Expert: Rev. Ke'ala Vai Noel - 6/3/2008

Question
I have a 20+ yr history with anorexia. Last year I was in a program(not my first) to restore my eating habits and weight. I am about 105 and 5'3'' so not terribly thin. I eat light but my mood and social life is good. My biggest concern is that I have always had massive problems with my evening meal in that I drag it on into a ritual with large amounts of vegetables. I can eat 3 heads of lettuce, several zucchini, tomato and mushrooms that I grill and put spice on. I also drench the lettuce with fat free dressing, sweetener and vinegar. I make a point to include other foods such as 2 bagels with cream cheese and yogurt and strawberries. I don't have protein at dinner but I do at lunch. Needless to say I don't feel hunger or satiety, I do feel bloated after this meal. I like it because it gives me the sense that I can eat a lot of food without the calories. I hate to think if I ate regular food how much I would eat. I have seen a dietitian, I know all the facts on eating disorders and I see a therapist. I just don't know how or if I can ever break this cycle. Lettuce has been a big part of my life for so long and when I relapse I rely more on the lettuce and start eliminating the regulae foods. It's the pattern.

Answer
My question is do you actually digest this huge amount of food, it doesn't sound like it from the description of your being bloated. IF you are not breaking down your food properly then you are not receiving the nutrients from your food and thus your body will want more. If you are getting proper nutrition you would feel sated. I think you are over stuffing yourself and can't get the nutrition from your food. Our retreats are based on food combining to get maximum nutrition from your food without having to worry about fat or calorie consumption.
You are still fixated on the food, particularly the lettuce which I assume is non threatening. however you are drenching it in chemicals that may inhibit your absorption of nutrition.
YOu may have a working coping mechanism in place that keeps your out of direct harm's way but you are still very much in your eating disorder pattern.

Have you ever had any hypnotherapy that helped you with finding out why you obsess with food at night? Was there a family dynamic at work when you were a child during your evening meals, was there alcohol abuse or neglect? YOu are substituting lettuce for nuturance. Your ritual is a balm because you feel it unharmful yet you are immersed in a behavior pattern that you cannot break.

I would suggest getting to the source of your eating issues so you can then work on why lettuce is your succor and mainstay.
It is not the food itself so much but your relationship with your food that is not right.
Please look at our site  and you can find the food combining method that will help with your digestion but you need to check out the self help tools there too, NLP would most likely help you break the pattern of the lettuce dependency.
I offer phone counseling also.
If you have any questions or more information about your situation I will be glad to try and help you. Aloha and blessings Keala