has anyone the courage to admit to having HAD an eating disorder?ive lost weight and POWER and think the two may be linked,so am trying to gain weight with the result of better health and strength,but having HAD an eating disorder in the PAST im finding it a very big ominous battle,am i doing the right thing and has anyone else had this problem and what i really want to hear CONQUERED IT!?and how etc etc,im sticking to a strict eating plan,weight stable,and have gained 300g in 7 weeks.
Yes, I had anoerexia in the past (about 18 years ago now). I was seriously underweight for 2 years, at about 5 and half stone. I don't intend to discuss the causes, but eating disorders are frequently a 'control' response, the only part of your life you can exert control over when you feel you have lost other elements of your life. It is also, obviously, fairly strongly connected to body image.
The legacy of having had an eating disorder has never completely left me. Overcoming mine was a very long, slow process involving many elements. However, in terms of 'food intake' my approach was to let go of concentrating on what I ate. The crucial element for me was to enjoy food again without worrying about what I was consuming. I might be wrong, but with your eating plan it would appear that 'food control' is still an element in your life, albeit with the intention of consuming more.
My approach over the last 18 years has been to eat what I like, as I found that only by relaxing about my food intake did my body's 'natural' eating patterns re-assert themselves. I also combined this with a lot of physical exercise (not just for recreation, but also volunteered with a conservation group doing physical outdoor work that enabled me to build up muscle bulk in enjoyable company). My diet is reasonably healthy (fish and vegatables as I don't eat meat), but without concerns about indulgence in cake! I now find that I love eating, and that my body naturally regulates my intake. I am now 7 and a half stone (which it's fine as I am only 5 foot).
I would suggest working towards a mental attitude which is not highly focused on the calorific value of what you do or don't consume, as this worked for me. However, the causes and 'cures' for eating disorders are highly personal, and ultimately what works for you might not be the same as what worked for me.
Thanks for having the courage to raise this issue, and I really hope that you can regain weight and achieve whatever you want :)
thing is if i ate how i felt i wouldnt as guilt would step in,some days im ravenous and will stick to the same rigid intake and some days im not hungry at all but still make sure i have this intake,ive eaten a set amount extra now for 2 weeks and still no gain!arrgh,THIS is why wanted to know how others had done it,esp as it requires will power and a half if you live alone.odd i can stick to a training plan but and eating plan........hmm!
This is a difficult one - I'm a size 8, Fit, gaining muscle now thanks to my current course i'm completing (personal trainer award) and was 6 stone 6 years ago. The best thing I did was change job, *thus lose the out of control cause* embark on my course and gain proper knowledge of exercise and healthy eating which has allowed me to gain 'weight' steadily but reamain trim. (Weight is a bad measure of body composition - u may lose inches but gain weight by exercising or alternatively gain fat mass but lose weight kg by relying on the scales.) By starving, your body begins to use lean muscle tissue as fuel because it runs out of food energy. Then your muscle mass decreases, lowering your ability to burn energy efficiently at rest (lowers metabolic rate) and yo yo dieting ensues. I hope this is os some help you can email me.
very simple answer- thankyou!ive been beaten today by people that used to beat me-no speed in me :-( ive emailed you.i also hasten to add its been embarrassing talking about things on a public forum,but since i cant seem to get much medical help im diversifying,and i think also it can affect sports people yet many dont admit it,fear factor!
Alex, I'm not remotely qualified to help you and have never suffered from an ED however this topic regularly crops up on the RunnersWorld forum where there are a lot more posters, the most recent one I remember is this:
I would like to add that Sue's response is great, I don't concentrate on what I eat now, (just had dinner followed by apple crumble!) I think its a positive step that you are aiming for a realistic goal,
I am over it completely, I can be a little sensitive if anyone comments on my size/weight/imperfections even if its positive as I can't understand the fact that people bother to notice in the first place! - it would never cause me to 'diet' ever again, i'm a lot more comfortable with myself now - although a little out of my comfort zone talking about this in publc! (People can 'brand' you a bit because of Eating disorders) Even though it can be simply your way of dealing with a difficult situation/lack of control of your life. I think the more public the better so I don't care who knows any more.
