A-Z of Recovery: Eating Healthy

One of the big things about recovery from many mental illnesses is the way we treat our bodies and our mind. For some people, nothing makes them feel more free than being out and about. Having a complete distraction from life when you’re working out can be super important because you have to give your complete attention to the task at hand. It also releases endorphins, which are powerful chemicals in your brain that are energizing and make you feel good. That’s why exercise is often used as a way to help combat mental Health issues such as Depression or Anxiety.

For me personally, being in recovery from an Eating Disorder is a lifelong battle. When you're getting back on track and you want to be able to take care of your body, eat the rights foods and exercise to keep it at it's optimum level then it can be really easy to fall back into old traps. Exercise can easily become an obsession again, food can become just calories again. There are many different forms of eating disorders and so this lifestyle can easily become a fear for anyone who is starting their recovery. After so long of disordered thinking and eating, we more often than not have forgotten what healthy living actually is. 

Anorexia Nervosa & realted Eating Disorders (ANRED) classifies healthy eating as "respecting your body so that you eat when you are hungry, and you eat what you are hungry for, and you stop eating when you are satisfied. This means that you do not use food to try to meet needs other than nourishment; for example, eating a box of donuts because you are lonely (or anxious, or angry, or bored, or sad). It also means never refusing to eat something your body is really hungry for. If you do, you make that forbidden food an object of obsession, and chances are you will binge on it later — one chocolate truffle now, or a whole box later.

And lastly, eating normally means paying attention to your body so you will recognize when it is hungry for simple things like green beans and whole wheat bread, not just the sweet and fatty foods you routinely deny it."

Tips for a healthy lifestyle

1. At least 8 hours sleep- it’s a well known fact that sleep, or the lack of can have an affect on your mood. That doesn’t mean that you're absolutely guaranteed to have a sunny disposition but I'm sure that either you, or the people around you can tell if you haven’t been sleeping enough. The fact that sufficient sleep regulates your emotions means that you will be in a better state of mind throughout the day.

2. 30-60 minutes of physical activity is recommended a day. This does'nt mean you have to go out and lift weights for 30 mins and then run around 20 miles for the other 30. This means you could do the laundry, sweep the garden patio, go for a walk to the shops. This all accounts to your activity level. It helps keep your body mobile and cares for your muscles and joints. 

  3. Breakfast- I'm not the worlds largest fan of breakfast, eating within an hour or two sometimes isn't an option for me but whenever I can, I get a good nutritional breakfast made. 

4. Eat in moderation- NEVER deny yourself a reasonable portion of something you really want. If you do, you set yourself up to binge on it later.

5. Ask for help when needed- there's nothing wrong with needing help. In fact, it shows a great deal of strength and maturity.

And if you feel yourself slipping, please give these links a read. They're super helpful and cuts straight through all of the mess so that you'll know exactly what to do. 

Helpful links

ANRED relapse prevention
National Eating Disorders
Recovery and Relapse prevention
Lapses and Relapses
Sharing your troubles
Healthy Eating after recovery

Good luck, take everything one day at a time and don't be afraid to speak to someone if things are unsettling for you.

Love, 

Louise x