Hey guys
I never post on here (never know where to start and am always too scared!) but like to dip in and out and get some info when I need it. As such, I'm going to try and summarise my 'issues' at the moment. Basically, I'm seeking advice on how to 'safely' put on weight.The guidelines I've been given by an eating disorders unit include eating LOADS of HIGH FAT DAIRY products and PROCESSED stuff which I avoid like the plague. (ready meals, chocolate bars and crisps? No thank you!) D'oh! The way I've been trying to remedy the problem is by eating lots of bread (I've avioded this for a while and had limited my portion sizes to control painful IBS, however, this resulted me in losing an awful lot of weight as I exercise a lot and its so hard to eat when you're IBS is so bad) I have increased my portion sizes threefold, (eg more sweet potato, rice noodles, rice, tons of soya milk) but i has been a slow process as kept getting 'acid reflux' as apparently my stomach couldn't handle the amount of food I was now putting in.
I've always had issues with food; been comfort eating ever since I was a child and didn't have a very good diet. Then I moved away to uni when I was 18 (I am now 22, nearly 23, living in Leeds, England) and had some teeth removed to wear braces. As such, I decided to kick myself into gear and would only eat 'healthy' foods and became exercise obsessed. Ironically, the 'healthy' food kicked off my IBS, (as did having teeth removed, stress etc) I ate masses of yoghurts, chewed lots of gum, ate copious amounts of lightly steamed veg and fruit (with no soluble fibre to cushion it) and only brown bread etc. As we all know, I was an 'IBS' nightmare but didn' know this at the time, although some things such as only eating low fat and avoiding processed foods and red meat were parts of Heather's diet that I incorporated into my life and still stick to today. .
Upon discovering Heather's website, my life turned around. I began eating soluble fibre (white rice, bread, pasta) to cushion my IF, cooked/pureed all fruits and veg (espesh love making fruit smoothies) and eliminated dairy completely. (i like soya products best, although i have a bit of oat/rice milk too) I discovered herbal teas and still drink peppermint, nettle, fennel and dandelion every day. I ordered Heather's acacia and have a teaspoon on my b/fast, lunch and dinner, including a teaspoon of flaxseed after my porridge on a morning.
Have been treated for depression for a while now, although my greatest problem has been my obsession with being healthy and being completely withdrawn socially as a result of this and IBS (I don't go out at night, never eat out, don't drink alcohol, like to get good sleep, wind etc doesnt make me want to socialize and thought I would never have a realtionship again)
Have been keeping a food diary since january this year (had a v bad attack and took me months to stabilise, I'm IBS-A but have more of a tendency towards IBS-D). I have been following Heather's diet since june 2003, but have only just recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder (alhough im not anorexic/bulimic, my life is dominated by food)
Ok, apologies if this is all a bit random and confusing: So, I lost a load of weight between January 2006-may 2006 and people were calling me anorexic. I went mad, as I was trying to explain to my dad, for example, that I could only eat certain things due to my IBS. (it's taken years to convince him I'm not just making it up!) and I thought I wasn't 'one of those' people with a problem as i eat regularly and would never make myself sick etc. Although, as we all know, DENIAL is a huge part of the problem, I couldn't see what I actually looked like (VERY thin and bones were sticking out, didn't realise I wasn't having 'proper' periods)
So, since Jan, for the first time in my life, I had greatly reduced my protion sizes (notably, the amount of carbs I usually pile onto my plate) because of my IBS attack. I WAS reducing the amount I ate, but wasn't intentionally trying to lose weight (I used to count calories etc when 18-21 obsessively, but don't do that anymore) I do spend a lot of time planning my meals and food shopping and reading up on things to do with health and helping my IBS so am FOOD OBSESSED and yes, as I eventually got referred for an EATING DISORDER (bless you dad) As a result, have been passed around between doctors and hospitals and have been offered a one-off appoitnment with an 'eating disorders' dietician in october who can help me.
I'm terrible, as once I find something that works I don't change what I eat and have the same thing every day (not rotating foods, I know it's bad but due to eating disorder I'm very 'ritual' and won't anything I'm 'not allowed) Sometimes I'll try and introduce something new, but do what a lot of people do and introduce/change a few thing at once and so never knew quite what caused my symptoms and as stress/life affects it too I never know what's happening! I try to be detailed in food diary, writing down what happened/ate/ bm's and emotional responses. I did get sent to a dietician who gave me the usual 'eat lots of fibre and IF' and turned me away as cudnt deal with an eating disorder, I needed more specialist help.
At the mo, its porridge/banana and soya milk for brekkie, lots of herbal tea thru day, rice noodles, seaweed, veg/chicken stock and mango, apple and soya milk for lunch. Either fish (salmon) and white bap, brown rice, root vegetables and spinach or something like sweet potato, root veg and grilled chicken breast (with apple sauce, dairy free cheese sauce or veg sauce) for dinner. Always followed by a bluberry/strawberry/apple/pear kinda mix with soya milk in a smoothie. Have been having some rye bread and sourdough bread with smoothie to try and put on weight. Before bed, I have a banana and toast with marmite (and some hummus If I'm feeling brave) but have built up slowly, was so hard at frst to even eat ONE piece of white bread (I wish I could eat brown!)Have been trying some high fat stuff, but things like avocados just kill my IBS. I know it's all a case of trial and error but I just think you guys know SOOO much more aobut this than the 'professionals' and was hoping for some advice before I see this lovely person who is going to tell me to have full fat milk and lots of cheese (as the doc keeps telling me to do) AAARRGGHH!"!!!!
PS, I've managed to put on a bit of weight, have reduced my exercise and stress levels greatly, but although I'm no longer 'underweight' I'm still veiny and thin. I do lots of weight training so that keeps me bulked up. I also suffer from Raynaud's syndrome (extreme cold in hands and feet) and am now feeling the stress building up from dreading the winter (my dad doesn't realy let us have heating on, I turn on computer to try and heat up room...)
Hrrm, i'd better take a breath now.......
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Desperately need advice on how to SAFELY put on weight
