Hello! This is my deal.

smpomg

Hi everyone! I took a break from MFP for a while because it was triggering obsessive thoughts, and now that I'm back I want to make sure I do it better.

I lost weight and gained significant strength using MFP in the past, and not in a way that felt unhealthy, at least at first. After years and years of struggling with restricting and binging impulses, learning how to eat properly was monumental. I also took a few nutrition classes, because I found that learning the science behind food and digestion took away a good chunk of the emotional baggage. Who knew that losing slowly by eating moderately and exercising regularly was the way to go?

Anyway, after I quit MFP, when the calorie counting and food journaling started feeling like more than I could handle, I kept the good habits up for the most part. Until I had a chronic illness downswing and my eating went half to *kitten* as I tried to self-soothe with my old buddy, Carb. Some of the weight crept back on, but not all, because I really did learn a thing or two from my past efforts; and I'm catching myself a whole lot earlier than I have in the past, so while this has been a backslide into some bad dietary and mental health habits, it's nearly not as bad as it could be. I'm in an ok place right now, but I know I've got some work ahead of me to regain the ground I lost.

So this time, I'm making my diary accessible to other members, I'm using the communities and making friends (hi there!), and I'm hoping these changes will help keep me accountable.

I've never had ED support friends, and I think i could use them. Friend me if you like!

Byronic_Ryu

We have some similarities. I have a chronic pain illness that rendered me bedridden and wheelchair bound for years. I use to be very active. Right now I am a size 14 in US sizes. I have gained 8 dress sizes since becoming ill. My goal is go back to being a size 5/6. I have symptoms that affect my weight and how much I eat. When I am battling with fatigue, I reach for more sugary sweets and portions of carbs.

I suffered from an eating disorder briefly as a child. Part of the reason why I developed mine was because of the culture I grew up in. The people have narrow standards on acceptable weight and a deep intolerance of "fat". It can be difficult for people with ED or recovering from ED to use a calorie counter. I am debating on whether I should get a scale or if I would just obsess over the numbers too much.

To maintain good mental health, I use a variety of methods (the Wrap booklet, mindfulness, EFT method, etc...). Even though we are making some slow progress, there isn't enough emphasis on how important maintaining good mental health is and why and how everyone should practice it.