My tips as someone with an ED:
Never eat anything you can’t count nutrition facts for (example: my grandmother is in the hospital and I made the mistake of ordering food because I hadn’t eaten in 2 days, but I wasn’t able to get the nutrition info from the cafeteria or on my calorie counting app)
Water with cucumber, lemon and mint is amazing— it makes you feel so refreshed and it makes me want to keep drinking it, so it keeps me full. It’s also really great for your body and a great detox. (In my own experience it’s also a good diarrhetic)
Heat up some water and put a cinnamon stick in it— this flavors the tea to the point you don’t have to sweeten it (I’ve gotten used to unsweetened tea but I still like it to have flavor) and then as a plus, you can chew on the cinnamon stick when you’re done— it’ll keep your mind off of eating junk food and is also really good for your body.
If you don’t sleep, your body will begin to shut down in other areas and that in time actually promotes weight gain because your body will try to go into survival mode.
If you’re already not in the best headspace, don’t get on any socials. Chances are you’ll see someone posting pics of their body and it’ll make you feel worthless and like no mater what you do, you’ll never look that good. This could lead to binging. Instead, on these bad days, go for a walk and find 10 things that interest you; maybe how the sky turns from blue to purple and pink to orange and then dark blue and black. Or maybe how the cracks on the street make a certain shape— just keep your mind on anything else on your little walk outside and it’ll make you feel better.
Don’t give yourself a cheat day— this will only result in binging and in more eating because, hey, “today was my cheat day”. Instead, allow yourself a set amount of calories that are reasonable for each day, and in the long run you’ll lose the weight faster.
Stick to 1-2 meals a day— never go without, no matter how little you eat. The food will make your metabolism work harder to break down what was just put into your body— so even if it’s just some fruit or a couple of veggies, make sure to put something into your body every day.
Water, water, water. And coffee and tea. But mostly water. It’ll make you feel fuller and hydrated skin is pretty skin!
Get some exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes a day— you don’t want to do TOO much because it’ll make your body crave even more calories which will result in binging or over eating more than you would have. Just go for a light jog or a shorter run, and make it 30-45 minutes a day. When you get home, eat a piece of celery with a small amount of peanut butter and you’ll be good to go.
This one is going to sound absurd to you, I’m sure, but... only weigh yourself 1-2 times a month. Our weight fluctuates so many times throughout a month and it can drive you crazy weighing yourself every day. Instead, opt for an exact time on an exact day every week or every other week (I suggest every other Sunday, in the morning before you’ve eaten or drank anything) and stick to that. You’ll feel much better about yourself, and instead of seeing the numbers going up and down and up and down, you’ll instead see a steady decline and feel like you’re making more progress.
Don’t make yourself throw up. (I know, who the hell do I think I am?) it actually makes your stomach build up more fat and enzymes around itself over time, and this in turn will make your stomach store more fat. Plus, the acid from your stomach will rot your teeth and eat away at your esophagus (not that you didn’t already know that, I’m sure.)
If you are out for a meal with family or friends and actually want to enjoy yourself, go ahead. Just don’t finish everything on your plate— this will help with the guilt of diverting away from your plan, because hey, at least you didn’t eat all of it!
Remember that mint/cucumber/lemon water concoction I mentioned at the top? Drink a glass (or two because it’s so yummy) after you’ve weighed yourself when you first wake up. Also drink a glass before brushing your teeth and going to bed— it’ll keep your metabolism going.
Vitamin supplements!!!! If you know you’re low on iron or vitamin d or anything, take a vitamin for it every day. Please please please do this— our ED’s can break down our bodies so quickly; we want to look pretty and have all the things that the skinny girls have, like pretty collar bones, sharp jawlines, thighs that don’t touch.. but if we look like absolute crap everywhere else, what was even the point? Water and vitamins are so important, babes.
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT reward yourself with food (I know this one seems stupid but trust me, I’ve known people to do this.) “oh, wow, I lost 20 pounds in the last 1 1/2 months! I think I deserve a small cupcake.” No, that will only set you back and set you up to binge because sugar is addictive and your mind will go insane and make you eat more. Instead, opt to reward yourself with a cute shirt you’ve been wanting or new shoes. Maybe by going to the beach at sunset and listening to the waves crash.
Take your measurements only once every month— trust me; you’ll see a bigger difference this way than by doing it every day or every other day.
I hope I was able to help a little. Stay safe, lovelies! 💜💙
