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I'm currently recovering from anorexia (it's been a span of 2-3 years, I've never gone over 107 during this span). I use to weigh around 130lbs, w/ height around 5.0" when I was 13-14. Now I weight about 100lbs (90 being my lowest), with a medium build, about 5.1" now, and 16 (almost 17) years old.

I've had a previous post about weight gain, but I since then, I've encountered a lot of challenges with the paleo diet regarding weight gain...

First of all, my parents don't really eat "paleo" at all, they aren't into "healthy" things, so it's hard to make them meals (I usually cook dinner) that are both acceptable for me and them. For the past few days, I've made meals that they haven't really appreciated too much (due to the lack of some of their favorite ingredients: bread/pasta/tortillas/corn tortillas/etc). I've been subbing things like spaghetti squash for regular spaghetti noodles, and breads made of coconut/almond flour instead of white. Nothing has appealed to them (to me they're acceptable), and they've noticed no change in my weight... the bottom line is, they're not happy.

I really would like to weigh around 115lbs but I've been STUCK at 100lbs-104lbs for around a year. It may possibly be because I don't eat enough... but I'm unsure that's the case. I eat high fat foods and a ton of protein (nuts, seeds, avocados, fatty meats, chicken, eggs, turkey, occasional ham/bacon, coconut butter, nut butter, seed butter, regular dairy butter, home-made Greek yogurt, baked goods made with almond flour/coconut flour, honey, bananas, blueberries, pears, apples, Romain lettuce, cooked spinach, tomatoes, Japanese sweet potatoes, occasional plantains, regular dairy cheese, and I'm sure other things that I don't have on top of my mind right now). All of these things are full-fat and organic/high quality. It's been hurting my grocery budget (I also shop for my family... a little 'different' but since I'm the one who cooks, I'm the one who know what I need to get), and I've been kinda stingy with ingredients (including the ones I also consume).

This 'stingyness' has led into a slight decrease in my own food intake, so I've been probably not gaining much/any for the past couple weeks (since I've started being COMPLETELY grain free).

I've been thinking... since I really need to gain that weight (my hair is still falling out and I've yet to start up my menstrual cycle again) as soon as possible, should I just hold off being 'paleo' until then? (I would still eat 'healthyish', like stuff relating to Ezekiel Bread products, vegetables, ice-cream/home-made ice-cream, potatoes, corn tortillas/corn tortillas fried in Safflower oil, some white/whole wheat/spelt flour, pasta, products with sugar, chips, fruit, commercial bacon/butter/cheese, home-made cake/cookies/biscuits/pie/etc, some processed foods, and other stuff of the like). If I thought about it hypothetically, if I gained the weight the 'cheaper' or 'economical' (and faster) way, then I'd be able to resume my 'paleo' lifestyle without interference from my parents (I would just cook them a separate dinner I guess, but they won't let me do that now, because if I do something like that, they automatically think I'm "afraid" of that food and falling back into the 'anorexic' mindset again... they start worrying and making comments like "You really need to eat more, you're looking really skinny". Ugh. I want to be healthy! I don't care about how I look anymore, it's been so long (a very long 2-3 years...) and I'm just exhausted.

I'd really appreciate any opinion I can get on this topic...

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Sounds like paleo is enabling you to continued disordered eating. That's the biggest problem right there. Also, you're a kid. Get real help, not internet help and validation. – Matt Oct 29 at 12:59

5 Answers

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One, this site is not qualified to give advice on eating disorders so please make sure that you have a nice trustworthy support group of health practitioners. If you don't, then head out now and come back when you do! I know doing things without accountability when it comes to diet/activity can seem okay at first, but can become really overwhelming and cause a perfect storm for symptoms to reemerge.

Two, I would not recommend you go strict anything for now, but if you did want to go for a more overall-health approach of healing your body, this is a good eating plan: http://perfecthealthdiet.com/the-diet/ . Includes rice and other "safe starches" which should help get caloric intake up and loosen up on the budget restrictions. One of my favourite things I ate in recovery from weight loss is white rice cooked in a really nutrient dense bone broth- very soothing. Another eating style to look into would be "Weston A Price" style of eating, the book "nourishing traditions" by Sally Fallon covers a lot of this- includes grains and legumes, prepared in traditional methods. She uses a lot of fermentation.

Three, get your Vitamin D and zinc tested if possible. Some studies have shown that essentially all anorexic patients clock out as zinc deficient. If you want to get more involved with your supplements, "the mood cure" has some interesting stuff OR you could consult with a professional in your area (preferable, obviously). Other "supplements" provided by whole foods would be to include plenty of egg yolks, liver (pate is my fav form), bone broth, and fermented foods.

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The thing is, doctors just tell people like me to eat 'whole-grains' and that I should have 'ice-cream' everynight, to help weight gain... they aren't very helpful. I'm not starving myself, nor am I in some kind of 'danger' zone, so I thought it was alright to post a question for opinions on how/what should I do regarding weight-gain. I understand what you're saying though. I eat a lot of eggs, so I think I just need to increase consumption of animal organs (liver, etc) and bone broths... do you mind sharing how you made that? Is Organic free-range (w/ no sugar) an acceptable substitute?... – Jen Oct 29 at 13:35
Also, that 'perfect health diet' seems pretty reasonable, I think I'll look into that aswell. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. – Jen Oct 29 at 13:35
***Organic free-range pre-made broth (w/ no sugar) – Jen Oct 29 at 13:36
I meant more of your support team- people that you can talk to, that track your health with regular testing, give you a close connection to a lab for blood tests. If you aren't finding it in doctors, there are alternative health care practitioners that many people prefer, just make sure they are reputable. Support is really important throughout the whole healing process, and often it's good to have someone outside of your family circle who can give you more objective goals and criticism. – JeJ Oct 29 at 14:39
Bone broth is made from bones, it can't be substituted from anything made at the store (unless you live in a pretty swish neighborhood with a good high end butcher shop, and then it's expensive). traditional-foods.com/bone-broth that says more about it, I make mine from chicken feet/carcasses most of the time, beef is harder for me to source but soooo worth it. It will majorly boost your mineral intake, which is really great for bone density (which you should have checked if you haven't already). – JeJ Oct 29 at 14:42
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Hi Jen. I'm on the same boat as you - 98 lbs, 5'3 in height, trying to gain. I recommend sticking to paleo but adding more fat and more calories in general. I have yet to gain (well I gained 3 lbs in half a year) but since paleo, my hair stopped falling and I can really feel my body healing itself. I think increasing calories and nourishing yourself are what you need. Now is not the time to compromise your gut health. We need to absorb nutrients to gain safely.

Good luck to us!

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Hi Emma, it's nice to be able to have someone relate to me, especially since you're in the same position (physically). I think I just need to add more calories... Sometimes I'm worried about adding too much of 'this' or 'that', but people keep telling me there's no such thing as 'too much' right now... but how would you suggest I add so much more food, if I can't afford that extra amount of paleo food (ex. extra grass-fed beef, extra free-range chicken, extra organic sweet potatoes, raw & organic nuts/seeds, etc)? Also, if you don't mind me asking, what are some of the things you include... – Jen Oct 29 at 13:00
... in your meal plan? Do you eat at certain times? Oh, and also, what's your opinion on Ezikiel bread? (sometimes it can upset my stomach, but my parents want me to be eating some kind of 'bread', and I don't always have the time to bake up a whole batch of bread when I need it. Thanks for the reply! – Jen Oct 29 at 13:02
**(by 'bake up a whole batch of bread' I mean a 'paleo' no-grain bread made with almond/coconut flour) – Jen Oct 29 at 13:03
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yes. gain the weight. get your health back before you start a new, rigid routine that will make you refocus on your diet.

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So... stop worrying about what I eat now (while gaining it back) THEN when I'm at a healthy weight (and my hair stops falling out/menstrual cycle starts again), start eating Paleo again? – Jen Oct 29 at 6:38
don't worry/fret, but don't eat ice cream and bread. more sweet potatoes and rice as the others said, highly nutrient dense foods. but don't stress yourself out over being clean Paleo or anything until later – nursling Nov 1 at 3:35
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Hi, Jen. I refocused my budget to cut back on other things and allot more resources for food. I also added more fat into my diet - adding a few more olive oil/coconut oil/sesame oil when I cook or when I make a salad, and mix my coffee with unsalted grass-fed butter and coconut oil. I also stopped counting calories and just made my plate a bit bigger (nothing too drastic though haha). I eat whenever Im hungry - 3 times a day, and a snack. Still a work in progress, but please note that Im also consulting with an endocrinologist and an OB-GYN so Im not alone in this :)

Not too keen on Ezekiel bread - but thats just me. My GI just goes bonkers. But you know, dont worry about "too much". Think of eating as nourishing, and as an expression of love for yourself and your family. Ever since my husband and I decided to start a family, I suddenly had renewed vigor to improve my health and to snap out of obsessing about being tiny. And while the pounds have not yet registered in the scale, eating more and eating smart made me look better and happier :) So go go go!

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By the way, Paul Jaminet is amazing :)

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