I've been struggling with Anorexia and Bulimia for a while now and it's gotten to the point where if I choose to eat on a given day, it is all or nothing [binge and purge.]. On my "off days" I just relay on coffee and sugar-free drinks to get me through the day. I realize I really should be eating keeping the food down but it's like no matter how hard I try I can't get myself to eat, knowing it has to stay put. Sometimes I'll try having a small salad or a cup of soup, but then my appetite kicks in and I NEED more, so I'll binge and purge.

I guess I was wondering if anybody has found a meal plan that decreases the bingeing. I was trying to look online but could not find a site that a Bulimic could follow to get out of the binge/purge cycle. If I had a plan, written out and placed in front of me, it might be easier to stick to rather than knowing having a vague idea of what I'm suppose to be eating.

I'd like to avoid seeing a nutrionalist if possible. If anybody has come across a good website about recovery and eating plans, or even personnal advice, i'd be more than happy to hear it.

thanks.

hi arie
you would not believe this but i just got back from my dietitian and i have been having some problems with purging and she has given me a meal plan. though she did warn me that this one could see me lose weight and i will be re-visiting her next week, but here it is:
b/f - large bowl of cereal and full cream milk add fruit such as a banana or a juice
mt- smoothie (full cream) with milk and yoghurt and a fruit or a chocolate bar or a nut bar or a bag of chips or youghurt and museli...or a scone or muffin
l - sandwich or wrap with avocardo and a protein such as tuna, ham, chicken, cheese, etc with salad and a large juice
at - same as morning tea
d - stir fry with protein and vegies and rice or noodles, or pasta and protein with a salad with dressing and a juice
s - same as morning tea- must be a dairy product in there
ok, so there it is, the secret is to eat during the day every 2-3 hours so you dont get starving and binge purge...also, no diet products...
hope that helps, ive been on this before and lost weight so just be careful
take care
chookie

Why do you want to avoid seeing a Nutritionist? They see more people with ED's than you would be suprised. :) Trust me. That is their job. To help people like us. And, they do not judge. They are more compassionate than anything, and are more than willing to help and concerned about the situation of an ED than anything.

Seeking out a Nutritionist is a very good idea. They have great meal plans, and just one consultation would be all it would take even. They can help set up an exercise routine to follow as well.

Chookie gave you a great plan to start. Contact a Nutritionist if you think you won't be threatened. They are there for encouragement and help.

Best regards

Coffeegirl

thank you both for the reply..

chookie- i think i might try that plan... im actually comforted to know that you lost weight on it, because gaining is just too scary right now. it sounds like alot of food to keep down now right now (im used to eating all or nothing) but i really need to get out of this cycle. ill just hide the scale so im not tempted to weigh-in. i know that weight flucuates and it's normal. but seeing a few extra pounds or something in the morning will certainly scare me and will definitaly trigger me to starve.

coffeegirl- i know that i really should seek professional help when it comes to the whole eating plan, but im just too afraid theyll design one for me that will make me gain weight. (im underweight for my height). i think ill try something on my own, and if my eating disorder doesnt give back a little control to me, ill have to get professional help if i ever want my life back.

chookie, how do you lose weight on that eating plan, i've been eating less than that and gaining like crazy. now i know my metabolism is severely messed up. how many calories is that around? keep fighting arienette, i think you will get to a point in your ed where you will welcome a nutritionist to give advice. it has taken me 12 years, but in 2 weeks i have my 1st appt. and i can't wait, i want to be like chookie and coffeegirl, and so many others on this board who have gotten help, you can certainly tell they are happier than most of us who haven't gotten the help we need. good luck case1

I did look up nutritionist online in my area, out of curiousity. There were only like 2.. and those were even like a half hour away from me. My direction skills SUCK, I would never find the office, and I'm not about to tell my family, "Hey I wanna go see one cuz I have food issues." That and I looked at the cost, like $80 a session. I almost choked. lol

hi everyone
hope today is a fantastic day for all and that you are all still open to a life full of possibilities - as having an eating disorder completely limits our life and can very draining and repetitive.
ok, now, where to start...
im pretty sure that meal plan i posted was prob - 1800-2000 cal a day, and yes i have lost on this before.
i think something which everyone needs to consider is the very low weights you / alot of people on this board have, and eating and gaining weight is naturally something the body will do if it isnt functioning correctly - just like anything ...take for example a cut on your skin...you bleed, but your body works very hard to clot the blood around the wounded area, then to turn it into a scab then like magic your skin is back to normal...though in circumstances where the cut is deep a scare will stay - this is likeour bodies - they are trying to grasp onto any food we put in them in order to try and function properly, like some poeple have mentioned -they are no longer getting their periods, losing hair etc...ahh...this isnt good...and unfortunately - if we dont look after ourselves we will scare our bodies...that wouldnt be good at all. so...what point am i trying to make - well, emlitt - yes, therapy is expensive but would you rather live like this for the rest of your life? and honestly - what kind of life would that be?
if it is hard for you all to buy certain foods - take a normal eater with you - my dietitian suggested my mum or a friend - get them to either buy the stuff / choose the stuff - then you can blame it on them...and also work out what you do and do not like...
ok, hope that kinda helps
take care
love chookie