Recovery Reassurance: Extreme Hunger

Extreme hunger. It’s real! I am writing this, as back when I was going through it, I searched Google, looked through every blog post, looked at forums and watched as many videos as I could. It’s a scary yet somewhat freeing thing to go through.

First of all, extreme hunger is NORMAL when you’ve restricted. Here’s some information about it:

‘You will most likely experience extreme hunger in eating disorder recovery. You eat, eat, eat and never seem to get full. You may be physically full but still feel you want to eat more! You feel like a crazy Foodzilla who is about to make an end to the world’s food supply.

The normal amount of food seems to not satisfy you (even the 2500-3000 calorie recovery recommendations) and you think you just have a binge eating disorder! You feel hungry, but not hungry. You feel “empty”, but you know that you are physically full. You feel like a bottomless bit. Ready to inhale all food at once! BAM! – it’s gone! Next!

If you start recovery from any kind of eating disorder or just past of dieting and restriction, having extreme hunger is normal and it will pass! It is your body’s response to the previous restriction. Sometimes, when we have gone through extreme restriction like eating disorders and dieting we might temporarily need to go to the other extreme and eat in large amounts to actually restore balance!’

I don’t remember my food intake as such with extreme hunger, but some ‘binges’ I do remember (it’s important to know that it isn’t actually binge eating – it’s your body trying to get in as much food as possible, due to restriction. You won’t develop BED or bulimia, as long as you don’t restrict, purge and make sure to follow your cravings – no matter how much food your body wants):

-        -  My first meal was Quorn chicken nuggets and chips. But it wasn’t enough. So I ate 2 servings of cheesecake, ice cream and slices of plain bread, straight from the loaf…Just because I felt so mentally hungry and dissatisfied.

-         -  One morning, I finished a whole packet of ginger biscuits and still felt ravenous, so I had a pint of ice cream – as breakfast. It’s all about following the cravings. I’m pretty sure I still felt hungry after.

-         -  I’d also eat ‘sharing bags’ of crisps and chocolate...In one night.

As long as you follow cravings – it WILL end. Trust me. It may take a while, but it won’t last forever.

My extreme hunger ended about 5/6 months into my real recovery. I do occasionally have points where I do eat more than normal, but this is normally reactive eating, due to undereating days before. I now feel full quickly and couldn’t finish a packet of biscuits even if I tried…I’d feel sick! And this is from someone who ate whole packets of biscuits daily during extreme hunger. I rarely have biscuits now, but if I do, it’s only a few. Also, a pint of ice cream now lasts me about a week…whereas during extreme hunger I’d have a pint daily. 

Just believe me when I say, it’s OKAY to crave anything and everything. Listen to your hunger, even if you eat over 4000 calories...Your body NEEDS it. 

Also remember that the extreme hunger may be longer or shorter for you. I was anorexic for about 3 years, so the length may have an impact. 

Feel free to leave a comment or message me if you have any questions or need any support.

Take care x

Quotes from:

http://followtheintuition.com/extreme-hunger-and-bingeing-in-recovery/

Update!

Hiya reader,

Hope your week went well and that your plans for the weekend all go according to plan. Todays' post doesn't really have a purpose (oopsie, haha). But I will share a little update!

• We’ve moved house and it’s such a relief and was actually temporarily distracting.
•  Tomorrow I would have completed my first month in recovery, aka, with a meal plan and regular sessions with my Clinician.
• [TW] I’ve put on approx. a kilo in the past month, although the ED centre aim for a kilo a week. Originally, Family-Based Therapy was being used but now my Clinician is considering other options that might work better.
•  I’m hoping to start a journal/scrap-book, which is something that might work as a distraction.
•  I have actually filmed a Room Tour for my YouTube channel and I’ll be uploading it soon.
• I now have my own room and it feels so good.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for YouTube videos, do leave a comment! I'm hoping to film a bunch of videos and upload them over July. Anyways, as I said, this post is pretty pointless, sorry haha. But here's a little quote for you...

No matter how broken my heart may feel, I will always be grateful it still has a beat.

- Demi Lovato 

'Brave Girl Eating'.

Hiya everyone ♡ Hope your weekend is going well and that you're enjoying summer! Today's post is a book review and here's the book title - Brave Girl Eating.

This book is written by Harriet Brown, where she discusses anorexia nervosa and her experience with it. She talks about her daughters' struggle with the eating disorder and how it influenced the whole family. It's written in a way that makes you feel that you're part of the family and really helps increase knowledge and understanding of the deadly mental illness.

As I've previously said, I deal with anorexia. It has definitely had a huge impact on not only my life, but my family and friends lives too. I am currently in recovery and seriously recommend that anyone with any eating disorder, or any mental illness, to seek help! You are worthy of support and I promise that reaching out for help does NOT make you weak.

I highly recommend that anyone who knows someone with an eating disorder read this book...it explains anorexia (as well as other eating disorders) on a more personal level. It may be quite triggering for ED sufferers themselves to read it, however the writer states that she hasn't included certain details to avoid triggering readers. I have read a fifth of the book and it's helped me view anorexia from the perspective of those close to me. Once again, it might be triggering to some, but I highly recommend it if you think your mindset is healthier or if you want to relate to families/sufferers.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Hana ♡

Hello June x

Hiya guys...hope your weekend is going well! Here's a quick post welcoming June via Demi Lovato's book Staying Strong: 365 Days A Year.
I know we're half way through the year but I would recommend it to anyone, of any age. So here you go. A page for you guys!
Take care,
Hana
x

Little Update

Hiya, hope you're doing well and that your week is going well :)

This post is probably going to seem quite informal, however, I feel it needs to be very me, as it's going to be quite honest.

This past week has been quite emotional and difficult. My eating disorder (I'll make a full blog post all about my eating disorder when I feel ready) really overtook my mind - much more than normal. I've felt extra confused, lost and hopeless lately, however today has been more positive so I decided it was time to post again :)

I'm in my second year of university and won't be finishing the semester as I need to seek treatment as soon as I can, before it's too late. My mum, siblings and I are moving back to England next month so hopefully then I'll be posting much more. I also plan on making a YouTube channel sometime this year, but I'm going to be focusing on my blog.

I really feel like I want to be able to help others dealing with mental illnesses, as well as give support and help to anyone who needs it. I don't know what's going to happen within the next year, but I do know that I'll need to try and focus on recovery. Hopefully, I'll also do things I enjoy and be able to regain my freedom and happiness...and I'd like to use this blog to document that. I won't only upload personal day-to-day posts, as I know that's not what everyone wants to read. However, they definitely will be uploaded - so be prepared :P

I'm not expecting to get lots of views to be honest, but if I can help at least one reader, I'll be pleased :) This is starting to sound a bit like my first post. I just want to get the message across that I deal with some issues, as does everyone, and my blog might occasionally reflect that. I also feel quite excited about moving back to England, however, I know recovery won't be easy. As I'm feeling quite positive at the moment, I want to add a little inspiring quote:

"We all have bad days, but one thing is true; no cloud is so dark that the sun can't shine through."
- Miranda Kerr

Everyone deals with problems of some sort. Don't be quick to judge others on their actions as we don't know what they're coping with. When in the depth of our issues, things seem very difficult and upsetting. However, if we stay hopeful and believe that we can get through it, then that will definitely help! It all sounds cliche' and even hypocritical - but, it's true. We go through stages in our lives - the good ones, and then the not so good ones. Our mistakes, illnesses, memories and choices all contribute to the person we become.

So next time you feel upset, know that:

• It will get better. It might take a while, but it will.
• Worrying about it too much won't help.
• One day it'll be a little contribution to who you are.
• Spending time with people who love you, or even spending time with yourself doing something you love, will help.
• You can contact me anytime and I'll try to help too (where to find me will be posted below).

This post was a little random, but it was also from the heart...and sort of necessary for me to post. Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to read this.
Take care xoxo
Hana



Tumblr: http://ohhsohana.tumblr.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OhhSoHana
Email: itshanamahmoud13@gmail.com

Find me on Google+ too. I'm also considering making an Instagram too!

Quote of the Day ♥

Lately I've felt like a burden among those around me, including myself. I feel like I have to make conflicting decisions when, to be honest, all I want to do is sleep for days on end. However, yesterday I came across a quote that I think anyone could benefit from.

"If other people do not understand our behaviour - so what? Their request that we must only do what they understand is an attempt to dictate to us. If this is being "asocial" or "irrational" in their eyes, so be it. Mostly they resent our freedom and our courage to be ourselves. We owe nobody an explanation or an accounting, as long as our acts do not hurt or infringe on them. How many lives have been ruined by this need to "explain," which usually implies that the explanation be "understood," I.e. approved. Let your deeds be judged, and from your deeds, your real intentions, but know that a free person owes an explanation only to himself - to his reason and his conscience - and to the few who may have a justified claim for explanation."

- Erich Fromm,  The Art Of Being.

This quote could help anyone with almost anything. Whether you're dealing with a mental illness and want to recover, whether you want to do something you love that not everyone approves of. Maybe you simply want to stay at home rather than going out on the weekend. Whatever it is, no matter if it's big or small, you should be able to do it without feeling scared, guilty or unworthy. You don't need to justify your choices to others. As long as you feel comfortable doing it, then that's all that matters. Anyone who wants to bring you down isn't even worth an explanation. They aren't worth the stress and worry. Because at the end of the day, your life should be based on YOU. Not what others might think of it, neither what they might think of you. As long as your intentions are pure and you believe that what you're doing is what's best for you, that's all that really matters.

With love,

Hana ♥

Welcome To My Blog ♥

Hiya you lovely earthling ♥
And welcome to my blog! My name is Hana and I hope to help our society one day.
I've made this blog as a hobby mainly, but also in order to hopefully create a cute little community. I really hope to be able to help others, whether that be through advice or by simply allowing people to enjoy my random little blog posts. I am in no way a professional at anything, however if you need any suggestions, advice or someone to talk to, I am willing to be there at all times ♥
I plan on making several changes in the next year and would like to document the process. So please do feel free to come along :) Some of these things include a YouTube channel and recovery from anorexia nervosa, depression and OCD (both of which I will expand upon in other blog posts).
'Til then,
TTFN :) x
P.S. If you read this, you've already earned a cyber-hug from me.
Hana ♥