Question for those recovered from EDs page

[FireFinder]

I've seen some mention in various posts around here about how primal has helped with eating disorder recovery. I know it's pretty personal, but I am very interested to know HOW primal has helped you.

Was it to be able to eat without counting and fearing every calorie?

The ability to eat a reasonable calorie deficit without being starving?

How did/do you use this way of eating to heal?

Thanks so much in advance.

[CiKi90]

For me, primal is slowly erasing the fear of foods containing fat. It's helping me realize that I can eat a pound of vegetables and a slab of meat, and it wont instantly turn into fat onto my body. It shows me how food is not evil, but can be a wonderful, delicious source of energy.

While trying to recover from an eating disorder, therapists and doctors will try and make you eat all sorts of fear foods. For me, that was awful because although I don't have an allergy to gluten and dairy, I am sensitive to it. When you have an ED, though, they tend to chalk your "sensitivities" up to your mental state. Going my own route and eating Primal helped me to feel great while getting enough calories. I still count cals and weigh food, but a LOT less obsessively. I don't beat myself up if I eat a lot, either. Something about trying to live a Primal lifestyle and relax has Given me a wake up call. Humans aren't meant to deny themselves the pleasure of food. I've learned to relax a bit more, though it's still a work in progress, and it will be for quite some time.

[CradlingaLion]

I can say that eating primal is a give-and-take balancing act.

If I crave something made with dough/flour/whatever, I have to still let myself eat it. Otherwise I get back into ED mode.
However, I try to remind myself that it will still be there if I want it after eating a salmon patty and three cups of buttery broccoli.

In the meantime, I feel much more self-nourished by food. Instead of making myself eat and then forcing myself to starve, and then allowing myself to slip into a binge and hating myself for it, I am cooking more delicious, healthful food. Treating myself and my boyfriend to steaks and omelets and mussels and tons of veggies and fruits and nuts.

I haven't lost any weight on primal, probably because in order to stay sane I am not very strict. But my feet are pointed in a much more constructive, eating-normal direction.