Eating Disorders Support Group
Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the group, and also new to the fact that I might have an eating disorder. I tend to eat very healthy (fruits, vegetables and whole grains) partly due to that I'm concerned about how I look but also because every time I eat anything else I feel uncomfortably full and my stomach hurts. Therefore I'm having a hard time admitting to an eating disorder because I mostly do it because it's what my stomach can handle. I lost 20 pounds over the last year and a half and people started to take notice and become concerned about my weight. Sometimes I get jealous seeing others eat a normal size meal and then I try to do the same and end up paying for it later lol. I used to be able to eat anything I wanted, I really wish I knew what the heck happened. If anyone has any suggestions on ways to get in lots of nutrients without eating a ton that would be really appreciated as well. Thank you in advance. :-)
I'm new to the group, and also new to the fact that I might have an eating disorder. I tend to eat very healthy (fruits, vegetables and whole grains) partly due to that I'm concerned about how I look but also because every time I eat anything else I feel uncomfortably full and my stomach hurts. Therefore I'm having a hard time admitting to an eating disorder because I mostly do it because it's what my stomach can handle. I lost 20 pounds over the last year and a half and people started to take notice and become concerned about my weight. Sometimes I get jealous seeing others eat a normal size meal and then I try to do the same and end up paying for it later lol. I used to be able to eat anything I wanted, I really wish I knew what the heck happened. If anyone has any suggestions on ways to get in lots of nutrients without eating a ton that would be really appreciated as well. Thank you in advance. :-)
It sounds like you are struggling with knowing whether or not you have an eating disorder because you legitimately experience a lot of pain when you eat normal sized portions.
I, of course, don't know your entire story, but you mentioned you lost 20lbs over the past year and that people around you became concerned. Do you think you lost the weight "healthily", or were you engaging in a lot of unhealthy restriction or going to other extremes to lose the weight?
It is possible that, if you have been restricting your intake to an unhealthy level, that your digestive system could have become accustomed to eating abnormally small portions, so that now, when you try to eat normally, you experience a lot of discomfort. This happened to me, and like you, I believed that maybe my body just could not tolerate normal amounts of food. With professional help, I was able to recognize I had a problem and that something needed to be done. As painful as it was, I had to retrain my body to digest normal amounts of food. I experienced a lot of digestive problems and it was difficult, but eventually, my system got used to the normal amounts of food and my discomfort has gone away. I honestly never thought it would, but it did.
Some things that helped me were eating nutrient dense foods - nuts/nut butters, caloric beverages like milk/almond/soymilk, juice, using oils on my food, dried fruits, avocados...basically, foods that don't have a lot of volume but provide a lot of nutrition. I also had to rely on nutrition drinks (Ensure, Boost) for awhile to get in enough calories. And just gradually upping my portions, so that my body could have time to adjust. Also, taking digestive enzymes really really helped, and I actually still use them because I notice a difference when I do not. You can buy them at vitamin/health food stores.
Sorry that was so long! I just really feel for you because I experienced something similar, and it kept me sick for a long, long time.
Have you thought about reaching out for professional help? I really hope you consider it. I think it could help.
Please feel free to private message me on here if you ever need someone to talk to, or if I can do anything to help. Wishing you all the best!
Good luck!