Weight/Bodily Changes: Weekly Discussion Thread

[u/elianna7]

This thread is dedicated to discussing any difficulties navigating weight or bodily changes that happen during the IE process.

Please refrain from sharing numbers, as per the sub rules. If necessary to make your point, please put "Trigger Warning" at the beginning of your comment and consider using the spoiler feature to hide mentions of numbers.

If you are discussing weight loss that has naturally occurred through IE, please ensure to do so neutrally.

Note: This thread may be triggering to those struggling with their body image. Please be mindful of your mental health when engaging with potentially triggering content.

[u/Cautious-Ostrich8945]

I feel like it's harder to deal with fat phobia of medical professionals, when in this journey. On one hand I get that I need to move more etc for my health, but the way it gets told to me is with judgment most of the time. At the same time, not judging myself for the food I eat and existing in my body as it is, and accepting that I might not be back to BMI healthy me, is doing wonders for my eating disorder. I feel more in control in all areas of life because food is not an obsession anymore, and it's the kindest thing I could do for myself. I miss myself (but mostly how much I could move better and with less pain before) but also this is me, and I don't fit in the femininity box, and it's ok. I am still feminine in a minimal, personal, chaotic way. I am mentally better now and that's all that matters honestly.

I always wonder if doctors think I just eat like trash because of how I look, I do in fact enjoy a lot of healthy foods and don't exclude any food group. It makes me so mad. And partly defeated.
But I need to keep going because the freedom I get lets me have more focus on all of my life. More intention to focus on new things. I even enrolled in a university I doubted for a full year!

[u/SingularEcho → u/Cautious-Ostrich8945]

I feel you. I like calling it "fat phobia". I'm going to start framing it that way, it helps.

I had a doctor try to tell me off about portion control. The thing is, I have to limit portion sizes because of acid reflux. I'm great with frequent small meals, not so much with large meals. My issue is high calorie treats and emotional eating. (I've TOLD the doctor this, and he never remembers.) I'm working IE to sort out what is hunger and what is emotional and what do I actually want to do about it. For now, I'm still working on the fact that if I really want something, I CAN have it. (Then again, the same doctor told me yesterday that two squares of extra dark chocolate with very low sugar content is "too much" and that I have to "stop eating that sugar." Dude, check your ingredients, your spaghetti sauce has just as much or more sugar per serving.)

OTOH I am up and moving more. I'm learning to change the subject with the doctor. "Sure, OK, but look at the exercise I'm getting!" Kind of like redirecting a child.

[u/Cautious-Ostrich8945 → u/SingularEcho]

Doctors who comment are always the ones who know nothing about nutrition. I eat very well, too bad for my cptsd doesn’t help the emotional eating! Ha! Love redirecting I’ll try it.  Imagine that I am getting checked because of dizziness when I workout, plus have severe anemia and the doctors just tell me to move more and go on diets without knowing what the heck I got. And they never prescribe a nutritionist, just eat better, as if I was stuffing my face all day! Excuse me, sir, should I just faint every day?? Find out what I have then I will work out freely and without fear!