Anorexia

[Lexigrace2017]

Any advice I'm recovering but can't put on any kind of weight I look like a skeleton and don't feel comfortable out or dressed please help me guys any advice be appreciated xx

[Cb1963]

The body and brain work hand in hand, try not to get to stressed about wanting to pile the pounds on instantly, while you're recovering the body has to have time to adjust, it's a slow process, starved myself on many occasions, and I to was a bag of bones, I found my stomach had shrunk and couldn't eat big meals at first, so I just started to snack regularly, be it a packet of crisps, noodles, soup, pasta etc, and slowly my system came back online, I now love eating food and I can eat most things, treat yourself and don't feel guilty in what you eat, your appetite will come back, I drink full fat milk, and Coca-Cola, i will never starve my body again, then if you start feeling like a nice meal, chicken, salmon or a steak, it's a process you'll need to work on, but it's not difficult, don't beat yourself up over the past, and enjoy looking at yourself, a little bit of what you fancy is a good way forward, don't look at packages for calories,ive managed to put 4 stone's on and my weight has stayed the same for several years, and I'm happy with that, so don't start climbing on the scales, your body will balance the scales when you hit a happy weight, don't suppress your diet, go with the flow, so you can eat nice fruits, mine is bananas, and I also like avocado, and maybe some vitamin supplements if your body is low on essential vitamins,so I wish you healthy and happy eating, your body will love you back, good luck

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to Cb1963]

Thank you so much it's so hard day to day I have been eating small meals to as my stomach can't handle full meal I'm stuffed on something as small as kiddie meal but I have been adding foods I never did like sugar, meats, pastas, breads I love my veg I'd eat it on its own and fruit yes bananas I'd eat them all day my favs such a tuff journals I just hate how I look in mirror and hate been seen as skinny lizzy thank you so much for advice wishing u every success with ur eating disorder, I suppose I stress a lot and I don't eat when I'm emotionally upset for days only fluids but now I'm back on track wanna do my best to stay healthy xxx

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Have you talked with your doctor and a Nutritionist about a possible diet to help you gain the weight?

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to Activity2004]

Have don't CBTE course, dietician attended and still attending and gp been visited, been on ensure drinks and supplements nothing works on that side of things I did ask gp for a tonic bottle to help and she was against it she said I didn't need it I'm only 6 stone 6 pounds at moment, since been on top of eating disorder I do have a very sweet tooth in crisps, choc, cakes etc but I eat loads healthy meals between as well nothing helping me tho I'm so frustrated now as I came this far now nothing works I'm scared I'll lapse again please help

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Lexigrace2017]

I will be in touch with you soon.😀

[TheAwfulToad]

First, congratulations on your progress so far. It's a difficult problem to treat and you can count yourself lucky that you're on the road to recovery.

Had you not had any advice from your clinical support team? You may have some organ damage from prolonged starvation.

Good advice from Cb1963 there: try not to panic, focus on enjoying your food, and just accept that this will take some time. Your body will indeed find its own level. Perhaps it's a good thing that winter is coming up - you can just wrap yourself in six layers of clothes, and come summertime, you'll be back to "normal"

I wouldn't recommend getting into the habit of eating junk food (eg., crisps and Coke) because these things will eventually put you right back in the situation that triggered anorexia in the first place; avoid all that "low fat" and "low calorie" stuff for the same reason. Try to get used to making meals (or snacks) for yourself, from scratch. Buy a few recipe books. Try the discount stores that specialise in books: they usually have a whole bunch of "last year's" cookery books for not much money, so you can get half-a-dozen of them.

If you want to help things along, I can strongly recommend joining a gym, although now probably isn't the right moment. When you feel a little more confident, some exercise will normalize your appetite and help you build muscle, which will give you your shape back again. You'll find gyms are full of people of all different shapes and sizes, and nobody is judging you.

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Thank you I love exercising I go to gym 3 times a week and no I don't just eat junk all time I have the odd few treats can, lead to few packs a crisps and box half box chocolates but I always share my treats I'd be so paranoid to eat them all to myself, and I also have cooking recipes too I went bought some last mount so that's covered I also try bake the odd time with my hubby or the kids

[Zest]

Hi Lexigrace2017

I just wanted to add that I would like to Welcome you to the Healthy eating forum.

Zest

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to Zest]

Thank you so much such a stressful and frustrating journey xx

[andyswarbs]

I have little understanding of anorexia so please ignore my advice if it feels out of place. I post regularly recommending the widespread advantages of a whole food plant based diet and one great benefit is how it normalises gut and digestion function. So that's where I would head if I was you as a general direction. Perhaps Google challenge 22 if interested, they provide dietitian backed support tailored to your needs for 22 days at no cost over Facebook. Might be worth a try.

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to andyswarbs]

I'm open to try anything yes I will have look at this thank you so much for advice xx

[andyswarbs in reply to Lexigrace2017]

Just one thought that is important, I think. With most dietary plans the encouragement is calorie count to keep weight down, because being overweight is the norm in our society. If you do go down the plant-based route then you generally need to do the opposite, that is calorie count to keep your weight up. This may sound the same but actually is quite easy. What a plant-based dietitian should advise is to work out how many cals you need daily for your body to return from anorexia. It is crucial to ensure you get at least those cals, because along with those comes a general guarantee of sufficient nutrients across the board. So do expect yourself to be eating a lot. You should be aiming to fill yourself at each and every meal.

[Cooper27 Administrator]

I definitely second working with a sympathetic nutritionist, if you can. If you choose to do this, please ensure you find someone BANT registered:

bant.org.uk/bant/jsp/practi...

Unfortunately "nutritionist" isn't a protected title, and anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. BANT only registers those with a degree in nutrition, so you can be sure you're getting someone qualified.

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to Cooper27]

Been to qualified dietician don't help

[Cooper27 Administrator in reply to Lexigrace2017]

Dieticians and nutritionists are very different though - my OH has seen an NHS dietician, and it was a bit of a rushed appointment of information overload. They looked at calories in Vs calories out, and fibre etc, but it wasn't very informative. I've seen a nutritionist, who I found a lot more sympathetic than his dietician. They would help with any nutrient deficiencies that anorexia causes.

It is always down to what you're comfortable with though

[ShortyS in reply to Lexigrace2017]

You need a nutritionist who specialises in eating disorders, I have just gained a 1st class honours degree in nutrition and human health and we touched on eating disorders in a few modules. You need to be treated by a multi-discipline approach supporting you through a long recovery process to include behaviour change and psychology aspects, dietary advice alone will not help. I really hope you can get the help and support you need and I wish you lots of luck with your journey! Asking for help is a great step forward, take care x

[cherv]

You have recieved some great support and places to seek help. Glad you came to the site and welcome. You have battled a huge disease and now it's time to heal. Pacience first it takes time to to gain weight I battle the issue daily. I suffer from being a Type 1 diabetic and having seizures. Healty eating is so import and I do find when under the weather soups are my friend, although I love cooking and experiment often I just do not hold pounds. Snacking heathly several times a day for me is important and to have them pre-made so I do not reach for junk. We normally do not buy junk or soda's. I will fix a wrap of cheese, have celery stuffed with peanut butter, cheese and fruit, salad with some leftover meat from a meal. Even a shrimp cocktail treat dipped in sauce. Best wishes to you, check out some of the sites and needing any advice on recipes there are some great ones on line here. Zest is famous for posting many, many other contribute. Det a meal plan set and follow it and shop, stock your shelves healthy. Good luck. Contact me at any time.

[Lexigrace2017 in reply to cherv]

Thank you really helpful

[Lexigrace2017]

I love cooking now myself and partner takes turns in cooking meals I drink loads of water and flavoured water and diluted juices along with 4ltrs coke a week nothing works for me sadly it gets annoying cos u think all the effort for nothing then I start feeling shit over it and stop eating again I don't want to lapse again I'm too ill I spent 19yrs battering this horrible disorder I need a break from constantly making myself sick my body hurts from it all

[HOBIEONE]

Hello Lexigrace. 1st of all, really good luck from someone who has been a T1 diabetic for more than 50 odd years. When I was on fixed doses of insulin & had to have so many carbs before going to school ? I can assure you I am stubborn at times. I hated food & used to drink 6pints of milk a day. Porridge suits me fine too. Good luck