bulimia help!

[wallermc]

i have been practicing macrobiotics for 15 months. i am recovering from a severe eating disorder, which i continue to go back to, now on a weekly basis. i love the macrobiotic lifestyle--cooking for myself and others, the relaxation i feel from eating this way, and the structure it provides. at the same time, i feel i am at the end of my rope with food, continually ending up in the same place in life--hopeless, helpless, isolated, ashamed and unworthy. i keep myself from living a life i love, or even knowing what i love, b/c everytime i feel better, i go back to the numbness, and all the negativity that is contained in the shell of bulimia. onebadday throws me off for more than a week, physically and psychologically deteriorates the hope i feel through macrobiotics.

anyone experienced in this field? also, i am considering becoming a macrobiotic counselor, b/c i love andbenefit from sharing the practice with others. any advisement on whether i should wait to be fully recovered? i am struggling with direction, obviously, and need to be directed away from the focus on food!

blessings,
Waller

Dear Waller, I too have a serious eating disorder but now am in recovery with the help of a recovery program for those with compulsive eating. If you want the actual name of the group, etc., please email privately. prayerwarrior2@bresnan.net It is an "anonymous" program and we are not to reveal our affiliation on any public means of communication.

I firmly believe that that program saved my life, along with macrobiotics, which is my "plan of eating" within that support group. We are allowed to use the food plan of our choice. I had desperately wanted to be macrobiotic but could not do it until I really started working that program. There is so much I could say! I know for a fact that I have a Higher Power in my life who led me into macrobiotics as well as the recovery group I am in.

Much Macro Peace to you,
Caroline R., a recovering compulsive eater

[Ilanit]

there is a great mb book on Bulimia called Set Free by Linda
McGrath.
also there is a Michio Kushi booked called Obesity, weight loss and eating disorders which explains a lot. There is a companion cooking volume by aveline kushi.

generally bulima is a manifestation of being too yang, too contracted which triggers the need to eat in an out of control way. Even on a centred mb eating plan it is easy to become too yang - too much grain, too much salt and saly condiments, too narrow in selection of ingredients, too much pressure cooking etc. so you may want to get some professional mb advice to make sure you are eating appropriately for you and your condition.

Having studied psychology I can't believe how ineffective and outmoded most traditional psychology approachs to eating disorders are - not all! I am sure there are some effective one but what I have seen to be really effective in mind and body issues and many applications are the new breed or energy psychilogy techniques. some popular ones include EFT, BSFF and TAT - you can find them all online
one of my favourites is Clearpoint (previously known as zpoint)

Chinses medicine could also help. Bulimia is a complex pattern but often involves liver chi issues and spleen issues and chinese medicine interventions can be very effective

[Curious]

wow, excessive and disorderly eating is a result of a contracted state? can you explain more about this?

[Ilanit]

In mb understanding being too yang or contracted gives the sensation and the experience of internal pressure and tightness. This pressure seeks release and its opposite. This can trigger the desire to eat large amounts. Eating tends to be a relaxing thing or a release in a way. I am sure you are familiar with people eating when they are stressed to relieve the tension. there is a similar mechanism at work here.
this is not the only reason for overeating but it is a powerful biolgical drive. Emotional factors are also involved but there are powerful physical correlates - these include yin and yang(expansion and contraction) acid and alkaline (there should be some great info on that available on this site soon) the balance of the five tastes etc.

[wallermc]

thank you for sharing and caring :-)
i have worked with 2 macro counselors, and feel like i am better than ever. i do tend to get too yang, or too rigid and end up binging, but today, i am there, and life is too blessed for me to reach for food and say f#$k it! i am wondering how to relax more without the food. i am definitely craving fat and protein.
i haven't have a period in over 3 months, and wondering if this is normal for macro? my counselor says not to be concerned, but acupuncturist seems to be. she has me mandated to take B-Complex.

thanks for being here !

blessings,
Waller