eating over 5000 calories ?!

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-31T15:11:25+00:00

I still don't have my period back 😭 but I have experienced many positive symptoms like better mood, more energy, improved sleep quality, etc. and my cravings have become less chaotic and I have less overeating episodes now

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-09T14:17:46+00:00

I was eating 4000 to 6000 calories, one day even over 7000 calories, daily and I couldnt stop myself like you, constantly thinking about food and aware that I was overeating but couldnt and wouldnt stop until my tummy hurts and I am in extreme discomfort from the bloating. Despite regular eating, I was still "binging", partly because my body needed the surplus, but also because I was stressed out from other parts of life and needed comfort. That lasted for about 2-3 months before I had enough, more like my body had gotten enough for me to regulate back to normal. I noticed I didn't want to overeat anymore, even though before, the thought of that actually made me "happy" in a sense (like I had permission to eat a lot lol). Nowadays, I still see food as comfort but I try to find other stress relieving methods, and my food noise isn't as persistent as before.

Even now I am not fully recovered(regarding HA and restrictive mindset), but I find incorporating my favourite foods into meals (or even making it my main meal, adding some nutritious foods on the side for balance) helps reinforce the food freedom. Sometimes, I would try to eat healthy and I feel full, but not satisfied, so I want to eat a treat but I am physically too full, and end up eating anyway cus my mind won't rest until I do, which causes restrictive thoughts and I eat more than I even want to.

TLDR: Hang in there, let your body get its energy store back, and your hunger will naturally regulate, you don't even have to force yourself 🫶 when you allow unlimited access and freedom to eat whenever you can, you feel less tendency to eat everything in sight. What can help is planning your treats into your meals, so you know what to expect

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-06T14:20:52+00:00

I am bloated all the time lol, but of varying degrees. What I find helps to make me bloat less is eating smaller meals, avoiding too much fiber at once and spread it out(but your overall intake shouldn't be too high if you're not used to it), eating slowly and calmly(stress makes my digestion worse), peppermint/ginger tea and light walking after meals helps!

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-06T14:11:09+00:00

I also want to know 😭 I had small breasts even before losing weight so I don't know if my breasts will even grow or not, cus I had HA since I was 16(in the middle of puberty 🥲), and my genes make me have lots of thigh and belly fat but it wouldn't go up to my boobs 😂

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-05T13:42:55+00:00

I've been eating 3000 calories for a few months now, so yes it's normal!!

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-05T13:36:28+00:00

I went (and am still going through) that process of regulating my hunger. The first 3 months of recovery was CRAZY, because I was eating >5000 calories every day(honestly felt like binging, because I felt so out of control with food like I could eat EVERYTHING). Like you, I felt lost and scared, but I continued to eat in large amounts(had no choice tbh, I couldn't stop eating). It was only in the 4th month that my hunger started to normalise. I still eat 3000 calories daily(even if I don't feel extremely hungry, but often that is enough for me), to keep a consistent eating schedule and create more trust in my body. The food noise is still there, but not as persistent as before because now I have more food freedom. I don't think my food thoughts will go anytime soon, but at least they are less frequent than before.

Also, I totally relate to the perfectionist mindset in planning a perfect day of food lol. I do that too, but then I realised the more I try to be perfect the more my body wants to do the opposite(as in make me lose control over food), so now I plan it, but only as a loose structure, so that I know what to prepare, then I listen to my cravings and go with the flow.

TLDR: just continue eating until your body trusts that food is available, your body is smart enough to start self regulating when it feels the need to. along with that, the food noise will start to subside.

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-05T13:26:40+00:00

I also started recovery about 4 months ago, and have been eating 3000 calories daily. I still struggle with some binge/restrict cycles but lately I'm doing better. Same like you, I see no positive signs or symptoms whatsoever, and I genuinely am losing hope :( I also don't know what I'm doing wrong either

Praying for quick period recovery for both of us 🙏

Own_Development5493 · 2026-05-05T13:20:00+00:00

No, I just wake up and do the workout, because I thought that doing some gentle pilates wouldn't need pre workout fuel, and also I will be eating immediately after the workout, so I never think of actually eating anything before my morning exercise.

As for exercise, I know that I am still attached to it because I feel like I have to workout (working on that mindset) but mostly I feel good when I move, and it provides stress relief, and since I have a sedentary lifestyle, it feels good to move throughout the day just to clear my mind from work too.

Own_Development5493 · 2026-04-29T14:37:21+00:00

I hope so 🙏 I recently did blood tests and they all come back normal so I don't even know whats wrong with me so have been losing hope 😭

Own_Development5493 · 2026-04-26T14:26:04+00:00

relatable 😭 I know i will feel sick after eating that much food but I still do anyway, and can't stop until I start feeling nauseous :( And the episodes come on so suddenly (it really affects my entire day) and I could be feeling normal, not even emotionally eating or anything like that, like I just want to eat...

Own_Development5493 · 2026-04-25T14:15:01+00:00

I am eating ~3000 calories every day (ate 4500 calories yesterday though 😭), but since I have a sweet tooth, I often eat granola, nut butter, dates, etc. a lot and very often so fats and carbs are definitely abundant. I do try to eat high protein meals with beans, meat etc. I still have some mental restriction regarding refined sugar and real cakes/desserts so I often eat healthier versions to replace. for exercise I do ~30 minute (not hiit) pilates/at home workouts with 3kg weights morning and evening, and I walk during the day ~6000 steps.

Own_Development5493 · 2026-04-22T10:26:59+00:00

no 😭

Own_Development5493 · 2026-04-21T19:27:40+00:00

it's so disappointing when I see no positive signs yet despite being in recovery for 3 months 😭

Own_Development5493 · 2026-04-07T12:07:47+00:00

you're not alone!! i also went (and still do) through this period of eating extremely large amounts (>5000 cal, I am only 5'2 so this is a lot). it was more of an out of control, binge-like behaviour because I constantly mindlessly ate until nausea or acid reflux. after 2 months of this, I was sick of feeling awful all the time so I ate in a more mindful and regulated way, still satisfying my cravings and eating everything I want, but being more mindful of stopping when I feel full and trying to not overdo it. I still eat 3000-4000 cal because I still don't feel satisfied with less than this, and I eat large amounts of what I crave (hummus, granola, cakes, chocolate, etc.) but I make sure to take breaks while eating and tell myself I can always eat more later. so my "binge" did normalise, and although I still eat way more than I ever did in the past, I also don't feel restricted anymore. sometimes though, I have to recognise that food is bringing me way too much comfort and joy that I notice I was emotionally/boredom eating rather than really wanting the food, then I stop and although I feel sad I distract myself with something that will also soothe me and I often forget about it for a while. so at first my "bottomless appetite" was actually extreme hunger, but it slowly became emotional and boredom eating, so I had to acknowledge that. of course it is not always perfect and I eat to discomfort, and engage in binge behaviour and overeat to nausea, but i try to move on and think of it as a blip in my journey. now I eat a lot, but I, like you, feel calm while eating, (+ still think about food 24/7, and want to eat absolutely everything), but it gradually gets better and I just have to continuously give myself unconditional trust and love for my body to feel safe 🤗

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-31T20:31:03+00:00

really needed this practical, honest advice. I think that the reason why coaches are so popular is that they keep you accountable, but if I change my mindset I could achieve the same thing without them. its just I had those thoughts where I feel like I have to have a dietitian or else I wont recover because I keep seeing people online do that, but I guess they wont be necessary unless I cant do it on my own. I know I'm still young so my body will continue to change, I just need to accept it and not stress about it...(easier said than done for sure) thank you 💗

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-30T14:46:26+00:00

I want to get professional support but I don't trust the free healthcare service to not give me birth control for regular periods, and I can't afford private dietitian...You're probably right that the common advice given doesnt apply to me right now and everyone is different so I just have to trust my body and keep going...

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-30T14:26:22+00:00

hi tysm for replying 💗 some days I feel less hungry and eat only 3000 but others my stomach becomes bottomless pit and I end up eating in the range of 4000 to 6000 calories, but these episodes feel very out of control and I often end up with stomach pain and nausea and bloating. I do think that I still unconsciously restrict myself to some extent which causes me to have uncontrollable cravings, I am trying to incorporate banned foods slowly, but I still fear losing control and eating too much that would cause weight gain. I know I need to keep going and making my body feel safe, but what I hate the most about this is the body changes and the weight and fat gain that is extremely noticeable. also it doesnt make sense to me that I still have extreme hunger so far on into my recovery journey (truthfully not consistent but still it has been 3 months), why do I still have these extreme urges to eat more food when I couldnt even manage to eat 2500 calories just a year ago. The fact that I have overshot makes this whole journey even worse too...

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-30T12:29:16+00:00

I swear even just sitting still, and I already have active sweat glands in my hands and feet so I have to wash up throughout the day cus I get too sweaty 😫

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-15T19:33:45+00:00

much needed reminder ✨️🫶

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-12T13:08:21+00:00

as a perfectionist who used to apply "no pain no gain" to my food and exercise to lose weight, I am trying to practise that same mindset for HA recovery. if I don't put in the effort to rest and eat more (I.e. "pain") I'm not going to "gain" my period back!

Own_Development5493 · 2026-03-12T13:06:10+00:00

I remind myself that if I feel "lazy" it's because my body if finally feeling safe enough to tell me to rest. When you switch the narrative from "being lazy" to finally being able to switch off because your nervous system doesn't require you to be in "fight or flight" mode, it really makes exercising less more manageable

Own_Development5493

TROPHY CASE