[Victoria'smom]

I have a rule that if I write or do anything for T I have to give it to her.

So because I now have to take thyroid medication I decided that I needed to explain That if I drop weight it's not due to ED. I took a plate, traced it and put representations of everything I eat for one day.

.... I think you know where I'm going with this....

I stepped back looked at it and swore it wasn't right. I asked a family member and they said yes it's right. I couldn't give that to her!!!
I gave it to her nerves as **** . I had to explain that the plate was a day, more then once and she was noticeably horrified, like it took her awhile to process.

Eventually she sat back and said "Oh MM," (sighed) after a long silents (it could have been 2 seconds for all I know) I changed the subject.

Has anyone done a plate representation of your ED? Have you had anything completely backfire on you? Would you do something like that and let your T see?

[ShaggyChic_1201]

I'm sorry it backfired...

Can you explain more of what you did? What is a plate representation?

[Victoria'smom]

Out of card board I traced the plate I use. Then I took paper and folded up, crinkled up, cut it into the sizes I normally eat in a day. I labeled it like meat, snack , sided so T could visually see the average given amount I eat a day.

It was suppose to show her that my eating pattern would/will not change on thyroid medication. All it did was prove to her it's much worse then she thought.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

Wow. That's a neat idea. Mine probably wouldn't show very good about me either.

Is nutritionist going to work with you to get to a healthier food intake?

[Victoria'smom]

I've had several nutritionists work with me but all the relationships went south quickly. Telling me to eat healthier and increase intake while charting it usually leads to a hard relapse. Where my T has to terminate the nutritionists relationship for me. Given that my intake was plummeting. To be fair the nutritionists are not eating disorder speciallists but I can tell them what's wrong with my diet and explain why I have chosen each food and why. I guess Ts waiting until I'm less defensive to try it again. All nutritionists in this area come as part of a general wellness program and the fitness part is not healthy for me to participate in.

I'm moving in a year and we're scrambling to get a team together there that does include a nutritionist. Are you seeing a nutritionist and if so how do you not get triggered by it?

[ShaggyChic_1201]

I do see a nutritionist, but she specializes in EDs, and it definitely makes a huge difference. I've seen the type you mentioned, who think you should "just" eat this, or "just" avoid that. They recommend things like diet bread and fat free cheese (ick). I kept with their program for maybe one week and then relapsed. Not even just once or twice. I've gone that route probably a dozen times b/c I didn't know any better.

But my ED nutritionist meets me where I am. She understands about food fears and safe foods. She adds foods very gradually and knows that I'll probably cry and whine while she's doing it. She monitors my weight so I don't gain or lose too much, which would in turn trigger me to either b/p or restrict. She gives me helpful tips that are probably common sense to "normal" people, but are things I didn't know. (like, just because Sally or Susie can skip a meal doesn't mean you can. You have an ED; they don't. Or just because it isn't on the menu doesn't mean you can't order it. It's a restaurant. It has food. Tell them what you want to eat. Or if you're losing weight and you feel hungry, you need to eat more. [I told you, I can be dumb at times])

There is a difference in cost. Some of the wellness nutritionsists are free or part of a membership fee. I pay $50/half hour visit. In the beginning of my recovery I was going twice a month, but I could email any time I wanted. Now (a year later) I go every 2-3 months unless a request an appointment sooner.

I hope that helps.

[Victoria'smom]

That does help so much thank-you.