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By Megan Samuels, EDC Intern and Social Work Graduate Student  Eating disorder recovery may come with weight changes. It can be scary and overwhelming. It is important to understand that your body is just trying to get you to your set point range. I like to remind clients that your body is on your side, even when it might not feel like it. In the depths of restricting and bingeing, your body is still working to return to its set point because it wants you to live. Your body is constantly trying to keep you alive. Your set point weight range is where your body is working the most efficiently. Your body is always working to get you back to that range to keep you alive and functioning well (Baum, 2019). In an article about set point theory, the author writes that “just as we cannot determine our height, gender, race, hair color, eye color, etc., we cannot determine or force our bodies to be a weight that it does not want to be at” (Baum, 2019). When struggling with disordered eating, I can imagine that it is very distressing to hear that our weight is pretty much out of our control. What’s coming up for you right now as you read this? Maybe you are feeling relief because you can finally stop trying to control your weight. Maybe you are angry because you do believe that you can change your weight. Whatever you are feeling, be there with the feeling and honor it. Bring this blog post and your thoughts and feelings to your therapist or recovery coach to further process what is going on for you. Weight gain may come with negative body image thoughts and a recurrence of eating disorder thoughts. How can you challenge those thoughts? Can you allow the thought to just drift away like a cloud in the sky? A difficult part of weight gain during eating disorder recovery can also be the physical and emotional changes that may occur. You may experience headaches, dizziness, bloating, and/or fatigue as a result of your body trying to figure everything out. It is always advised to gain weight in eating disorder recovery under the supervision of a treatment team who is knowledgeable in the treatment of eating disorders. This will often include a doctor, a therapist, and a registered dietitian. If you are experiencing any symptoms that are concerning, it is important to check-in with your doctor and your treatment team. You do not need to go through this process alone. Note: I want to note that I am writing this acknowledging my privilege of living in a smaller body. Weight gain may be more difficult for people in larger bodies because of shame and stigma surrounding certain body types. Healing Statements for Weight Gain:
References: Baum, Emily (2019, Oct. 9). Body Set Point Theory Explained. Eating Disorder Solutions. https://eatingdisordersolutions.com/body-set-point-theory-explained/ If you are looking for therapy or recovery coaching worldwide, we can help! We are eating disorder and body image experts. ***Disclaimer: Please note that this blog post is for informational and educational purposes only and is not psychological, therapeutic, or medical advice. Book a free 15 min consultation for therapy or coaching! The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, Pennsylvania, and California, serving those in cities including Palo Alto, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, San Jose, and Beverly Hills. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
By Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C  The scene: many years ago, I sit in my therapist's office in Washington D.C. "My boyfriend invited me to go visit his parents at their house in Rhode Island for the weekend and i'm so stressed out" I said as tears streamed down my face and dripped off of my chin. My therapist looked puzzled. "Are you nervous about meeting his parents?" he asked. "Not really. I'm worried about gaining weight. I won't have control over the food. There's no gym there," I sobbed. "Are you sure there isn't something else that you're worried about?" he asked. My therapist of the past few years was confused. What had started out as me telling him that I was 'trying to lose weight in a healthy way' (whatever the heck that means!) had developed into a full-fledged eating disorder. He didn't treat eating disorders and didn't seem to understand why I was so distraught about a weekend away. That weekend is one of those memories that's embedded and vivid for me. I spent it thinking constantly about food and my weight. My anxiety was at an all time high. I felt completely out of control and terrified. I spent the weekend trying to micromanage my food-often ordering very restrictive things at the restaurants that my boyfriend, his family and I go to. I woke up early to frantically jog outside because I was terrified of taking the weekend off from exercise. I felt uncomfortable being in a bathing suit because all my mind could see is 'flaws.' I was often cold and I was pretty irritable. Needless to say, I didn't have a very good time. The scene: present day, it's a Thursday and I am packing a big gold suitcase for a weekend away. I'm headed to my friend's bachelorette party for the weekend at the beach. I am looking forward to getting to celebrate her and her upcoming marriage-and for a fun weekend. The difference between then (trapped in an eating disorder) and now (free from one) is that I have a ton of freed up brain space. I am not worried about exercising (not planning to do any), food, or my weight. In fact, I am looking forward to getting my favorite peanut butter softserv and Grottos Pizza. I can't wait for the sun, sand, yummy food, and memories made with a good friend and her other friends. I am free. I am at peace with myself. And it feels so incredibly good. Book a free 15 min consultation for therapy or coaching! The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, Pennsylvania, and California, serving those in cities including Palo Alto, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, San Jose, and Beverly Hills. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
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October 2024
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