Eating Disorder

[Wally87]

Last year I developed a binge eating disorder as a flow on affect from my PTSD and a significant family event (that was a huge trigger). With treatment, I’m rarely binge eating anymore but have developed huge anxiety around food and the feeling of being judged every time I eat. As a result, I now only eat 1 meal a day. I know it’s very bad for my physical and psychological health and wellbeing but not sure how to feel enough self-worth to warrant nourishing my body. I’ve completed tailored nutrition courses so know what my body needs just not sure where to start.

[Here_I_am]

Hi Wally87,

Just caught your post and thought I'd pop in and say 'Hi!'

I imagine food anxiety is a really all consuming problem to have (no pun intended... or maybe it was :-)!). Food makes up such a large part of our life, and when it's not right, it affects our whole being - not just our body.

There are a lot of 'diets' that suggest one meal a day is all we need, but they also consists of a 'grazing' strategy that has followers constantly eating low calorie/low fat snacks. So whilst the follower might only prepare one daily meal, they're actually eating more than they probably would if they were intentional about preparing two meals a day and having a normal breakfast. The reality is that unless the follower wants to eat carrot sticks and cucumber or celery by the kilo, they just do not work!

You say you've completed nutrition courses, so I wonder if you could take stock of your current food intake and make an informed critique of whether you're meeting your own nutritional needs? One meal a day is not ideal, however if their is a lot of supplementary intake that looks like snacking or 'on the go' kind of food, you may be eating better than you think.

I eat heaps! I have a bowl of muesli with banana and soy milk for breakfast, an apple and some cashews or almonds for morning tea, fruit salad (rocking some pineapple, watermelon, rockmelon, blueberries, banana and mango at the moment) with some coconut yoghurt and cashews for lunch, another apple and some cashews or almonds for afternoon tea, and for dinner I'll have some brown rice, black beans or red beans/chickpeas/lentils/etc., avocado, carrot, corn, broccoli, snow peas, tofu... whatever I can fit on the plate!!! 🙂 Eating this way keeps me light, healthy in body and mind, and the best part is I can eat as much as I want and not have to worry about what it is doing to my waistline!

My point is, their are nutritious ways we can fuel our bodies, and their are ways that will work against us. You would know from your study of nutrition that one meal a day is likely stressing your body.

Do you think you could try and include some calorie-neutral foods in your day, such as fruits or nuts, so your body has some fuel to burn when it needs it most? Eating right makes us feel so much better about life. I want to encourage you toward finding a happy and healthy approach to food that will do your body and mind some good.

Hope to hear from you soon.

[Wally87]

Hi,

thank you for your reply and strategy suggestions. I have checked my calorie intake and it’s not ideal. I think with my PTSD stress my body isn’t able to process and food and stress at the same time (no ones body can). My one meal is definitely not meeting my nutrient requirements. I am still going to the gym 4 times a week and I have a busy job so I’m surprised my body still functions, I think it’s on auto pilot. I can only imagine how bad my metabolism is.

i was talking to my psychologist this this week and I’m aiming to eat 2 meals a day for at least 3 days per week. I have dove in before and tried to sustain meal plans without success as I don’t have enough self-belief to justify why I’d nourish myself even though I know I should and need too. There’s a disconnect between my head and heart. I’m now aiming for a protein shake for breakfast with peanut butter for some fats then a good dinner. This at least is reducing my anxiety of eating around others and if at work I decide to eat I always have good quality protein bars, carrots or celery sticks.

I just get so annoyed at myself as I know what to do but just don’t.

thanks,

[Here_I_am]

It's great to hear that you've got a few strategies that you're working toward. I really hope you feel the benefit of at least introducing these low threshold goals.

Peanut butter is a secret weapon! Good for you on sooo many levels, and packs a protein punch that's up their with steak! If you can substitute celery sticks with peanut butter on them (yuuuuum!) for the processed protein bars, your body will be stoked with the choice! Really important also that you give your body something to burn on the gym days too! Smashing out exercise whilst under stress without enough carb energy to burn perpetuates the stress cycle, producing cortisol instead of dopamine and the good endorphins exercise would normally produce.

I'm glad you have a plan. Keep us posted on how it's going over the next couple of weeks! 🙂

Talk soon.

[Wally87]

Thank you for your kind words. I do love celery and am wanting to have it as snacks. I’m good at making plans, it’s sticking to them that’s my challenge. I’ll keep you updated.

thanks

[Here_I_am]

I'm hearing you!

I don't know who said it, but I remember reading a quote in a book many many years ago that has stuck with me. It simply states: "Changing is easy; staying changed is the hard part."

[Wally87]

I couldn’t agree with this quote more. I might even put it in my fridge.

thanks

[Wally87]

Hi,

just an update. I’ve had a few big realisations about my self-punishment and am forcing myself to eat 2-3 meals per day, even though I feel unwell and bloated. I know I need to push through eating to make it a habit again and to force my body to notice hunger signs.