People are far too concerned with what others are eating, instead of focusing on what they are eating

People are far too concerned with what others are eating now a days, when instead maybe they should focus a little more on what they are eating themselves. The only reason a person should care about how much someone is eating is if its due to health reasons i.e someone is eating far too little and it is not just a one time thing, or someone is eating far too much junk food and putting their health at risk. Otherwise it is up to dieticians and nutritionsists (and maybe doctors) to care about other peoples diets and if necessary give advice.

Whenever someone says they are vegetarian or vegan, suddenly everyone cares about that persons protein intake. Or once someone says they dont eat gluten people think they are being silly or trying to eat low carb, or once someome says they are eating HCLF then they get lots of critique.

Following diets isnt something i promote, but its also important to know that different ways of eating work for different people. So for some people they work best with more carbs and less fat and some work best with lower carb and more fat, that doesnt mean they specifically follow a HCLF or LCHF diet, but just that that type of eating suits their body best. But it feels like in general people are far too obsessed with what others are eating. I know i have made a comment or two such as "do you really feel full after that meal" or something like that, but now i know that who cares... its their body and what they eat. One picture doesnt show it all. And one picture of a persons meal doesnt mean that that is the only thing they ate... how do you even know that that is what they ate? They could eat something compltely different, they could eat more or less than what is shown in the picture, that is why you cant just believe everything you see. This is why i also say to those who follow me on IG that it is not a food diary, not everything i eat is posted... its just a few meals which i want to share, but i do eat more than is posted at times and definitely more throughout the day than those few meals, but also at times i eat less than what i post because the picture is what i thought i was going to eat, but then i realise that i couldnt finish it. And i feel no obligation to write that because 1) you shouldnt compare meals to others and 2) its not a food diary and 3) i have no obligation to do that. I eat according to my body.

But its not just online, its in "real life as well" where people can make comments like "Ohhh are you on a diet now, eating so little" or "wow that is alot of food, are you sure you are going to eat all of that" or "do you really need to eat gluten free, that is just silly" (similar things have been said to my sister who infact does need to avoid gluten and lactose and not just eating like that because its a "diet phase". If anything, she wishes she could eat normal gluten foods and lactose foods and not have to order "special" things all the time). And for me, i always get comments about how much i eat.... but its so silly. Because those people only see one meal and dont know the whole picture. Who knows if i have just been on a 48 hour fast or if i have run a marathon or maybe i need to gain weight, or have a fast metabolism or am just super duper hungry and doesnt matter how much  i eat before or after. Sometimes you eat little because you arent hungry and other times you eat more because you are super hungry or because of other reasons, and its no persons right to comment about that. What should it matter to other people what food a person chooses to eat or how much they choose to eat - unless like mentioned above it is due to health reasons.


I find that some people who comment about other peoples intakes need to worry more about their own intake than others. Maybe focus more on what is best for them and their bodies rather than worrying if someone else is eating too much or too little. Everyone is different and needs different amounts and i wish more people were aware of this. Also that it is ok to eat and not something you need to hide or feel guilty over, because i feel that far too many people are actually scared to admit when they are hungry or the fact that they like food. I mean food is delicious, why deny it? Its like denying that you need air or oxygen to survive!! I mean, most people like food... not everyone, but you can learn to like it anyway and there is nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with eating enough for your body either whether that is 2000kcal or 4000kcal a day, or like some athletes who eat around 6000-8000kcal a day! Its food and energy!

How to focus less on food/get rid of food obsessive thoughts

Even though an eating disorder isnt just about food, the problem isnt food but the persons thought, there is still an obsession and focus on food. The body is deprived of food and energy so almos all you can think about is food because that is what your body wants.And during recovery you need to break those thoughts, you need to focus on other things. Obsessing and spending too much time thinking about food isnt a good thing unless its something you work with and its part of a job or so. (Which is something i feel i need to clarify, that the food pictures i take are part of my so called 'job'. The food pictures i take is part of what i do on social media and i do get compensation for it, so just putting it out there so that people are aware of this. Just like fashion bloggers can be called vain or self centered, but when they get paid or compensation for taking clothes pictures then that is part of their job :) But like mentioned in my previous post, i am going to cut down on the food writings and pictures to make it easier for others to focus less on food as well).

So how do you break the food obsessed thoughts? You begin with not giving food the power to control you.

If you spend your whole time thinking about food, then that is going to be what controls you. But instead when you realise that food is energy, just like you have to give your car energy to drive. You need to give your body energy so that it can take you from A to B. Because that is what your body is meant for, so that you can do things, but without food (energy) you cant do things. Your body cant run on empty, not forever anyway eventually your body will give up.

  So when you realise this that food is energy and calories is energy then it can make it easier to not feel so obsessed with food. Food should be part of your life, and your body is very smart. It tells you what your body needs if you truly listen. You are craving chocolate? There is a reason for that... whether its because you are tired, you havent eaten enough during the day, you havent eaten enough carbs, you need more B vitamin or you need magneisum or its that time of month for girls.... they are all reasons why you can be craving chocolate, Just like with all cravings there is a reason for it and when you listen to your body then food gives you the energy and nourishment you need so that you cna live your life, so that you have energy, feel happy and positive. Food is also a way of giving your body all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs to keep you healthy and happy, so that your organs can work well!

   

See food as the way to give you energy and nourishment. Also there is NO CHEAT meals. There is NO GUILT food. Food should not be something that evokes guilt or anxiety. No food is bad in moderation, everything in balance and moderation. So try to move away from the mind set that there is good or bad food or that some food is clean whilst another food is unclean. Thats not how food should be seen.... instead listen to your body, try to eat everything in balance i mean just eating spaghetti with cheese and tomatoe sauce isnt so good and neither is just eating salad with cucumber and chicken breast. Variation is what will keep your body healthy.

Once you realise this and try to not give food any power over you, there is alot of mental thoughts and processes behind those two steps. You need to take back YOUR control and your thoughts, not let them wander to food. Trying to move away from looking at food pictures, papers with calories and nutritional values, calorie apps, pinterests filled with food pictures or taking pictures of every meal you eat - unless its for a certain purpose such as showing your dietician what you are eating or because it helps you stay accountable for eating. 

While doing these things you need to begin trying to do more things with your life and your day. Find new hobbies. Start a new group, do something you've wanted to do before, try a new sport, try something new and different. Until you try you wont know if you like it or not. 

  Try to spend time with healthy friends, however if its friends who just spend their whole time talking about food, diets, calories etc then try to distance yourself from them for a while or just tell them straight up that maybe they can talk about something else than food!! XD

   When you begin to immerse yourself in other things, find new interests and hobbies then the focus on food becomes less because it just becomes a part of your life.

  But also spending time with friends and family who are healthy that helps take focus away from food as well because you realise that food is just a part of their life, its not something they think or analyze over. They eat when they are hungry, stop when they are full (Mostly) and there is not so much to it than that, and they still maintain their weight.

As you become healthier, do more things with your life, spend time with people, out in nature, enjoy your hobbies and interests, have goals and dreams then food becomes less of a focus. But YOU need to make conscious choices to not let food control you. To take the power away from food and your ED. Instead put those thoughts on better things in life.

  Because sure, like mentioned somedays/weeks there is more planning and thought going towards food, it is something that makes people happy and something to be enjoyed, but its when its an obsession and all thoughts (almost) go towards food then its not good. So put more energy towards your goals and dreams and your hobbies and let food give you energy so that you can live life! And dont feel guilty for eating any type of food, or eating more some day. Food should NOT have the power to control you.

(This post is supposed to be helpful, though i know it might be percieved as triggering, maybe? Or im not so sure, but i am hoping it is helpful anyway! )

Your body needs more than just protein

Today i read one of the stupidiest things i have read in a while:

Fitnessguru, a company which i have never liked. I have never even tried their products, so i am not going to write so much about those, but the company i dont like. I have been contacted by one of their sellers to be an ambassador for their company, but i said no a long time ago because i havent liked their business tactics. Writing things such as "we dont believe in lactose, sugar, carbs or fat ...." is just complete BS. No wonder people are scared of certain food groups or think that carbs or fat are bad. No wonder people are obsessed with protein and think that is the only thing they can eat. Your body needs all food groups, you cant survive on just protein and vegetables and think that is enough. Infact, getting too much protein can be very dangerous for your body and cause kidney stones and other problems. (You can read more HERE) Protein is good and it is necessary for all people to eat protein and to get enough protein in their diet, but too much protein just isnt necessary. It's not like the more protein you eat the more muscle you build... a normal person needs around 0,5-1g per pound of body weight and if you strength train aim for 1,5-2g per pound of body weight. Anymore than that just isnt necessary and is likely to cause more harm than good.

But people still seem to think that protein is the only macronutrient that is "safe" to eat, or they are obsessed with HCLF or LCHF, which restricts a certain food group. But you know what, you dont need to restrict a food group. Carbs arent the enemy, fat isnt the enemy and sugar in moderation isnt the enemy. Of course too much of anything isnt good and too little of anything can cause problems as well, but finding a balance. Finding the balance that is BEST for your body. Because some people feel best when they eat less carbs, others feel best when they eat less fat, and thats ok. But completely restricting food groups isnt necessary and is just silly. Your body is made to function and NEEDS all the food groups.

I think that statements such as the above are stupid and can cause quite alot of damage for some, especially when it comes to younger people who feel very insecure and read something like the above. Suddenly food groups are no longer safe to eat, certain foods shouldnt be eaten or avoided completely etc etc I know that when i was sick if i ever had something bad about a food or a certain food was "unhealthy" or "made you gain weight" i completely refused and did everything i could to not eat that food. I mean i said i was allergic to egg because i was so scared of the egg yolk... now i eat between 1-4 whole eggs per day.
  Of course it is up to the individual to think rationally and to not just listen to everything they hear or see, but to make their own decisions. But that is not always easy, especially not when huge companies such as the above who sponsor many people and keep trying to get their, what i consider unhealthy and stupid, message across.

I personally believe that companies should take some type of responsibility for the messages they send out, but of course... you cant blame a company just because someone decides to stop eating carbs, fat, sugar and lactose. It is still the individuals choice. But i still believe that people or companies who do have alot of followers have some type of responsibility to their followers, just like i have a form of responsibilities to my followers and my readers. That is why i would never stand for a company which i didnt agree with. I dont promote things i dont like or think could be harmful, i do try different things such as i have tried fatburners and detox teas... just to see how they work and you know what, they are bullshit and i would not promote something like that on my social media. Companies do their best to try to send out free things to people who have a high following and many say yes, just so that they get free products but dont really know what it is they are promoting. I think that before you say yes to being an ambassador for a company, you should know what they stand for and what message they are trying to sell, and decide whether you agree with that or not. Its not just free products, but also having a responsibility to be honest to your followers, and not just saying you like something so that you can get free things, that is silly according to me.

This post took a bit of a turn, but i felt that i had to rant about this and to remind you all to not listen to everything you read or see. I mean you dont even have to agree with everything i write, or do everything i say. You always need to think rationally and think what is best for you, not just follow the crowd or do what everyone else is doing. Remember what is best for YOU.


(And on a sidenote, i know that i eat alot of protien. Before anyone comments about this, and i drink alot of BCAA, but i also eat alot of carbs and healthy fats. My diet isnt just protein, and according to my 4 day food diary i have a 40/50% carb intake, so dont think i just eat protein.. I used to eat alot more before but that started causing problems as i ate too much protein, but with a more balanced intake the body functions alot better!!)

Focus on nutrients, not calories

Food is energy and nutrients. The point of food is to give is energy, I mean why else do we eat?

Well now a days food is more than energy and fuel.  Food is enjoyment, it's a social thing and for some it's something they abuse. Eating isn't as simple as eating for energy anymore, but eating because it's delicious. For some they add too focused on calories and numbers. They would rather choose the 99 kcal special K bar than a 120kcal banana.  But the truth is, you should focus more on nutrients than calories. Foods which are higher in calories such as avocado, salmon and 99% peanut butter are very good for you, but then there is low kcal bars, low kcal cereal and low kcal soup.... sure they are low in calorie but they aren't bringing much nutrients or things your body need. They are basically chemical shit storms. Which is what calorie free sauces are as well.... I have used them before and I still use them at times now.  Why? Because I want to try them and I find some are delicious. I don't have a problem using normal chocolate syrup or pancake sauce or normal ketchup, but I don't have a problem using the calorie free ones either.  Would I spend a shit ton of money on calorie free sauces? No I wouldn't,  because like mentioned they aren't exactly giving me any energy. .. They are like diet soda,  chemical shit storms. Little calories and nothing else. Lots of chemicals. But in small amounts I don't think there is a problem with that. ... though this is my opinion, I know others would disagree. And that is ok!!

I do think that some calorie free foods are ok now and again however if they are used very often i think the chemicals can maybe be too much but might also mess with your body. Because food is supposed to give energy, when you eat your body expects energy and nutrients. But then when you eat calorie free foods for example shirataki noodles (which i actually love!) or drink diet sodas, your body doesnt get the energy it expects and messes with your body. You dont get that satisfied feeling either, and the added sweetners in many of the calorie free foods can make you crave more food and often sweet food, which might be the cause of peoples sugar addiction - because they are trying to cut down on calories and eat low kcal food, they actually end up eating more because their body's system is out of whack. I also believe that all the chemicals and additives in those types of foods can cause addiction and make you crave them, such as sodas/diet sodas. It is easy to become addicted to them and then keep drinking them and keep having sweet cravings and making it hard to break a sugar addiction. But like mentioned before.... i think that eating those types of foods now and again is no problem. Do you need to eat them? Of course not, but if someone chooses to, then that is their choice.

I think first and foremost you should focus on getting all the energy and nutrients you need from actual food and healthy food. Then on the side if you want to add in calorie free sauces or protein bars or drink some diet soda, do that... but once again, too much of anything isn't good. Many low kcal things often contain alot of sweetner which isn't good either. But finding a balance, because consuming too much sugar isn't good either. Focus on whole food first and then things with sugar and sweetner as extras.

As I am a healthy weight and also have a healthy mindset I use whatever I feel like using.  If I want to buy calorie free sauces I don't feel the need to defend myself because of my past, just like I don't expect applause just because I use chocolate syrup or ketchup. A balance.

I don't actually know where the chemicals go in the body,  but too much I can't expect is good for the body.  I tried researching to find what happens in the body when such food is consumed but i dont know how reliable the articles were, they seemed a little silly.... but if you know or have any advice, or want to share your opinon about this, Comment below. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this is mine :)

I don't eat alot, I eat what my body needs (Dealing with food comments)

Recently I've found that I've been getting alot of food comments, not just online but in personal life as well such as "you eat so much", "now you're eating again" "ohh it's time for another snack" and other sort of rude comments from people. And I am guessing they are intended as funny because I do joke about the amount I eat and usually don't care about those comments. But recently I've just gotten tired and irritated over them.... why comment on another person's intake unless it is necessary such as the person seems to be binging, secret eating, restricting or have some type of weird food behaviours /obsessions. But otherwise the food comments are just unnecessary.

Yes I'm eating again, yes I'm hungry.  That's how the human body works. We need to eat everyday and several times  day. You may not always feel hungry,  but I do. I am hungry every 2-3 hours and I do need alot of energy.

The thing which most people comment about is the size of my portions and say I eat alot.... but you know what, it's not a lot. I am not gaining weight with the way I eat and I have energy so obviously I'm not eating too much. But eating the amount I need which is different for everyone.

If you compare my intake to some yo-yo dieter or someone scared to eat more than 1200 kcal, then it may seem like alot but if you compare me to some elite athlete who train 4-6+hours a day I don't eat that much.
   
I feel sorry for those who are scared to eat alot or think that eating more than 1500 is going to make them fat. Of course everyone is different  and needs different amounts and I eat the way I do due to many different factors. It's important to remember that everyone is different and just because you think I eat alot doesn't mean I do eat alot.

All these food comments they are so unnecessary, people caught up in other people's lives and diets when it's not their job to be.

I've written about this in another post:

HERE

With this post I just felt I needed to get some of thoughts and irritations out. Not let the comments irritate me anymore, but also maybe tell the people who make those comments that they are unnecessary and they're wrong... i mean that is what i advise others to do. Usually the comments have never bothered me but now they have been too often and its annoying.

Extra food = extra energy. Extra exercise = more food.

The body is an amazing thing and so is the metabolism. The body, nutrition and exercise are things which fascinate me alot and i love learning more about them and how they work. Which is why i am excited to learn more about them in my future studies, but for now i thought i would talk about food and energy.

Also, feel free to comment and correct me if anything is wrong or you want to add some type of correct term or definition or description if necessary!

As you should know, the sun and it's rays(?) = energy. Plants use the sun energy to create energy for themselves, then an animal eats the plants and gets its energy in that way and is then eaten by another animal etc etc The foodchain basically.
  So food is energy (and the energy is made up of macronutrients) and our body NEEDS energy. Think of a car without oil/energy it doesnt get very far... and it is the same with our bodies. Of course we can last around 3 weeks without any food, but the amount of energy you have is limited and your organs and other functions begin to shut down or slow down as there is not enough energy to keep them going. As well as your body beginning to break down fat and muscle for energy... and this is what happens when you eat very little for a long time. Muscle is broken down for energy, the metabolism slows down and eventually the heart muscle wont get the energy it needs to keep pumping blood or it will begin to be used for energy. Though by that stage other organs have already shut down and caused problems or death.

The metabolism:

Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex biochemical process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function.

Even when you're at rest, your body needs energy for all its "hidden" functions, such as breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels, and growing and repairing cells.

The number of calories your body uses to carry out these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate — what you might call metabolism. Several factors determine your individual basal metabolic rate, including:

• Your body size and composition. 
• Your sex. 
• Your age. 
• Activity level

Energy needs for your body's basic functions stay fairly consistent and aren't easily changed. Your basal metabolic rate accounts for about 70 percent of the calories you burn every day.

Source

The metabolism is what makes the food you eat turn into energy in your body and is also what regulates your weight. Your BMR is what your body burns just being alive and your TDEE is what your body needs to maintain including exercise and activity.

The amazing thing with your body is that 1) it is not a calculator so it can handle more energy and calories sometimes and 2) when you eat more, you should be able to notice it in your energy levels. I.e if you eat a whole bag of sweets you might notice you fidget more, are more restless and want to do something. That is your bodies way of releasing energy. Not in a mental compensation way, but in a..... you have energy, use it. This is your bodies way of balancing your weight and intake.

For example, when i ran my first 21km distance this year i had just eaten roughly 200g chocolate. I felt sooo restless and had so much energy and even if i am not the 'evening exerciser' i decided to go for a walk so that i would be able to sleep in the evening. But i just had so much energy so i began running and then 2 hours later i still wasnt that tired. And it was NOT compensation, it was excess energy. Whenever i eat 'more' whether it is from fruit, chocolate, nuts, casein, i always get this extra surge of energy. I notice it in my workouts but also just having more energy, wanting to do more things. And then the times i eat less i feel more tired, i feel heavy and demotivated. Workouts dont go as easy and if someone were to ask me to go for a walk i would decline right away. Its my bodies way of controlling my weight... letting me know when i need to eat more and when it has more energy than is needed.

Just like when i exercise more, which i usually do during summer. I mean you are out walking more, you do more and food is not as structured as when you are in school and have breakfast, lunch and snacks at a certain time. But i notice the difference... my body is telling me MORE food. Constant hunger because i am moving more and using more energy, which also means i need to CONSUME more energy. The body is very smart and gives you signals so that you can be the healthiest version of you. Because the body WANTS to be healthy. It will try to get you to your healthy set point and then keep you there, just like it will give you signals or pain when something is wrong in the body. Also an example, when you are sick and your body is fighting an infection or bacteria then you feel more tired and dont have alot of energy. That is your body telling you that right now you need to rest because doing lots of extra wont help you. So when you feel extra tired then listen to that signal and rest more because that is what your body needs. And if you are feeling extremely tired all the time, that can be a symptom of something and that is your bodies way of telling you that something is wrong. 

Know that your body is an amazing 'machine' and has all these processes in the body that are continuously working and the body wants to be healthy. It knows what it needs to be healthy. Such as with food cravings... you get them because there is something in the food that your body needs or if its emotional cravings, it is because you have a memory or something which is linked to the food which then makes you feel better. But real cravings are your bodies way of telling you that you need more of something, whether its just more energy or maybe a macronutrient, micronutrient or vitamin or mineral which your body needs more. 

With this post what i want to say is that your body knows how to function, unless you have some illness or condition which stops the body from working properly. (For example with my CF my body does not work properly and my body does not create the enzymes i need to digest food which is why i need to take digestive enzymes so that my body can actually absorb the energy and nutrients. As well as other parts of my body being affected by other things due to the illness) but still i am quite in tune with my body and what my body needs and wants. That is why i notice these differences such as when i exercise/move more i feel more hungry, or when i eat extra i get a surge of excess energy or when i eat too little and feel very tired. 

Begin to trust your body and know that it is smarter than you. Magazines and social media CAN'T tell you what your body needs or wants to function properly and to be healthy!! Only your body can tell you that (and a good (specialized) doctor as well as maybe blood tests!)

Following a 'fad' diet after an eating disorder

I was recently asked about my opinion on following a diet after an eating disorder. The truth is my opinion varies because i have tried different 'diets'. I've tried IIFYM, intermittent fasting, paleo... and what happened? Well none of them lasted or worked. What has worked for me is intuitive eating, listening to my body.
  Because a diet and a plan based for everyone (to some extent) cant tell you what your body needs to function properly. Everybody is different, but also diets are very restrictive.



Lets start with IIFYM, this seems to be very popular for people recovering from eating disorders as it still gives them some form of control over their food. They can weigh their food, they can measure and count and have an acceptable reason as to why they are doing it. But the truth is, WHY are you counting your food? Food is just numbers and macros, you can only eat certain food because it 'fits'. Maybe not because you want it..... you frantically try to find some food that has 18g protein, 30g carbs and 5g fat... you feel guilty because you went over your carb intake or because you cant reach your fat intake etc etc
  I dont personally think its a good idea to start counting your food or measuring it. How normal is it to take food boxes everywhere? To not eat out, to not eat a cookie or bun or even a fruit just because you want it. But instead you need to know how many macros it contains? Ask yourself why you are weighing and counting food? Is it something you can do forever, be happy?

Now i am not going to be completely anti IIFYM, just because it didnt work for me, doesnt mean it doesnt work for others. There are plenty of people who are happy following this type of eating and it is not restrictive at all. They know roughly how much food contains and dont track everyday, but used it as a way to get control over their eating and eventually it became more loose where they dont need to count or weigh every thing.
  The problem is when you feel guilty because you dont know how much a good weighs or how many macros it contains. When you cant live somewhat normally, and you are still very restrictive. For some it works but i would personally advise against starting this type of diet after an eating disorder.


With intermittent fasting i did this because my eating was way out of control. Lots of boredom eating and had lost my hunger and fullness feelings and i felt i needed some type of routine and some form of control. Not restrictive control, but to not just eat all the time. So i had an eating window from 12pm to 8pm or somedays 2pm to 10pm. And i did do it for a few weeks and it worked to help me get my hunger and fullness feelings back... though then it went the other way where suddenly it was 1,2,3pm and i hadnt eaten anything because i didnt feel hungry. And suddenly i wasnt able to eat the amount i needed and also, strength training on an empty stomach.... it just didnt work for me. So i stopped with it after a few weeks, but it did help with less bloating and eating every few hours instead of eating every hour or so out of boredom. But i would NOT recommend this type of diet at all. Ive tried it and my opinion is that it is not normal or good.


And when it comes to paleo, there are alot of good things about it, but if you have had an eating disorder. Its far too easy that you follow a raw food diet, vegan diet or paleo diet just as a way of eating 'clean/healthy'. They can work for some, but after an eating disorder you need to find balance and be ok with eating all types of food. Learning to trust your body, not setting up rules and guidelines and having things you can or cant eat. Or having certain times you can or cant eat. (In general though eating every few hours is a good idea to keep the blood sugar stable)


Ive never followed any LCHF or HCLF diet because one I absaloutly love carbs and i would not be able to function or have energy to workout if i ate little carbs and two i absaloutly love nuts and eggs and salmon so could never eat lots of carbs and little fat. I think those diets are too restrictive when you restrict a certain food group. I dont think they last, but also LCHF is not good for the body or heart so i would not even want to try that diet.

I dont think following any type of diet is a good idea. Its better to learn to trust your body, find what works for you. What foods you can eat and your stomach is ok with them. Find what foods give you energy, foods you enjoy. Dont be restrictive, but binging on food isnt good either. Following some form of meal plan can be good if you feel that your eating is completely crazy either you forget to eat or you just eat all the time, then following some form of structure is a good idea.
  But stay away from fad diets. Just because other people are doing doing IIFYM or the 5:2 diet or a rawfood diet doesnt mean you have to do it as well. You will mostly find people online doing these types of things, but remember you dont know what they actually eat. Or you dont know how healthy their bodies or minds are. So dont copy them, learn to trust yourself and what your body needs and wants!!!


So my overall opinion, dont follow a diet after an eating disorder. I dont believe anyone needs to follow a fad diet. Though something i should have mentioned in the beginning is that 'diet' is basically what you eat, a 'diet' is not a bad thing. But a FAD diet is a bad thing (according to me anyway). I believe that everyone, no matter what their goal is can eat all types of food in different moderations and reach their goal and be happy. Some people need to be more strict, some more free. Some need to eat more of certain foods or food groups while others need to eat more of a certain food or foodgroup. Everyone is different, but if you listen to your body then you will find what will work for you and make you happy!!!


This is my opinon on it anyway.

People are obsessed with what others are eating and doing

Something which i find is that alot of people on social media are obsessed with what others are eating.... They want to know grams, weight, calories, macros... what they eat in a whole day, how many calories, how many hours they workout each day etc etc
   But you have to ask yourself WHY do you care? What does it matter what someone else does? You are not them. And they are not you. Everyone is different, needs different energy amounts. Some people can workout 6 days a week and still have energy and time to live life  and doesnt get burnt out, whilst for others working out 3 or 4 times a week is what suits them. One person isnt necessarily healthier than the other.
  Some people like 7 small meals a day, other people like 4 big meals a day and other people (Like me) like 6 big meals a day!! haha. Getting tips and advice from other people can be great, to know whether you need to eat more, or whether it seems like you need more of a certain macronutrient etc but also be wary of who you ask for help. Answers can be very different because people have different opinions.

Many people feel they want answers... they want someone to tell them what to do and how to eat. They want guidelines and rules, thats how people are. But know that asking just a random person about what YOU should be eating doesnt really work that way. Not unless they are qualified and you have paid them, but even then they can get it wrong. Food and eating is very individual... about what suits YOU and your needs. Not just copying someone else.

It's insecurity and thinking that other people are doing it right, so you should do the same that make you want to know what others are eating, but also comparison. You want to know whether you should eat more or less, or you want to look like someone else so you think you should eat like them. But thats not how it works either.

Instead of caring what others are eating or doing, focus on YOU. What your body needs. Stoping focusing on others, so what if they eat a little bit of salad and chicken, you still eat your cooked meal or sandwich. Who cares if they dont eat an afternoon snack, you still need yours. And if someone triggers you and you cant stop comparing your meals or yourself to them, then get rid of them from your life!!

So if any of you compare your meals to mine (in a negative way) or try to eat like me or something like that, DONT!!  Find what you like and what your body needs!!

Food for thought & moderation

Something which i thought i would write about, is how people seem to be scared of certain foods. Foods such as nuts, potatoes, rice, cheese, dairy and others have all gotten bad reps and people seem to be scared of these types of food. Even healthy/normal people.
  They think that if they eat rice for dinner suddenly they will gain loads of weight, and their progress will be ruined....  Which is very unrealistic. Unless you somehow manage to eat 3500kcal of this certain food & your daily intake, you're not going to gain weight because you eat some potatoes, or eat nuts etc etc

Its all about moderation and balance. You shouldnt eat too much of any type of food. Though how much is too much all depends on the person. I mean I for example can eat up to 200g nuts 1-3 days a week & all my other meals, and i dont gain weight from it. But for other people, they can gain weight very easily, and eating 100g of nuts woudlnt be reccommended for them.¨
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Moderation means finding balance. You may want to eat the whole 150g chocolate and know that you can but you also know somewhere inside you that actually eating 150g chocolate in one sitting might be too much and instead you eat 2-3 rows. Sometimes you can get cravings that push you over the edge of moderation i.e you want crisps, ice cream and chocolate all at once and if that happens once - where its NOT a binge, just that you are craving those foods. Then its fine, thats still moderation. But if suddenly 5 out of 7 days a week is eating huge amounts of something, then it might not be too healthy.
  Nothing is healthy in excess. Moderation is not just portion sizes though... its more than that, its about lifestyle, your whole diet, what your body needs etc

Its vary hard to say this is moderation. Because its so different for everyone but basically moderatio is NOT black and white. Its not either no chocolate or 200g chocolate, or no pasta or 3 plates of pasta. But its about the balance and the inbetween. You shouldnt feel deprived or crave it all the time and you shouldnt over eat it either. 



No food is bad. Or of course foods with trans fats and lots of unknown chemicals isnt exactly good for your body. I mean we all know the kind of typical foods which well, arent necessary in your diet if we put it that way. But normal unprocessed food - whole grains, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein, dairy, nuts, fruit and vegetables. all of those are healthy and good for your body!!
   Rice is not bad. Potatoes arent bad. Pasta isnt bad. Salmon isnt bad. Eating rice wont make you gain weight. Eating pasta wont make you gain weight.

Eating a pizza now and again wont make you gain weight. Drinking a cola now and again wont make you gain weight.

Eating a salad now and again wont make you lose weight. Eating carrots everyday wont make you lose weight.

Gaining and losing weight is about the total of everything. Its about what you do everyday, not what you do once in a while.
  If you eat salad for lunch all the time and then one day you eat chicken and rice and you get loads of anxiety because you think you are going to gain weight.... no you wont.

You need carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, vegetables everyday. That is part of a healthy diet. Eating potatoes everyday wont make you gain weight... its about the whole total of thing.

Many people count BMR as their calorie intake for the day thinking that all they need is 1200-1500 because that is what their BMR is, but BMR is basically what your body needs to just keep you alive. But what your body actually needs is your TDEE. and thats your maintenace... for example my BMR is 1400 but my TDEE is around 2600-2800... so there is a BIG difference. So what my body needs just to maintain its weight is around 2700kcal a day... and maybe more because i have CF.
  So eating just 1200 kcal ISNT enough and also its the reason why you need around 2500+ kcal to gain weight in recovery because that is what your body NEEDS to recover and repair its metabolism. And it will also help after recovery when you can then eat a normal amount and not gain weight.

I know at times it can feel like you eat a slice of cake and suddenly you think that you have gained a kilo, but that isnt the case... it doesnt work like that.

No food is bad. No 1 certain food makes you instantly go up in weight. Remember that.