitamin D for your bones! :) I know I'm starting to feel more alive with spring getting here!
Good luck with the more fats. You're right, you never really know until you try!

[luckitri]

Just give half an ear to the doctors. Many of us grew after we hit 21. There are plenty of people who would have curled up and died if they had listened to the doctors. (wrong diagnosis) I cannot believe that they are saying that. Watch! You will see so many changes in thought during your lifetime. In another 5 years they will admit that they are wrong.

We adopted a full grown cat - several years old. Since he has been in our care he has doubled in size! And we have only had him for 4 months!

I know that humans are not cats but still . . . I am wondering about the power of suggestion here. What interest do they have in keeping you small?

PS I have a small frame too. Little light weight bird bones. I did get exercise when young but have always been frustrated with my light bones and density. Wonder if more exercise would have done the trick? You are still building bones for your life at this age.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I really hope that you can persuade your parents and doctor to allow you to do WEIGHT-BEARING excercises to bulk up. Print out some articles on how it improves bone density and will help you gain. I don't see how they could refuse this!