Once you have acknowledged you suffer from anorexia, you need to gain control of your life and establish a daily routine that encourages you to gain weight and become healthy again. Seeking the help of an experienced therapist to address the psychological issues that contributed to becoming anorexic is essential in reversing the negative behavior that resulted in the weight loss in the first place.
Step 1
Consult your physician and work together to create regular, healthy eating habits. To counteract the physiological damage caused by anorexia, you will need to eat foods that are both nutritious and high in calories. Examples include, fresh fruits, fruit juices, nuts, cheeses and creams as well as complex carbs, such as whole grains, pasta, cereals, beans and potatoes.
Vegetables, while often nutritious, are low in calories and you would have to eat a massive amount of them to gain any substantial weight.
Step 2
Track your daily calories. Diligently writing down what you eat each day will give you an accurate count of how many calories you consume. Often, people who have suffered from anorexia think they are eating more than they really are. To make tracking easier, use a food journal or create an online account (see Resources).
Step 3
Immediately stop exercising and participating in sporting events. Both activities cause you to burn calories and lose weight. To gain weight, you have to consume more calories than you use. Once you have gained enough weight to safely exercise again, your doctor will work with you to begin to slowly incorporate small amounts of low-impact exercises into your daily routine.
Step 4
Take a multivitamin and eat plenty of protein each day. Protein helps build muscle density and provides the body with energy, encouraging overall wellness.
Step 5
Eat well-balanced mini meals throughout the day. Eating mini meals encourages food consumption and decreases the negative feelings that may be associated with sitting down for a large meal.
Step 6
Refrain from weighing yourself often. If you are a recovering anorexic, the scales have probably played a huge role in your life, you must now learn to reprogram yourself and focus on being healthy, not skinny.
Tips and Warnings
- To avoid slipping back into unhealthy habits develop a strong support system. This can include family and friends or if you are uncomfortable talking with people you are close to, join an eating disorder support group.
- For extreme cases of anorexia, hospitalization may be required. Professionals may then insert a feeding tube to force nutrition into the body.
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