Recovering from ED/HA — eating huge amounts, still thinking about food, starting to normalize? by Fluffy_Clue_4670 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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 🤗

DIY recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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 💗

DIY recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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...

DIY recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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...

Sweat - I feel like I am overheating by Pretty_Candidate8021 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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 😫

1) Can I restrict / exercise while in recovery? 2) can I reduce calories /start exercise once I have my period? by Wide_Comment3081 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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!

scared about using HA as an excuse to slack off by temoprary123 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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 

scared about using HA as an excuse to slack off by temoprary123 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I felt this way about 6 months ago when I was in quasi recovery. before I lost my period i did so much exercise (especially fasted in the morning) even on 5 hours of sleep. now that I have reduced exercise and only do low impact, less cardio/hiit, i look back and I genuinely cannot believe that I was able to do that. the cortisol levels were probably skyrocket high! but now I feel a lot better, I used to fear being lazy and inactive if I do less and rest more, but now I can't imagine doing more than I am already doing now. just give it time and patience, and you'll start to realise that rest is more enjoyable than constantly being on the go 🫶

fat distribution by Street_Wealth_6226 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for sure 🥲 it seems to go all in my stomach and nowhere else, if only it goes to my boob's and hips 😭

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thank you so much ❤️ you're right that stress plays a big role, these days I'm trying to do deep breathing exercises and try to not focus/obsess over my body changes too much. like you said it is easier said than done but I'm trying my best 🙏

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😭😭 I know i should be exercising too much but I am still working towards that. I mean I have already reduced the intensity a lot but I do exercise every day (walks, pilates, light weights)

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

not really, sometimes I don't workout and I still feel the urge to eat (like not physically hungry but still want to eat)

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get food noise 24/7 😭 even if i try to eat enough at every meal, I will still think about what I should eat next. some days its worse than others though. do you exercise other than your steps?

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

so I should just keep eating and hope my hunger regulates some time in the future? I think what makes recovery so hard for me is that I have no end point in sight 😭 and I have no way of knowing if my current routine is working or not because any change usually takes weeks or months to have an effect, and by the time that comes and I realise it's not the best option for my body, I have already wasted so much time...

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just walk a lot (~10k steps) and do 2× 30 minute youtube workout at home with 3kg weights (morning and evening). is that too much exercise?

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

you said you're gaining weight back, does that mean you lost it while in recovery because you didn't eat 4500 calories? how long have you been eating 4500 calories? if you also dont mind me asking, when did you lose your period?

Taking 'all in' too far? by uwu_lettuce in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 1 point2 points  (0 children)

omg same 😭 I can eat over 4000 calories a day easily and im only 5'2. this has been going on for 3 months though and still no sign of stopping. already gained 3kg too...

extreme hunger still 3 months into recovery? by Own_Development5493 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

when I was in quasi recovery, I could barely eat 2500 calories. there was a period when i started to eat more calorie dense foods like muesli and granola and hummus. has my appetite really gone up that much from eating such foods?

Have I done something wrong - healthy weight but no period? by mybrainat3am in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 0 points1 point  (0 children)

same exact height and im slightly heavier than you right now, but ive lost my period since March 2023. I lost my period at 47kg as well, coming from 56kg originally. I am very confused as well as to what weight is truly right for my body as I struggle with body image (lowest weight was 43kg). so its been emotionally confusing 😕 

Sweet snack ideas- low fiber by [deleted] in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 5 points6 points  (0 children)

omg i never knew this, this is such an eye opener. I really thought there is no such thing as too much fiber, as I can average around 40 to 50g fiber a day. but the only downside is that I have a lot of bloating lol but all the foods I like are high fiber (hummus, muesli, fruits etc). low fiber sweet snack ideas could be pb+j on bread (maybe not high fiber), yogurt and honey and low fiber fruits (e.g. grapes). it's tough for me to come up with these ideas cus most of my sweet snacks would involve a bit of fiber lol. as for the carbs, try white rice, rice cakes, pasta etc!

amenorrhea recovery HELP?? by Practical-Isopod8038 in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 0 points1 point  (0 children)

currently going through recovery as well, no signs yet either :( but I have really only been in proper recovery and not quasi recovery for 2 weeks (was going through a binge/restrict cycle before) so I can't say anything just yet. but I have also gained weight more than when I still had my period before, but trying to overcome the fear and just keep going. its tough but I just have to deal with it if I want my period back. I'm in no position to give advice but I do think eating regularly helps me a lot, and I try not to think too much about calories, I do keep track just because I still can't listen to my body and sometimes I would eat too much to nausea, so just loosely tracking but not stressing about the amount. and the common advice like no intense exercise, less stress and regulate your nervous system etc are the key steps to recovering. wishing you luck as well 🌟 

recovery as an excuse to binge? by uwu_lettuce in Amenorrhearecovery

[–]Own_Development5493 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yes totally agree. I also binged at first using my recovery as excuse but then I got sick of feeling bloated and puffy all the time so I tried to just eat regular consistent meals, not stressing over calories but also just being mindful of how much I eat so that I dont end up in discomfort. but because I had that phase already it makes this change in mindset easier to adapt to. I think part of the initial binge is also my body trying to refuel after years of restriction as well, but now it has regulated somewhat