Should I have to change my habits for my family?

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mangobug
mangobug Posts: 1
edited January 27 in Motivation and Support
When i moved away for college i adopted healthier eating habits. I eat 3 meals a day rarely ever skip breakfast and have kept snacking to a minimum. Also am eating more balanced meals. Now i've moved back home where my family doesnt eat breakfast at all, goes to bed no earlier than 1-2 am and wakes up no earlier than noon the next day, and eats mostly junk and not alot of vegetables. For the past couple of weeks i have stuck to what i'm comfortable with but my family complains that i often opt out of meals with them because i start my day wayy earlier and so my schedule is off from theirs. I also am recovering from an ED and am currently at a point where the kind of food they eat literally gives me anxiety to go near. I am seeing a therapist for my problem but my family doesnt know. I think they are beginning to become irritated with me because since i am not having meals with them and stick to my own safe foods i seem super distant and theyre also becoming really pushy about making me eat. So a couple times a week i binge in front of them to shut them up and i feel terrible afterwards and try to purge/restrict the following days so i feel myself relapsing. I'd also like ot point out that i have tried to get them to make small changes in their eating habits gently but they always get mad at me and criticize me for being dogmatic about health

I care about my family so much but given my current mental state idk whether to prioritize them or my health
Does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do/what has worked for them in similar sitations? Any support is greatly appreciated

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  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Lead by Example.... You can't force change on anyone that does not want it to begin with.... Do your thing and hopefully they will see the benefits and follow your lead... Best of Luck.....:drinker:
  • RunForChai
    RunForChai Posts: 238 Member
    Okay friend, here is some tough love---[but really, it is said with love]--

    1) Move out on your own. I know, I know it is expensive, you can't afford while paying off student loans, looking for a job and blah, blah, blah....do it. Do it for yourself, your health and your pride.

    2) Don't lecture your family about their health or habits, but just calmly, quietly prepare [and PAY for the food you know will contribute to your long-term health and goals].

    This is from someone who put herself through college completely by herself, left home as an early teen and continues to have a decent relationship with a family who eats and has very different lifestyle.....you CAN do it. I didn't find my "ideal" job right away, I sacrificed and didn't buy many things that I thought I needed [and didn't need at all]--but I have my pride and I don't owe anybody anything, instead I can give just about everyone [no matter how different] acceptance and care.

    IF you live at home, you have to play by their rules--as a mom, I can't say I blame parents who enforce this rule.

    I dare you to go for it on your own! Good luck.
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