How Veganism Helped Me Recover From My Eating Disorder

My initial desire to go vegan was met with concern and doubt, emanating from both myself and my parents.  Fresh from recovery from an eating disorder, my mind was still occupied with thoughts about calories, quantities, and digits on the scale.

Related–> How to Help a Friend Dealing With an Eating Disorder

My Journey–> Disordered Eating to Joyous Eating

I was enthralled with the multitude of positive effects associated with veganism, though still perturbed by the disordered thoughts in my head. I wasn’t even sure if I truly was interested in veganism, or if my eating disorder was just looking for another thing to transfix itself on.

[bctt tweet=”The benefits of veganism to ones own health, the health of the environment, and that of those around them is astounding. ” username=”soulfulseedblog”]

But the clarion call pulling me to veganism, instigated through personal research on the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based life, was too strong to resist.  I transitioned to a plant-based diet almost immediately after my week-long research binge. Although frightened by my mind’s potential to warp something good into something that just fueled my eating disorder, I was also excited to feel so passionately about something again.

Eating disorders, like many mental disorders, can completely suck the life out of you. It left me just as starved on the inside as I was on the outside…. So the surge in passion for something new was very encouraging. Turns out that this passion literally changed my life, completely altering my relationship with food.

A Changing Relationship with Food

In order to go and STAY vegan, one  cannot rely on sheer willpower. Meat and dairy consumption is prevalent (especially in America), making it very challenging for some to just give it up without meaningful reason. 

My meaningful reasons for going vegan EMPOWERED me to create a positive relationship with food, challenging my disordered eating thoughts.

1. Sense of Purpose

2. Sense of Pride

3. Sense of Community

Related—> Cultivating A Healthy Relationship with Food

Sense of Purpose

Going vegan finally led me to understand the PURPOSE of eating- fueling my body. It also led me to dig deep into the purpose of food as a whole: the agricultural industry, the effect of farming on the environment, the food chain, human diet through evolution, the nutritional composition of food, and its affects on the body (to name a few).

I now know what I’m eating …… NOT for the caloric value, but for the inherent value of what I’m nourishing my body with! I look forward to learning even more about what I put in my body and how it impacts the rest of the world.

Sense of Pride

Before my eating disorder, I practically lived off toaster streudels, gigantic costco muffins, and Indian beef  (they were my favorites). I’m pretty dang proud that I’m not living that life anymore! I’m enjoying ALL my meals, most of which consist of whole plant foods, and do not crave meat or dairy. I’m proud of myself for standing strong in my commitment to this lifestyle!

I’m proud of myself for knowing that I do not need meat to be an athlete or milk to grow tall…. and I’m proud of myself for spreading my passion for veganism!

Sense of Community

The vegan community is united by activism. We all want to make a change- whether it’s to our own health, our environment, or the treatment of furry (and not so furry) animal friends. This strong desire to incite change manifests in a strong bond between those in the vegan community.

I seriously cannot explain how excited I get when I meet someone and find out they’re vegan!

It goes a bit like this-

via GIPHY

Through these three main avenues, veganism completely changed my relationship with food. I am SO thankful for this lifestyle and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Are you vegan? If so, how has veganism changed YOUR life?! Let me know!!!!