Dealing with weight gain..?

@WhisperingFae - I'm so sorry that you didn't receive the support you were looking for here. If you would like to talk to someone, you can feel free to reach out to me or any other listener. And if you would still like your thread deleted, let me know, and I can do that.

In terms of dealing with weight gain, here are a few things that helped me. Hopefully at least one will help you in some way.

- Focus on clothing that isn't so rigid in sizing. Not sure what your preferred style is, but I've found that dresses, leggings, sweatpants, yoga clothes, and the like are all easier to slowly transition sizes in, rather than being super aware of how clothes are fitting you. Cutting out labels might help, too.

- Try to match weight gain to things that you are able to do as a result in your head. For example, at one weight, you may have a new ability to go for a bike ride without worrying about fainting. At another, you may be strong enough to carry around a child. At another, you may build muscles that will allow you to try a new activity like rock climbing. And at another, your hair will shine and grow in thicker and your skin will look fabulous.

- Similarly, keep a list of all the things that you want out of recovery. This can be physical things (functioning organs, shiny hair, etc.), activities (running, camping, traveling, going out to eat with friends), social things (rebuilding or building new relationships that are hard with your ED), or anything else that comes to mind. When you need some extra motivation, take a look at that list

- Remind yourself that sizing is completely out of whack with reality. I wear drastically different sizes of clothing based on the store I shop in because they aren't consistent. So what feels like an enormous size at one store might be a much smaller size at another. That's an indication of the poor sizing they do, not of your body.

Take care, please reach out if I can help support you, and let me know if you still want this thread removed.

Dear @WhisperingFae! I totally understand your struggle. I have suffered eating disorders for 12 years and I can now openly say I am recovered for more or less 18 months now. I know it may not seem a long time comparing to the time I have suffered, but I do feel comfortable in my body.

I am not you, so I cannot tell you what you have to do to make yourself accept your body or even feel better, however I can share my experiences of what I have done to get where I am now.

First off all... I stopped focusing on numbers. Numbers mean nothing to me and trust me my wardrobe has probably all the sizes from 8-14(UK) in it. If I go shopping I usually liik at the item and try it on... I rarely look at the size. Also some shops' sizes are smaller than other shops' sizes... Therefore in one shop 8(UK) equals 10(UK) in the other shop. I also stopped wearing anything that is other than leggings or pants and t-shirts or hoodies. First of all it is handy, secondly comfortable, thirdly does not cause any distress!

The way I accepted myself was I stopped focussing so much on my body. When in full blown wating disorders I spent hours looking in the mirror, I watched myself in the windows of the shops while passing them, I took every opportunity to check if I do not look bigger than I did the last time I checked. It all led to an obsession, which then turned to a compusive checking. It wasn't helpful. I just do not focus on my body that much anymore.

I am trying not too say too much not to become too triggering. If you want me to share more of my experiences, please let me know.