Not eating enough...

[adenzangel]

I had a baby two weeks ago and made sure that I ate. Now that I am not pregnant I am starting to not eat as much again. I know that If I don't curb it I will get really sick again. The lowest weight I have been is 78 lbs and I am 5' 2". Right now an average day of eating is a bowl of cereal and a cheese sandwich. What exactly is a normal diet? What kind of things should I be eating?

[Renee Radenberg]

For your height, your weight should be 110lbs. You are very much underweight. Anorexia eating disorder disease is complex and is not about just low food intake. I do recommend you seek medical help with your anorexia. This will help you and your children.

[adenzangel]

I am 22yrs old. When I got pregnant I was about 110 but it took forever to get to that weight as I would fluctuate around 100. While deep into anorexia my goal weight has always been 100 or less. Where exactually should I be? I have to fight not to excercise in the gym now. What exercises can I do now? How might I prevent this disease for my kids, a boy 4 and a daughter 2 weeks?

[micaela27]

your children will model your behavior, so it's important to get yourself into a program that will help you work through this eating disorder.  it's hard enough to be a mom of a toddler and a newborn as it is, but when you add the emotional pressure and physical damage to your body from an eating disorder on top of that, it's extra difficult to feel like you have enough to give.  you deserve to feel good, to treat your body well and to show your children what healthy eating behavior looks like.  anorexia causes you to have an altered perception of food, eating, hunger and body image and this is why it is so important to find help from a professional.  entering therapy will allow you the chance to meet this disorder head on and begin to heal and progress toward a healthy and safe lifestyle.

when you talk with an eating disorder specialist, he or she will work with you to set realistic goals for getting better.  that may or may not involve picking numbers, as anorexia often causes its victims to focus too heavily on counting and numbers.  each program is different, but it's SO important you find help and stick with it.

as you and your therapist work together, you will find that exercising can be a healthy and normal part of your day, but again...  you need to work through that with a professional.

i can't stress enough the need for you to get help for this.  you've done a very brave thing by acknowledging your eating disorder and i encourage you to take the next step for your sake and your childrens' sake and join an eating disorder therapy program.  call your insurance provider and ask for information on what types of programs are covered under your insurance.  best of luck to you.  you deserve to be happy and healthy and i hope you can find a way to start taking steps toward that goal.