[SingDanceRunLife]

Well, I got out of a lot of the lecture on nutrition based on my knowledge from my days as a nursing student. She seems like a nice enough lady, but I can tell it's gonna be awhile to reach full comfort level with her.

We went through my history, through what a typical day looks like for me, foods I like, don't like, will eat, won't eat, can't eat etc.

She's having me fill out a food journal this week so she can get a better idea of how/what I eat, and we'll go from there. I'm seeing her again next Wednesday so...yeah.

The one really nice thing is that on my insurance, seeing her is free. No co-pay or anything.

[gayleggg]

Wow! Free! Now that is something you don't find much these days. Sounds like the first visit went well. Keep up the journal and good luck on getting to a healthyier eating routine. Gayle

[SingDanceRunLife]

Yeah, it was alright. My T thought it was free with my insurance, and she was right. I'll give the journal a try, though I can't say I'm enthusiastic about it. I'm not enthusiastic about any of this...but I'm gonna do what I gotta do.

[buttrfli42481]

The food journal is hard, but you can do it. I see my nutritionist/dietician on Wednesdays too. This is my second one, my first one moved to another city and didn't think I wanted to drive that far, she was right. I really like my new one, Paula. She has helped me come a long way in my path to recovery. She has me doing a hunger/saitity chart, which is just about as hard as a food journal, imo. I wish you the best!

[SingDanceRunLife]

It's hard mainly because I rarely eat. Like today, I literally ate once. And I did it because it was "dinner time" not because I was hungry or because I particularly wanted the food...just because I knew it's what I was supposed to do. So the main challenge will be to rise up to T's challenge and start eating meals. We'll see how that goes.

[eskielover]

I know for me, living alone, it's hard to force myself into a schedule...& I think from dealing with the anorexia for so long & even before it hit, when I would play racquettball with the guys at work rather than eat lunch.....my body doesn't tell me when I'm hungry. It will tell me I'm full after 2 bites most of the time...but it never tells me I'm hungry. Problem I'm not the kind of person who does well on a schedule either....have always been a free spirit when it comes to that.....go to sleep when I'm tired, eat when I'm hungry, & I was lucky when I worked it was flexible hours.....I went...did my job for as many hours as I needed to be there ...usually 10+ & many days longer. Free spirit's don't like schedules which is why my life is as messed up as it is I'm sure. I have problems sleeping & eating....can find other things that are more important for me to do.

We did diary cards in DBT....almost the same as journaling only it points out the things which cause problems or the things I didn't do like eat.....I can't imaging journaling my hunger & full feelings....wouldn't be anything to write down.

It's good to have it down in writing through because the truth really hit's home then....also a good way for you to see & be held accountable for what you do in life....think that's why I have such a difficult problem with it....it takes a level of freedom away...which is good to be accountable for ones actions....just tough though

[Bodiesneverfound]

My therapist has been talking with me about maybe getting a nutritionist or at least keeping a food diary. I'm considering it but I'm scared it might be triggering, but maybe helpful in the long run. You're very brave for doing it!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Living alone will be challenging for me. I basically lived alone this past school year (I shared an apartment with a girl that was pretty much only home at night to sleep most days, and far after I had gone to bed so we rarely saw each other). I sort of had a schedule since I had my classes and all, but even with that I didn't necessarily eat. This year I'll be working full time, so I'll have a dedicated lunch break which I know will be good for me since it will be my only time in an 8 or 9 hour stretch that I'll be able to eat more than a few bites or sips of something...so I think I'll sort of be forced into eating before work, during my break and after work.

I've been doing well with the food journal...but I hope I don't have to keep doing it...it's such a chore. But it has been helpful because it's a way of keeping myself accountable. And I've made significant progress. When I started it on Wednesday, I had 2 entries, neither one large. Today, I had 5 entries. None particularly large either, but there are 5! So I'm on my way to meeting T's (and my) goal which is 3 meals and 2 snacks. What I had today was more like 1 [small] meal and 4 snacks, but hey...gotta start somewhere, and I'm moving up.

[buttrfli42481]

I think the point of your nutritionist wanting you to do the food diary/journal is to see what your eating habits are. Mine did that for the first few weeks then I was allowed to stop. She just wanted to see where I was and where I needed to be.

SDRL you are right, you gotta start somewhere and you are definitely moving up! I am proud of your accomplishments so far. Stay positive!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Didn't meet my goal today, but something unexpected came up and then took longer than I thought (my paperwork etc. for starting my job -- they forgot to call me on Friday and then of course, I didn't show up today when they thought I was going to so I had to figure out when I could go in and then it took ages and whatever, so I left the house at 4 and didn't get back til 8:30, and my goal was to eat every 4 hours, so I missed 6:00)...oh well. Such is life. I'll just be sure to add a snack before bed which is only an hour and a half away at this point, but every 4 hours was mainly to keep myself in check of how many times I was eating and trying to keep it regular. I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow since I work from 8:30-4...Kind of weird for meal times...I mean, I can eat breakfast and lunch at normal times, but dinner won't be until 6:30/7...hmmm.

[buttrfli42481]

Try having a snack when you get home from work. Granola bars, fruit, yogurt are just some examples.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I didn't see this before going to work...but it was fine. I actually remembered last night that I had my pdoc appt this afternoon right after work and I didn't even think about bringing a snack, but I was super full from lunch anyway, and then I went home and had dinner, so it worked out especially since I made my goal "Eat 3 meals (B, L, D)" just so I had something I knew I could fulfill. Now of course, these meals weren't big by any means, but they weren't super small either. And if I snack later, well...we'll see...

I have now finished my food diary, and I'm going to make a copy of it so my T can see it too since I'm seeing her and the N both tomorrow, and if I show it to T she'll want it, so I might as well just copy it since I'm seeing her first.

[eskielover]

Glad this is working so well for you....it's good to have the people to be accountable to....it helps a lot.....& wanting to work with them is wonderful on your part.

Good job at being so dedicated also