But is my Extreme Hunger TOO Extreme?!? // Recovery

An important message relating to extreme hunger in recovery.
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Instagram: @emilyspence__
Website: www.isr-recovery.com

[@AshleyBitton]

I think we really underestimate the amount of food we should, could, and want to be eating in recovery and in life in general when we have an eating disorder. So totally give your body all the food it's asking for!

[@pidohuntress7385]

8 years fully recovered at 53 years old and post menopausal and I still need 2500 cals a day.

[@AshleyBitton]

@@pidohuntress7385 yes!! our bodies really do need the energy and know what to do with the food!

[@emilyspence2961]

I couldn't agree more! Unrestricted eating in recovery and beyond! x

[@AshleyBitton]

@@emilyspence2961 yes!

[@Starjation]

Holy shit this made me feel so much better. The part she talked about where you’re eating but you’re only touching on the hunger is exactly what I’m doing right now. It’s really encouraging me to eat as much as I want. Thank you so much!

[@emilyspence2961]

Super pleased to know that my sharing helped x

[@delaniealina2557]

I’m so glad I found this video. Watching the “extreme hunger” videos people post… is the amount of food I eat in one sitting right now with my extreme hunger. It’s astronomical how much food I am truly consuming right now. I feel like a bottomless pit.

[@emilyspence2961]

I'm pleased my sharing was helpful

[@reighwallen2776]

how is it now?

[@harmonyhope1709]

The sad thing is I went through this at age 19/20 after I was discharged from an IP unit.( I'm now in my 40's) At the time I was attending as a day patient a few days a week and "overshot" my target weight they had set. I was readmitted to the hospital to "get my eating under control" and back onto my "maintenance meal plan" and made to exercise more to get back to my weight band How humiliating and devastating. I went back into restriction mode at the hospital, initially but then ate what I was prescribed and got my weight back into the so called "normal range" eventually discharged again. The extreme hunger began again but this time I began to purge to control the weight gain to avoid the embarrassing situation at the hospital again. This spiraled into years of b/p/restrict cycle and my diagnosis was changed from 'Anorexia Nervosa' to 'Anorexia Nervosa (binge purge sub type) which felt devastating at the time and I think destroyed my recovery. I often wonder, had I been left when I was originally discharged, would I have naturally recovered, reached a healthy and stable weight and got out of energy deficit and completely nutritionally rehabilitated and neurally rewired my brain? I'll never know. Just wish extreme hunger had been talked more about back then and there had been more education for Drs and nurses;

[@staceyeast8287]

This is so sad (and horrific). I am so sorry you had to experience this.

[@harmonyhope1709]

@@staceyeast8287 bless you I know. It saddens me a lot because I'll just never know 😔😥💔 hope you're doing ok xx sending you love and strength 💪

[@AshleyBitton]

I'm so sorry you experienced this! I was also in treatment 4 times and I do feel they make things worse at times, especially when the treatment team is fat phobic. Once you reached a certain weight they lowered your meal plan, which is exactly when the extreme hunger starts. I hope you can find peace and recovery now, I'll be 40 next year and just recently found full recovery so I know it is possible. Sending lots of love! 💜💜💜💜

[@harmonyhope1709]

@@AshleyBitton yes that's the same as this treatment center (end most I have been in) a reaching target weight, meal plan was reduced from a weight gain meal plan to a maintenance meal plan, so starting the restriction before even leaving hospital!🙈🤦🏻‍♀️ Hearing you've reached full recovery at a similar age as me is very reassuring Thank you so much xxxx Congratulations ❤️ it's not easy xx

[@AshleyBitton]

@@harmonyhope1709 thank you so much friend, it's the hardest thing i've ever done in my life but I'm so grateful for recovery and for people like Emily and Tabitha Farrar that share their lived experiences. Hopefully treatment centers and hospitals will catch up and realize that going all in is actually a useful tool in recovery - not strict meal plans. I know you can live a life a freedom too and i'm sending you lots of love and support!

[@lindseyleggett7839]

Almost in tears watching this, thank you Emily. This video will only become more meaningful to me over time 💓💓

[@friendlylisek]

Thank you so much, I really needed to hear that. I only saw people posting pretty and balanced recovery meals and tiny portions and I felt so gross. I gained 10kg in just a month on recovery and I was sure it's way too quick even if I'm still underweight. I thought I just developed binge eating disorder because I had no idea what extreme hunger is and how much of food it really is. Thank u!!!

[@emilyspence2961]

Happy to know that my sharing helped xx

[@AshleyBitton]

Yessss Emily!!! You are so right, when I had extreme hunger all I could think of was getting food - not stopping to document it 😅 and yes - honoring extreme hunger is truly the only thing that got me recovered. It's scary but necessary so we might as well enjoy all the yummy foods in the process! 😋 Sending lots of love always!! 💜💜❤❤💕💕💕💕

[@carolienvanes5326]

You have really experience with it ?

[@AshleyBitton]

@@carolienvanes5326 yes!! I had it pretty bad for at least 6 months and even now there are days where I feel ravenous.

[@carolienvanes5326]

@@AshleyBitton can I talk to about it ?

[@debbieSparkle8t5]

I think we need to remember a lot of what we see on social media is not real. Aesthetic for viewing purposes only. Thank you for keeping it real here.

[@emilyspence2961]

I couldn't agree more, thank you for your support Debbie x

[@dancingpixie74sb]

Also in the beginning I ate and ate and ate!!!! But it slowed down and I didn’t crave all the sweets and loads of cereal anymore. But now I’m just big time back tracking 😢. I struggling to enjoy my spicy chicken sandwich I just want to eat the way I did in the beginning of my recovery. Please pray for me🙏🏼. I just want to eat!!!!!! And be in with it again❤️🙏🏼🌈ty so much Emily I adore you!!!x!

[@jenjenyoust]

This is soooooo helpful. I thought the same thing when I watched “other” recovery channels. Also, I notice certain ones always seem to eat healthy all the time, never honoring cravings that look “ugly”.

[@erikogotoh5978]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your strong message ! I have been struggling with my ED for over 25 years and always médical doctors, my counselors, ex sufferer of ED tried to help me to eat less, with moderation ( Only my daughter and my ex husband tell me not to control at all, but I have never listened to them as they're not professional ), so I thought always that I was crazy, my appetite was exception. I lived quite normally and I looked healthy for others, but I tried to eat and do things like others ignoring my own voice then binged sometimes crying. I shamed it and I felt hopeless about recovery. But, now I can accepte my hunger and response to it more and more. Thank you again for all of what you share with us ! I will commit to my recovery.

[@dancingpixie74sb]

Ty!!!!!!! I’ve been going backwards due to stress and lack of sleep 😩. I’m hungry but don’t eat. Or wait till bed time to eat. Hmm I was so happy eating in the beginning of recovery! I want that back! I felt free!!! So ty for this!!!! ❤️🙏🏼🦋

[@lenaxxx9333]

Thank you so much. I started recovery about 4 weeks ago and extreme hunger kicked in like 6 days ago. It terrified me and it still does because it feels like going from one extreme to another in just a really really short period of time. I really really want to honour my hunger but there is still the voice screaming that I don’t need that much and that I didn’t loose enough weight and that it’s just not right to eat that much and I just don’t know how to honour my hunger because I know that if I do I will feel extremely guilty and bad about myself. As you said many of the recovery what I eat in a day videos are just making it worse and I just don’t know what to do. But I am really thankful for you posting that video and talking about it! So thank you ❤

[@emilyspence2961]

So proud of you for choosing recovery and just know that you can trust your brilliant body. I'm so pleased you've found this video helpful and send you lots of love xx

[@gingergamer3270]

I don't have an ed but I have had really disordered eating and thoughts about excersise for 4 years now, I am only truly coming to terms with that fact. In 2021 I went plant based, and for me it was so restrictive, I act the same meals all the time and never got a variety in. Last year I really felt like I was always hungry and I tried to honour it when I wasn't at work, I pushed through the guilt and just ate. Now I finally feel like I can eat almost normally without being hungry still. :)

[@primoguitaro]

I love this video so much haha 😭 I’ve had extreme hunger the past few weeks but I’ve been honoring it and have never been happier haha - what makes it the most terrifying is the thought of it becoming a bad habit tho. coz the snacking is EXTREME (bags of varieties or chocolate and cookies and coated nuts, ripping new snacks open and finishing everything in the house, inhaling cereal by the handfuls, being unable to stop once starting?)

[@JessPasta2]

Ohhh reason 1001 why you are the best Emily Spence 😭😭😙😙😙 hehe truly the perfect video, thank you SO SO much for this. Comparison issues are the driving force in my anorexia - and as amazing and helpful as the ED recovery community can be (I would feel even more confused about my extreme/mental hunger without it 😄); the ED just loves to latch onto to anything it can, e.g. when I see somebody say ‘in EH I would have my yogurt dessert…and then AN extra cookie’, and I’m like…..I have dessert and then invest in an extra supermarket aisle’s of cookies 😅 haha sorry. Thank you for making me (and so many others it seems!!) feel less alone 🥰🥰🥰🥰 can’t wait for our next session, have a great weekend! love Jess 💐xxxx

[@repulsiveboy8266]

this video was absolutely the reminder i needed. i feel so alone for the sheer amount of food ive been eating since i started recovery

[@emilyspence2961]

You are 100000% not alone, I'm glad the video helped :) x

[@MissYinKS]

Thank you for this 🥺 ive been anorexic for 10 years and ever since i started eating more, extreme hunger kicks in and all i want to eat is chocolate, ice cream and loads of loads of muffins. I was so anxious and scared but when you said during your EH you also only want those foods i felt relief. Guess i have much mental work to do to give myself full permission to eat all food include food my ed thinks "unhealthy".

[@emilyspence2961]

You are absolutely not alone in this and I am pleased that my words provided you with some relief over this. What you are describing is completely normal and that mental work is, in its most basic form, going to look like you honouring that hunger and marching into that ED judgement with your opposite actions (aka eating lots of those things!). Thank you for this comment and just remember that your body is on your side and that your hunger is NOT the enemy (ED is!)

[@marialange9509]

True I am eating my whole kitchen literally.......

[@ciaramcconnell57]

Most extreme hunger here yt besides Stephanie butter more is I think a day where the person just feels a bit hungrier in reality

[@Luspinetto]

Thank you for this. I really needed it today. ❤

[@emilyspence2961]

You are so welcome xx

[@staceyeast8287]

Thank you- my hunger levels seem to vary so much that I can’t trust them

[@harmonyhope1709]

Trust them or predict them? Please trust them your body knows what it's doing x❤️

[@staceyeast8287]

@@harmonyhope1709 Trust - feel like it’s just boredom or greed when it does happen, because it’s not constant.

[@harmonyhope1709]

@@staceyeast8287 I can relate to this feeling. I would just try to honour it on the days you feel it and try not to question the reasons why. Not wondering WHY just accepting that your body is hungry regardless of why xx

[@staceyeast8287]

@@harmonyhope1709 Thank you xx

[@felicitytaylor1868]

I find I difficult because the amount my body consumes means there are many knock-on problems so whilst I honour the EH (and don’t compensate afterwards) it means sweats, swelling and bloating and not being able to sleep lying down… I have to prop myself up into a sitting position to sleep because otherwise I get reflux. Any tips on that or similar experiences? Also how to manage the body changes in terms of size/shape and how long do they continue for if the EH (as you say yours did) lasts for almost a year because obviously a big fear is just never stopping gaining weight for that whole period… thanks so much for making this video and being so candid on this topic. Very badly needed xx

[@pidohuntress7385]

You might gain a bit of weight at first. You might even overshoot what is set as a 'healthy' weight. IME I gained 20 lbs over my supposed IBW, but after a while my body settled down my hunger regulated and my weight settled at a reasonable place for my height and age. Our bodies are far more wise about what they need than our minds are. Going through EH is scary, but in the long run if you keep honoring it your body will be in a much better place long term.

[@applecatz]

i love you so much for this :) your videos have helped me so much!! im only 15 and im two weeks into all in recovery and every video of yours have been so comforting and so helpful and grounding and has saved me from screwing up multiple times LOL 💞 god bless you!!

[@emilyspence2961]

Awh thank you so, so much for this wonderful comment: it really means the world to me to know that my sharing is supporting you in your journey. I send you lots of love and am super proud of you for choosing to be bold and brave and action your recovery! :)

[@applecatz]

@@emilyspence2961 thank you so much too!! lots of love from me as well 🫶🏻

[@loganthorpe92]

ty for making this honestly.

[@AC_2.4-10]

I so appreciate the GREAT passion you shared with all of this. And AMEN… Thank you. ☺️❤😌

[@abaslesregimes.sarahb.8366]

One of your best videos !

[@expensivepink7]

extreme hunger was so scary

[@sowhat.]

I am no more underweight now and I still experience extreme hunger. I am lost, I don't know when it will stop.

[@nikolafingas1655]

It’s most likely because your body is still internally repairing and your body will most likely overshoot your set point which will level out and go to its set point in the near future xx

[@amandasmith3306]

I’m scared my hunger is too extreme and as my body is continuing to fill out I’m scared I’m going to blow up if I honor my hunger fully.

[@lithiumapple]

thank you so much for this. i feel a lot less ashamed of how hungry i am in anorexia recovery wow

[@emilyspence2961]

So pleased that my sharing has helped xx

[@emmarichardson6710]

Is it even okay if I am at a healthy weight?

[@margotfun34]

But what if I get sick of it to the point I'm sick of food but want more ?? Is it still extrem hunger ? I was at a bad point in terms of weight two weeks ago, now i have no idea. I've started recovery three weeks ago with medical support after 4 months of extrem restriction and I started slow, but too fast I felt hungry, more and more often... Until one night I binged, guess it was extrem hunger ? Hope so... Then my body was so sick and I throw up from sickness. Today I've had so much, thousands and thousands of calories probably and it's like 13pm, I couldn't STOP thinking about food, all food !!!! Walking around in the streets eating everything everywhere. I feel terrified and horrific, I want to be free, food is a nightmare... Recovery is as awful as the disease itself... I'm desperate. Is it binge eating disorder coming or is it just my body being massively hungry ??

[@emilyspence2961]

Hey, ok so firstly for the wellbeing of my community on here I would kindly ask you to not include mention of weight in any comments etc, I'm sure you understand why. Secondly: this is absolutely just your poor hungry body asking for lots of food because it needs it. Your body wants what it needs and needs what it wants. You can trust it. Recovery can feeling extreme and overwhelming but in reality, the thing that it truly extreme, is the damage done through restriction and this reaction of intense hunger is actually the most normal and natural thing in the world. Have compassion for your body: it has been through a lot and is now hitting boost mode on healing because thats what it knows best. Your hunger is valid and it is normal for the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction after a period of restriction: this is not BED this is feast eating in recovery from a restrictive eating disorder. Those two things are very, very different xx

[@margotfun34]

@@emilyspence2961 I'm so sorry for the mention of weight I didn't think it could trigger ! I modified it ! Thank you so much, you're an angel for all people suffering of ED, I never thought it would be that hard. Take care

[@daniduty393]

I do agree with what you’re saying, but what about stomach issues? I get horrible stomach aches from eating so much food.

[@tatteredquilt]

I'm 'atypical' and fat.. I have trouble with eating what I have to, and know that the amount of time I spend thinking about food is a sign of hunger. But I won't allow it.

[@LC-gj2vp]

Couldn't agree more 🙌

[@myrtheweehuizen3209]

But it is so scary to start.

[@emmarichardson6710]

Should I listen to my extreme mental and physical hunger even if people are telling me my weight is fine? I have the recovery belly" (gained lots of fat around my stomach) even though i am still restricting and exercising as much as possible. I am scared to listen to my extreme hunger (which NEVER leaves me alone) because I have already gained a lot of weight while restricting

[@diekleinemu7300]

How are you doing now? I'm experiencing the same thing

[@lisa2744]

Me too. How are you guys doing??

[@liveinthelight796]

My son is just recovering and very very hungry. I spoke with the eating disorder team and their opinion is to not give into the hunger but to follow a particular meal plan. This doesn’t resonate with my son at all as he is always so hungry. I decided to not engage with the eating disorder service. Could you please tell me if you had any counselling or other therapy to deal with the psychological aspect?

[@emilyspence2961]

Firstly I just want to say how brilliant it is that your son, and you, have listened to your his gut instincts regarding his recovery journey. I know this can be scary to do but it is what, for many, enables them to reach a place of full freedom and is thus infinitely valuable. Regarding your question: I did have a short experience of counselling during recovery but did not personally feel that it was overly helpful to me at that time. I instead chose to lean into my close family and friends as a support network for the roller coaster that recovery is and actually found that much of the psychological work was done by me fully nutritionally rehabilitating and neurally rewiring. It is generally understood that the beneficial impact of therapeutic interventions can be limited by the brain being in an energy deprived state and thus may be better accessed, if necessary, further down the recovery line. If, however, you feel your son would benefit from therapy/counselling at this stage I would encourage you to seek out an informed professional or to look at recovery coaching where psychological education can be provided alongside an action focussed approach. I really hope that this helps :)

[@helenthomas3101]

I can eat no problem but can’t get to extreme! I feel soo guilty! Afterwards I feel my stomach and panic! I’m trying soo hard! But I think of my cholesterol as I know it’s high! I really want to do this! If anyone can help, please do!

[@carolinebarry5035]

I started recovery about nine months ago, and my extreme hunger just recently started about a month ago. Is this normal? I ate normal portion sizes of food all throughout my recovery, but now all of a sudden I am so extremely hungry no matter how much food I consume.

[@fussballliebe27]

Thank you so much it is a wonderfull video and soooo helpfull. Can you make a video about obershoot? Did you eyoerienced obershoot?

[@daniduty393]

How long does extreme hunger last I started recovery a few months ago and feel like my hunger has gone down already but I know I need to eat more because I am still struggling

[@bleurendom3887]

ily