Suitable for people in ED recovery?

[SoldiersGirl]

Hi, I'm in recovery for an eating disorder. My therapy is nearly over... I would like to lose weight for my health.

Is this 12 week plan suitable for people in recovery?

Any other folks in here like me?

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi SoldiersGirl,

Welcome to the NHS weight loss site. I really don't know the answer to your question as to whether the NHS 12 week plan is suitable for people in recovery from an eating disorder. I know it is a sensible and well thought through plan, devised by dieticians, and a lot of people within the forum follow it - but people don't often talk about whether they have a history of eating disorders or not.

I looked on the NHS Choices website, and found this link to recovering from eating disorders, so you might want to have a look to see if it might be helpful to you:

nhs.uk/Livewell/eatingdisor...

I would recommend reading the Welcome Newbie post - see the Pinned posts section, top right-hand-side of the homepage and you can then see if you think the NHS 12 week plan and the forum might be supportive for you. I would also recommend talking it through with your therapist, to see what they think.

We would love to offer you the support here - in terms of general support from a forum of people who are trying to lose weight in a healthy way. But talking it through with your health care professional would be sensible as a starting point.

I hope this is helpful.

Lowcal

[SoldiersGirl in reply to Zest]

Thank you so much. It's such a hard thing... Currently I don't weigh or track. But I fall into the morbidly obese category. Judging by my clothes I've been weight stable for just over six months.

Eating disorders are a very hard thing to talk about for anyone and more so I think when you're heavy....

I will check with my therapist next week and take things from there!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to SoldiersGirl]

That sounds like a really good plan. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

[Claire2stone]

Hi SoldiersGirl and welcome 😀 Zest has given you some really good advice of which I can't really add too but I wanted to wish you good luck with your weight loss journey. I hope you find the help and support you need. We are always here for moral support and motivation as and when it's needed. Good luck. Claire x

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello SoldiersGirl from me also 😊

I think you are in a very good place to tackle the weight loss with completing treatment for your eating disorder 😊 I agree that perhaps getting their opinion on the NHS 12 week plan is important though.

What made a difference for me this time compared to previous attempts at weight loss was understanding that you just need to reduce calories a little to make a difference; that weight loss is possible whilst still having enough to eat and eating favourite foods. I am useless at deprivation or missing out on things so this has made a big difference psychologically 😊 I also have a new respect for myself and my body, I exercise regularly, value my fitness, and eat foods that will assist the new healthier lifestyle 😊

Wishing you good luck and continued health 😊

[Flossie1920]

Hello and welcome to this wonderful site which I feel certain you will find welcoming and helpful. I too have had an eating disorder ... both kinds .... and I feel like being an alcoholic, you live and manage it rather then it taking over your life. That's the way I feel anyway. I am still afraid of eating and still eat mostly the wrong thing but it's slowly getting much better, thanks to this site.

Have a word with the dietician and tell her about this site. As for its 12 week diet, it works very well as its extremely well balanced and informative. I have taken to a Mediterranean way of eating and that has helped me control what I eat and when. It's the constant thinking of food that I found the hardest and still do, years later.

Good luck to you and I sincerely hope you succeed, it's not easy but then no illness is.

Flossie20 xx

[GoogleMe]

Eating disorders manifest in such a wide variety of ways. My understanding is that professionals are looking at a BMI of up to 30 being fine (ie 'overweight' but not 'obese'). If you are not weighing or tracking you won't know where you currently fit but there are probably very good reasons for you not weighing or tracking without a significant level of professional support.

If you haven't had problems with overexercising, then perhaps increasing your activity levels would be a safe place to start - being overweight but active appears to be healthier than being the 'right' weight but inactive (and has all sorts of other positive effects which would help you). The NHS plan is a good, well rounded one but it does involve calorie counting which may or may not be suitable for you.

It sounds as though you've had some good support and worked really hard on this. Congratulations!

[katy6860]

i have an eating disorder that i don't speak of to anyone. i was never in recovery but luckily mine was not so bad that i had to go to recovery. i am morbidly obese and love the 12 nhs new way of eating. i do not call it a diet as it is truly a new way of eating and exercising from now on. i try to eat healthier and exercise some and it has changed my way of thinking. i am no longer afraid of being hungry although i do think about food almost 24/7. i would like to become less obsessed with food and almost wish it were an illegal substance but then that would be too easy! lol. you have gotten some awesome advice here.. mostly check with your therapist first. i think it would be great if you tried the 12 nhs eating habits but only if okd by your therapist. it is really helpful to read and post in this forum as it has made me realize once again, that i am not the only one to go through all this and that there are people out there who understand and have been there too. i lost 16 pounds and gained 3 then lost 1 but i am determined to eat healthy and if i lose weight too well that is a good side effect. good luck to us all!