Constant Food Thoughts

Hi all,

I would say I have been recovered from anorexia and depression for 4months and am enjoying life to the full in all aspects. I am aware that I have always had an obsessive aspect of my personality along with still struggling with constant anxiety. I am not afraid to eat anything and don't ever restrict but I still feel like food is always on my mind - not that im always wanting to eat, nor that im worrying about eating but its always lingering. My first thought on anything is where food will fit in or how it will relate to food. I feel strong enough to overcome these thoughts but iv stuck as to how - iv got a very busy life yet I always find time to think about food.

Please could someone provide any help?

Thankyou

xx

Four months and you've made real progress if you can eat anything and don't restrict as well as finding your way through depression.

It's probably o.k., only 4 months in, to find that most thoughts relate back to where food fits in or how everything relates to food.

People who have never suffered an eating disorder think about food an awful lot too. All human beings are built to think about food because survival is kinda the primary objective.

When you have gone through the completely locked-in obsession of food and food restriction in active anorexia, it is easy to assume that complete recovery involves never thinking about food anymore, but it doesn't. Yes, the set point will diminish, but it'll probably take a couple of years.

However, if you are uncomfortable with the thoughts or feel that they somehow rule or diminish your life, then a therapist would be the best route to go just to get some techniques on how to move into a more comfortable space for yourself and your relationship with food.

Best of luck!

MAKE YOURSELF do other things. don't allow any extra time to be spent overtly thinking about food. that means don't watch food shows, go to grocery stores for fun, look online at recipes, plan menus to optimize calories, etc. Take up a hobby if you have to. It's normal to have these thoughts during recovery but it definitely makes recovery more difficult. 

maybe planning a week's meals or a couple days at a time and preparing the food first thing in the morning so that there's no thinking left to it just eating. then you wouldn't have to worry about how food will fit in because it's taken care of. you have to identify when and why you think about food in order to eliminate the trigger. 

Congrats, it is a struggle. I have constant thoughts of something that consumes my life. Every gap of thought goes directly to that thought.  And believe me no matter how busy yiur are it still has room forthe thought.so I realized that this is going to be the rest of my life if I cant control it. And I realiuze i couldnt do it alone. I prayed hard. because i  dont want to be that person. And the load has lifted.  So not underestimate the power of prayer. We humans think we can do it all. I am an accountatn and love working with numbers I am sure around tax season it will help. But right now iam good. Its a certain peace i cant explain.

I'm always also thinking about food. It's a real drag. My fiance laughs and finds it weird a bit that someone who thinks of food so often avoids most of it. Heh. I think most of it is due to boredom and OCDic tendencies. I'm not working and most of my days are spent sitting around at home.

I also go to grocery stores if I'm in town just to *look* around at the food and see the products and what's out. I look at that stuff like Carrie Bradshaw looks at shoes. Lmao! Thank god I'm poor and can't afford to buy a bunch of food or else I think my binging problem would be back at full which is actually kind of scary.....

Just know you aren't alone. I just realized I need to find a damn hobbie..Heh...it's a little hard though when you suffer depression, anxiety and can't concentrate on anything. :/

Hi guys,

Thankyou all so much for your responses, it helps just knowing that im not alone in these issues!

Im getting better not thinking about them and perhaps im expecting too much too soon for it all to be "gone"! That was good advice about not doing anything associated with food - im in charge of the cooking now (which i prefer) but i keep looking for recipes to impress my boyfriend with but maybe for someone whos had anorexia, thats not the best thing!

On another note, for the past month iv had alot on and its been so much easier without being concerned/ as obsessed/worried about food - i don't think iv eaten much more or exercised any less (apart from this week because iv been ill and not enough time), however now that things have slowed down i feel "fat" and "unfit" because i cant remember properly what iv been eating (i purposly have been trying to not care).

I want to not keep track but im genuinely concerned about my weight - i want to keep slim and make a concious effort to keep on top of my diet and exercise (without restricting).  I enjoy healthy food so you could never accuse me of eating unhealthy (and the same with exercise) but im worried about not "keeping up to my normal standard"....yes ok il admit it - im worried about losing control still slightly!

Can anyone relate??!?

xxx

Just a book Im reading now: Carol Emery Normandi: Its not about food, end your obsession with food and weight. You should give it a try!

I know exactly how you feel! I am recovering from anorexia as well and i am now  starting to stop restricting and eating more foods i  use to enjoy. However now as i start to gain weight i feel like i will loose control and gain a whole bunch of weight. Frusterating! I dont want to loose all of the progress i have made!