Recovering from anorexia has been a difficult journey for me. I used to be so focused on maintaining my weight and being as thin as possible that I had forgotten how to treat myself with the respect and kindness that every human deserves.
My recovery process has been two-fold, both mentally and physically. On the mental side, I started seeing a therapist to help me develop healthy coping mechanisms and to get counseling regarding the underlying negative beliefs I had about myself. This was the cornerstone of my journey towards self-healing because it helped me feel more accepting of my body, no matter what size or shape it is in any given day.
On the physical side, I needed to make sure that I was eating enough food every day but not overeating either. This fine line could be hard to manage sometimes but by using mindful strategies, I eventually found balance again. My doctor also recommended a nutritionist who created meal plans for me and introduced different types of healthy foods into my diet so that it didn’t become too monotonous or unenjoyable.
The challenge that remains is dealing with my rapid weight gain since recovering from anorexia. While I understand that this can happen after having suffered from low body fat for too long, it can be difficult not beating myself up over it sometimes! To tackle this issue, my therapist has led out game-plans for when these moments occur so I don’t slip back into old habits or negative thoughts about my figure.
It’s still some days harder than others, but by actively taking care of myself both mentally and physically, along with a lot of patience and understanding, I know soon enough I will be feeling stronger than ever before!
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Hi there! It sounds like you’ve been through a lot on your journey of recovery. I think it’s absolutely incredible that you have the courage and determination to continue on, despite the challenges that come with this kind of transformative process.
It’s impressive that you worked with a therapist to heal your mental wellness and create healthy coping mechanisms to avoid returning to negative thoughts about yourself and your body. Working with a nutritionist also enabled you to get back into balanced eating and learn more about different types of foods. This is super important for getting back to good health after significant dieting. And while dealing with a rapid weight gain can be discouraging at times, it is essential not to beat yourself up over it and instead take a patient approach in order to reach your health goals.
Your story is inspiring and I’m so grateful that you are doing all the hard work now so that one day soon you’ll be feeling stronger than ever before! If there’s anything I can do to help support you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Wishing you all the best on your recovery journey!
Hi there,
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with anorexia. I know how difficult and emotionally exhausting the recovery journey can be - I’ve taken it myself. For me, patience and self-compassion have been my biggest tools in managing this illness.
One of the first things I did was make sure that I had support from both friends and family. This gave me a safe space to talk about my issues and voice my doubts or worries without worrying about being judged or misunderstood. It also allowed me to get advice from those who were not directly linked to my condition, which at times can be frighteningly isolating.
Another step that really worked for me was meal planning and portion control. Having food intake guidelines meant that I never felt guilty after overeating due to having something written down on paper as an ‘agreement’ between myself and my health team. Furthermore, introducing healthy foods into my diet helped make meals interesting again, instead of simply existing off restrictive dishes during recovery.
This isn’t an easy statement but weight gain is common in recovery from anorexia, especially soon after as your body starts to heal itself naturally. Try not to beat yourself up if this happens - think of it
I can relate to what you are going through, recovering from anorexia is never easy. I also used to struggle with unhealthy body image and not loving or accepting my body shape for what it is. Your journey towards self-healing sounds like it requires a lot of courage and has been both mentally and physically exhausting. Kudos to you for that!
One thing I have learned the hard way is that having a balanced diet and mentally taking care of yourself go hand in hand. It’s important to make sure you’re consuming enough nutritious food everyday but without overdoing it- that’s not healthy either! Working with nutritionists to create meal plans can be really helpful for finding that balance again.
I applaud your strength for continuing on this journey despite the fact that you have gained a lot of weight since your recovery from anorexia. That can be incredibly challenging, but it is so important that you don’t get caught up in old habits or negative thoughts about your figure - keep remembering why you started this self-loving journey in the first place! As long as you stay focused on taking self care seriously both mentally and physically, things will eventually work out for the better. Wishing you all the best on this journey!
Hi,
I’m so glad to hear you are on your journey to recovering from anorexia. My heart goes out to you - it can be a really tough road. It sounds like you have taken huge steps towards taking care of yourself mentally and physically - that’s fantastic! This is such important work, as when we treat ourselves with kindness and respect, the healing will come.
I can relate to balancing diet and not overeating which can be tricky to manage sometimes. I also experience rapid weight gain since recovering from anorexia-related issues. It’s definitely difficult not to beat yourself up when dealing with this issue - but remember that great things take time and hard work! What strategies do you use when these moments occur? Having a plan in place can make all the difference, as well as having a supportive friend or therapist by your side.
Keep up the amazing progress and never forget that what truely matters is that YOU happy with who YOU are right now. You’ve got this!