Bulimia Help

What's the problem?

In order to recover we must get our bodies back in balance and 'in tune' with our hunger and satiety. This is not possible if we we continue to eat in a chaotic fashion.

How do we fix it?

Eating 3 meals and at least 2 snacks each day allows us to move from chaotic eating to mechanical eating. This means: eating at set times, whether you're hungry or not. Most people with bulimia do not believe they can eat 3 normal meals and be a normal weight, but you can. By doing so you can help to combat many of the physical and mental symptoms associated with bulimia, including binging and purging!

Zone To Do List

• Read Dieting can lead to eating disorders
• Read about diets and its detrimental effects
• Start to recognise and record any diet and bulimic thoughts
• Ask yourself if you are secretly dieting e.g. strict healthy eating?

Zone Goals

• To move from chaotic eating to structured eating. This will help combat many of the physical and mental symptoms associated with bulimia. It's the first stage to getting your body back in balance

• Once you have successfully developed a structured eating pattern move on: Body Awareness Zone.
  

Before you start...

• Read getting started if you have not done so
• Have you started to question your Bulimic beliefs?
• Have you started to use your food journal?

Ali says...

I understand that it can take a while to adjust to new ways of doing things. I also understand that it's difficult to just haphazardly start eating normally after a history of bulimia. You need to have patience and accept that at times you will feel afraid. Structured eating might well be the most challenging part of you recovery. However, it should be considered as one of the most important parts.

It can help to think of food as medicine. You may not want to take it, but it is necessary for you to take it in order to recover. As well of thinking food as medicine you can also think food as fuel. Your body needs fuel on a daily basis in order to function properly and stay healthy.

Structured eating guidelines to success

• Eat 3 meals and at least 2 snacks daily
• Eat at least every 3-4 hours
• In the beginning practice "mechanical eating." This means to eat your meals at predetermined times, whether you are hungry or not.
• Normalizing eating behavior can reduce obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression
• Expect to feel anxious or stressed doing this. Doing anything new is a challenge and challenges can be stressful
• In the beginning, don't eat too much at once if your body isn't used to that. Small meals are easier to eat and will make you feel less full
• Plan out tomorrow's meals tonight. This can decrease anxiety
• Monitor your eating carefully
• Stick only to foods you feel safe with for the first month
• Stick to alloted times - despite cravings/ hunger - if you are hungry please eat!
• At first, focus on eating at the right times, rather than what you eat
• Make resuming normal eating habits your first priority
• Consult your GP before changing your diet in any shape or form! This information is for guideline purposes only.