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Eating Disorder Recovery

999 replies

OhIFellOff · 18/03/2014 16:47

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

OP posts:
JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 10:47

Sorry I just fell into bed last night so I'll post yesterdays food now.
Breakfast I mashed an avocado with 1 Tbsp of olive oil and spread it over 2 slices of my home made toast.
then a friend wanted to go out for lunch (and she was watching me like a hawk) so I has chicken and mushroom stroggonof (no idea how to spell it lol) with rice and a side of veg follows by apple tart.
Then another friend wanted to have me over for dinner (and was also watching me like a hawk) so had lamb Rogan josh with green beans and rice followed by fruit Salad.
No snacks but had lots of water.

Today i've had the same breakfast as yesterday.
Morning snack was a boiled egg.
Planned for lunch is home made red pepper, garlic, fresh ginge and chilli soup with a drizzle of olive oil. Bread.
afternoon snack home made mackerel pate and home made oat cakes.
Dinner baked salmon fillet with Courgette, broad bean and celery and herbs risotto.
I'll let you know if I change my food plans.
How's that?
Struggling a bit as I normally only eat a small breakfast and dinner. Feel constantly stuffed but think I'm doing ok Smile

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 10:49

jokers you are doing brilliantly, fantastic food Smile. Now...what are you doing to relax/de stress?

FightingBed2014 · 16/04/2014 13:11

Jokers, your food sounds lovely. I may be pinching some ideas as it sounds so healthy. How you feeling?

I'm having a bad one today. Really struggling with low mood. I've eaten quite a large lunch, but I don't think it was too drastic on portion (compared to what it could be or coild just be in denial as I def ate things I wouldn't normally). I'm in two minds to blog about it or not. blogging does help but I try to keep it to just my info and not talk about others close to me too much. But I think that may be what's up.

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 13:22

Sorry to hear about your low mood, sending you happy vibes Smile Thanks

To relax I'm doing gentle yoga, reading in the garden (loving the sun!), country walks with the dog and movie watching Smile I've got some Weeks off work so I can just chill.
And I'm doing a lot of cooking Smile

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 13:26

Fighting it's your blog so you should use it such that you get what you want/need from it. Also, fwiw I think the personal experience part of (any) blog is what makes it most appealing and why people keep coming back. There's plenty of sources of straight information out there, it's the real, emotional aspect that keeps people coming back. Also, it wouldn't be a true account of your journey if you only write about the 'ups', of course the path won't be all smooth and easy Smile.

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 13:27

And cuddling my Guinea pigs!!! (how could I forget them?!)

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 13:29

sleep has a point. It's your blog, so you can do what you like. Maybe it will help others going through a low point too x

FightingBed2014 · 16/04/2014 13:29

Jokers your idea of writing down what you eat here is great, I hope you don't mind if I give it a go.

Normally I would eat;
-Cereal 30g & almond milk or
-Toast x2 with sunflower spread
-Decaf coffee, sweetener & almond milk.

-Sandwich with tuna (no mayo) & cucumber
-Low calorie crisps
-Sparkling juice (diet)

-Ceral bar

  • Fish with light coating, salad & new potatoes or
  • Pasta & tomato pesto with garlic bread.
  • Chocolate biscuit or jammie dodger.

Obviously evening meal changes, we have a lot of fish each week. but also have chilli and rice home made, sausages and jacket potatoe amongst others.

Where can I make changes that will be filling Sleep? without embarking on another diet like Weight Watchers I am completely lost as to what to do to overhaul my eating. But a lack of weigh loss definitely indicates I need it. My weight is unhealthy.

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 13:34

If you are concerned about exposing too much on the blog though, why not write down what you are feeling, perhaps in a letter (not to send) to the person concerned. Just doing that can be very cathartic and helpful. You can then burn the letter or it may make you feel like you need some more conversation...

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 13:58

No don't go for weight watchers or a 'diet'. I would aim to eat as I'm about to describe 80-90% of the time but relax and really enjoy whatever you like the rest of it.

The 'rules'

  • no 'diet' foods, 'low fat' versions of food or artificial sweeteners
  • no processed food or white carbs (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, white flour based food)
  • get carbs from plenty of veg and small portions of wholegrain products, pulses, beans, sweet potato etc.
  • minimise sugar - so cut out fruit juices, cereal, jam, pre-prepared sauces.
  • plenty of good fat - cold pressed oil on salad/veg, olives, avocados, nuts, nut butter , oily fish and eggs.
  • avoid deep fried/takeaway food and hydrogenated fat.

So if I tweaked your day Fighting I'd say

  • have eggs with your toast, or nut butter on it, or have porridge with some nuts and fruit instead of cereal, or some Greek yoghurt with berries and nuts

Have a big tuna salad for lunch, with plenty of leafy greens, avocado, any raw veg you like, maybe some cannellini beans tossed in, a few seeds on top and a lovely extra virgin olive oil dressing. Lose the bread and soft drinks, have water or green/herbal tea.

Stick with good protein as the basis of your evening meal, with plenty of veg and for carbs have baked sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, beans of some kind.

Snack on crudités and humous, some apple spread with nut butter, Greek yoghurt and berries, a couple of squares of dark chocolate, a handful of raw nuts and some fresh fruit, a bit of cheese with celery or fruit....

The most important thing to add in all this is that whatever you eat, relax, breathe and eat it as slowly as you can, if possible without any distractions. Most of us eat far too quickly, without paying proper attention - this compromises our digestion, assimilation and metabolism and we lose touch with sensations of hunger and satiety, all of which lead to over eating, fat storage , poor use of the nutrients on our food and an absence of pleasure in eating. Most of is need to relearn it all! A great book to read about this - The Slow Down Diet by Marc David.

How does that sound? Don't forget, nothing is banned-sometimes good an be like a hug and it is what we need, even if it is supposedly 'bad' - the skill is learning to recognise the true need and when we act on it, do so slowly and with enjoyment, no guilt, no feeling of 'shouldn't'. Smile

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 13:59

Food can be like a hug!

FightingBed2014 · 16/04/2014 15:12

thank you sleep. (Although I was a bit Shock at the no diet drinks and low fat versions. I get why) It's all a learning curve. Definitely something I need to try. Is phasing it in a sensible option? or just a quick switch? I'm just nervous of rebelling (against myself I knowBlush ) x

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 15:28

It depends how dramatic you think the changes will be for you. If you think you will feel too restricted then make one change at a time, keep in mind it's changing your whole way of eating so baby steps are fine. Your tastes will change gradually. So maybe drop the cereal and diet drinks first for example, start introducing the beans and pulses in lieu of pasta etc with dinner just a couple of times a week? There's no rush. Start slowing down and eating mindfully straight away though

FightingBed2014 · 16/04/2014 15:32

Yes it will be a big change. So slowly for me then. I'm quite a slow eater anyway, so thats not too bad. I have a dairy intolerance so will use feta etc instead of normal cheese. what is good to drink, I can get bored of water easily.

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 15:34

Umm-sparkling water with lemon/lime squeezed in? White or green tea?

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 15:38

I'm part of an ongoing thread in Food - Eating Better - where most of us aim to eat as I've outlined above, we all love good food but want to eat as naturally and mindfully (to suit our bodies) as well as we can. No deprivation or dieting, lots of great recipe ideas. There's at least one vegetarian and one vegan that are over there. V friendly and supportive, take a look and maybe join [ smile]

FightingBed2014 · 16/04/2014 15:38

sleep could I ask if you mind me copying and pasting your recommendations for food, into my blog in a post? If you'd prefer me not to, that's fine. I will keep it anonymous.

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 15:45

No problem Smile.

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 16:55

Is brown rice ok as a carb? I eat quite a bit of it as not keen on white potatoes (love sweet potatoes but sometimes it doesn't fit with the meal)

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 16:57

As a drink I like no added sugar squash. Not for the lack of sugar but they taste more fruity and "real" than normal squash

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 17:12

Yes Jokers and wild rice even better. I'm loving your relaxation stuff btw, sounds blissful!

The no added sugar squash will probably have artificial sweeteners Sad...take a look.

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 17:17

Are they bad? I thought a small amount was ok?

Sleepwhenidie · 16/04/2014 18:54

Well you could find arguments for and against pretty much any food/diet...I come at it all from the belief that everyone has to find what works best for their own body, if the "healthiest" food out there gives you indigestion/brings you out in a rash, it clearly isn't so healthy for you, no matter what a nutritionist and the rest of the world seem to be saying Grin. But also I prefer to choose food as close to its natural state as possible - and artificial sweeteners are, as the name suggest (!) not natural. If your aim is to lessen a sweet tooth to reduce your sugar intake generally then they aren't going to help with that. From a nutritional perspective, there's nothing in them for your body to use and by creating the expectation of sugar (through the sweet taste in your mouth), they set off a chain reaction in your body, preparing it to deal with sugar...ie insulin. Unused insulin becomes stored fat, so from a pov of weight control, it doesn't work there either. So for me, they have no nutritional value, can potentially cause harm (even before you get into the allegations of the terrible things aspartame can do to your health). So I'd say best avoided, with the proviso that obviously, occasional consumption won't kill you Grin.

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 21:00

Thanks, think I'll keep to my one glass a day Smile

JokersGiggle · 16/04/2014 21:19

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