You Can Recover From Bulimia
I Am Capable Of Anything.
I Am Stronger Than I've Ever Been.
I'm More Courageous.
I'm Happy...
Why?
Because I beat bulimia... And overcoming it made me realize that anything is possible.
To achieve something - You just need to believe in it and want it more than anything else...
My Bulimia Story
I remember throwing up on purpose for the first time when I was 8 years old. I can't remember why I did it... But I remember it made me feel in control. This habit got progressively worse as the yearswent on... By the time I was 21, I was throwing up 15+ times a day and wasting over $20,000 a year on food from the university cafeteria.
In fact, my cafeteria visits were so extreme that I fabricated an identical twin to the staff. They thought there were 2 of me - I ate enough for them to believe it!
Bulimia ruled my life. It had held me in it's tight grip for so long that Id forgotten who I was and how to live without it.
I wanted so badly to recover from bulimia... I had tried a hundred times - but failed. All I wanted was to be normal.
But, I had one issue that was preventing me from recovering...
There was one thing I cared about MORE than recovering from bulimia...
No, that wasn't being thin, nor was it eating what I wanted... The one thing that was 100% essential in my life was keeping my bulimia a secret. Nobody could know I was bulimic. If I was going to recoverI would have to do it alone.
You see, bulimics are so ashamed of their illness. They feel like freaks. They feel wasteful, out of control and useless. They think that if they share their secret, nobody will respect them. They'll be unloved.
But, bulimia recovery is so difficult to do alone.
If you're bulimic - you'll know that. I'm betting that with every single new year comes a resolution to end bulimia.
But, it never works - does it?
Why?
The Problem: Bulimics Don't Deal With The Real Issues...
I remember when I made all my failed attempts at bulimia recovery - I never focused on the real issues.
I would base every single goal around:
- Not binge eating
- Not throwing up
- Not giving into temptations
My goals were useless. Firstly I was focusing on the negatives... All my goals revolved around what I should NOT do... Secondly it's all very well to try to break these habits... But why did you develop them in the first place?
If you don't deal with the issues that made you fall into bulimia... You simply can't make a full recovery. Sure, you might be able to practice extreme self control for a while... But eventually you'll slip.
The Solution: 5 Simple Steps To Beating Bulimia and Finding Health and Happiness
1) Break the Shame
The first and most essential step in recovering from bulimia is breaking the shame. Try to realize that bulimia is an illness you have... It is not who you are. Try and share your secret with somebody you trust -A problem shared is a problem halved.
2) Look Past The Bingeing and Purging
Look deeper than the simple acts of bulimia. What lies beneath them? What's triggering them? Keep a note book on hand and when you feel the urge to binge - sit quietly for 5 minutes. Dig deep... Try to feel what'sbeyond the physical feeling of wanting to eat. Are you anxious? Sad? Angry?
When you discover a feeling, allow yourself to embrace it... Try not to push it away.
3) Practice Intuitive Eating
Set yourself a goal of eating 3 healthy meals a day plus 3 snacks. When you come to eat them, make sure they're given the attention they deserve! Sit in a nice quiet place and enjoy each and every bite.Chew and taste it thoroughly. Feel every bit of food you swallow nourishing your body. Focus on all the benefits of eating such as the energy and life that you get from your food. Release any negativethoughts such as weight gain.
4) Try Not To Deprive Yourself
Try not to make the mistake of skipping meals and denying yourself of food. Deprivation and dieting only trigger binges. Your body needs to learn how to eat and digest food again, so scheduled meals and snacks are essential.
5) Please Don't Do It Alone
It is possible to recover from bulimia alone - but it is so much harder... And, when it comes to recovery - I'd say leave nothing to chance. The most important advice I could give is to take the plungeand book yourself into therapy or a treatment center.
It's a big step - but it's one that you won't regret.
Remember: The Journey Of a Thousand Miles Starts With A Single Step
Let reading this article be your first step...
Recovery from bulimia is a long, but rewarding journey. Along the way you'll overcome many great obstacles... Only to find that there are still many more to conquer. But with every triumph, you are one stepcloser to health and happiness.
No matter how difficult recovery can be - it is a hundred times easier than living with bulimia... day in and day out.I expected bulimia recovery to be an awful, painful and embarrassing experience. It did contain elements of those things... But overriding all of them was the euphoria of knowing that in near future -I would be free from the darkness of bulimia.
That was 5 years ago now... And, since then, I have been healthy and happy.
I am now 100% free of bulimia.
I love my life and feel that I'm a better and stronger person for having had and conquered bulimia.
I realize how fortunate I am to live my simple and beautiful life...
I feel inspired by my freedom and will never take it for granted.
Copyright © 2010 Shaye Boddington
Need Help With Bulimia? If you're suffering from bulimia, it's important to realize you're not alone! To read more inspirational stories, articles and tips - feel free to visit mywebsite: http://www.your-bulimia-recovery.com
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