recovery blog

Welcome to my eating disorder recovery blog, where I am sharing tips and facts around eating disorder recovery and navigating yourself towards intuitive eating.

Nourishing your body does not only mean eating good food, but also having a healthy mindset towards food and your body. Especially having a healthy relationship with food! I recovered from an eating disorder myself and experienced restrictive, purging and binging on my own body. Today I am convinced, that it´s possible for everyone to live a fulfilled life without worrying about your body or food choices.

You can finde things and Q&A´s around health at every size, intuitive eating principals, navigating yourself through eating disorder recovery, motivation to recover and self compassion. All you need for your eating disorder recovery journey!

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  about my Eating disorder recovery account on social media
  The topic of discussion, eating disorder recovery account on social media, prompts a moment of reflection on their impact. Personally, I embarked on my own journey and shared it via my Instagram recovery account @doristrendfood for nearly three years, experiencing first-hand the power of connecting with others within the eating disorder recovery community. With this… Read more: about my Eating disorder recovery account on social media
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  understanding eating disorders – which needs does your eating disorder try to fill?
  Eating disorders are often a desperate escape from deeper psychological problems. They often try to replace suppressed emotions and needs and thus create a positive feeling for a short time. This is comparable to a drug addiction – someone takes a drug, experiences a pleasant feeling, but this wears off with the effect of the… Read more: understanding eating disorders – which needs does your eating disorder try to fill?
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  Veganuary 2023 and eating disorder recovery
  The Veganuary is a global campaign by an organization of the same name, which wants to encourage people worldwide to try a vegan diet in the first month of the year. The trend is particularly widespread on social media and is putting pressure on non-vegans to go completely vegan for at least a month. How… Read more: Veganuary 2023 and eating disorder recovery
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  The difference between anorexia and orthorexia (Q&A pt.6)
  Anorexia nervosa is a common known term. Although the idea of an emaciated person does not always correspond to reality, we know that anorexia nervosa has to do with restrictive eating. But what is orthorexia? The term was first used in 1998 (anorexia nervosa, although under a different name, was already discussed in the 18th… Read more: The difference between anorexia and orthorexia (Q&A pt.6)
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  digestive issues in eating disorder recovery (Q&A pt. 5)
  Today we will talk about digestive issues in eating disorder recovery. Oftentimes, people who have previously consumed only a very limited range of foods experience digestive issues as as they start to reintroduce the restricted foods back into their diet. Don’t worry – in the vast majority of cases the symptoms will get better over… Read more: digestive issues in eating disorder recovery (Q&A pt. 5)
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  making food choices in recovery (Q&A pt. 4)
  Grocery shopping is a great challenge in recovery—indeed, quite overwhelming. Now that the eating disorder no longer determines what is allowed in the shopping cart, you can theoretically pack everything. But the choices are endless. You want to take the best and not waste any money as well. And at the same time, there is… Read more: making food choices in recovery (Q&A pt. 4)
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  edema in recovery from a restrictive ED (Q&A pt. 3)
  There are some symptoms and side effects that come with recovery that aren’t talked about enough – because they’re kind of uncomfortable. And one of those symptoms is water retention. Edema in recovery is the norm rather than the exception, and it doesn’t necessarily make weight gain any easier to accept. But first, let’s look… Read more: edema in recovery from a restrictive ED (Q&A pt. 3)
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  “I am afraid of developing binge eating” (Q&A pt. 2)
  From anorexia to binge eating – a fear that accompanies many sufferers during the journey to recovery. What is the difference between extreme hunger and binge eating? Today we want to focus on exactly this topic. I hope this takes some of the fear out of developing binge eating, but also gives you ideas on… Read more: “I am afraid of developing binge eating” (Q&A pt. 2)
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  dealing with a relapse in ED recovery (Q&A pt.1)
  Eating disorder recovery often feels like the tide. It comes and goes, you take one step forward and it feels like you take three steps back. The recovery journey is certainly not linear – and that’s okay, too. Relapse in ED recovery (both big and small ones) seem to be the norm rather than the… Read more: dealing with a relapse in ED recovery (Q&A pt.1)
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  ARFID – when Picky eating becomes life threatening
  I’m sure we all know at least one person who is very picky about food, I know people who don’t like fruit, garlic, whole grains, nuts and seeds, etc. For example, we often see in young children that they tend to be “picky” when it comes to food choices. That’s not a bad thing in… Read more: ARFID – when Picky eating becomes life threatening
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  Why your reality is not THE reality
  What you perceive as reality, the way you perceive your body, others, and your environment is not reality at all. It is now neuroscientifically proven that you and I always dream. Not only at night – also right now at this moment. You may be awake, but you only see what your brain reproduces to… Read more: Why your reality is not THE reality
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  the illusion of control in eating disorders
  Eating disorders are not just about weight, beauty and health. Sure – these things may play contribute to the development and preservation of the disorder. But another huge factor, that should not be underrated is the illusion of control.
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  Should you eat high protein in recovery?
  High protein in ed recovery? Is that really necessary? How much protein is actually enough and what may be the benefits of prioritizing protein? Let´s dig into it.
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  6 helpful thoughts when the eating disorder is loud
  This annoying eating disorder voice is loud today? Read this six reminder for when the eating disorder is loud. I hope it helps!
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  how anorexia impacts cognitive functions
  Let´s talk about how anorexia impacts cognitive functions and why this knowledge can help you to accept weight gain.
• Anorexia and hyperactivity explained
  Anorexia is characterized by a complex picture of symptoms. And one of the most frequently observed symptoms is hyperactivity in the form of physical activity. In fact, hyperactivity can be seen in about half of all anorexic patients. This may actually sound familiar to you: In the phase when I severely restricted my food intake,… Read more: Anorexia and hyperactivity explained
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  navigating eating disorder recovery
  Are you struggling with navigating eating disorder recovery? This blog post will give you a rough guideline for recovery. It may give you an idea of what to expect from recovery!
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  How to use intuitive eating in eating disorder recovery safely
  Most patients with eating disorders have lost touch with their hunger and fullness cues – so, how can you use the intuitive eating approach in eating disorder recovery?
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  Metabolism – the truth about it
  It is in everyone´s mouth lately – metabolism. Good and bad, fast and slow. But what is it actually. What is true about alle the rumours, what do you need to know about it? Let´s talk about all of that.
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  Bingeing in eating disorder recovery
  Crazy Foodzilla who is about to make an end to the world’s food supply, because no amount seems to satisfy your needs, you´re not necessarily hungry – but empty. And now you´re afraid you developed binge eating disorder? Well… let me tell you about the part that is not addressed enough: Bingeing in eating disorder… Read more: Bingeing in eating disorder recovery
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  what you need to know about the Minnesota Starvation Experiment
  Will you starve that they can be better fed? The Minnesota Starvation Experiment is extremely interesting and very insightful for ed recovery.
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  5 reasons, why you can not avoid fear foods forever
  “If I don´t feel safe eating pizza, I am just not going to make myself any pizza” Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy, right? Just avoid them forever and you don´t have to take up a fight with the screaming eating disorder voice. The bad news are: it´s not that simple and avoiding your fear foods has… Read more: 5 reasons, why you can not avoid fear foods forever
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  night sweats in eating disorder recovery explained
  Are you in eating disorder recovery and you´re experiencing heavy night sweats lately? This is a common symptom. Let´s talk about this embarrassing symptom!
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  Are you really afraid of gaining weight? Fat phobic believes in eating disorders.
  Do you feel like you are constantly walking on eggshells, afraid of gaining weight? Afraid to enjoy food because you fear you might gain weight from it? Afraid you will never stop gaining weight? Afraid that you will gain all the weight back? But… why are we afraid of gaining weight? Where does the fear… Read more: Are you really afraid of gaining weight? Fat phobic believes in eating disorders.
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  5 eating disorder recovery habits to start right now
  What recovering from an eating disorder looks like? Well… It’s not always the pretty picture that you hoped for. Like… I wish I could tell you right now, right here, that it was all sunshine and rainbows, puppies and ice-cream-whenever-you-feel-like-it, but that would be a terrible misrepresentation. Recovering from an eating disorder can get really… Read more: 5 eating disorder recovery habits to start right now
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  4 tips for challenging fear foods
  Fear foods are foods that you may feel afraid, anxious, or uncomfortable eating. The fear of a food may come from irrational thoughts about how it impacts your body or weight. People that are affected by eating disorders often feel guilty, ashamed or even disgusted by themselves for having these certain foods, so they try to avoid these foods on all costs.
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  Bulimia nervosa – it´s not a choice
  Bulimia nervosa – often also described as a binge-purge-disorder – is in many ways similar to anorexia. People often think that bulimia nervosa is about vomiting the food in order to stay thin and not gain any weight. But that´s not all about it. Suffering from bulimia nervosa is not a choice. Why someone actually… Read more: Bulimia nervosa – it´s not a choice
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  How to quit counting calories for good
  Don´t you miss the times when a banana was just a banana and not 120kcals? Whatever people are telling you – it is possible to see food as what it is again. Learn here how to quit counting calories for good.
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  Feeling Gassy and bloated all the time?
  Feeling gassy and bloated after a meal or even throughout the day is super uncomfortable and can literally ruin any trip. However being bloated whilst coming from an restrictive eating disorder is normal. Let´s talk bout it all.
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  fat shaming – why it is not the solution to obesity
  Fat shaming happens everywhere. But what exactly is fat shaming, what are the consequences and why doesn´t it motivate people in larger bodies to lose weight?
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  Body checking
  Body checking is referred to an obsessive thought and/or behaviours about appearance in eating disorders. Body checking is part of the picture of eating disorders – especially anorexia and bulimia, but if you are not engaging in any of the following behaviours, I want you to know, that your eating disorder is still real and… Read more: Body checking
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  BED – the eating disorder with the most sufferers
  Even though anorexia is the most popular eating disorder, it is aestimated that arounf 4% of the people between 20 and 30 are suffering from binge eating disorder (BED). Read here about the whole clinical picture.
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  Do you feel trapped in the binge purge cycle?
  Bingeing is not only a symptom of binge eating. Binge episodes can also occur in anorexia and especially in bulimia. Here I am going to explain why this happens and how understanding the binge purge cycle can help you to break out of it.
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  set point weight theory – why gaining weight made me feel the best
  Why is it, that even when we all ate and worked about the same, we would still not look the same – and especially feel the same? Why do some people gain more weight in recovery than others? And how much of our weight management is actually in our control?
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  “what I eat in a day” helpful or harmful?
  They are EVERYWHERE: what I eat in a day -, people filming themselves putting every single bite they take in their mouth and millions of people watching them daily! Read here about the helpful parts and the more dangerous ones.
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  positive mindset about weight gain
  Bodies are meant to change
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  Extreme hunger explained
  Extreme hunger can be found as very upsetting and disturbing in eating disorder recovery. But it actually is just a natural response to a period of famine. It means your body is healing – which is why I prefer to talk about a healing hunger. Learn, what it feels like, where it comes from and how to heal it.
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  All food is good food
  Labeling food as good or bad is usually justified on the basis of the nutritional quality of a certain food. It might seem quite reasonablee at first glance, but let’s have a second look on this approach: – all foods have nutritional value (yes, even sugar and fats! Sugar are basically carbohydrates – which is… Read more: All food is good food
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  How to get started with your food freedom journey
  Making peace with food, breaking up with diet culture and stop limiting yourself sounds great – until you realize, you have to get started with your journey somewhere… Here are five essential steps, you should start working on!