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Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Anorexia. Need to stop low carbing.

27 replies

OatyCerealKiller · 04/08/2014 08:30

I started low carbing after seeing how much it helped my MIL, who has T2D (which I don't).

A few months in and I've found the process of cutting out all the necessary of food (bread, white pasta, chocolate biccies) has begun to trigger the kind of the thoughts associated with the anorexia I had from age 15-30 (I had it quite badly - I was in hospital, and have been left with lasting medical issues). After an argument with DH l(about following a minor medical procedure I found very painful and stressful) I went through a week of being terrified to eat anything with any carbs at all - I ate nothing but spinach, raspberries, eggs and chicken.

Yesterday I weighed myself and found that my BMI is now 16.8 - it's usually about 19 - 19.5. And my head keeps telling me that I need to eat less, and to lose lose lose my weight. So I guess that, as much as low carb is a brilliant WOE for many people - I need to stop doing it before I get ill again.

So just now I forced myself to eat some toast. I'm sorry if this sounds utterly daft or mad to ask - but what will happen now? Will I gain the weight again too quickly? Will I end up heavier than before?

TIA

OP posts:
msrisotto · 04/08/2014 08:34

What does WOE stand for?

You will only gain weight quickly, if you over eat, or binge. Carbs are not the devil and as part of your diet will help you have energy. You won't pile on weight....you know this though don't you? You are asking a lot of questions there that strangers can't answer for you. Do you find uncertainty hard to sit with?

Original poster
OatyCerealKiller · 04/08/2014 08:36

WOE --> way of eating, ie lifestyle?

Yes you're right, I do worry about sudden weight gain. It's all part of the anorexia.

OP posts:
littlemissmaths · 04/08/2014 08:37

Hi, you are doing the right thing. A BMI of 16.8 is far too low. No, a piece of toast every day will not make you gain weight too quickly. If you are not confident you know what a is normal diet (by which I mean the food you eat, not food to make you lose weight) then count calories. Usually about 1800 -2000kcal a day will be right for a moderately active woman. Please go back to eating a full range of foods. People who have suffered from anorexia in the past are so vulnerable to falling back into old habits. Just think how awful that would be for your whole family, as well as how bad for YOU. Be strong. I am glad you have had some insight and are correcting. I feel so much for you. Good luck.

msrisotto · 04/08/2014 08:45

Ok, I'm not a fan of low carbing (saw this thread in active convos) as I think everything in moderation is the most pleasant way of living my life.

ElPolloDiabolo · 04/08/2014 08:48

If it's not working for you and triggering damaging thoughts then you're right to reassess.

Proper LCing however (and I've been at it 2+ yrs) should not be a restrictive WOE. To do it effectively you need to eat a lot of fat along with your proteins and leafy veg. Also, many low-carbers have found that it is actually quite difficult to become overly-slim, rather it gets you to the weight that your body needs to be.

ouryve · 04/08/2014 08:50

19 is already the low end of healthy. You clearly do need to gain a little weight, now, so as long as you eat no more than you did before you went low carb, you will not balloon beyond that weight.

whatdoesittake48 · 04/08/2014 10:59

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that eating low carb and high fat can actually be very good for people who have eating disorders (in particular binge eating).

it helps you to understand that there is nothing wrong with eating fat, it shows that calories are not the be all and end all you thought they were and the lack of processed sugary foods improves your well being.

That said - with your BMI there is no need to lose weight. But that does not mean you need to be eating wheat and sugar. it is certainly possible to eat a low carb diet and maintain your weight or even put on.

What you need to deal with is why this triggered you. that requires psychological work and as you know it is a hard road.

Original poster
OatyCerealKiller · 05/08/2014 19:37

This is helpful - thanks.

Since yesterday morning, I've been forcing myself to eat some carbs at each meal, all probably amounting to around 100-125g per day. Alongside the full-fat cheese, yoghurt and everything else, will that be enough to stop weight loss?

OP posts:
littlemissmaths · 06/08/2014 10:43

Well done, that is much better than no carbs. You should have no "banned" foods, let alone whole food groups, as a recovered anorexic.

Whether or not it is enough to not lose weight will depend on how many calories you are eating during the day compared with how many you are burning up. Err on the side of caution as you want to be putting back a little bit of the weight you lost in any case. Set yourself a reasonable target (? BMI 19) that you find acceptable without being in the underweight camp, and be firm with yourself about getting up there.

The only evidence based proven "cure" for anorexia is the Maudsley method. Perhaps google it. It actually relies on you putting psychological issues to one side (that is old thinking) and simply concentrate on eating enough. As you regain weight, your brain will work better and most psychological issues will vanish. Anorexia is self perpetuating as starving brains do not make correct decisions and you need to break that cycle.

Keep going and good luck! It might be helpful to imagine if you were watching one of your own DC gradually diminish and fade, heading towards illness and even death (sorry to sound dramatic but anorexia has a very high mortality rate), and how much you would want them to become real again and to live. Do it for your loved ones as well as for yourself. xxxx

BTW I will pm you

BIWI · 11/08/2014 23:51

"spinach, raspberries, eggs and chicken."

This isn't a low carb diet. You do low carbers a great disservice when you claim this.

This is a ridiculously low calorie diet. Which is, I'm sure you know, the preserve of the anorexic.

You need to eat properly, stop worrying about weight gain and learn about what makes proper nutrition.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh. I don't know anything about anorexia, clearly. But I do know about low carbing, and it makes me cross that you would a) start to try and do it when you already are a very low BMI, so clearly don't need to lose weight b) compare yourself with someone who has diabetes and c) claim that what you're eating is a low carb diet when evidently it is a starvation diet

Eat. Eat good food. Eat well. Eat when you're hungry. And listen to your DH.

BIWI · 11/08/2014 23:52

Oh, and welcome to Mumsnet ...

Selks · 12/08/2014 00:01

Bit harsh there, BIWI?

Selks · 12/08/2014 00:03

OP well done for noticing that your anorexia has been triggered. Please listen to the good advice on here, and if you don't manage to nip this in the bud, please see your GP.

Andallmyhopeisgone · 12/08/2014 00:14

BIWI Hmm
You're doing okay, OP, I know it's hard. If your weight seem to go up fast initially it will just be water and glycogen in the muscles, it doesn't carry on going up fast. I know you know this and I know how hard it is to trust it's okay, but it is okay. Please look after yourself.

CustardFromATin · 12/08/2014 02:34

You are doing amazingly to have realised this issue.

As you know, this isn't just about the food and eating a bit more now - while very necessary for your health and a Very Good Idea all round - is not going to make these thoughts disappear. There was already a voice in your head suggesting that despite a low BMI you needed a low carb diet, and that voice usually takes a bit of work to shut up Confused

Speaking as someone who has been around the same block as you - and come out the other side! - you really need to get to your GP or specialist, and ideally have a chat with a good dietitian who will be able to work with you to find a way of living (and eating) that will work for you and your family, without rapid and worrying change in weight in any direction. If it turns out that you can sort this with less support, then their help will be a nice little extra, or if it's going to take a bit more work to get back on track then you need to start the process now. Do your family know about your past health problems, and how to be most supportive?

Please please see a doctor! You are so brave! Thanks

GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 12/08/2014 14:47

BIWI you have no idea of the control issues with which the OP IS suffering so your comments are really unhelpful.

OP it is so easy to slide back into isn't it, once you start 'controlling' your food consumption. I think you're doing really well. I have suffered all my kids with food issues. I tend to have to be really controlling and that's hard to get over. Although the ideal would be to just east a healthy diet and not feel any guilt, that takes time. I find it helpful to set a goal of a number if calories, say 1500-1800 and make sure I hit that- never being tempted to cut things out to reduce it. It's hard. Your most recent post seems like a much more sensible amount of carbs.

GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 12/08/2014 14:47

Do you still have any counselling?

Thumbwitch · 12/08/2014 14:54

No I think BIWI is right - what the OP is eating is not compatible with the low-carbing WOE, it's a highly restrictive diet with insufficient nutrients and definitely not enough fat in it. And therefore to say this is "low-carbing" and that it's causing problems is scaremongering over the low-carb WOE.

OP you do need to access some counselling - either through your GP, or perhaps through this organisation eating-disorders.org.uk/

GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 12/08/2014 14:57

She's not scaremongering and she's not saying anything bad about low-carbing. She is sharing the affect that beginning to restrict carbs has had on her attitude towards duet as a former anorexic. This is the affect Abby diet can have and she is perfectly entitled to seek advice for that. She knows her diet has sunk into a very restrictive and unhealthy one. That's why she's here.

Thumbwitch · 12/08/2014 15:03

I'm sorry, Guysbrush but I don't agree that the OP's not saying anything bad about low-carbing. She has posted this in the low-carbing topic - she is not low-carbing now, even though she may have started off that way; and her title has pointed out that she needs to stop low-carbing because it has triggered her anorexia.

I agree with you that any diet is likely to trigger an anorexic back into dangerous eating patterns; but it is still unfair to have posted it in this topic, with this title, to suggest that low-carbing can trigger anorexia. That is the bit that is scaremongering, IMO.

MollyAir · 12/08/2014 15:05

It's not deliberate bad PR for low-carbing. It's a very personal appeal for help.

Thumbwitch · 12/08/2014 15:09

Which I have offered in my first post.

Sicaq · 12/08/2014 15:10

Sorry BIWI, this is not the time.

OP, well done for having seen that you may be developing dangerous attitudes: that is a great step to take. Can you access a counselling service if you feel it would help?

VisitTheInfidelWithExplanatory · 12/08/2014 15:22

Wow. The OP isn't slagging off LCing, she's saying it hasn't been a good idea for her.
I agree with Sicaq BIWI, not the time.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/08/2014 13:44

How are you getting on OP?

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