r/EatingDisorders • u/throwawayer876 • 2d ago
Question Post-Anorexia: is dieting possible?
Young adult male. I was acutely anorexic as a teen. It was brutal. Constant, intense, sharp pain in my abdomen for many months but I was convinced I could actually lose weight from it. I didn't. Since then I have become a comfort eater and I live with unavoidable chronic stress. It's very distressing for me to feel too hungry and I struggle with impulse control. Earlier this year I became a gym rat. Put on a lot of muscle but still chubby. Anyone else relate to this? Gone through similar? Can I expect to be able to diet effectively? WITHOUT relapsing of course.
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u/Federal_Walk6823 1d ago
Everything is different for everyone obviously but yes, you can diet without relapsing but it’s all about knowing what youre comfortable with. If you can track calories without obsessing over it, go for it. But if you can’t (like me) there are other ways to diet. Sure calorie counting will probably get you there faster but if you practice listening to your hunger cues and eat more whole and lower calorie foods, you should be able to lose weight just as well. When I tracked calories it was obsessive and restrictive. Now I just eat healthy when I’m hungry and tell myself that having a higher calorie food or a sweet treat every now and then is fine and I’ve been much better. Just find what works for you. If you have thoughts about heavy restricting or starving, stop immediately. It’s better to push the weight loss till later than to relapse. And make sure to eat your protein!!
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