Quote:
Originally Posted by bubsmiley
I'm taking this from the bulimiahelp.org website. I know you're not bulimic, but structured eating may just help you anyway.
Structured eating is defined as:
Eating 3 meals and at least 2 snacks each day allows us to move from chaotic eating to mechanical eating. This means: eating at set times, whether you're hungry or not. Most people with bulimia do not believe they can eat 3 normal meals and be a normal weight, but you can. By doing so you can help to combat many of the physical and mental symptoms associated with bulimia, including binging and purging!
Structured eating guidelines to success - Eat 3 meals and at least 2 snacks daily
- Eat at least every 3-4 hours
- In the beginning practice "mechanical eating." This means to eat your meals at predetermined times, whether you are hungry or not.
- Normalizing eating behavior can reduce obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression
- Expect to feel anxious or stressed doing this. Doing anything new is a challenge and challenges can be stressful
- In the beginning, don't eat too much at once if your body isn't used to that. Small meals are easier to eat and will make you feel less full
- Plan out tomorrow's meals tonight. This can decrease anxiety
- Monitor your eating carefully
- Stick only to foods you feel safe with for the first month
- Stick to alloted times - despite cravings/ hunger - if you are hungry please eat!
- At first, focus on eating at the right times, rather than what you eat
- Make resuming normal eating habits your first priority
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Thanks for this, I will definitely try these tips.
My biggest problem is when I am at work. I usually start working at 8am so I get up at 6am and eat around 6:30 or so and leave the house just after 7 to get my daughter to daycare and catch the bus to work. I get a lunch break at 11am, (And am STARVING by then) then work until 2 or 4pm, depending on the day. If I am only working until 2, no problem but if I work until 4, I am STARVING by then and about ready to eat my arm off. I tried protein powder to mix with almond milk to drink which worked GREAT...but I was having a bad reaction to it because I found out I am lactose intolerant and there is dairy in the powder. Dairy free protein powder is too expensive. I have tried buying orange juice from work to drink but that isn't all that filling.