Hey, new to these forums...

[PaperPansy]

Hey...I'm new but I've wanted to register here for a while so I thought I'd just go ahead since I'm struggling at the moment. I've had anorexia for five years but recently (about 6 weeks ago) started recovery properly and I've developed compulsive over eating problems because of it. Apparently it's called 'extreme hunger' and is a natural reaction to years of starvation but I don't care, it's disgusting!?

I've gained a bit of weight but not as much as I expected to - I think my metabolism is pretty amazing nowadays but I just can't stand eating so much and...idk I just don't really know if I want recovery if this is what it entails? The novelty of being 'allowed' to eat has worn off. Ugh. So yeah, I'm just here for support and to not feel so alone! Hope you're all well

[Thelma]

Hey, and welcome to Whyeat!

So good to read that you have started recovery properly. The phase you are going through now where you eat more than you think would be necessary is not going to last forever, your body (and mind!) will need time to learn that food is not scarce and hard to come by anymore. The best thing to do is eat regular meals and snacks so you will get into a new routine, and if you know you can eat again in an hour or so you will be less likely to compulsively overeat. But be patient with yourself and don't expect this refeeding stage to be over in a couple of weeks, it will probably last a few months before you will not feel like you want to keep eating forever and ever.

x thelma

[lifenbones]

Hey Paperpansy,
Welcome to WE! Hope the community give you that feeling of support and belonging!
BTW you look really pretty

[bulimiargh]

Welcome to WE, and I can so relate to your binging after anorexia—I've never been a proper restricter though. I hope you find the support you need here!

[Solita]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on starting recovery! I know that feeling of "extreme hunger" as I experienced it to a ridiculous degree the last time I was in recovery…I felt like I was going insane! But it did level out and I did not gain crazy amounts of weight or anything. So I encourage you to be patient and keep trying to move forward and just trust this as part of the process. Are you working with a dietician or therapist? I wish you the best of luck, and hope you find lots of support here <3

[krupskaya]

Hiya PaperPansy

CONGRATS ON STARTING RECOVERY like seriously that is such a big step and it's amazing that you made such a monumental decision - with any luck it'll be the best decision you'll ever make!

I'm not a medical expert or anything but I've heard this is so so common in people recovering from anorexia, and you shouldn't worry; it's just your body freaking out because it's getting the nutrition it has so long been deprived of... if you carry on eating, your hunger cues will stabilise, you'll find your set weight and I promise you you won't carry on eating like this forever, nor will you gain ridiculous amounts of weight: your body is doing what it knows best, it just needs reassuring that there's not going to be another 'famine' soon. When I first attempted recovery the same thing happened to me, and allowing it to trigger me back into a relapse is such a big regret of mine, so I wish you the best of luck. Recovering on your own is hard, so hopefully you've got a therapist or something similar?? Anyway, it's hard, but it's 100000% worth it!