[fairy dust]

hi all, in a few weeks I will be going in patient for symptom interruption, namely binging and purging, 3 to 4 weeks. I will be able to earn passes on which I can have a short walk now and then. I am NOT, truthfully a compulsive exerciser, I do a little yoga and a 5 km run three times a week and that's it. However that said I'm terrified at the thought of having almost 0 true activity or fitness for that long. While eating a full meal plan. My exercise a few times a week is very stress relieving to me also! !!.

How have other people cope with not being able to exercise?

(I am NOT under weight. Thte policy and passes is the same for everyone except bed bound...)

Also I have to be honest and say I'm tempted to do a few sneaky things like planks in my bed and lunges if i can lol pretty tame though. Scary to gain extra weight with no outlet.

any suggestions on any of the above? Thank you very much

[ShaggyChic_1201]

First, congrats on making a big step towards getting healthier. I know it's not an easy one.

You probably won't like the advice I'm going to give, but that won't stop me. Here are my creds: I've been living with ED for 34 yrs (bulimia for the past 25). Sometimes I kick his butt; sometimes he kicks mine. Right now, I do most of the kicking

While you are in a safe place, DO NOTHING. Do no exercises until/unless you are allowed. Yes, you will feel anxious and worried. You're expected to feel that way. That's one of the disordered thinking parts of ED. It is also a part that, with competent help, you can learn to overcome.

I hear u - exercise is a stress reliever. But If purging is removed as a coping skill, it is more likely that one would compensate by over-exercising. At least, that's what I did. So while you can, take all the help you can get, drop the negative coping skills that lead you inpatient to begin with, and start to climb your way out of this hell hole.

[Crazy Hitch]

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with this fairy dust.

I can understand the anxiety if your freedom of exercise might be taken away from you. So I get the urge of you wanting to do planks etc.

I'm not sure what kind of mental health regime / plan they will put you on - but it is one that your treating medical practitioners believe will serve in your best interests in the long run.

Yeah if you're used to the 5 km runs; well yes I can understand your apprehension around that too.

Here's what I'd be hoping - best case scenario. That as you slowly begin your treatment; your mindset will begin to heal within itself - so whilst it might be challenging for you at first to give up the amount / frequency / duration etc; as time passes in hospital; so too might your anxiety around these issues.

Please let us know how you go