Intermittent fasting and curing an ED

WanderingPomme
WanderingPomme Posts: 601 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone used IF to cure an ED? Like being obsessed with food and being dictated to eat 3 meals a day and 2 snacks in between? Making sure you get enough food in you throughout the day even though you're not hungry? Not knowing if you're hungry or just eating because it's about that time you have to eat?

Also, when eating out and you have no idea how to log what you ate, what do you do?

Broke my fast at 1pm Had half a chips ahoy gooey cookie (60cals) decided it wasn't that good. Lol
My first real meal of the day today (3pm) was a crispy pork belly on rice and veggies with a side sauce of fermented fish. Ate 1/3 of it (probably 1oz of pork, 50g rice, 50g mixed veggies) it had sauce on it so I don't know how to account for that and a slice of carrot cake which was sugarfree and a chinese pastry (6pm) which was 125 calories. I've been full the whole day. Not hungry. My window usually finishes at 8pm, finished at 6pm today. I'm not sure if I ate all my calories today but it felt good to be able to stop eating when I wasn't hungry anymore.

Also, I'm on maintenance now after a long restrictive diet (low calorie) and I feel lost as to what to eat, how much to eat so I'm using IF to maintain. Is that a good idea? I don't like the whole snacking throughout day thing that my diet program made me develop. I'm just eating what I feel like eating now, within 1290 calories. I'm hoping I don't gain. I'm not even sure if 1290 is right for me since I've been used to eating lower amounts of calories. So I'm scared to increase calories.

Replies

  • khannickwechanged
    khannickwechanged Posts: 77 Member
    I know nothing about IF, but wanted to bump the thread for you. :)

    For me, eating about every three hours seems to help prevent major hunger that risks leading to binging. But I know different things work for different people.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    idk, anything that isnt like normal eating seems counter productive
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    This is pure speculation on my part but I think you're just replacing one dogmatic form of meal timing with another and I wouldn't expect this to help your problem. I would expect it to potentially make it worse.
  • BaileyP3
    BaileyP3 Posts: 151 Member
    I was so confused when I read the topic...I was thinking the other ED :laugh:
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I was so confused when I read the topic...I was thinking the other ED :laugh:

    Intermittent *kitten* helps that I hear.
  • BaileyP3
    BaileyP3 Posts: 151 Member
    :laugh:
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    This is pure speculation on my part but I think you're just replacing one dogmatic form of meal timing with another and I wouldn't expect this to help your problem. I would expect it to potentially make it worse.

    Agree. In fact, as I understand it, IF is not recommended for those with a disordered relationship to food for that reason. It can make you more fixated on your diet. Not to say that trying to tweak meal timing couldn't be helpful in some situations (I don't know), but I don't think subscribing to any sort of rigid eating plan or set of rules is going to be beneficial. I know personally it made me ridiculously fixated on my diet and I don't have an ED.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I personally don't think anyone with ED tendencies should be IFing. Just asking for trouble IMO.
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    Sending you a PM.

    ETA: trying to fix an eating disorder with a method of severe restrictive eating is kind of like trying to get out of debt by maxing out your credit cards...it will most likely only make the problem worse.
  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    I was so confused when I read the topic...I was thinking the other ED :laugh:

    me too, I was like wtf? :noway: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    I've always heard ED + IF = no good. Personally, I love IF but I've also never had an eating disorder. I'm conflicted about what kind of advice to give you. However, I know I can't tell you what to do or stop you from doing IF if that's what you want to do.
  • bakingforlife
    bakingforlife Posts: 132 Member
    When reading on Intermitting fasting ,it says not for people with eating disorder .....if your trying to help your self this not the way to go ..........i knew nothing about it but looked it up one day .and that statement was pretty much second sentence .your choice ,your life .just being straight up with you .take care
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    I personally don't think anyone with ED tendencies should be IFing. Just asking for trouble IMO.

    This. If I remember correctly, I read on Leangains's website that people with any type of ED should NOT be going the IF route.
  • ELVISDEAN
    ELVISDEAN Posts: 77
    IF is my life ...how can I help??
  • ELVISDEAN
    ELVISDEAN Posts: 77
    almost everything you wrote is NOT IF....educate yourself..your plan is a disaster
  • HittinMyGoals
    HittinMyGoals Posts: 30 Member
    I've be doing IF for awhile now with a 4 hour eating window. As far as calorie intake I don't eat any more then I normally would if I was eating 3 meals a day. The idea of IF (IMO) is that in your fasting you are giving your body the chance to burn all the calories you consumed plus extra fat you would in other ways not get to in your time frame without adding to it continually. The 3 hours before my fast ends is when I workout/take supplements. As far as ED's are concerned I would say just make sure you are NOT binge eating in your time window and just eat your required calories.
  • astrovivi
    astrovivi Posts: 183 Member
    This is pure speculation on my part but I think you're just replacing one dogmatic form of meal timing with another and I wouldn't expect this to help your problem. I would expect it to potentially make it worse.

    I have had a severe ED in the past and I agree with this comment.

    Replacing one regimented form of eating schedule with another, isn't helping to address the underlying root cause of the issue.

    I would seek professional assistance first up and get some guidance on what specific things one would need to focus on to break bad habits and thought patterns etc.
  • andyhat1027
    andyhat1027 Posts: 9
    I think choccilliman is right. Not quite sure why others haven't mentioned this but I would suggest seeking profession assistance.
  • QuincyChick
    QuincyChick Posts: 269 Member
    I was so confused when I read the topic...I was thinking the other ED :laugh:

    Intermittent *kitten* helps that I hear.

    HA!

    di-YQIO.gif
  • WanderingPomme
    WanderingPomme Posts: 601 Member
    Thank you for the reply guys! I don't know but IF is kind of making me relaxed with food choices because I know it'll burn fat if I do it. I'm not underweight, I'm 5'3 113lbs. Just terrified to gain all the weight back so it's comforting to know that I can eat what I want within reason of course and not stress about counting calories especially when I eat out. I'm teaching myself how to eat again and what it feels to be hungry. So maybe it's working for me? I don't really feel restricted now and kind of finding my comfort zone through IF and finding my balance. I am thinking about seeking professional assistance. Thank you again!
  • SJVZEE
    SJVZEE Posts: 451 Member
    I personally don't think anyone with ED tendencies should be IFing. Just asking for trouble IMO.

    This. If I remember correctly, I read on Leangains's website that people with any type of ED should NOT be going the IF route.

    This. I did a version of IF for weight loss and every single thing I read about IF (regardless of which version you go with), said NO if the person had a history with EDs.
  • TEAJAY13
    TEAJAY13 Posts: 19
    Im really unsure what IF is and how it works, But honestly it seems like you may still have alot of ED issues going on and I think you should get some more advice/help on how to deal with it. I have had an ED for a long time. Mine developed without even realising and even though now I cope I don't think I'll ever be completely without the ED thoughts on a bad day, its just now I realise what it is and how to deal with it.

    For me I had to go through a horrible process of realisation that the weight I was, wasn't sustainable on a normal diet and basically had to learn how to eat and exercise like a normal person before I could even consider a "diet" of any form.

    I see in your profile you want to be fit, healthy, strong. If you not fit and healthy mentally you'll always find it hard to be fit and healthy on the outside. MFP is an amazing tool, it has helped me realise you can eat so much more and still lose or maintain. Everyone here is amazing and here to help each other out. Wishing you all the best.
  • WanderingPomme
    WanderingPomme Posts: 601 Member
    Thank you for the replies. I just think I'm developing an ED not there yet but I could feel the obsession and paranoia about food I just needed a new lifestyle and new plan to keep me sane and not go down the dark ED path.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Just to let you know, you can definitely still gain weight with an IF eating frequency. It is just a tad harder for most. However, I've found that I get used to much larger meals now and can easily eat above TDEE if I don't track.
  • WanderingPomme
    WanderingPomme Posts: 601 Member
    Just to let you know, you can definitely still gain weight with an IF eating frequency. It is just a tad harder for most. However, I've found that I get used to much larger meals now and can easily eat above TDEE if I don't track.

    Really? Even if I eat within calories? Or alternate between going over and under sometimes?
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Just to let you know, you can definitely still gain weight with an IF eating frequency. It is just a tad harder for most. However, I've found that I get used to much larger meals now and can easily eat above TDEE if I don't track.

    Really? Even if I eat within calories? Or alternate between going over and under sometimes?

    cals in vs out is what matters. If your TDEE is 2500 and you eat 3000 cals in a 2hr eating window, you will gain weight. If you are under some days and over on others and you are around TDEE for the week you will maintain weight.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    1290 is NOT maintenance...
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Just to let you know, you can definitely still gain weight with an IF eating frequency. It is just a tad harder for most. However, I've found that I get used to much larger meals now and can easily eat above TDEE if I don't track.

    Really? Even if I eat within calories? Or alternate between going over and under sometimes?

    But you said...
    Thank you for the reply guys! I don't know but IF is kind of making me relaxed with food choices because I know it'll burn fat if I do it. I'm not underweight, I'm 5'3 113lbs. Just terrified to gain all the weight back so it's comforting to know that I can eat what I want within reason of course and not stress about counting calories especially when I eat out. I'm teaching myself how to eat again and what it feels to be hungry. So maybe it's working for me? I don't really feel restricted now and kind of finding my comfort zone through IF and finding my balance. I am thinking about seeking professional assistance. Thank you again!
    Which makes it sound like you don't plan on counting. I can easily eat over 1,000 calories in less than five minutes if I let myself. Just give me a jar of peanut butter and I'll lick that sucker clean. I eat during a four hour window but I still have to log. My inner fat *kitten* would take advantage of not counting.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Yep. That's what I was getting at.

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