.:*Recovering from Bulimia: IN NEED OF ADVICE*:.

Greetings one and all. I'm 21 and have been struggling with the bondages (hence the screenname I chose) of bulimia for 3 solid years and on a pretty consistent basis. Formerly, I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at the tender age of 14 and in succession with some formidable events, the bulimia/anorexia/laxative trigger was activated. Sure, I have experienced moments of sheer vulnerability that lead me to believe that in my state of weakness I could somehow make myself come to recognize the problem for what it was...a nuisance and an absolute burden that was consuming all of my time, energy, and happiness. But in those desperate times when I sought to salvage what little willpower I had left and refocus every ounce of it on recovery, something in my personal life would lead me back to the treacherous cycle of B/P.

I am now in a situation that is cohesive with the "healthy" lifestyle I have been craving so badly. I am in a healthy relationship, working towards my degree, jobs lined up, a comfortable living situation, and am in high spirits. The problem lies in the disease because if I don't take control of it now, who's to say I will lose everything I've worked SO hard for (I say this only because I have lost a hell of a lot due to the interference of the eating disorder).

I would LOVE and APPRECIATE any advice you are willing to give me. After taking my CalorieCount Analysis, I understand that I should be consuming appx. 2000 calories daily. However, because of the ingestion of too many laxatives (recently) and just plain getting used to the water retention and bloating/filling effects of eating and allowing food to ACTUALLY digest, I have not been able to eat over 1200 (I must remind you I have not yet modified all facets of my life [ie: meal plan, exercise, group therapy] to accommodate the recovery process). I want to implement the mini meal plan into my life and understand the fat/protein balance in my food selections. Still, it's easier to read someone else's meal plan so as to gauge the success rate of my own. I AM a bulimic, but I definately also border on anorexic so my idea of proper food intake is all out-of-whack. Thus, I think it would be helpful, if not crucial to my recovery that I see what a real daily meal plan looks like from someone who is in recovery. I am READY and fully prepared to get this show on the road and get myself healthy because I KNOW that happiness will follow with recovery...I have yet to taste the freedom and feel the liberating effects that come with ridding myself of this ugly disease.

If ANYONE has meal plan ideas, helpful tools to stay away from the temptations of "secretive" eating, alternatives to emotional eating, or suggestions to keeping focused I would be so grateful! I have already looked into a local group therapy administered by the regional hospital that I think would be befitting of my current strive towards healing. Also, I have been in therapy for a good number of years on-and-off, but because I no longer have medical insurance, I could not afford my therapist. I have the tools, it is just a matter of actually utilizing them.

I really just need a good meal plan for a girl on the go. I know preparation in advance is a must and I'm willing to go the extra mile. I just want to BEAT this retched disease because for once, my family deserves it, my loving, supportive boyfriend deserves it (though he has no clue about any of this), and beyond all else, I DESERVE IT! I want a family, I want to create a life for myself...it scares me to even think about the implications of the bulimia on my fertility and in the long run, on my physical and mental wellbeing....

THANKS TO ALL! <3

congratulation on your decision! it's great that you want to be healthy again and that you came here to seek advice.

i can't offer you a full meal plan, but i will try to give you some ideas that have helped me overcome the worst time after beginning my recovery.

try not to fill up on (raw) vegetables or too much fruit - after purging for a long time and taking laxatives, these foods will be incredibly hard on your stomach. so will whole-grain. Increase fiber gradually. i know this is healthy food, and will at a later point benefit you, but for the time being i would focus on food that is easy to digest. i ate a lot of mashed potatoes, peanut butter (great calories + healthy fat), soups with pasta in it, white rice, omelets, milk, bread, applesauce.

try eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 big ones. that will keep your digestion and metabolism going. drink plenty of water to counterbalance the water you will store. don't cut back on carbs! they are important, as is enough healthy fat (cooking with a nice vegetable oil is always a good idea to boost your calories).

are your electrolytes okay? you might think of getting an electrolyte supplement, like gatorade.

good luck. the first few weeks are incredibly hard and it takes a lot to stick with it, but i'm sure you can do it. hope i could help.

I recommed two books by Mirelle Guiliano.

"French Women Don't Get Fat" and "French Women for All Seasons"

Also, go to your library and find some books like diet, lifestyle, food, etc. and look at those meal plan. Take it slow. Try not to feel like you are on a tight rope and that if you have setback everything will completely crash. That is not the case. If you fall off the wagon, get back on the next day.

I also recommend looking around on this site and type various things in the search engine. There are lots of helpful tips to learn!

Good luck!

Hello! Congratulations for your decision!  I really think you are in a good position to overcome bulimia, if you feel strong in your relationships, course and you love your family.

Ok, about food, I think you should drink lots of water - because of the laxative abuse. To control your binging, specially when you feel weaker, I suggest you write a list of the activities you find incompatible with eating (they should be active, not passive, such as watching TV) and that you like. For instance, you can write going for a walk, listening to music, taking photographs, helping a friend...all activities that make you occupied and happy.  When you feel you can't control yourself, just do them, and remeber you do not want to pass through all the pain caused by binging and purging again!

You should ask for a diet plan to a nutricionist. It has to give you all the minerals that your body needs, so that you do not suffer from bloading and your stomach does not hurt after so much starving and laxative abuse. Stop the laxatives. Try to eat one kiwi in the morning to replace them and eat 6 meals a day (3 hours between each). You should not starve, so never eat just a piece of fruit for snack, they will make you feel hungry: opt for a slice of bread (fills your stomach better) and a yoghurt. Oh, and eat soup - reduces your appetite for meals and does not have many calories.

I hope this advice can help, and wish you the best luck for your complete recovering!!!!  

Original Post by claudb89:

I recommed two books by Mirelle Guiliano.

"French Women Don't Get Fat" and "French Women for All Seasons"

Also, go to your library and find some books like diet, lifestyle, food, etc. and look at those meal plan. Take it slow. Try not to feel like you are on a tight rope and that if you have setback everything will completely crash. That is not the case. If you fall off the wagon, get back on the next day.

I also recommend looking around on this site and type various things in the search engine. There are lots of helpful tips to learn!

Good luck!

WTF??? WHY would you reccomend diet books to someone recovering from an ED - particulary those books, which encourage fasting for days on end, only "eating" leek broth???  Those are not meal plans; those are fad diet books. You should be ashamed.

Breaking - good for you, honey! Welcome to good health! Meal plans should begin - in my opinion - with fresh, yummy foods that you will find delicious and enjoyable. Do you cook? Does your boyfriend? If not, maybe you two can make it a fun activity to learn together - making and eating your own food is cheap, healthy and fun. If you do a search on this or on the weight gain forum for "meal plan" you'll come across a lot of threads suggesting combinations of food types and calorie amounts for each meal. What you'll need to eat depends on whether you are trying to gain some healthy weight, or trying to maintain.

Also - therapy may be something to consider, if only with someone who specializes in nutrition and EDs. You could look for a sliding-scale place that will treat you for free or a reduced fee. I've been through a few different ones, but I've found it to be helpful depending on where I am mentally (sometimes it's great, other times it's a waste of money. If you're ready, go.) You may also wish to consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which will help you break old habits and develop positive new ones.

I wish you all the best on your road to recovery.

Original Post by mel_e_mel:

Original Post by claudb89:

I recommed two books by Mirelle Guiliano.

"French Women Don't Get Fat" and "French Women for All Seasons"

Also, go to your library and find some books like diet, lifestyle, food, etc. and look at those meal plan. Take it slow. Try not to feel like you are on a tight rope and that if you have setback everything will completely crash. That is not the case. If you fall off the wagon, get back on the next day.

I also recommend looking around on this site and type various things in the search engine. There are lots of helpful tips to learn!

Good luck!

WTF??? WHY would you reccomend diet books to someone recovering from an ED - particulary those books, which encourage fasting for days on end, only "eating" leek broth???  Those are not meal plans; those are fad diet books. You should be ashamed.

Breaking - good for you, honey! Welcome to good health! Meal plans should begin - in my opinion - with fresh, yummy foods that you will find delicious and enjoyable. Do you cook? Does your boyfriend? If not, maybe you two can make it a fun activity to learn together - making and eating your own food is cheap, healthy and fun. If you do a search on this or on the weight gain forum for "meal plan" you'll come across a lot of threads suggesting combinations of food types and calorie amounts for each meal. What you'll need to eat depends on whether you are trying to gain some healthy weight, or trying to maintain.

Also - therapy may be something to consider, if only with someone who specializes in nutrition and EDs. You could look for a sliding-scale place that will treat you for free or a reduced fee. I've been through a few different ones, but I've found it to be helpful depending on where I am mentally (sometimes it's great, other times it's a waste of money. If you're ready, go.) You may also wish to consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which will help you break old habits and develop positive new ones.

I wish you all the best on your road to recovery.

 Well excuse me. They were helpful for me so get over that shocker. If you noticed she uses butter, olive oil, veggies, meats, dairy, and fruits. Oh yea, and bread. Amazing? I certainly think so. She is a god send to Americans. It's a relaxing enjoyable books with plenty of meals. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Hi Breaking,

I had anorexia form the ages of 11-16 and EDNOS/bulimia intermittently throughout. (I am now 20 and though I struggle with my relationship with food, I have been clear minded since recovered.) You probably won't be able to eat 2000 calories straightaway because your body is used to consuming so little food for so long. So maybe try eating 1400-1500 for 1-2 weeks, and take it up slowly from there. It takes time to recover, but if you work slowly, you can do it.

It's so nice to have a life. Sure, I still obsess sometimes and likely will always obsess, but having the clarity of mind to LIVE has done wonders for me. Good luck in everything you do, Breaking. You can overcome it, I know you can.

--thestarsareawake

PS: Reading this poem {and subsequently writing it on the walls of my bedroom}, though it may be a little off-topic, helped me a lot. I always send it to people going through what I did: http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/7865/288.h tml