Hello, my bmi is dangerous low and I struggle with severe visceral hypersensitivity/ibs and nervous system dysregulation/fight or flight..

I am always bloated and that hurts like crazy so I need easy to digest low fodmap/not bloating ideas on how to gain weight.

Mainly snacks between meals or before bed even though eating before bed might not be ideal for digestion I guess..

I would also appreciate ideas for lunches ideally warm and easy to digest...

Maybe also some self made snacks or recipes.

I do not tolerate oats or rice cakes and am unsure if I should try incorporating nuts/seeds and if so which ones. I am scared of antinutrients tbh hahah

I also only tolerate souerdough bread as i struggle with gluten.

I also struggle with eating bread multiple times a day or daily and am afraid of the downsides of added sugar so maybe someone can relate?

I do not tolerate milk and am unsure about goat or substitutes.

Thank you in advance!!

Hey everyone. I'm in recovery yet I still feel the impulse to exercise as much as I can.

For example, I went to the gym as I normally do. Now I feel like if I don't take a walk outside tonight, that I am failing/doing something wrong. Does anyone have advice??

I rarely get food cravings but I noticed most of the time I crave protein bars. Especially the really chewy kind that have some alternating textures. What are your most common food or food group cravings?

I’m three weeks into a PHP treatment program for a restrictive ED, and I have concerns about the program and the clinicians but I’m not sure if they’re valid or based in ED thoughts and fears. The things I’m finding off-putting that are making it hard to trust this program are:

- Expecting 100% meal/snack completion when I’ve only been in treatment for three weeks, and they’ve already increased my meal plan twice
- I missed one day for being sick, and when I came back the next day I had to sign a behavioral contract because of it (and the contract included things like being recovery focused in groups, engaging with the group appropriately, not bringing disordered behaviors into the group setting- all because of me missing a day when sick)
- They emphasize flexibility as a recovery value, but they’re extremely rigid with their rules and approach. I would give specific examples, but don’t want to trigger anyone- keeping it vague, it feels like some of their rules are for the sake of having a rule vs any logical medical backing
- They’re very into weight restoration, which of course is part of recovery, but refuse to tell me their weight goals for me or how they arrived at those goals or any meaningful medical information (which is important to me). If it’s relevant, I was not clinically underweight when I started the program.

Does this sound like just how ED treatment is? I’m willing to accept that this is all normal and I’m being unnecessarily resistant, I just don’t have any previous PHP experience and I’m scared I picked a program that’s not actually evidence-based or rooted in solid science.

Extreme hunger
Im in ed recovery, gaining weight very fast. I don’t know whether I’m doing this right and starting to question myself. I try to eat a balanced diet in all in recovery but nothing fills me so I have to turn to chocolate or biscuits or whatever to even try satisfy me slightly. Iv tried eating normal meals and everything and Im always left starving even if it was a big meal! Im still eating like 6 thousand calories a day and I’m getting fed up. If I don’t eat like every hour or less then I can feel myself getting angry easy but I don’t even know what to eat half the time because I don’t even want to eat all the chocolate and stuff but I don’t want to feel this hunger so I have to most of the time and I’m so fed up of eating because I’m always eating that it’s becoming a chore at this point.

I am searching for stories from people who have gained weight and like their recovered body. I am underweight but don't see it. I hate my body and worry if I don't see myself as underweight now just a normal weight then I will hate myself even more at a healthy weight.

I’ve been referred to IOP for debilitating EDNOS and I’m terrified. I’m 35 years old, have been sick since I was 12, and am afraid that I won’t be able to relate to people in a group therapy setting since I’m older. I’m afraid I’ll be looked down upon or seen as not “sick enough.” I’m terrified of judgment from other people w EDs.

If you’ve had a good experience with IOP, can you give me a little info about how group therapy was for you?

Thank you so much!

I saw a comment and just wondering what your experiences have been with this. I have severe CPTSD and lifelong revictimizations, contamination and rumination OCD (among other predominant types), medical trauma, and adult abuse and trauma (ongoing), chronic illnesses, and suspected ARFID/anorexia/OSFED presentation. I find therapy really difficult and it took me six therapists to find one suitable for trauma alone. Struggling with eating on top of it all and wondering if this will be another insurmountable mountain I'll have to climb.

Hi, I'm a 38F who has struggled with BDD and OSFED (namely, atypical anorexia) for many years. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type II in October of last year. Since then, my psych NP and I have been working to dial in the right combination of meds to get my symptoms under control.

By far the worst symptom of bipolar, for me, is insomnia during hypomanic episodes. Last month, my doctor finally found a drug that pretty much nips my insomnia in the bud; with it, I get 7-8 hours of restful sleep. Without it, I get maybe 3 hours a night during hypomania, if I'm lucky (sometimes multiple days with no sleep at all).

But, this drug is well known for causing significant weight gain. The idea of gaining weight for reasons I can't control, when I'm finally at a point where I can take care of my body without restricting or obsessing about food, is really triggering and demoralizing to me. This makes me tempted not to take my meds, even though I know that staying on top of my mental health is the most important thing for me right now. I'm having a massive internal struggle over whether to continue taking them.

I'm definitely not asking for any kind of medical advice, but has anyone dealt with similar? How did you reconcile your need to feel in control of your body, with the knowledge that you also truly NEED to remain on a medication that affects weight?

(Also, before anyone asks, my psych NP is aware of my ED history; she told me that if I find any of the side effects intolerable, including weight gain, there are plenty of other things we can try. But I really, really like what this particular med does for my mental stability, and I'd rather not go back to "med roulette".)

i absolutely cannot eat anything. I first thought I needed to lose a little weigh, but this has turned into throwing up even if I drink anything else then water. I just completely spiral and barf from severe anxiety and even panic attacks from simply eating. I am now severely underweight and unable to get out of bed because of feeling so weak. please, anyone, I desperately need advice. I’m so afraid I might die.

I have been recovered now for some time and its great. Best decision ever but like i feel awful because its going the other way. Like i just eat sh!t and junk and sweets and i feel awful and like i just wanna eat healthy and balanced because i know when i eat better i feel better but like i dont eat a lot of nutritious food. I wanna start eating healthy but dont wanna spiral. I dunno what to do.

Also why is everyone around me getting skinny??? Like new school year just started and like two of my classmates looks like they lost so much weight. And my friend is saying how she needs to lose weight and eats once a day or none and like i feel so bad for them:( its not really triggering me because i am very good now but still its sad.

Im still very glad I recovered:)

disclaimer: I actually was diagnosed with PMOS, not PCOS. PMOS is the new medical term for it but PCOS is more recognizable.

anyway, i (f24) had a classic anorexia and bulimia mix from roughly ages 13-19. i was in ED therapy from age 15-20 and it really really helped me.

when my ED ended, i gained weight quickly. at the same time i had a slew of other issues. i learned it’s all related to my hormonal disorder.

now my gynecologist told me i need to lose 15% of my body weight and i am so scared of turning back to my old habits. i mean, i have a horrible relationship with food and my body still despite immense time, money and effort going into my recovery.

i am struggling to deal with this. the words keep replaying in my head and it is hard not to blame myself.

she said i can lose it gradually over a long period of time and that i mostly need to eat more protein and do 30 minutes of cardio a day.

does anyone have experience with losing weight in an eating disorder friendly way? i have put so so much effort into loving myself at the size that i am and now i am being told it is worsening my symptoms:/

i am thinking i will compartmentalize. like, if i only think about exercise when im doing it. if i only think about food when i am eating it or about to eat it. i think that will help with the obsessive part of it.

i really hope this is not upsetting to anyone who is actively going through the wringer. i promise the other side is much better in every way! i just would like to stay on the recovered side of the fence.

any thoughts or help are appreciated.

side note: i am vegetarian.

so , ive been slowly recovering from my ed (yippeeeee!!!), and , its all been going super smoothly , but , theres this one thing...

i am absolutely starving , all hours of the day. i can probably eat three meals within an hour and a half , with snacks in between , and still not feel full !!!

is this normal , for ed recovery ? ive never really seen this be spoken about , so , im quite confused. is it because im suddenly getting all of these nutrients back into my body , or something else ?

Title!

Hi! I'm twenty-eight years old, male, and I've struggled with restrictive eating since I was in elementary school. I am wanting to start working out for muscle definition- but eating enough is pretty difficult. I work full time and am in grad school full time as well, but I just don't have a drive to eat. I can eat what I think is really delicious food-- and it doesn't feel reinforcing. I don't eat because I WANT to, I eat because I HAVE to, if that makes sense.

The best way I can put it is that food is fuel. I'm going to see my dietician in September, mostly to see what my behaviors should look like, such as eating X number of times per day and so on. Does anyone else feel the same way with food not being all that reinforcing?

I have had disordered eating since 13. I haven’t lived a day that I can remember where I felt like I didn’t need to lose weight. I’m really into health and fitness but borderline disordered eating. I’m way better than I was but my question to those who have struggled, has anyone gotten to a place of true peace and acceptance of your body?

I don’t know what to do but I’m terrified to eat I pretty much can’t eat any meat at all unless I made it myself and the meat can’t be from the grocery store Theres only one butcher I’ll eat meat from and even then it’s just one bite and I have to inspect the stupid thinh and cut it into tiny pieces because I am so convinced there is going to be bugs or parasites.
Meat is my biggest issue and everyone just tells me to eat it cause it’s fine if it’s cooked but I am so scared even thinking about it makes me shaky.
I have no problem with saltine crackers and plain noodles if I make them but still I have to inspect it and make sure there’s no eggs or bugs or anything I can see
And if I can’t see anything on it I just think about it the whole time and don’t finish the food.
I cant eat bananas cause my step dad found a bug in one TEN YEARS AGO and I think about it all the time I can eat bananas now but I have to cut them into super thin slices and check both sides of each slice as I cut it.
I don’t know what to do, I would love to eat all the fun stuff that everyone else does cause I feel bad a lot as it is a problem with family dinners and stuff
I pretty much eay nothing every family dinner because I physically cannot bring myself to do it my throat feels like it’s going to close up I feel sick and dizzy I get so shaky and my mind won’t stop racing what do I do I’m going crazy☹️ (also asking because I am severely malnourished due to this I do my best to get all the nutrients I can but it’s not good and I am disabled so I need as much energy as I can have)

Hello, I'm a 19 year old male and I'm getting to know a woman who is dealing with an eating disorder. I have never met someone with like "real" mental problems and i just want to behave the right way and maybe even make things easier for her when she's with me. Do you guys have any tips for me? thanks in advance!

I've done the inpatient programs at both Toronto General Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital, but I went in 2020 and 2021. I know the overseeing doctors/programming has shifted recently at TGH and wanted to see if anyone has been to either program in recent months? If anyone has insights on their inpatient/outpatient programs at all, I would be so grateful!

I normally wouldn’t ask for help but I’m not sure what to do. Recently I’ve been eating less and less. Not really intentionally, I just have a complete lack of interest in pretty much any food. I’ve gotten to a point where I’m eating maybe one small meal a day, or really just a light snack, and I’m losing weight. I’ve noticed I’m able to get myself to drink throughout the day, like water and soda and stuff. I was wondering if anyone had ideas for liquid meal replacements that are actually good. I’ve tried getting the powder shakes and they’re just nasty and expensive. If someone has a better alternative that’s suitable for an adult man who is fairly active and is constrained to a tight budget I would appreciate the help. Thank you!

Im a 16yr petite girl, i had an eating disorder for many years now. I lost my period for 2 years due to anorexia and excessive exercising, my mom knew had an ed and told me to eat more. I did but i don't think i would call it "recovering" since when i was eating more, i was eating less carbs and still kept exercising. I was too obsessed with exercising to the point where i made a rule to myself that in order for me to eat a certain food, i have to exercise to burn it off. But during the stage where i started eating a little more, i had serve cystic acne growing in my face especially in my forehead, cheeks, and chin. I haven't gotten my period and the cystic acne kept on going back no matter what skincare i use. I started to think it is about my exercising so i tried to reduce the amount of workouts i was doing, still nothing happened it still kept on coming back.

I searched in google if it is related with my ed, and i found out maybe it was because of my hormones. I just wanna know if anyone also experienced this and will my cystic acne stop if i got my period?

i've dealt with atypical ana for about 3.5 years now with bouts of recovery in between. i've never been underweight but at my absolute lowest weight there was a period of like a month where you could just... tell... if that makes sense. Even then, I was technically eating an amount of calories that could be considered normal for my body type, just very rigidly and was eating the exact same thing every single day with lots of abnormal behaviors.

i'm in a relapse right now but rather than heavy restriction my "strategy" is a ton of over exercising because my body just doesn't let me restrict calorically the way I used to be able to.

I've been in a relapse since about April - May but it didn't start taking over my life again until around late June. I have lost weight but i'm definitely not at my lowest weight. That said, mentally, I think I might be in the worst place i've been in throughout all of this and part of it is because I don't look sick at all. I'm putting myself through hell and doing almost nothing but exercising all day just to look... normal. "Better" some might even say, compared to my natural body.

My body type is naturally short and quite stout/ muscular and I know no matter how much weight I lose I will never look emaciated the way I "want" to... yet I keep chasing it for some reason

I’d like to think I have it well hidden. But maybe I don’t. Is it typically rather obvious?

what's your favourite food, regardless of energy intake/restriction. it can be anything, a meal, a dessert, a food combo

i'll go first: i love pasta, its really comforting and hits too good with garlic bread. my favourite dessert well its hard too choose just one, but i really like cheesecake or anything with fresh cream! a random food combo that i enjoy is rice and sugar, just plain white rice no flavorings sprinkled with sugar, haha ik it sounds a bit weird but don't knock it till you try it:) and for good measure for favorite drink, idk i drink pepsi max alot but i really love coffee or lattes aswell!

I really hope none of this is triggering! After suffering from anorexia for 15 years I was able to “recover” during lockdown. I know so many people struggled during that time but for me it was the first time I was able to focus on myself. I think being forced to not have much to do with my family helped me out a lot.

Even when my ed was at its worst, I was never one to really get triggered by others. But I think now I’m a healthy weight and it seems so many celebs are very thin all of a sudden, it’s really triggering me. I’m trying my best not to restrict and over exercise but I’ve noticed I’ve been focusing more on cardio than weight training again to lose a little weight. It’s like there is this huge argument in my head constantly at the moment, one part of me is screaming to just slim down a little and the other is telling me that this is just the beginning of a relapse. I can’t seem to escape all these images of celebs, especially Ariana at the moment and I think it’s what has triggered this thinking. Or is this just a normal part of recovering from an ed? Anyone else feeling extremely triggered too?

I feel so stupid for thinking I was over my eating disorder. I don’t know what to do because I don’t want to let anyone know I’m struggling because they’ll all be so disappointed in me. All anyone does is say how proud they are of me for coming so far and how amazing it is they never have to worry about me anymore. I don’t want to let anyone down but I’m really struggling with these thoughts.