Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that can affect both adolescents and adults. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about 2.2 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of the disorder. While it is not always a life-threatening condition, those who suffer from it can be crippled by their unhealthy weight and starve themselves to death. For those who want to shed some pounds but do not want to go under the knife, there are several options available to them. One of the most effective ways to lose weight is through a diet based on their body’s particular needs. For those who have been diagnosed with anorexia, identifying the triggers that cause them to engage in restrictive eating and unhealthy habits is the key to breaking the cycle of malnutrition and deprivation. In this article, we will discuss how to anorexics lose weight fast using a modified version of the 5 Rs of Nutrition.
Reduce
Like most dieting regimens, those who try to lose weight through anorexia often begin by simply reducing the amount of food they consume. For some people, this may mean going on a soup cleanse or eliminating certain foods like chocolate, cake, and biscuits. Cutting back on the amount of food they eat usually results in a loss of appetite which then causes them to unintentionally shed some pounds. Reducing food intake can help to stabilize blood sugar levels which may also result in weight loss. However, cutting out food from your diet can also cause you to become malnourished. For this reason, those who have been diagnosed with anorexia should always be supplementing their diet with vitamins and minerals; otherwise, they may become weak and ill from dietary insufficiency.
Replace
Eating disorders are often caused by an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. When the body does not get the nutrients it needs in sufficient amounts, it will begin to look for ways to get them. One of the most common and effective ways for the body to acquire nutrients is through the process of digestion. The small intestine is where most of the digestion takes place and produces a byproduct called chyme which contains the nutrients the body needs. Changing the way you eat by adding more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet will not only help to increase your daily nutrient intake but will also help to slow the process of digestion; therefore, it will reduce the amount of chyme your body produces. Replacing certain foods with others that are higher in fiber will also help to regulate appetite and the feeling of being full which then leads to weight loss. For instance, those who suffer from anorexia often replace carbohydrates with proteins because the latter are more satiating and thus help to prevent further bingeing. This in turn helps to keep off the extra pounds.
Revise
Once you have reduced the amount of food you consume, it’s time to start reviewing the types of food that fill your stomach. Just because you cut out some food groups does not mean that you have to cut out other food groups as well. For example, if you are no longer consuming wheat or any type of gluten-containing product, it does not mean that you have to cut out all grains from your diet. You may still eat them but in a smaller portion than you used to. When you revise your diet, you are taking into consideration the types of foods you no longer want to consume as well as the new foods you want to add to your diet. Depending on your personal preferences, you may decide to cut out some foods or add others to your diet. If you are not sure what to eat or what works for your body, ask your doctor for help or a dietitian who can advise you on what to eat and what does not. Revising your diet is a great way to start off your weight loss journey because it helps you to become more conscious of the foods you put in your body and how they affect you both inside and out. Getting rid of the foods you know you should not be eating and adding foods that you know your body needs will help to improve both your health and wellbeing.
Respect
To respect your body means to acknowledge and appreciate the uniqueness of your own physiology. Many people who have been diagnosed with anorexia do not feel their body is good enough and have made the condition their own personal mission to improve it. They have spent a lot of time researching the causes of their illness and have come up with a list of dos and don’ts that they follow to ensure they stay healthy. Respect for your body means valuing the way it looks and feels and not comparing your body to others’. Comparing your body to something or someone else’s is a sure-fire way to make yourself feel bad about yourself. The more you value yourself the more you will value your body and the more you will respect it.
Reevaluate
When you have completed your weight loss journey and have reached your ideal weight, it’s time to reevaluate your diet and decide whether you want to continue following this pattern of healthy eating or switch to a different diet for the sake of your overall wellbeing. If you feel that you can maintain this level of wellness, it may mean you have found the right diet for your body and you don’t need to change a thing. However, if you feel that this is not the case and want to switch to a different diet for the sake of your health, it’s time to reevaluate your plan and decide whether or not this is the right road for you to go down. Some people who have been on a low-carb diet like the ketogenic diet tell themselves that they will never be able to have carbohydrates in large amounts in their diet because it makes them feel bad. While it’s great to want to avoid carbs because of how they make you feel, it may not be the healthiest option for your body. If you feel like you need carbohydrates to maintain your health, then it may be best to include them in your diet but in smaller amounts than you would otherwise. Sometimes it’s not what you eat but how you feel that matters most, and being on a low-carb diet may not make you feel as good as you could otherwise. In these instances, including some carbohydrates in your diet may be the best way to go. Knowing what makes you feel good and what makes you feel bad is the first step to knowing what foods to avoid and which ones to include in your diet.
Anorexia is a serious disease that can affect both adults and adolescents and even cause death due to complications from malnutrition. Adolescents are particularly at-risk because of their dieting behaviors. Those who are obese are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition; however, it can also occur in those who are of normal weight. There is currently no known cause of anorexia, but studies have shown that those who suffer from the disease often have an imbalance between the amount of food they consume and the amount of energy they expend. This can lead to serious medical consequences if not treated appropriately. For this reason, it is crucial for those who are afflicted to seek medical help as soon as possible.