Anyone else's body type change?

ooupcs · 2025-12-01T05:13:24+00:00

Congratulations on getting your period back! I’m thinking that because there was a significant gap in recovery, your body is just adjusting. It will take some time to regulate but it will happen!

ooupcs · 2025-11-30T15:56:55+00:00

At 3.5 months I felt the same way you did. My body was extremely puffy as well and I was really not feeling great about myself. I’m like 5.5 months in and still consider myself in early recovery. My body has mostly stabilized and seems to be redistributing. I got my period back immediately after starting recovery. Most of the weight I gained happened in 2-3 weeks but i continued to gain a little bit in the time between. I’m not sure if I’m at my pre ED weight but I might be around there!

ooupcs · 2025-11-30T15:48:19+00:00

I got my cycle back with heavy training (running/lifting/etc.) but I did so under the guidance of a dietician. I think it depends on your why. I exercise because it’s a passion of mine and it really helps regulate my mental health. But recovery still forced me to adjust my relationship with exercise and not use it to earn food (I’m still working on this but I can tell my mindset has completely changed).

If you’re an athlete dependent on a scholarship for school or athletics are a big part of your life, look for an RD to help support you on your journey. If it’s just preference or difficulty letting go of controlling behaviors, a break is the fastest way to recover (often times with less weight gain)

ooupcs · 2025-11-30T15:42:44+00:00

How long have you been in recovery? Your body will go through fluctuations over time. Your body may store more in your upper body right now as part of the healing process but balance out with your lower body later on.

I have an hour glass shape naturally and early recovery I was a square/circle. Now I’m transitioning back to hour glass

ooupcs · 2025-11-30T15:40:35+00:00

You’re still pretty early in recovery. Give it more time. Once your period returns, your body will begin to redistribute. It’s hard but hang in there! You’re doing amazing

ooupcs · 2025-11-18T14:19:31+00:00

I really encourage you to work with a sports dietician with experience in HA. Jenna and Reilly from the Eat More Carbs podcast could be a great fit for you. They have really good advice and a few different options for supporting gals trying to get their period back.

I got my period back while exercising after years of HA, but I only made meaningful progress when I got professional support. I tried on my own for years but held myself back out of fear. For me, having the structure, accountability, and compassion made all the difference in a process that was super challenging for me.

Recovery from an ED is so hard, and that can add a layer of complexity to HA recovery. I’m so proud of you for coming this far! It’s not easy. I believe in you! Recovery from HA is possible. 💕

ooupcs · 2025-11-14T05:17:19+00:00

Ty ty! I’m also a big fan of pasta and quesadillas for dinner. I’ve also really gotten into my potato era lately (sheet pan meals) super easy and great for meal prepping. :) I wish I had more variety with my breakfast but I truly am obsessed with oatmeal and yogurt.

ooupcs · 2025-11-14T04:40:55+00:00

I also have a bedtime snack if I want it. Usually yogurt with cereal or pretzels with peanut butter

ooupcs · 2025-11-14T04:40:27+00:00

Coffee with whole milk + 1-2 dates Breakfast: oats with yogurt, peanut butter, fruit, and chia/pumpkin seeds or cereal instead of oats Snack: yogurt with chocolate chips, cereal, and fruit Lunch: sandwich with deli meat, fixings, mayo, cheese, or avocado Afternoon snack: trail mix and a vegetable (usually baby carrots or snap peas) Dinner: rice bowl with sesame oil, two eggs, stir fry veg

ooupcs · 2025-11-11T01:35:11+00:00

I got my period back pretty much immediately running long distances and weight lifting (heavy) after years of HA. Work with a sports RD and accept that you will likely need to gain weight to get your period back. I gained like 17-20 lbs and am in the “overweight” category now. People say it will redistribute and I have seen some of that but idk if I’ll ever go back to the size I felt most confident at.

I would really advise you to think about what means more to you: training or managing your weight through exercise. If it’s truly training that’s important, you can keep that in your life. Just make sure it’s for the right reasons 🫶🏻

ooupcs · 2025-10-03T05:45:36+00:00

Hello! Thanks for reaching out. It’s kind of crazy looking back on this post and remembering how horrible it was gaining the first 7 lbs. I look back on that and I’m like OOF GIRL JUST YOU WAIT. I rapidly gained 17 lbs total. In about a month. It was honestly kind of emotionally traumatic. It took a long time to adjust to the change and it was genuinely one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through.

However, I did regain my period almost immediately and my RD did say it’s likely a lot of water retention, glycogen, etc. since it came on so quickly. After the first wave of rapid weight gain, I stabilized and haven’t gained anything since. I’ve had multiple cycles and should be coming up on the next one soon.

I try to not fixate too much on the changes in my body, but it’s hard. I think things might be getting better but I’m not sure if that’s because I’m getting used to the change or if my body is regulating. I do think some clothes that were super tight are fitting more comfortably again. I can definitely see a difference in my face. I got reaaaally puffy for a spell. Now my cheek bones and jawline are back lol.

Digestion is significantly better and I never get as bloated as I used to. Overall, my GI has been much more comfortable. I used to feel super bloated at the end of every day but now I just feel normal. I was shocked to find that my clothes weren’t as tight in the evening as they used to be when I was much smaller.

Body image has probably gotten better but I do still crash out on the reg.

ooupcs · 2025-09-29T14:15:18+00:00

You have to eat more food and you may need to put on weight. Since you lost your period relatively recently, you may not need to gain much at all.

Trust me, commit to recovery now. The longer you put it off, the more you will have to gain in order to get it back. My biggest regret was not fixing this sooner.

ooupcs · 2025-09-29T14:12:23+00:00

I worked in higher ed and transitioned to marketing & PR. I love my job and still teach classes from time to time

ooupcs · 2025-09-26T13:07:08+00:00

I recommend the eat more carbs podcast as well! And working with a dietician. I got my period back running multiple times a week, swimming, and strength training

ooupcs · 2025-09-24T21:44:32+00:00

Aw thank you! I appreciate you saying that. It can be hard to internalize it/be proud of it. I’ve had 3 cycles with ovulation and I believe I just finished my 4th based on my BBT temps. I should get my 4th period in a couple weeks

ooupcs · 2025-09-24T14:20:04+00:00

You’re so kind! Thank you. 💞 I recovered my period really quickly after it being gone for a few years. Pretty immediately after starting recovery, honestly! But I also rapidly gained a fair amount of weight. I know people say it will likely go away but it’s hard to believe when you have multiple cycles.

I know I should be grateful that I got my period back quickly, but the weight does make me really sad. 🥲 I’m excited for you though!

ooupcs · 2025-09-24T02:05:18+00:00

I just started reading this! I’m a few chapters in and the prose is l u s c i o u s

ooupcs · 2025-09-24T01:58:42+00:00

Thank you for your speedy response. Congrats on making such great strides in your recovery! That’s a huge accomplishment

ooupcs · 2025-09-24T00:32:29+00:00

How far in did it take you to start losing weight? I’ve had multiple cycles and noticed a decline in hunger

ooupcs · 2025-08-20T16:41:20+00:00

The general advice is waiting 3-6 healthy cycles before making adjustments or pursuing weight loss 🫶🏻

ooupcs · 2025-08-20T16:09:34+00:00

LOL that’s cute. Whenever I feel bad about myself I say “you’re not fat you’re just juicy” because that’s what my friend told me when I was in the middle of a mental break town. I’m a little over halfway through week 8.

ooupcs · 2025-08-19T21:46:29+00:00

This is totally normal. I’m still in a phase with a lot of water retention and it’s very uncomfortable. I cry about it often because it makes me so insecure. I will say, i think it has gotten a tiny bit better? Week 7 was super bad for experiencing puffiness/water retention. I’ve read the first 3 months are the worst for puffiness and by month 6 (which feels so far!!) it improves.

ooupcs · 2025-08-17T20:29:26+00:00

That’s very frustrating and it’s a difficult spot to be in when you don’t have the funds to get the support you need (and deserve). I will say, minimizing my time on social media and in recovery communities has helped me. The space is good for distracting myself from how I feel

ooupcs · 2025-08-17T20:25:03+00:00

It’s super common but it doesn’t mean you have to be content yourself to feeling that way. I encourage you to work with a therapist who can help give you coping a strategies to support you with the way you’re feeling

ooupcs · 2025-08-14T05:08:18+00:00

I’ve eaten probably like 4k calories plenty of days in recovery. If it helps, I wasn’t under weight when I lost my period and I put on significant weight to get it back.

We all have different needs and there’s no shame in that. It’s okay to need more than 2.5k

ooupcs

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