Feel so full it hurts...

**Info** I am recovering from a restrictive ED and recommended 3,000 calories a day. This is my 3rd day into serious recovery **Info**


My point is, Today i have eaten 1,600 calories so far. And its not that i don't want to eat, but i feel so full its hurting my chest + stomach. Its 8pm now, so i will probably have a small meal at 10pm to up my calories..but I feel i am failing. The mental thoughts are at bay, but its hurting me! :(

Shall I just eat my next meal, and try again tommorow? If i eat much more i think i will be sick. Is this normal? I am only used to 1,200 calories a day. 

Thanks.

Hi Helen! I'm sorry for what you're going through, I think that at the early phases of recovery it's a very common experience though... you have to increase slowly your calories day by day so that your digestive system can be more prepared... remember to choose high-calorie low-density foods such as nuts and seeds, try to take calories from drinks/liquids too... however, if you feel sick and you cannot eat anymore now, well don't worry, you'll try to eat more tomorrow... eating is not an easy activity for those who are not used to it, it takes time and patience!

Good luck!

Thankyou! Your post reassured me.

I will keep at it :D

Take care.

xx 

Try some denser calorie foods! A handful of nuts will get you a lot of calories, and avocados too! Dark chocolate helped me when I was recovering. You sound like you're trying very hard, you should be very proud of yourself so far. Just keep trying, and don't try to force it all at once, take it at a pace you can manage. But it is normal, your stomach is not used to having so much food in it since you've been restricting. Don't worry, and keep trying your best! :D

I cannot eat nuts :( and seeds are horrible :(

I am trying hard..i cant be proud until i stop losing weight! :)

 

Thanks for your help! 

Meal replacement drinks are a good way to add calories too.  I like Ensure or Boost because they actually taste good!

ellevu offered good advice - your stomach isn't used to huge amounts of food, so you're not going to be able to suddenly eat twice as much and not feel it!  Up your intake slowly.  Eat smaller meals, but every 2 hours or so.

 

Mass gainers. It's much easier to drink your calories than to eat them.

I've recently re discovered milkshakes.

Hmm, bliss! :D

Hey :), I would really reccomend ice cream, it's easy to get through half a tub without a second thought whilst watching tv, and it really doesn't fill you up, or at least not at all in my experience, and plus, it seems like a 'normal' teen thing to do, which I think makes it mentally easier to eat :) hope this helps, and best of luck

Original Post by Burritobab:

Hey :), I would really reccomend ice cream, it's easy to get through half a tub without a second thought whilst watching tv, and it really doesn't fill you up, or at least not at all in my experience, and plus, it seems like a 'normal' teen thing to do, which I think makes it mentally easier to eat :) hope this helps, and best of luck

Uhh.. did you forget the small detail about eating healthy foods?

I'm a recovering anorexic.

Along as it isn't the only thing I eat, it's fine. Its healthy foods that got me into this mess!

Exactly! Get your healthy nutrients and get the "other" stuff too. whole grains, fats, proteins, etc...then of course have ice cream and chocolate, etc.

When recovering from a restrictive eating disorder it's important to realise that there are no 'good' or 'bad' foods. Often 'unhealthy' fast foods are a good starting point to get the calories (I know I started off with ice cream =D gradually when my digestive system adjusted I was able to eat proper meals!)

Milk is good, as is hot chocolate, and I found yoghurt helped me too! (Go for full fat, more calories!)

Urgh! Hate the extreme fullness though, totally relate to that (I still fall into the trap of eating too little during the day and reactive eating at night...)

Tip to avoid said above, EAT LITTLE AND OFTEN! Cannot stress that enough. It's better to eat 6 small 500 calorie meals than 3 1000 calorie ones. (Gives your system a chance to cope with the food.)

Oh, and MEAL PLANS. They are your best friends.

You will get used to eating more in time. I went from 500 a day to 3000 in no time. Our bodies can adapt, and WANT to recover! They also have an amazing ability to heal! Ok, ramble over, hope I made sense!

 

I have been eating like.. two 500 calorie meals at the minute and the rest snacks (flapjacks and milkshakes mostly!) But cannot seem to eat much..its frustrating :(

 

I have been eating like.. two 500 calorie meals at the minute and the rest snacks (flapjacks and milkshakes mostly!) But cannot seem to eat much..its frustrating :(

I'm also a recovering anorexic. My other top tip. Ban the scales and don't take measurements. Since I binned my scales, it has helped tremendously (had relapses before due to 'weight gain' which now I know was water weight...)

 

I don't feel I've gained weight, but health. My skin is clearer, my eyes are brighter and my hair is no longer falling out. I can think properly, and smile and laugh again. It's been three months, and though I suffer setbacks, and do sometimes (stupidly) restrict to 500 and have to start all over again, I'm getting somewhere and it's worth it (I feel!)

 

You have made a brilliant choice, and I wish you the best of luck.

I admit I still struggle with meals at times, but I eat cereal bars when I can't. Just concentrate on getting calories. This stage doesn't last forever, I promise =)

Thankyou, I just need to keep going :)

Goodluck with everything! xx

Yogurt helps me with bloating (it's probably the probiotics and live active cultures), but other dairy makes me feel worse!

I try to eat high-density snacks vs. high-volume when I need to get in more calories. For example, a serving of trail mix instead of an equal-calorie portion of popcorn. Last night I opted for a granola bar instead of cheerios because I would have to eat lots more cheerios, and I knew I couldn't do it.

I know veggies are high-volume, but getting in enough fiber helps with digestion too. I try to get in all my veggie and whole-grain servings for this reason!

Hang in there, girl. I'm fighting this with you! xoxo

Argh! I had another awful day. 2500 roundabouts. Apparently smoothies fill you up. Also had a chip butty for lunch. Couldn't finish it. Apparently I don't like stodge much... I agree with berger_amanda, I eat a lot of trail mix... buttery croissants, and of course flapjacks and granola bars. I drink this chocolate oat milk, around 100 a cup.

Also have a handy jar of peanut butter I dip into all the time.

I hope once the digetive stuff settles down I can eat meals instead! Fake it til you make it!

I find the emotional stuff hard to deal with. (Crying fit today. Feelings are hard to handle. I tend to just write it down, instead of starving all the pain away. Also I know mood swings are normal in recovery. I tell myself 'I'm not special/ a freak! Other people went through this, and they came out ok, therefore I will too!)

And also agree of the fibre. I always have a fruit bowl handy (full of bananas!)

I'm a bit of a health freak, aha, so ice cream and junk food is pretty much off my list. I'm recovering from an ED too, and I did go through the unbelievable fullness after I ate. If your feeling super full after eating small foods, it's most likely because your stomach has shrunk. It's going to be tough, but you have a to try and fight through the fullness and eat until you've reached your calorie goal. If you are finding that too difficult, some things I found helpful were... Adding olive oil to everything! Eating avocados Making smoothies and milkshakes (using healthy & calorie dense ingredients) Getting as much support as possible. Sometimes encouragement from others can really make the biggest differences, and you might find yourself managing to eat through the pain. Keep strong, you can make it!