[GradPhase]

I'm overwhelmed!

For the past five months, I've been having pretty bad stomach problems. I'm on medicine now for treating ulcers, because my doctor can't figure out what else it could be - so we're trying the treatment and seeing what happens. While all of this has been going on - I've been eating VERY few calories. My diet was super restricted, and everything I ate had me doubled over in pain. I couldn't sleep at night, and I couldn't even climb the stairs to my apartment without my stomach killing me. I was pretty much down to chicken broth on bad days, and a little bit of chicken and green beans on a good day.

The medicine seems to be helping a ton - now when I eat, it still hurts but not nearly as bad. I'm even back to working on the C25K program again! (Which is amazing, I feel SO great after working out). So in a lot of ways, I'm improving by leaps and bounds - but I'm worried I'm still not getting the good calories I need in. And I've noticed a lot of weight gain these past two weeks since I've started working out. I was down to 153, and today I'm up to 159. I haven't been eating the healthiest stuff EVERY day - but I'm not eating desserts, or fast food either (lately it's been veggie sushi, thai fresh rolls, and some delicious chicken curry) I'm worried that the weight gain has less to do what I AM eating, and more to do with what I'm NOT eating. I'm worried that since I've upped my work out, and my calories are still too low my body's in starvation mode. Would that make sense?

So I've just started calorie counting the last three days (and it's also helping identify what makes my stomach hurt after I eat) and I've only been in the 900 - 1,200 range. According to the Sticky on here it says I should be starting out around 1,500 - 1,600.

So I guess here's my question...

1. Is it foolish to think that might be what's going on?
2. What's the best way to go about raising my calories, without gaining even more weight if my body isn't metabolizing like I want it to? Does it have to get worse again before it gets better?

Any and all insight in to this would be great. It's really disheartening to see that after all I've been through with my belly, I'm now at war again with my scale.

[astrophe]

I'd up it to a balanced diet.

900-1200 won't keep my 6 year old going.

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutri...uirements.html

Can you see a dietitian? While there menu ideas online like here

http://diabeticgourmet.com/Food_and_...Meal_Planning/

you might have special issues since you are recovering from that ulcer thing.

A.

[grrrkgrrrl]

olive oil! (in extremely moderated portions) is great to add to salads to up their calorie count
and nuts-- and avocado.

[GradPhase]

My insurance isn't nearly awesome enough to allow for a nutritionist. I'm upping the calories (yay, olive oil!), but I'm gaining still. I'm at 1,200 calories, 160 lbs, and burnt out with the whole thing.