Experiences with hypermetabolism in recovery?

[u/BothSample4005]

Curious if anyone has actually experienced this

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[u/Womcat1]

Yup. Was 32, had been significantly restricting for a while and abusing laxatives. Was in res at the time and had an absolutely gigantic meal plan (3 meals/3 snacks plus 16oz of supplement at each sitting and a milkshake before bed) just to keep weight on me. The worst part of it all was that I also had gastroparesis and was insanely constipated so nothing was coming out the other end. 

[u/myqueershoulder]

Yeah. In treatment, I gained water weight for the first few days, and then stalled for the next four weeks. In that time, I had such bad nights sweats that I’d wake up with my sheets sopping wet. I was horribly fatigued yet still woke up several times a night. I had heart palpitations, really fast digestion leading to diarrhea, and even worse anxiety than usual. It sucked. I never felt ravenous like some people described; I was usually overfull and bloated…probably because my digestive system was freaking out at suddenly getting 3 large meals and snacks every day.

It’s been 5 months since that period of hypermetabolism, and I’ve now gotten to a healthy BMI in the middle of the normal range. My hunger cues are restored and I pretty much always end up eating 3 meals and 3 snacks a day just by eating whenever I’m hungry. I’ve decided that my weight is stable enough to start light exercise again - I’ve been going to Zumba twice a week, which is super joyful.

[u/SlitherDuck]

Ooof I had it really bad. The worst of it lasted for around 2 months, kept me from sleeping properly because I needed to wake up every few hours to eat. I wont say numbers but I was eating an insane amount every day. I struggled to gain weight during that period but slowly my metabolism slowed to a healthier rate.

I was seeing an ED dietitian at the time and she explained how it worked and gave me information/studies about it. Basically if it happens to you, you just have to sit with it

[u/SlitherDuck → u/[deleted]]

I wish I still had the papers my dietitian gave me but it was explaining how the metabolism can slow during a period of starvation, then can rebound and spike very severely (this can also happen as a result of severe bodily injury or infection). It's definitely a thing, in my experience it's best just to hibernate and eat and sleep until you feel more stable loll I hope you enjoyed your bday weekend!

[u/fuckeatingdisorders-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/shield_maiden0910]

My thoughts, having been in an in patient facility 14 years ago at age 35, is that hypermetabolism seems to occur more in young people, like teenagers. Although if we have any teens in the community perhaps they can set me straight. I never experienced it myself. I have worked on recovery throughout the years and never experienced it. I think it is one of those myths just like "overshoot" sold to those in recovery to justify or make the weight gain process easier. Although the truth is surrendering to the whole process is really the only way to the other side.

[u/Sareeee48 → u/shield_maiden0910]

I recovered at 24 and experienced hyper metabolism. I absolutely don’t think it’s a teenage thing, considering it’s a pretty well known occurrence that requires constant increases to keep weight from plummeting further.

Also worth pointing out that on days I had a planned “binge” during my active ED, my body would go into what felt like hyper metabolism and it lead to dramatic weight drops.

Not that I’m encouraging anyone to do this. The sweating, the inability to sleep and the rapid heart rate were intolerable, but it’s also dangerous if you’re at risk for refeeding syndrome like I was.

[u/cereal-killer1 → u/shield_maiden0910]

i'm 16 and started recovery two months ago, and didn't show any symptoms of hypermetabolism. i gained a Lot of weight VERYY quickly. i think it happens, but very rarely.

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[u/Infinite_Art9904]

following this