I'm a former anorexic who is now overweight.

jennevere · 03-02-2008, 04:58 AM

Hello everyone. I really need some help. I'm having a hard time dealing with this. You see, I am a former anorexic (5'5, 100 lbs), and have recovered. My psychiatrist gave me the drug Neurontin to help with my depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Since I've been on the drug, in the past 4 1/2 months I've put on 55 lbs. I know, its crazy. I've been bingeing every single night (at least 3,000 calories per day I've consumed during this time). My BMI is now 26.0, which is overweight. I'm very scared. Being a former anorexic, this is extremely hard for me to deal with. I feel so fat, worthless, unsexy, and horrible. My fiancee thinks I still look sexy, but I don't know if he's telling the truth or not. I guess my confidence isn't very outstanding. However, this Wednesday I am going to my psychiatrist and I am probably going to be taken off of Neurontin. I am just praying that this will help me lose some weight. I hate how I look now. Compared to my former skeletal form, I feel that this chubbiness is worse. Has anyone had a similar experience to this when recovering from Anorexia or when taking a psychiatric drug? When I am off of the Neurontin, how should I go about losing weight in a healthy manner? Thank you so much for your input.

Aleadragonhawk · 03-02-2008, 05:07 AM

Talking to your psychiatrist is a good idea - I'd also suggest meeting with a regular doctor or nutritionist and explaining that you've suffered from anorexia in the past and are looking to get down to a healthier weight. They can suggest healthy ways to lose weight and monitor your progress to help make certain that you're progressing at a normal rate.

One thing to remember is that weight isn't solely about looks - anorexia carries a lot of health risks. Being overweight does as well, but you aren't severely obese, where the most risk comes into play. And it's hard to do, but also try to remember that your worth as a person is not based on how you look.

Gracelove · 03-02-2008, 05:08 AM

Hey There!!!!!

Oh my gosh!!! I can totally relate!!!

Hang in there, it is sooooo hard to deal with something like that. Because you still have the mindset of an anorexic.

It'll be okay though, I think you'll just have to learn to become patient with yourself. It takes time though.

After a while, you'll be able to go out in public without feeling shame, or look in the mirror without feeling disgusted.

This is a time when you can learn to love you for you, and not your weight. It'll be a really hard thing to do, but you'll feel much better when you've learned to love yourself regardless.

Best of luck to you!!!

*Hugs*

~Grace

MorbidMetalHead87 · 03-02-2008, 05:28 AM

you Putting on weight and bingeing could all be the side effects off the Neurontin I would suggest you speak to your doctor.

JohnD · 03-02-2008, 05:39 AM

155 is normal, its OK trust me

weight is just a number. what is important however is how you feel about yourself. the reason people became anorexic, as you probably know it is because you feel less about themselves.

try make a list of things are like about yourself as a start

savannahohsavannah · 03-02-2008, 05:52 AM

Stop binging right now! Don't do it. It's part of your illness. Are you purging too? Excessive exercise? Misused diuretics and constipation drugs? Tell your pdoc.

Siriana · 03-02-2008, 05:59 AM

My psychiatrist gave me the drug Neurontin to help with my depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
However, this Wednesday I am going to my psychiatrist and I am probably going to be taken off of Neurontin

Talking to your psychiatrist is a great idea.
Maybe he will choose not to take you off this med if it helps you with anorexia problem and OCD.
I just wanted to add in case he advises you to stay on it - listen to him.

Have you tried setting a plan?
You don't have to binge.
You need to have healthy meals that contain all the elements you need and you should make a plan to have your meals at exact time.
You need to have a breakfast, than a snack before lunch, than a lunch and light dinner.
Have you ever talked to a nutritionist?

renaissancewoman101 · 03-02-2008, 06:43 AM

I always thought Neurontin was prescribed to help you deal with chronic pain???

A few years ago, a neurologist prescribed me Neurontin to help me control my back and neck pains.

BeStrongBeHappy · 03-02-2008, 08:03 AM

Congratulations on not being a skeleton anymore! A few pounds to lose is a very normal state, and you will be fine!

I suggest you check out weightwatchers.com, because they have a terrific plan where you count 'points'. Everyday you are allowed a certain number of points (for example, 25), and they have calculators to calculate the point value of what you eat. You can track points by entering the calories/fat/fiber value of food and it calculates it for you, or look up the name of the food in an online DB.

It is very flexible because you can eat anything, but structured because you can track your points online every day. When you want to lose weight you get a lower set of points, then when you are healthy you get more points.

It can be a whole new lifestyle, where you KNOW you are eating a healthy amount of food and can track your weight and what you eat in a healthy way rather than an unhealthy way. check it out!

RayKay · 03-02-2008, 09:35 AM

Well, I will say I am sure the drug and binging aren't helping...but I want to also say after anorexia it is normal for your weight initially to increase a lot because your metabolism is truly messed up and it is taking that food and storing it thinking you might not eat again...it can take a while for your body to "adjust" to the idea it is not going to be starved again and go back to a healthy weight for you.

To give you an idea, when I was anorexic my lowest weight was 83 lbs (I am 5'4") which is extremely sick in retrospect as I had nothing on me at that weight! After I started to heal from the anorexia I went up to 130 which was the most I had EVER weighed (before my anorexia I had weighed around 115). It took me a while, but sticking to the healthy eating, getting a healthy amount of exercise (not overdoing it like anorexics can be tempted to do) and I got back down to about 120 (more than my initial weight but I feel far smaller at this weight as I have more muscle and more toned so actually look smaller than I did at 115!).

I think talking to the psychiatrist is a good idea, but I also think you need to go talk to a nutritionist whom has experience in eating disorders - your psychiatrist may know someone. Binging is not going to do it...you really need to be eating healthy foods but ENOUGH calories (I would say around 1,800 - 2,000 a day), getting some exercise and being patient with yourself as your body learns to adjust its metabolism again.

And, I wanted to say congratulations on starting to heal. Anorexia is a terrible, terrible place to be and its a hard road out...you should be VERY proud of yourself as you really have just saved your own life in more than one way.

03-02-2008, 04:58 AM	#1
jennevere Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Gender: None Specified Posts: 0	I'm a former anorexic who is now overweight. Hello everyone. I really need some help. I'm having a hard time dealing with this. You see, I am a former anorexic (5'5, 100 lbs), and have recovered. My psychiatrist gave me the drug Neurontin to help with my depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Since I've been on the drug, in the past 4 1/2 months I've put on 55 lbs. I know, its crazy. I've been bingeing every single night (at least 3,000 calories per day I've consumed during this time). My BMI is now 26.0, which is overweight. I'm very scared. Being a former anorexic, this is extremely hard for me to deal with. I feel so fat, worthless, unsexy, and horrible. My fiancee thinks I still look sexy, but I don't know if he's telling the truth or not. I guess my confidence isn't very outstanding. However, this Wednesday I am going to my psychiatrist and I am probably going to be taken off of Neurontin. I am just praying that this will help me lose some weight. I hate how I look now. Compared to my former skeletal form, I feel that this chubbiness is worse. Has anyone had a similar experience to this when recovering from Anorexia or when taking a psychiatric drug? When I am off of the Neurontin, how should I go about losing weight in a healthy manner? Thank you so much for your input.

03-02-2008, 05:39 AM	#5
JohnD Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 101	155 is normal, its OK trust me weight is just a number. what is important however is how you feel about yourself. the reason people became anorexic, as you probably know it is because you feel less about themselves. try make a list of things are like about yourself as a start __________________ The reason we fall is so we can learn to get up again. "Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever" ~Our hero, Lance Armstrong

03-02-2008, 05:59 AM	#7
Siriana Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 3,769	My psychiatrist gave me the drug Neurontin to help with my depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. However, this Wednesday I am going to my psychiatrist and I am probably going to be taken off of Neurontin Talking to your psychiatrist is a great idea. Maybe he will choose not to take you off this med if it helps you with anorexia problem and OCD. I just wanted to add in case he advises you to stay on it - listen to him. Have you tried setting a plan? You don't have to binge. You need to have healthy meals that contain all the elements you need and you should make a plan to have your meals at exact time. You need to have a breakfast, than a snack before lunch, than a lunch and light dinner. Have you ever talked to a nutritionist? __________________ Quid pro quo "Don't have any children or get married until you can support and love yourself first." Last edited by Siriana; 03-02-2008 at 06:02 AM.

03-02-2008, 09:35 AM	#10
RayKay Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Middle of Canada Gender: Female Age: 30 Posts: 13,270	Well, I will say I am sure the drug and binging aren't helping...but I want to also say after anorexia it is normal for your weight initially to increase a lot because your metabolism is truly messed up and it is taking that food and storing it thinking you might not eat again...it can take a while for your body to "adjust" to the idea it is not going to be starved again and go back to a healthy weight for you. To give you an idea, when I was anorexic my lowest weight was 83 lbs (I am 5'4") which is extremely sick in retrospect as I had nothing on me at that weight! After I started to heal from the anorexia I went up to 130 which was the most I had EVER weighed (before my anorexia I had weighed around 115). It took me a while, but sticking to the healthy eating, getting a healthy amount of exercise (not overdoing it like anorexics can be tempted to do) and I got back down to about 120 (more than my initial weight but I feel far smaller at this weight as I have more muscle and more toned so actually look smaller than I did at 115!). I think talking to the psychiatrist is a good idea, but I also think you need to go talk to a nutritionist whom has experience in eating disorders - your psychiatrist may know someone. Binging is not going to do it...you really need to be eating healthy foods but ENOUGH calories (I would say around 1,800 - 2,000 a day), getting some exercise and being patient with yourself as your body learns to adjust its metabolism again. And, I wanted to say congratulations on starting to heal. Anorexia is a terrible, terrible place to be and its a hard road out...you should be VERY proud of yourself as you really have just saved your own life in more than one way. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]<--- [COLOR=sienna]Carbun the Super-Bunny[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/FONT] [B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=#556b2f][/COLOR][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkolivegreen][B]At the end of the day, how you imprinted on someones life and heart is the only true mark any of us leave on this earth and is what we are most proud of... [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- My Biggest Hero and Mentor: My Mum.[/SIZE][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=orange][B]Il faut d'abord durer [/B][/COLOR][/FONT][I][SIZE=1]- Ernest Hemingway[/SIZE][/I]

03-02-2008, 05:07 AM	#2
Aleadragonhawk Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,424	Talking to your psychiatrist is a good idea - I'd also suggest meeting with a regular doctor or nutritionist and explaining that you've suffered from anorexia in the past and are looking to get down to a healthier weight. They can suggest healthy ways to lose weight and monitor your progress to help make certain that you're progressing at a normal rate. One thing to remember is that weight isn't solely about looks - anorexia carries a lot of health risks. Being overweight does as well, but you aren't severely obese, where the most risk comes into play. And it's hard to do, but also try to remember that your worth as a person is not based on how you look.

03-02-2008, 05:08 AM	#3
Gracelove Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 1,444	Hey There!!!!! Oh my gosh!!! I can totally relate!!! Hang in there, it is sooooo hard to deal with something like that. Because you still have the mindset of an anorexic. It'll be okay though, I think you'll just have to learn to become patient with yourself. It takes time though. After a while, you'll be able to go out in public without feeling shame, or look in the mirror without feeling disgusted. This is a time when you can learn to love you for you, and not your weight. It'll be a really hard thing to do, but you'll feel much better when you've learned to love yourself regardless. Best of luck to you!!! Hugs ~Grace

03-02-2008, 05:28 AM	#4
MorbidMetalHead87 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 290	you Putting on weight and bingeing could all be the side effects off the Neurontin I would suggest you speak to your doctor.

03-02-2008, 05:52 AM	#6
savannahohsavannah Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 382	Stop binging right now! Don't do it. It's part of your illness. Are you purging too? Excessive exercise? Misused diuretics and constipation drugs? Tell your pdoc.

03-02-2008, 06:43 AM	#8
renaissancewoman101 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: the land by the sea Gender: Female Age: 36 Posts: 8,564	I always thought Neurontin was prescribed to help you deal with chronic pain??? A few years ago, a neurologist prescribed me Neurontin to help me control my back and neck pains.

03-02-2008, 08:03 AM	#9
BeStrongBeHappy Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 7,417	Congratulations on not being a skeleton anymore! A few pounds to lose is a very normal state, and you will be fine! I suggest you check out weightwatchers.com, because they have a terrific plan where you count 'points'. Everyday you are allowed a certain number of points (for example, 25), and they have calculators to calculate the point value of what you eat. You can track points by entering the calories/fat/fiber value of food and it calculates it for you, or look up the name of the food in an online DB. It is very flexible because you can eat anything, but structured because you can track your points online every day. When you want to lose weight you get a lower set of points, then when you are healthy you get more points. It can be a whole new lifestyle, where you KNOW you are eating a healthy amount of food and can track your weight and what you eat in a healthy way rather than an unhealthy way. check it out!