Hello everyone. I've had an eating
disorder for about 7 years now (i'm 21).
It peaked when I was in my final year of
high school (age 17) and had quite severe
anorexia. I kind of got on top of it in
first year of university although I
haven't really eaten normally since. My
weight has fluctuated between normal and
underweight. I have not regained regular
periods. I have yellow hands and elbows
from eating so many vegetables and very
dry hair from eating no fat. But I am
determined to get better this year. I
have never had a boyfriend or let my
friends get close because I don't want
them to find out about my bizarre eating
habits. But this year I want to move out
with friends so I need to get on top of
it. It is holding me back and I feel like
I organise my entire life around it. My
basic problem is that I don't know what
normal eating is...I haven't done it for 7
years! At the moment I eat exactly the
same things every day...How can I get
myself out of this rut? More importantly,
how can I deal with the anxiety that will
come when I start to change my food
habits? I'm scared that the anxiety will
push me back into a more severe form of my
ed (ie full blown anorexia)...
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KariM18
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 1436 Location: Grand Blanc, Michigan
Posted: 01-20-04 11:31am
Hey hun I definitly feel for ya! Im in
recovery from ana and mia right now, and
ive been doing well. .Been in recovery
for a month and a half. Anyhow.. I
know normal eating for u is different..
But basically what u have to do is go to a
website that shows healthy amounts to eat
and calories to eat.. This website has
some info, and info on eating disorders
too. Http://www.Anred.Com/hltheat.H
tml .. .Anyhow.. U need to try to
go for at least 1,600 calories a day to be
normal. No less. And dont just eat
veggies.. What helped me was at each
meal I would make sure I had soemthing
from each food group.. And yes, that
means a fat such as butter too. . For
example.. A lunch for me would be... A
veggie burger (protein) . Im a
vegetarian so if ur not then u could have
a meat, some veegetables, and rice with a
little butter. Then later I would have a
peice of fruit.. Also, to drink, you
have to try to drink some milk.. Need
calcium too.. And u have to make sure u
eat enough.. Dont just eat like a
serving size of each.. .1 serving size
isnt enough. .And try to follow the food
pyramind.. And that means u need at
least 6-11 servings of bread, rice, pasta
etc... It will seem rough at first..
But it wil lhelp. Then after a while, u
wont need to follow that stuff, instead u
will just follow what your body says.
Also, I dont think clicking on the websit
works.. So u just have to type it in.
.And the 'h' in 'html' is lower case, not
capitalized,same with the 'a' in anred and
the 'c' in com. I guess that makes a
difference. The website is good.
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tisane
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Melbourne
Thanx! Posted: 01-21-04 04:38am
Thanx for that karim. I think those
pointers will really help me. Its just
hard letting go of those damned food rules
when you've had them so long. Glad to
hear you are recovering and doing well.
|
ACGUY
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Australia
Posted: 07-11-04 21:38pm
I would hope that you start out slowly
then gradually eat more, and get perfect
again, most people who are lucky enough to
recover from anorexia have an amazing
reversal in how they perceive themselves
and life in general, hope you recover and
start enjoying life.
|
purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 07-13-04 22:42pm
My daughter was wrongly diagnosed last
year with ana but as a result now feels
she has no idea of what normal eating is -
if it's that bad for her after only a year
it must be so much worse & harder for
you. You need to accept that &
realize that you're human & it will
take time to re-learn what "normal" eating
is & that you will make mistakes &
that that is allright.
Remenber too that if you have a major
problem with fats & carbs that you can
get these from many sources - my daughter
can't (due to irritable bowel syndrome
which is what caused her weight loss &
misdiagnosis!!) eat potato, rice, pasta,
bread, milk, biscuits, etc etc etc but she
gets plenty of carbs & dairy from pure
natural yoghurt, the right cheeses (some
she can't eat) & vegetables etc that
do have carbs but which we don't think of
as having them.
If carbs/fats etc upset you & cause
you to worry about going backwards check
out www.Lowcarbfriends.Com
- it's not for ana or weight loss but for
people whose systems can not take certain
foods but might also help you.
Friends can also help but only if you let
them & if you're moving out you do
need to build up a support system. I also
hope that you're not just studying - there
are so many things to do & enjoy at
uni - clubs & societies & so on -
these things will also help you recover by
giving you friends & interests &
fun!!
