I am a 20 year old college student who is currently recovering from EDNOS. I am doing better, however, I have picked up a few weird eating habits along the way. On of them includes bingeing on vegetables. I know this sounds weird but if I am hungry still after a meal I often will binge on cups of vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. Is this harmless or should it be something to be concerned about? – Katie
Dear Katie,
Congratulations for the progress you’ve made so far in recovery from EDNOS. Just by the way you phrased your question, however, I get the sense that instinctively, you recognize that some of your current patterns are not healthy.
First, you state that you are still hungry after finishing meals. This indicates that you continue to eat in a restrictive way, and don’t allow yourself to completely meet your body’s needs for fuel. The goal is to eat when you are hungry and stop when you are comfortably full (but not stuffed). Check out my article “Understanding Hunger & Fullness Cues” for more information on how to eat intuitively. I’d also recommend Evelyn Tribole’s book, Intuitive Eating.
Regarding the binges on vegetables, without the benefit of a full assessment, I can’t determine if this is compromising your nutritional health. If you are restricting your meals too much and aren’t eating in a balanced way, it’s possible that you are lacking essential nutrients because you are filling up too much on one type of food. Read the article “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Weight” to see if you are eating well overall. Regardless, from an emotional perspective, any kind of binge is detrimental. You are caught in an addictive cycle that compromises your overall well being.
Recovery is a process and I am so pleased that you wrote to us. To answer your question directly, I do think there is cause for concern due to your restriction of food intake, fear associated with completing meals, and bingeing. If you are seeing a counselor, please discuss these issues with her or him. If not, I highly recommend that you go to your health clinic and seek out some professional guidance. You deserve to experience complete freedom from EDNOS, and just need to take another step.
Warmly,
Ann