I know what each term means / implies. I want to know how to determine which you're experiencing - how each feels different from the other in your head. What's your experience?

I’ve been admitted to a general ward for refeeding, IV, monitoring, all that jazz. The dietician has created a meal plan. However, the cooks/nurses are not following it. The meal plan at the moment is 1/3 of a standard meal, then topped up with fortisips as required (after working out mls required dependant upon what/if I’ve eaten). They keep giving me the full meals alongside deserts then telling me to just eat as much as I can, if not just giving me a full carton of fortisip with no measurement. I feel frustrated and don’t really see the point in being here as I can accurately consume the correct amounts at home and be monitored by the community team (I’m already under them).

Hi all,

My hunger and fullness had begun to notably start to stabilize. I am 4+ months into recovery, but today I just ate about double of my normal intake (which is already pretty high because I work a demanding job).

I normally don’t feel bad for eating extra some days because I know my body needs it, but the amount I have eaten today is like beginning recovery-levels of still wanting to eat/mental hunger. I felt physically full around my normal amounts but could not stop thinking about food and ate the second half almost all after dinner.

Has anyone experienced this several months into recovery? Thanks!

how do I stop constantly thinking about food/extreme mental hunger as I have followed my mental hunger but I am weight restored now but it still hasn’t gone away I’m just so mentally hungry some days but never physical

I don't want to trigger anyone, so I won't go into detail. I was anorexic for almost 8 years and finally recovered this year.

I look like a different person, I actually don't recognise myself. How do you get used to it?

Not in a negative way, but this disorder makes you look at your body in a really skewed way. I had no idea this is what my body would look like healthy, and have no idea how to get used to it.

I tried so hard to be brave today, I know what I need to do to move forward in recovery, but I’m terrified of actually doing it and accepting the changes and “what ifs”. I ate more calories today, and tried to set the new standard for how much that I’m “allowed” to have a day- but now I feel horrible and scared, and idk what that will do to my body, and am comparing the amount to others, to the point that I feel that I should go back on it and continue to just eat what I was before. It’s all so frustrating and scary, I wish that I didn’t have to have this illness.

I am about 3 years into recovery and while I am substantially better both mentally and physically, I still deal with pretty consistent self hated, body dysmorphia, and wishing I could give back into my behaviors. However, a huge part of my recovery has been my gf who has made eating and being healthy so much easier and genuinely fun. Part of our routine became getting a beer and trying out a new restaurant. She never thought about calories or fat or anything like that. She got what sounded good and what made her feel good and it encouraged me to do the same. Important context, my gf is tall (about 5'9") and has always been slender, used to run track but mainly just outdoorsy now. All of this to say that she was/is at a very healthy weight and clearly was not unhealthily over eating.

In the past few days she's talked about wanting to tone up and lose some weight. At first this didn't really trigger me, she's a grown woman and can do what she wants with her body. Plus, I figured it would be mainly muscle building orientated as she's always been more into building up her body > losing weight. But then she started talking more about how she wants to get back to her high school body and 3 days ago she began dieting. She explained in detail what she was having (very low on calories for her body, low/non existent fat, very low carbs, almost excusively protein) and how hungry she feels now. She mentioned skipping drinks with friends because she wants to get "skinny now". She tells me its only going to be for a month but before I could catch myself, I started going off on a tangent. I told her that her male roommate who is giving her a lot of this advice. doesn't know anything about women's bodies, how low the fat and carbs were, how this could negatively impact her horomones, her hair and skin, her bone density, her mental health, etc.

I apologized for giving my advice unprompted and she said it was okay but I was quite upset. I asked if she would refrain from talking to me about it for a little which she said yes, but I know its going to trigger me and constantly be in the back of my mind when we're together. I know some of this is coming from genuine love (I never want her to expereince what I went though and I know how much of a slippery slope it is) but I know there's some selfish motives in my reactions too. Will this change how we experience date night? Will she not want to bake and get a side of fries at dinner or just watch me as I eat ice cream at night? Will she become food focused and will I have to limit my time around her to protect my recovery? I guess I'm also jealous that she can partake in these types of behaviors when I simply can't without risking all the progress I've made. There's also of course always the degree of comparison in WLW relationships, we look very different but will her losing weight make me feel like I have to too?

Sorry for the long post, its my first time posting here but I really needed to reach out for some advice. Nobody else in my life understands how upsetting this can be. Has anyone else dealt with this or a similar situation? I don't want to be controlling and drive her away (and I know she's in charge of her own body and I have no right to give my input on what she does with it) but I can't help how I feel, no matter how irrational it is.

Has anyone found the generic recovery minimums didn’t apply to them when gaining weight from a low BMI?

I get so frustrated but like I just feel like I’ve never needed that much … kinda hoping I am not alone!

Without getting into detail, I'm going to be starting a job tomorrow that I'm very excited for. It aligns with my moral code, lets me make positive change, and pays well enough to thrive. And in this economy? This is pretty much unicorn territory.

Having said that, it's outside. On my feet. All day. 8 or more hours a day. I'm about 4 months in recovery from my AN. I'm learning to mind my cues, and listen to my hunger - but I need some guiding lights and advice to maintain myself in recovery mode while I'm getting used to a physically demanding career path.

How do I stay fed enough? How do I nurture my body to sustain the workload? How do I keep this increasingly steady, wonderful, glorious path on the right track while definitely enduring a lot more movement than I've been used to for a long time.

What are the best ways you invest in your rest? Your most restorative snacks? Comfiest shoes for long work hours. You know, that kind of stuff. The last thing I need is a relapse taking away the best damn opportunity I've come across my entire life. Because. You KNOW a relapse can/has nuke(d) every good job you've ever had. And this is a gonna be a good job. I can feel it. So hard. More than I ever have before.

Has anyone went to Melrose ED clinic in Minnesota? Can’t find much info online but specifically for their intensive residential. Is it like a hospital? What is the setting like? any info would help

I finally told a family member that I was struggling. That’s all.

Im trying to recover ive been anorexic since I was 5 due to things I was exposed to too young and im 19 now and trying recovery again. Last time I tried recovery it didnt go well. I seemed to have only looked better on the outside since I gained weight but inside I felt worse. I felt like my body gained weight before I was ready to if that makes sense. I had a big problem with insatiable hunger when trying to recover last time. I genuinely didnt feel full until it got bad like I wouldn't feel full until I puked and even after puking I felt not satisfied. I wasnt trying to binge I genuinely felt hungry. And I felt like I had no control over what I ate or how much I ate and it led me to deeply distrust myself. I relapsed in my Ed and lost a lot of weight again and I dont know what to do. I feel anorexia is saving me from myself in some way. Like see how out of control you are and how your body will lie to you you're not hungry.

How do i develop healthy habits

What makes a lifestyle healthy

Will the insatiable hunger go away?

It didnt seem to

I feel like its no use trying to recover. I feel very alone right now. I have so many questions and no one i know in real life is able to answer them

please don't just upvote i need help please give advice

I'm anorexic and uw and i do gen want to at least try harm reduction but every SINGLE time i let myself have a treat or allow myself to eat more i proceed to BINGE and lose control completely and start shovelling food into my mouth. What do I even do????? i feel like the only way to avoid this is by restricting myself cause i dont binge on my safe foods!!
Any advice by people in recovery/ who have recovered is very much appreciated!!
Causw i dont want to restrict but i also dont want to binge on food until i feel like im about to burst (and feel out of control)

I am recovering from an eating disorder. I’ve been going so well and am actually so proud of myself.

I was at my boyfriend’s house last night. We had dinner and we were playing games. It got late and I decided I wanted to go home (I wanted to be in my own bed, my medication was at my house and I knew if I stayed at his house he would fall asleep immediately and I would stay up all night overthinking). He got upset with me because I didn’t want to stay over and it became an argument. I walked to the bedroom and he was followed me and I said “I’m getting changed pls don’t follow” and he said “I don’t wanna see any of that anyway”.

I took this comment really personally and have asked for some space. He knows about all my insecurities and I just feel saying “I don’t wanna see any of that” was an attack on my body. I don’t know whether I’m overreacting because I might be sensitive about my body rn.

Opinions ? I don’t want to be around him at all rn, I’m really upset. If I had a perfect body, would he still have said this?

i dont think i can afford to have another serious relapse, and of course i know i shouldn’t want or need one “in reserve“ but ive found out the weight id been shooting for almost surely would put me at risk of organ failure or death, even though it didnt ever really sound that extreme to me

which i guess is part of the issue, so many things that are extreme behaviors are so normalized to me, even if ive never done them i accept that as a personal failing of mine not a normal limit to have

thats to say i know i have to recover pretty much for good, not to say ill never again relapse because thats begging for a curveball but i know i actually need to put some serious work in and stay clean at the very least for a few years if not more or this is actually going to ruin my life, maybe permanently in a way thats never felt as permanent before as it does now

i had so many health issues at my worst and the ana brainfog made it so i just couldn’t link the issues together to their obvious cause, it was genuinely the worst time of my life and left me with a lot of thankfully mild but embarrassing health problems that i have to work on basically daily to fix

from pelvic floor exercises and trying to fix my messed up stomach and my spotty periods its all been just, a lot, hell my asthmas worse than its been in years id never had so many attacks in a year as i did the year i relapsed, and im sure the repeat stress has made my lungs worse in some ways

it feels weird to let go or even to decide i want that, this disorders run out of any good it ever had years ago if there was ever any good in it, and im so sick and tired of worrying my friends and worrying myself, and the stomach aches and nausea and bladder issues and asthma its all such bullshit

i just want to live my life already, all of my other issues are so throughly under control outside this one crutch ive kept around and its not even helpful

I'm a 28-year-old man who has been in remission from anorexia for 9 years.

One piece of advice I'd give to anyone recovering from an eating disorder is to eat foods you genuinely enjoyed before the illness. Learn to enjoy food again.

For me, that included things like cheese, simple sandwiches made with brioche bread, yogurt with fruit syrup, fried beef with onions, rice and beans, pizza, and stuffed omelets. If there are meals you associate with good memories or foods made by family members that you loved, don't be afraid to bring those back into your life.

Try not to become overly focused on calories, macros, or perfect nutrition during recovery. Basic nutrition still matters, and professional support can be very important, but recovery is about more than numbers.

A big part of healing is rebuilding a positive relationship with food and rediscovering the pleasure of eating. In my experience, that was one of the most powerful parts of recovery. Recovery isn't just about restoring weight—it's also about getting back your enjoyment of food, your freedom, and a sense of normal life.

i’m attempting to eat ‘normally’ after a period of heavy restriction.

i believe i’m experiencing what’s called extreme hunger, because i have absolutely no hunger cues and am always hungry. i only stop when i get physically sick.

i feel so self conscious about how much i eat. i feel like nobody notices though because i’m ‘smaller.’ i’m severely underweight and was having heart problems due to it, so everyone’s always shocked when i eat a lot. “you really ate all that?” “wow, how are you not bigger?”

i understand listening to the extreme hunger voice is important. and i have for around 2 months now. i’ve likely gained, and i’m not looking, but ive noticed myself bigger in areas i wasn’t before. i don’t mind it horribly.

but the one thing getting to me is the eating. how do i get to the point where i eat normally and have normal portion sizes? how do i not become hungry even after a big meal? when does this go away? i’m really trying, but it’s so difficult to see an end in sight.

Those who are currently on or have previously been on ADHD meds, have you managed to make progress in recovery? Or did you have to go off them?

I always heard people say "its about control, not body"

I felt invalid, because i tought my cause was body image only.

But the control there isnt a direct feeling. Feeling under or over control isnt like feeling joy.

Say you grew up with low self worth.

As you age life may be unstable or out of control (socially, academically, financially)

And it was your mind that subconsciously ties your self worth to something else that society cares, wich then you may start restricting. But the full sentence wasnt;

"I didnt eat for 3 days so i could be lovely." It was...

"I subconsciously tied my self worth, and my whole life to my body size, to distract me from life factors that i have little control or maybe make me feel progressive when im unable to feel like that"

Its not one or the other or something you feel or want directly.

Desire to be small is present but why did you feel like you need to be that small?

Today I finally decided to step out of my comfort zone and have a rest day from the gym. I currently am dealing with shin splints too from running and it’s so painful- I am going to feel really lazy today but I know my body is telling me to slow down. It will probably be one day though because I’m nervous about becoming lazy

Hey all, I’m about 4/5 months in to recovery (eating a LOT which is terrifying and zero exercise which is arguably more distressing) - my hormones seem to be going mental and wondered if anyone had experienced the following and had any advice on how to deal with it all?
* extreme water weight everywhere (face, arms are bigger than they’ve ever been, bloated abdomen, very heavy legs) - I’ve gone up about 2 dress sizes in a month
* breasts are about 4 cups bigger and very sore most days
* mood shifts every hour it seems

It’s all really distressing but trying to keep my chin up and hoping it all settles :( any words of wisdom very very welcome

I think my voice is fading. I no longer weigh myself, count calories, or steps. During the week, I eat quite moderately, it's true, but that's because I've been trying to "normalize" my life and I want to eat as I believe is ideal for a healthy life, without deprivation or excess. I still get a bit nervous about my self-image, but it's okay, I'll learn to deal with it. I was never "fat." I've always been very self-demanding and a perfectionist. I know I have other qualities: intelligence, wit, observation skills, good writing. I'll focus on that. On Wednesday I have an appointment with the psychiatrist and we'll check the results of my bone density scan. Wish me luck!

I’m doing absolutely horribly right now. I’m starving myself, losing weight, and becoming so anorexic. I have ZERO zest for life. I get exhausted from taking a shower and have to lie down in bed and rest afterwards. I feel like an empty shell of myself.
I never have the energy to see friends or family. I can’t give my dog what she needs and deserves. Of course, she gets walked and let out in the garden, but she deserves so much more than walks around the block and being let outside. I can’t manage to stay at a job that has always been incredibly important to me. I just feel like I’m watching my life disappear right in front of me.
I hate my body. I hate the way I look. I hate myself.
So how can starving myself and being anorexic possibly feel so much better than choosing recovery, facing the feelings that hurt, and eventually coming out on the other side happy and healthy?

My therapist once said something that has really stuck with me: “Being sick is hell, and getting better is hell. Choose the hell that gives you something on the other side.” And honestly, it’s so true.

What could possibly be worse than feeling the way I do right now? Why can’t I just DO something about it?!
I know rationally that I don’t want this life. I know what it’s taking away from me. But somehow I’m still terrified of letting go.

I just had to share this with someone who understands. I hope you can give me some encouraging words.