Are you struggling with disordered eating? On “Lifequakes” hosts Jessica Reyes, Patricia Wu, and guest psychiatric nurse practitioner Jennifer Lander share steps to break free from restrictive diets and overeating to have a healthy relationship with food.
Concern From Viewer
“She’s been struggling with disordered eating for years, swinging between restrictive diets and periods of overeating. This cycle is taking a toll on her physical and mental health, and she feels trapped. How can she break free from these harmful patterns and develop a balanced, healthy relationship with food?”
Insights From Jennifer Lander
Disordered eating can feel very isolating, though you are not alone. It’s very brave to take that first step of talking about what you’re going through. Jen says the cycle of restrictive diets or overeating can be relentless, but there are ways to break through and have a balanced relationship with food.
Steps to Start Your Journey Away From Disordered Eating
- Seek professional help: Finding a therapist or registered dietitian that specializes in eating disorders can be a good foundation because they can give you a safe space to explore what the underlying cause of your eating patterns are while providing coping mechanisms.
- Challenge the diet mentality: Diets often set us up for failure because they promote restriction which can lead you to crave those things more and end up overeating.
- Focus on intuitive eating: This is about connecting with your body’s natural hunger fuse and fullness by listening to your body’s signals. When you’re hungry, eat. When you’re comfortably full, stop.
- Develop a regular eating schedule: This helps regulate your blood sugar and prevent extreme hunger that can trigger overeating. Aim for three balanced meals a day with snacks in between if needed.
- Making peace with all foods: Jen says there is no good or bad foods and when we start to label foods as off limits, you can crave them more. So give yourself grace to consume all types of food in moderation.
- Practice self-compassion: Your recovery is not linear and there will be some setbacks, so don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, make sure you acknowledge it, learn from it, and recommit to the goals you have for yourself. Celebrate your progress and any small wins!
For more insights from Jennifer Lander, follow her on Instagram and check out her website!
