We need to be aware of the things that are likely to come up in our recovery path that we are on so that we can protect ourselves against relapse. Eating disorders make you ugly. Continuing to gain weight after eating disorder recovery is unlikely; Discussing fears about weight gain with a therapist can be helpful as you try to figure out I am a recovered anorexic for 9 years now( struggled 10 long years 1994-2004) but have lost weight slowly over the course of 6 years due to Pelvic Floor Dysfunction probably after I had a hysterectomy in 2008. Im struggling with this. Look at it this way, you have a mental illness, and it will kill you unless you treat it. Its looks great and it is more than worth hanging in there! (Theyre already planning how Ill be staying next year) I really needed this. We all need all the help that we can get in recoveryparents and sufferers alike. (2017). Because we are all different, we all experience anorexia differently and we all experience recovery differently; however there are many of us that share symptoms and experiences, and in talking about them we can help one another understand. PostedOctober 31, 2011 So yeah, thanks for the reassurance! The my Pelvic Floor Dysfunction got worse & I began to lose weight slowly again. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Source: James Anderson, used with permission. Thank you!! Download the ED recovery kit that I published as a free pdf and that will help explain techniques to help you be okay with it. But I do a pretty dang good job at hiding my insecurities, so no one takes my concerns seriously or cares to explain things from a scientific, non-physiological perspective, seeing as I too, do not have body dysmorphia. Thank you so, so much for the info. I had been looking for something that would tell me that this protruding stomach was ok. I so needed to read this! Recovery Thank you for sharing. , Hey, Im a male too and also found this post very reassuring! (2003). thank you so much! I now think that my eating issues went hand-in-hand with my anxiety. This results in increased synthesis of glycogen, fat, and protein, which requires phosphates, magnesium, and potassium, reserves of which are depleted in someone who is malnourished. This study looked at the effect of weight distribution in terms of length of malnutrition period. Coz im faraid to exceed in my calories daily and so i will start eating quite late. (I might now add that the recovery option may be split into two possibilities, namely partial and complete recovery; see this post, on making the decision to get better.). Their results showed that only patients with prolonged malnutrition have an altered fat distribution. I now have a great butt and C cups which is the largest I have ever been. Rest and heal. What is the "normality" of being physically healthy again? I was just so frustrated as to why this was happening! Hi, what was your age when you were under anorexia? However Im afraid I will relapse once again, since I am now seeing all the weight mainly go to my stomach after just 5 days. Lower belly fat from anorexia recovery can be a hindrance to an aspiring anorexia patient hoping to recover. I was Hi Tabitha, thank you for writing about this. I have to say that this really helped me to accept it and to keep eating! This applies just as much to the physical realm as to the psychological. Both can help change the status of control in recovery. Thank you so much for what you do. Holm-Denoma, J.M., Witte, T.K., Gordon, K.H., Herzog, D.B., Franko, D.L., Fichter, M., and Joiner, T.E. I know when I address this to my team they think oh no its ED. I dont know if this is actually happening or if this is just how I am. Moving forward is key, however slow it might be. This was comforting to read. I was living again. Just need some friends that are having the same struggles and understand. I am 65 years old and am an anorexic. How Long Does It Take to Gain Weight After Anorexia? Funnily enough, for me, it was just about when I had actually accepted my pot belly, and kinda liked it, that it went away. I am ending DAY 32 and my stomach is large and in charge- haha. There are powerful mechanisms by which the body maintains stability in weight: On the energy intake side, if bodyweight increases or decreases, intake of food will adjust down or up accordingly; on the energy expenditure side, an increase or decrease in body weight triggers a corresponding increase or decrease in resting metabolic rate. i have not found another article like this that was so helpful, i love the way you also linked real studies, AMAZING! Have you ever heard or seen someone whos stomach distends a lot when they drink liquids? Ioakimidis, I., Zandian, M., Ulbl, F., Bergh, C., Leon, M., and Sdersten, P. (2011). (2004). Keep going, keep going, keep going. Im really curious about the pattern and timing. Thank you! I explore the insight/action gap in the companion to this post, here, and it is is one of the main things that allow the illness to continue long after its been recognised, diagnosed, and accepted as destructive. You cant reason with an unreasonable person, but there are proven techniques to better manage dicey situations. Poststarvation hyperphagia and body fat overshooting in humans: a role for feedback signals from lean and fat tissues. I eat better but still, somehow thats enough to keep me ALWAYS gaining fat. I cant fit into clothes comfortably. This was around the same time that I also got my period(I wrote about that in detail too). I know your frustration, fears, and pain. But your words and research are helping me to see this is part of the process and to sit and be with it and hopefully over time with continuing recovery all will balance out. I appreciate your fears; I have had similar myself. This is your choice to make. I was covered in ugly reddened patches of skin where the bones rubbed against my clothes. Your months or years of illness mean that you simply cant think and act in relation to diet and weight and shape in the mildly disordered way that other people can "get away with" if you want to be anything approaching healthy. When I educated myself as to the science surrounding anorexia recovery, I was able to develop confidence about the path my own recovery was taking. Because I have felt like it would not happen to me, as I have been weight restored for around 9 months now! Eating disorders: The facts. Insulin secretion (which lowers blood-sugar levels) is suppressed during fasting and increases again once blood-sugar levels rise in response to increased nutrient intake. Intelligence brings with it the burden of how to express ideas without hurting others' self-esteem. I am 44 years old and had slight anorexia and had bulimia from the age of 12 till 24. If the body has insufficient calories from food, it starts to break down fat and muscle in order to supply energy to sustain life. I am still new to recovery (about 2 months in) and its been a tough ride. Anorexia nervosa: A survival guide for families, friends and sufferers. I was frustrated. I will say, hang in there with the fat belly syndrome ? I was very underweight, malnourished, and had amenorrhea, restored weight over a long period but fought the body shape my body found itself in vehemently, having many lapses over a couple years until I was more dedicated to recovery and even experienced the redistribution of weight I felt pretty good about my body. Nothing is off limits to you so long as you eat your balanced meals too. I tend to use the never-fail youre not the boss of me line with mine because it makes me smile at the same time. I wonder, do you have any further thoughts on visceral vs subcutaneous fat deposition during this stage of recovery? Cant our body just co-operate for once. Very few people's weight falls precisely on this numerical boundary, and because of the overshoot phenomenon, even if your natural BMI did happen to be exactly 20, that doesnt mean you should force your weight gain to stop there for the physiological reasons just set out, and for the obvious psychological reason (which I'll come back to in a moment) that dieting will never help in recovery from anorexia. But the only way to really get even with ED is to kill it, and the only way to kill it is with food. Abdul Dulloo and colleagues (1997) reanalysis of the Minnesota Starvation Study data shows some crucial things about the structures of weight restoration. I do not want any sufferer to ever read anything that might put them off recovery, and the knowledge that belly fat will be gained is certainly something that could do just that. Any tips on how to fight through the bad body image days? i finally got to a stage where i was happy with my stomach. Entertainment/NBC. I found that I did binge eat a lot until I was really eating enough good fat AND my bodyweight had been at a good level for some time. I understand how scary this is for you, but restriction and exercise are not the answer. I always read your articles every time Im in the verge of giving up and it never fails to encourage me. It really angers me that people asked me that. But then anorexia is all of those things most of the time, statically. Hi Tabitha, thank you for all your amazing help Ive just bought your book Love Fat, going to read it when it arrives in the mail Remember that my advice is just my own opinion. Sharing her thoughts. Why Do Women Remember More Dreams Than Men Do? Yes. Im recovering Anorexia, and Im glad its just temporary! It is hard for people to understand that I was not questioning my self worth, I just wanted to know why my weight gain was so uneven. Nowon day 32 I started a new VERY good job ( which I had been applying for MONTHS but never got a response or a call back even after getting in for interviews), I re-gave my life to Christ and attend Mass regularly, have a wonderful and fulfilling relationship with my family, and now I realize I am just scratching the surface with what God has in store for my life. When I was first recovering from anorexia I couldnt stand all the weight I had gained in my stomach, and I started to question if I was even eating correctly again. And I promise, it is worth it. Is it unrealistic to assume that even though I gained everywhere, my stomach will still redistribute (maybe to my hips)? The uptake into the body's cells of much of the blood's electrolyte content leads to a low level of blood phosphate, which in turn can cause muscle weakness, confusion or delirium, convulsions, and other symptoms, and can lead to death through cardiac failure unless phosphorous supplements are given, either intravenously or orally. The greater the malnutrition, the greater the risk of complications during recoverybut also, of course, the greater the risks of remaining ill. Starvation can cause (amongst other things) low blood pressure and poor circulation; osteoporosis leading to possible fractures, deformities, and pain; anaemia; stomach shrinkage, leading to uncomfortable stretching and feelings of fullness when more than a small amount is eaten; increased blood cholesterol levels due to lack of oestrogen; nerve and muscle damage; low glucose levels, which may lead to coma; kidney failure; and death through heart failure (see e.g. I dont know if theres any particular foods that make it better, I know in early recovery avoiding fiber can be helpful but depending on how far along you are that might not work. I cant claim to have finished the hike. bloating, constipation, edema, some nausea, acid reflux- I have it all BUT THAT MEANS I AM WINNING!!! Depression: Goodbye Serotonin, Hello Stress and Inflammation, How Blame and Shame Can Fuel Depression in Rape Victims, Getting More Hugs Is Linked to Fewer Symptoms of Depression, Interacting With Outgroup Members Reduces Prejudice. But all these never cause me to relapse and I believe that I will get back to a body that I will love. As with all the problems that can arise, it can be reduced by ensuring gradual and systematic refeeding. I have the exact same issue, Hi! Olivia, 23. Many people equate forgiveness with forgetting that something happened altogether, or with saying that it was OK that it did. Tabitha, thank you, THANK YOU for putting this on your site. A trophy. I want to be patient enough to see this happen, but I dont know what the outcome will be. Crystal Kung Minkoff admitted that shes considered taking Ozempic while in See that belly as sign that you are winning and learn to love it. So personally my weight redistribution happened really rather fast. I know I shouldnt eat anything, but I find myself craving nothing but typical teenager foods (sweets, chips, ect.) You most probably have been the one to help break through a major wall in my recovery. .weight-recovered women with AN who are able to maintain a normal body weight show redistribution of adipose tissue back toward the distribution seen in matched control subjects over 1 y of follow-up. This should be trivially obvious, but with all your anorexic instincts screaming at you not to lose control and let yourself get fat and ugly, it can be easy to forget. Nothing about recovery was easy, but thankfully I was one sufferer who relished having some flesh to cover me when I did begin to put on weight. Oh well, goes to show I dont get to control my body shape. I miss looking healthy. Justthank you. Eating Disorder Recovery January 28, 2021. Thank you for this. If tapering happens, does this happen at the same time as the redistribution? Thank you so so much. This is not a blog post that I have put up without really considering what my point is. This sequence means that things like bloating and disproportionate sensations of fullness are bound to be bad to begin with, and that things like the extreme hunger may get dramatically better only towards the very endthe end of the natural process, not the "end" where your anorexia wants it to be. The rectus abdominis is basically what it holds all the organs in and keeps everything from protruding. I was wondering how long you have to be malnourished for, for something like this to happen? Finally, after turning to science for an answer, I found this study. Thanks. I Feel Fat - Columbus Park Obviously this takes a bit of trust, but trusting ones own body is a practice in itself, and one which I certainly had to consciously work on. Its so so hard, we are doing so well, lets keep the hope. Learning to be okay with your body no matter what shape it is is incredibly important. Use it to help you. All I can tell you is my story, but trusting is up to you. For the most part, I just wear giant sweaters with leggings and try to forget about it, but its sometimes really painful to experience the uneven weight gain at such a delicate point in recovery. Life had crept back in, and so had my ability to love it, and things about myself. I am having the most difficult time with my recovery because my belly-bloat always triggers me to go back to my behaviors. I am shocked and so proud that I got my period back in one month after having lost it for 3 years. I explore the complexities of metabolic rate and the drastic changes it undergoes in starvation and recovery in a pair of posts starting here. Problems that no amount of dieting or weight loss can cure. Initial weight gain is often related to rehydration of the body. It has helped me not relapse! Im hoping it evens out, but I also recognize that looking kind of weird is 100000% better than starving to death. And even if they do, they should be made aware that this is their bodies short term response and that if they keep doing with recovery it will even out. 20 years ago when my anorexia started these sites werent around.