Eating Disorder Recovery

[OhIFellOff]

I'm documenting my journey to try and recover from an eating disorder over the year. I know I'm not alone in this struggle, so thought I'd share my experiences.

ellechapmanblog.wordpress.com

[OhIFellOff]

Hi, I hope everyone has had a good Friday so far. I have joined the Bloggers network on MN to see how that goes. So that it's a bit more of an obvious one, I will be NC'ing.

[Perfectlypurple]

Yesterday was good with the food. I didn't fit any exercise in but I am not sleeping well so struggled in the morning. I have a few more days before I get a day off so hoping I can stick to the healthy food. Wearing a tight uncomfortable uniform will help! I just need a week or so with no 'bad' days and I should get in the right mindset.

Hope everyone else had a good day and will have a good weekend.

[JokersGiggle]

Well done!

[Perfectlypurple]

Thanks jokers

[JokersGiggle]

I've just realised that I have lots of recipes that include a the number of calories per portion. So of anyone wants anything in particular just let me know and I'll have a look and post it for you

[FightingBed2014]

Hey, back with the name change

jokers I had to read your message a few times, I couldn't understand why you had calories on receipts. I got it in the end! Do you have any favourites from your list?

[Sleepwhenidie]

Jokers I haven't read 'Overcoming Binge Eating' which I realise some posters are using as their tool, but your post regarding calories concerns me - anyone dealing with disordered eating should avoid any calorie counting or structured 'diet' like the plague. The idea that you should control your appetite, exercise willpower, fear food, all contributes to the problem. The answer lies more in respecting and caring for your body more, seeing food a your friend, listening and responding to your appetite and how you react to specific foods...ie eating naturally, as a child or animal would.

In my work I start with looking at what and how a client eats and first experimenting with that to see what impact this alone can have...only then would we start to examine emotional/psychological aspects. It's amazingly common for some people to actually set themselves up for a binge for example by depriving/controlling their food intake all day, then they lose the battle with appetite and devour half the cupboard full of (usually sugar/carb laden) food in the evening! So simply by eating well through the day, bingeing can be reduced hugely in lots of cases.

So I'd suggest to anyone trying to sort out disordered eating, try and go on a no-diet diet, but eat mindfully, relax and take time for meals and pay proper attention to the food and your hunger/satiety and how you feel afterwards. If anyone wants to chat about their diet (in the true sense) specifically then I'd be happy to do so.

[Perfectlypurple]

sleep I am actively trying to not calorie count but I find it hard. I just want to eat normally. I either restrict a lot and over exercise or I just go mad and eat and eat - often food I don't really want or even when I don't feel hungry. Is there hope that I can get over this?

[Sleepwhenidie]

I'd really hope so purple . Could you talk me through your typical day, say when you aren't trying to restrict and then also when you are? Tell me the times you eat, what, how much and what you drink...if you'd prefer to PM the that's fine with me.

[FightingBed2014]

Sleepwhenidie The book has helped me realise that, exactly as you said, I have been setting myself up to fail with things like Weight Watchers. I've stopped being on a diet as such. But I have also found that no boundaries at all, in the sense I've always been used to, has had a bad effect. I'm interested to know if you have any tips you have for setting healthy boundaries? I am making good progress in avoiding the need to binge which is most of the battle but this is something that bothers me lately.

[Sleepwhenidie]

Fighting it's definitely hard to make the switch from feeling like there are 'good' and 'bad' foods and that we 'should' eat a certain amount and that we 'should' be a certain weight. These are often very much hard wired from a very young age, so patience and curiosity, with no guilt is required...also we have that little voice that tells us to keep eating even when we are fully aware that we aren't hungry...to me that's a reaction to the whole idea of restriction and 'shoulds'.

By giving ourselves permission to eat what we want that voice I think can be minimised...but it's the practice of slowing down and listening that gets us there without overeating. Practice and practice and practice . Pause and think 'I could (Note, not shouldn't!) eat that extra serving of dinner/cake and that's absolutely fine but do I really want it - am I just bored/upset/stressed....is there something else I could do/eat that would make me feel better? Sometimes we are genuinely hungry and sometimes we are genuinely in need of the comfort only cake or your favourite meal can provide and then it's fine, it's the right thing to enjoy it. Food can be so much more than basic nutrition . At other times we can learn to use other ways...perhaps expressing emotion we would otherwise suppress, or finding comfort in other things.

[FightingBed2014]

Thanks.x

[Sleepwhenidie]

No problem, I'm conscious of maybe over simplifying because it's such a huge subject to cover and everyone's background and motivations are different. Our childhood/relationship with one or both parents often gives big clues in this respect, but other experiences (eg bullying, sexual abuse, an emotionally abusive partner) may also have played a part....very often self esteem is a massive part of the puzzle.

[Sleepwhenidie]

Actually I should rephrase - 99% of the time self esteem is a massive part of the puzzle

[JokersGiggle]

I only offered as lots of people from other threads have said that they buy ready meals as the nutrition breakdown, especially clories is printed on the packet. I thought that in letting people know I had recipes they could use they might be more inclined to cook. I have been told to calorie count to ensure I get my daily amount, binging isn't my problem, lack of eating is.
I apologise to anyone I've upset.

[Sleepwhenidie]

Sorry jokers I didn't want to suggest you'd upset anyone, it's just that calorie counting so often contributes to the problem of disordered eating. Obviously when someone is forcing themselves to eat enough - rather than battling overeating or BED - then calorie counting can be a useful tool (because the person has likely lost sight of what normal portions are and what hungry/satisfied feels like). But I think that those sensations are what you should be aiming to get back to, as well as an understanding of what nutrition you are really getting from food in real terms...a calorie is not just a calorie, some are much more nutrition-dense than others and it is these we should usually choose .

[JokersGiggle]

Of If stopped eating when I felt full then id stop after 3 mouthfuls

[Sleepwhenidie]

I understand jokers. Are you getting any professional help?

[JokersGiggle]

I went to the doctor years so when I was in my late teens and to go away as they had other people to see. My guy works as a paramedic and picked up an assessment form From a hospital for me to do and most boxes got ticked. Took it to the doctor and got told off for taking hospital property and that was it. Been doing it alone with my guy and a friend who is a nutritionist. And emailing an eating disorder specialist in Australia.

[Sleepwhenidie]

I'm glad Jokers, sounds like you are in good hands

[JokersGiggle]

I just get really worried about others who don't have the links to access stuff for themselves I've accessed all my help through my mans medical acquaintances/friends/favours. Without that I'd have no help.

[FightingBed2014]

jokers It's sad to read that you have been turned away without help by the gp. It myst have taken a lot for you to go in the first place. Good to know you have support else where. I also share your concern about others not having acess to help. I wasn't aware of any before I started all this. Even last night when I joined Twitter, I saw things that I'd not heard of that could be a great benefit to all people with eating disorders /difficulties. Havis said this, I think in the tiniest way, we're helping shate things. This post has stayed at the top of the topic, so has been seen by quite a few people. Anyone reading our chat has a bit more info than before. Sleepwhenidie has given lots of info that will be here for all to see.

How's everyone's day going? I know this can be a good or bad day.

[FightingBed2014]

Sooo I forgot to proof read that oops.

[FightingBed2014]

WE DID IT! The eating disorders topic that was asked for in mental health is up!

[JokersGiggle]

Woo! X