Anorexia/Eating Disorders/anorexia and diet

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/22/2009


Question
Hi,ive been suffering with anorexia most of my teenage life and am now 18,but have been really struggling with it this year,over the last 8 months. i started out on a liquid diet of horlicks (malt powder) with soymilk,and seemed to become addicted to it because i wasnt eating anything at all.only drink lots of that. then i started eating again,but have only been able to make myself eat salad and fruit and certain vegetables,but i still drink lots of liquids- coffee,horley protein shakes, juice etc. im worried about what effects my diet could have in the long term,and want to do something about it but am too scared to eat any carbohydrates/grains and i wont touch anything with fat or oils in it,could you tell me what i could eat that wouldnt make me gain any weight?
thanks.

Answer

jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Charlotte,

Thanks so much for writing!  I'm so glad that you did because it's so important right now that you start getting a proper diet.  Salad, fruit, and vegetables are all wonderful foods -- but the thing that will be damaging for you is the lack of protein -- meat, chicken chicken, seafood, cheese, eggs -- What we do when we're struggling with our food is to become afraid of certain food groups -- and at the same time we develop black and white thinking.

This means that someone is afraid that if they have a chicken breast at one meal that they'll all of a sudden become fat.  Or if they eat a half a cup of rice or a small potato that they'll instantly become fat.  This is an example of the black and white thinking.  All or nothing.  We forget that any of these foods in moderation are so good for us.  The same is true of fats -- one tablespoon of fat a day will not hurt you but is so essential for your health.

At this point if you could see a nutritionist, she could help you with the correct amounts rather than eating in an anorexic manner.

Let me know what the nutritionist says after you see her!!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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