I talk to many people who have heard about eating disorders but never understood or experienced them. Many of them are on an eating disorder spectrum, not realising it, moving from diet to diet, restricting consuming a piece of chocolate and then indulging without control to complain afterwards. The moment when I try explaining how ridiculous they sound, I hear that I’m not right and that their bodies need all the restrictions. I hear, “That juice diet works for me perfectly”.
The conversation usually ends with “whatever”, and when I suggest eating a balanced diet and a bit of a nice treat every day and stopping restricting, I hear: No way!
The good thing about recovering from an eating disorder is that we never become one of them. For a simple reason: we cannot diet ever again, and we never want to do that!
Once you cross the red line of ED, your body’s response to any form of dieting is a “famine state”. It will backfire quickly and may cause a relapse. And the beauty of recovery is that you build such a beautiful balance that you will never want to diet again.
Recovery feels amazing, and I want to share what true recovery feels like:
- Total freedom
- Balance in body and mind
- Naturally feeling good
- No guilt after eating a slice of cake
- Choosing the diet which your body loves
- No more self-harming or punishment in the form of starvation (dieting, restrictions, purging, over-exercising, starving in Any other way).
- No dieting, which is an intended choice!
- Perfect body-mind balance and freedom to eat what you desire.
- Great knowledge of nutrition
- No more extreme hunger
So many people ask me how do you do that by being so healthy. But they don’t know that my life wasn’t easy, and I suffered, but I never gave up on happiness.
With years of experience, I answer to them – I built self-awareness and healthy habits, which are:
I always eat breakfast, no matter what. My meals are regular, and I like to eat structured meals. I eat 5-6 times per day.
I never eat in a rush, and I never connect eating with my emotions. I eat at a table. Not walking, not running and not sitting on a sofa.
If I feel like eating more than usual, I eat more than usual. I eat as I feel and want.
I wake up at 5:30 every morning to exercise, walk or meditate. I love this time and coffee in the garden. I ensure I’m in nature each weekend, hiking, swimming, walking, or sitting on the grass. I love walking barefoot on the grass.
I go to sleep early and wake up early.
I don’t count calories and choose my diet based on what I like.
I read books. I read one book per week or two weeks, depending on the volume.
I don’t drink alcohol, apart from occasionally a glass of wine for dinner or a beer with friends. I have never smoked in my life.
I listen to my body and have built self-awareness. Recovery has taught me a lot.
I trust that my body regulates my weight; even if I don’t weigh myself, I have the same body shape throughout my life! I threw away the clothes that did not fit me anymore and bought the clothes that did when I needed them! My life, My rules. My body rocks! My body serves me well.
Recovery made me realise that the whole eating disorder which I had fallen into didn’t change me at all but wrecked me emotionally. Luckily, I fully understood the science behind human physiology and recovered.
The water retention (Edema) and weight gain lasted some time, and only I could spot the difference. During my recovery months, I avoided mirrors and was wearing loose clothes. My focus was on recovery. I accepted myself as me and said: Bring it on life! I’d rather live free and happy rather than sick and feel miserable for a few kg. My values are who I am, not kg on the scale, which I threw away.
Your body shape is something you need to accept and love! Everyone is beautiful and unique.
Our body regulates our weight and how we look and feel. If it’s healthy, it’s balanced. That’s the secret, so obvious and so hard for millions of people to understand.
Love and light
Kasia
The Power in You 