#calorie needs

[latinathlete]

I call this: I have a stomach bug/cold and no soup but I still have to hit my calories 😭

[whoneedssexed]

Why is it that dmab people are said to need more calories because they're on average bigger when many dfab adults menstruate and are constantly growing and regrowing the lining of an organ? I feel like at the very least the gap should be smaller because of that, if not negated completely

Sorry for the long wait for an answer! We had to work on this one a bit.

The reason is that testosterone causes a higher metabolism that works towards muscle development. DMAB people are assumed to have testosterone of a certain amount, and thus are assumed to need more calories to fuel it.

This is also why calorie needs change throughout life; why young DMAB people are assumed to need more than elderly.

So, that being said, anyone who has more testosterone generally needs more calories, and that includes trans people who go on T.

Of course, the statements aren’t totally rooted in assumed biology.

In general, cis boys are encouraged to eat more and are assumed (and pushed) to do more physical activity, while cis girls are encouraged to eat less and are assumed as doing less demanding work (for example, women’s sports are often considered as less athletic).

Where we see parents joking about their boys eating them out of house and home, you’ll often find these parents criticizing their girls on how they eat and the amount they eat.

So thus we hear the sentiment of “growing boys”, but not “growing girls”.

So there’s cissexism (assuming all and only DMAB people have higher testosterone, thus more calorie needs) and a bit of sexism and gender essentialism sprinkled on top, but there is actual research at the bottom.

- damegreywulf

[letsrecover]

I REALLY need help. I can not find answer to my guestion ANYWHERE. So, I bef u: tell me how many cals would u recommend for me. Problem (good thing) is that I never went underweight. Close yeas, but not all way. I exrecise 2 times a week bc doctor wont let me go 4 times. I dont know if I need 2000 cals or will I gain with that? I've also tought that my body might be damaged so 2500 etc would be nice but I AM TOTALLY LOST bc everyone tells me just what to do if i'm underweight!! Please. Help.

The Minnie Maud guidelines is for ANYONE who has a restrictive eating disorder regardless of how “underweight” he/she is. So yes, you need to eat the minimums (generally 3000+ but it may be a bit more depending on your height).

You will gain weight during recovery because your body simply isn’t made to function at the weight you are at now if you got there by restriction/overexercise. Staying at that weight is only damaging your body further. I strongly suggest that you stop exercising and eat at least the minimums (like I said before, usually 3000, but it can be more) and if you can eat more than that, it is even better and you will recover/be happier sooner <3 

I hope this helps!

- Xinwei

[letsrecover]

Hiya, Amalie you said that in recovery one should follow 2500-3000.... How do I know how much? Because I still like to have regularity and structure a plan with minimums and 500 calories between 2500 and 3000 seems too vague for me so I don't feel like going over 2400 at all.

Whether you need 2500+ or 3000+ depends on your weight, age, height and gender;

THE FOOD INTAKE GUIDELINES

Here are the guidelines for when 2500 calories applies as a minimum daily intake for recovery:

You are a 25+ year old female between 5’0” and 5’8” (152.4 to 173 cm) and,

The regular menstrual cycle has stopped and/or,

You have other symptoms of starvation: feeling the cold, fatigued, foggy headed, hair loss, brittle nails, dull skin and/or,

Even if you were only underweight/dieted for a very short space of time (a few months) these guidelines apply. And remember “underweight” is relative to your body’s optimal weight and is not a clinical measurement. 

Here are the guidelines for when 3000 calories applies as a minimum daily intake for recovery:

You are an under 25 year old female between 5’0” and 5’8” (152.4 to 173 cm) or an over 25 year old male between 5’4” and 6’0” (162.5 and 183 cm) and,

The regular menstrual cycle has stopped and/or,

You have other symptoms of starvation: feeling the cold, fatigued, foggy headed, hair loss, brittle nails, dull skin and/or,

Even if you were only underweight/dieted for a very short space of time (a few months) these guidelines apply. And remember “underweight” is relative to your body’s optimal weight and is not a clinical measurement.

Here are the guidelines for when 3500 calories applies as a minimum daily intake for recovery:

You are an under 25 year old male between 5’4” and 6’0” (162.5 and 183 cm) or female with young children or an equivalent and unavoidable level of activity.

The regular menstrual cycle has stopped and/or,

You have other symptoms of starvation: feeling the cold, fatigued, foggy headed, hair loss, brittle nails, dull skin and/or,

Even if you were only underweight/dieted for a very short space of time (a few months) these guidelines apply. And remember “underweight” is relative to your body’s optimal weight and is not a clinical measurement.

If you are taller than the guidelines listed above, then add 200 calories to the guidelines that match your age and sex. If you are shorter than the guidelines listed above, then you may eat 200 calories less than what is suggested for your age and sex, however these are all minimum guidelines and everyone is expected to eat well above them for a good portion of the recovery process in any case. Please see this this blog post for more details: Extreme Hunger: What Is It?

- Amalie

[letsrecover]

minniemaud makes you kind of food focused. why is not better to just eat like others and do daily things without thinking so much what you can't do in recovery?

Chemo makes you so cancer focused. Why is it not better to just live like others and do daily things without thinking so much about what you cant do in treatment?Seriously. An eating disorder is a real illness which causes mental and physical damage. In recovery you have a severely damaged body that has to be repaired, being ”food focused” for a little while is the least problem you have. It is not just ”something on the side”. You somehow have to get those 2500-3500+ calories inside you and not exercise. A cancer patient needs chemo. An eating disorder patient needs extra food. I know it might suck to focus so much about getting enough food and relaxing, but it is temporary. You need that temporary ”break” in order to fix yourself once for all, so you can live life to the fullest when you are recovered.- Amalie

[letsrecover]

I understand the minimums are 2500-3000+ but because i am "weight-restored" and have few starvation symptoms (no period, smaller amounts of hair loss & occasional food obsession) but i do not reach the heights indicated by minnemaud guidelines, (i am under 5ft, 16 years old) so does that mean that the minimums are too much for me because i am so short & that i am now weight restored?

Check out ”Does the Minniemaud guidelines apply to me?”Spoiler; they do. They really do. The guidelines are MINIMUMS. You are encouraged and expected to eat more, maybe 4-5 times as much during extreme hunger.I think you misunderstood another thing; the MM guidelines are not only for people who are over 5ft! The guidelines suggest that if you are under 5ft, your MM guidelines might be a few hundred calories lower, but once again, the guidelines are minimums. Lets copy some from here;Here are the guidelines for when 3000 calories applies as a minimum daily intake for recovery:

You are an under 25 year old female between 5’0” and 5’8” (152.4 to 173 cm) or an over 25 year old male between 5’4” and 6’0” (162.5 and 183 cm) and,

The regular menstrual cycle has stopped and/or,

You have other symptoms of starvation: feeling the cold, fatigued, foggy headed, hair loss, brittle nails, dull skin and/or,

Even if you were only underweight/dieted for a very short space of time (a few months) these guidelines apply. And remember “underweight” is relative to your body’s optimal weight and is not a clinical measurement.If you are taller than the guidelines listed above, then add 200 calories to the guidelines that match your age and sex. If you are shorter than the guidelines listed above, then you may eat 200 calories less than what is suggested for your age and sex, however these are all minimum guidelines and everyone is expected to eat well above them for a good portion of the recovery process in any case.”Your minimum recommended intake according to the Minniemaud guidelines is 2800 calories, no exercise.- Amalie

[letsrecover]

How important is it that I get 2500-3000 EVERY DAY? What I mean is, if one day I don't manage to get up to my count and am 200-300 under, but then the next day am up to the count is that okay? Or is it acceptable to go 200-300 over my count? Is it okay to shoot for a weekly total?

There is a fine line here. If a person in recovery eats 3000, and suddenly ends up eating 2800 one day, it is not like everything is damaged and starvation mode attacks. The problem is when the person finds themselves eating a few hundred calories more and more. Thats typical for people with eating disorders; ”just today, no harm done”. And then add the typical overestimate behavior. People in recovery often overestimate their intake. Then the person might be a little too active.. too busy.. And suddenly the days have gone by, and the person has been restricting. This is why we are so ”strict” with the intakes - because in recovery we need to be strict to ourselves. It might be annoying to be full and know that you should eat 200 calories more, but recovery is annyoing at times. The positive thing is that our bodies are smart. If I have a busy day and end up eating less than usual, I get extra hungry the next day. That way it balance out, and I maintain my healthy weight. The problem is that in recovery some are just full all the time, and then they need to eat after numbers - temporary! - Amalie

[letsrecover]

Hello, I'm building up to eating 3000 calories a day and was planning to have around 1700 today(increasing by 100cal a day). Today however, I am feeling so so hungry and like my stomach is a bottomless pit! Would it be dangerous (in terms of refeeding syndrome) to go over my 100cal a day increase if I have the hunger for it? Thank you :)

According to YourEatopia, you first work your way up to 2000 calories, and then increase as much as you want. If you have reached 1700 calories today, you will be able to reach 2000 in 3 days.(But please make sure you are not just overestimating you intake!)

I cannot tell you it is medically safe to follow extreme hunger immediately, although it would be the best idea in itself - because your body desperately needs the energy. You could try to follow extreme hunger, but keep checking for symptoms. If you feel lightheaded, nauseous, clammy, feverish, confused; get a bad headache, vomit, or your hands/feet start swelling up, call 911 immediately! Refeeding syndrome is easily treated in a hospital setting, but is deadly otherwise. However, it is very rare.

I would advice you to wait a couple of more days to increase drastically. Schedule an appointment with your doctor, where you ask for regular follow-ups regarding electrolytes, heart, nerves, etc.

I do not mean to scare you, but I just can’t risk to give you advice that could kill you - and better safe than sorry. Best of luck! <3

- Øygunn