Eating Disorder

Hey I learned something new, that may be of a little use to you. You know how when you eat, you feel like you've gained a ton of weight, even if you didn't and you think your tummy looks bigger? Well, one reason that might be is because it's common in people either suffering from anorexia or bulimia to have an issue with edema around their abdomen, either after eating after days of starving or eating too little, or from laxative or diuretic abuse. The swelling is temporary, but unfun. I don't know a lot about it yet, why it happens or what exactly it is... but even though this is easier said than "believed" it isn't you packing on pounds. And it won't last.

 

ok wtf... why wouldn't let me log in under the "new forum style"?? probably wrong place to post this, but might as well, while I'm here... wtf?!

 

So it wasn't just me then?

 

okay good, I thought I got banned for a second, and I was like "FOR WHAT?!!!" lol

 

yea.. i definitly SWEAR i bloat more than anyone i can imagine after eating. i mean, it literally feels like ive gained 20 pounds or even more. im going into the binge and purge part of my 'cycle'. i hate it. today i ate nothing until about 5, and i ate probably like 1000 calories or MORE. its weird though, i dont necessarily feel BAD about it- im kind of numb to it. i guess i 'let' myself eat because i feel like i kind of want to. even now, im trying not to get up and have some cake or soemthing. i wont do it. but anyways, yea, its good to know that im not just imagining the huge bloating after eating. but that doesnt make it better. :/

 

yep...thought i was banned early this morning and freaked out...glad to know it wasn`t just me!

 

Well I might have stated this before, but part of that is also because it takes longer for your body to digest things when you're in starvation mode. Your stomach will hold food in your stomach three hours longer than it normally would, because it needs to make it "last" in preparation of more starving.

I know it doesn't make a difference to you, because it's not all about food and losing weight, but the truth is, anorexia/bulimia will shut down your body to a point that it's easier to gain weight, and what not, than if you rather ate normally.

When you recover [if you ever decide to] it will feel bad, and I'm not going to lie about that, but it's temporary, and after your body adjusts back to normal, and your mind adjusts back to normal you will be at a healthier weight, if not, maybe even lose a few pounds.

Since I've been eating better, I lost weight. I know the facts, and why I'm losing weight, still everytime I step on the scale it surprises the hell out of me to see that I'm dropping pounds when I'm eating more.

I'm still not where I should be in terms of caloric intake, but I'm beginning to eat more regularly, and when my body tells me it's hungry.

Try this, because it works for me... I'm not sure whether you pay attention to serving sizes and the like, but when you make food, only eat the serving size, and pace yourself. Take time in between bites, drink some water... If when you're finished with your food, you're still hungry, eat a little more. And then take more time, and see if you're still hungry, or if you're full. Does that make sense?

Like last night I made some rice and beans for dinner, and I gave myself a serving size. I took my time eating, and drank water in between, and for a second when I was finishing up, I still felt hungry, almost like I would binge. But I stopped for a moment, and gave myself some time to see if I was still hungry or not...and then within a few minutes I felt full and satisfied.

Your body takes a bit to catch up to what you're eating, and feel full... it's easy to binge, because when you binge you just eat and eat, and don't stop until all of a sudden you feel sick to your stomach. You can feel full without feeling sick if you pace yourself.

The problem is, a lot of people still rely on the whole, 3 square meals a day theory, when new science tells us really, that about 6 SMALL meals a day is actually better for you and keeps your metabolism going. Eat like every three hours, and eat something small, and you'll stay full, but not sick.

Anyway I know that doesn't make much of a difference to you right now, because it still doesn't to me sometimes... but give it some thought.

I moved out on Saturday, for example, and within an hour or so of being up, I had a banana. A few hours later I felt a little hungry again, and ate a bowl of cereal. Exactly about three hours after that I ate some applesauce. Which is really the equivalent of one "square" meal, but I made three mini meals. Later I ate some more, I don't remember what anymore, lol... and I felt really good that day.

And because I've been eating like that I've been digesting things more normally and regularly, and I don't get that bloated feeling as often.

Also, if you're worried about bloating, stay away from foods that make ANYONE bloat... like stuff with lots of salt/sodium. By all means, dont eat saltine crackers, simply because they are low in fat, because that won't mean shit to you when you start bloating from the salt, you will get upset all over again. Instead try eating more fruits and veggies, even some grains, and protein is excellent for increasing metabolism. For dairy try some yogurt or skim milk [or soy if youre veg]

I'm not preaching to you like it's easy or anything, because I am still struggling with it tons... I'm just giving you the info so it's something you can have in your head for later. As well as making you feel better about eating. If you know how to eat right, it's easier to feel better about it. My problem was, I never really taught myself to eat right... I would either starve or binge, and other than being vegan, never really paid attention to the food going in my body. If I have a "fat" day I don't starve myself anymore, rather I'll eat something that I know won't make me feel worse, and I'll eat it slow so that I don't OVEReat.

ok Im shutting up now.

 

One question I have, and can't seem to find the answer to, is how long it takes to get your period back. This was my first month without it, and I've been eating better, but it's still not back yet... I'm trying to find out whether it takes a while, or if it adjusts back quickly.

I'm going to take a pregnancy test tomorrow just to make sure it's not THAT... though, I'm pretty certain that it's not.

Unfortunately, I feel a little healthier physically since I lost my period, because now my body gets to use the calories rather than use it on my female organs... but, mentally I feel sicker because I lost it if that makes any sense. It really bothers me, because I honestly didn't think my eating was THAT terrible... I knew all along I had an issue, and that I needed help for it and what not... but, I really didn't think it was severe enough to make me lose a period... which is one reason I'm going to take a pregnancy test to make sure.

I always thought I would love it if I lost my period, but the truth is, I kind of miss it. I feel so un-woman like, and ill. I don't dig it.

 

have you noticed that it gets easier and easier to lose your period? when i first started into an eating disorder, it took months and months of starving and setting my all- time low weight to make mine disappear....now all it takes is a couple of weeks of restricting. it`s as if my body says `i know what you`re doing to me, might as well start preparing for it early.` i`m not sure if this is simply because i`m more aware of my body or because it`s actually changed...anyone else noticed this?

 

Hey, I'm new here. But i just had to reply to this, I've struggled with an eating disorder for about 7 years.
I feel like it's always bee n a part of my identity. I've never had a normal relationship with food or my body.

I'm trying to recover now though, because I'm 20 years old and I'm ready to live my life without this disease. I have been eating more, but still not enough to be healthy. My doctor wants me to gain about 10 pounds..... but the thought of gaining that much scares me. I know that seems stupid,but recovering is harder than i thought it would be.

I just want to be normal again, I want to be able to eat normally and not obsess over my weight.

Well thanks for letting me vent,lol.

 

well when my mother gave birth to my brother he almost died ...a good friend of the family gave him blood though so he's all good ...so the doctors told my mom to keep on feeding and feeding me when i was born. and when i was little id always eat and eat and my family encouraged it...saying how good it was that i had a "healthy" appetite

so for a very long time ....just recently learned i was wrong...i thought i was susposed to eat until i was sooo full ...like almost thanksgiving full and thats when u stop eating. its a huge habit of mine...i get bored i eat. i dont know what to do...i recently gained 10 pounds in 3 months...is that really bad? im a vegetarian too!! but i eat a lot of junk food.

its hard to break this habit...im a HUGE food lover haha. it wouldnt really concern me though i feel bad about myself, self-concious....something id love to overcome

 

i don't have anything to say, except that i used to lose my period a lot, but i haven't for a while. i liked not having it.

lately i've been eating whatever, and i think "man, i must have ate a lot today", and i calculate it up at it's still maybe 1200 calories. i feel like i have just been stuffing myself, and part of me is saying "HAHA, take that, ED!" but nothing has really changed. i just feel like i should be fatter. humm...

 

well this is going to be fun news for you: I just found out I'm pregnant, and I have an eating disorder.

This should be fucking fun.

 

Congratulations for the parts of the pregnancy you want. Good luck with the rest.

 

Um I don't want to be pregnant.

 

I'm sorry, no offence was meant. I can be tactless on occasions and this was one of this moments.

 

oh wow. maybe this is good though, maybe you'll be able to start eating normally.

i hope you get whatever you want and need. if you decide to keep your baby (i don't know your views on these things, sorry if i'm offending you) you would absolutely be the most amazing momma ever.

<3 <3 <3 <3

 

holy shit.... thats scary. i thought i was in that position a while ago and i would have had the baby aborted. despite not relaly being old enough to take care of a baby, i really dont think i would keep it just because im not even able to care for mysef and i dont want to do that to a kid. im not ready to. i know my view is selfish and all, and im not looking for a 'fued' on here; but just know, thats my opinion. i share that incase you, apples, decide to abort the baby, that you are not alone in feeling like thats the best solution. i wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide. and as always, i suppport you here!
( i know cheesey. )

 

i dont tihnk you have an EATING DISORDER... although i have no place in saying that... i tihnk that when you heard your not supposed to eat until stuffed that it may have freaked you out- like you dont even know how to eat and so maybe thats a habit you like to change. a lot of people eat when they are bored. EVEN I DO THAT SOMETIMES. you need to decide whether its a little thing you need to fix or a PROBLEM thats taking over every thought you have. good luck with everything hun, and i hope you dont take offense to this post if you really do have a problem, its just the impression that i got.

 

Well, the dr. thinks I may miscarry... we will find out today whether or not that's happening by monitoring my hCG levels... if they go down, I probably am, if not I'm not miscarrying. She thinks they are kind of low right now, so I dunno.

If I don't miscarry I want to have an abortion, though, I'm really scared shitless.