What Eating Disorder Recovery Looks Like in Ramadan

 

Dear Readers,

A reader from Melbourne, Australia asked me what recovery looks like in Ramadan .  Recovery looks different for each individual.  Your recovery will be different from everyone else who’s in recovery, just like your diagnosis and treatment.  Also the pace of your recovery will be very much dependent on how you work it, your emotional and psychological state of mind, your physical condition, the strength of your support networks, and other factors. You really can’t compare your recovery to others but there are some phases of recovery that are fairly common. They may not occur in specific steps, but, sooner or later, everyone in recovery will likely to experience them, such as good health, increased stamina, cognitive mind and decreased depression.

 

The goal of eating disorder treatment is full recovery: living life free of eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

One of the behavioral changes associated with Eating Disorders is isolation and depression. For me recovery meant being able to go out to learn and explore the world, to eat the foods that will nourish my mind, body and soul and to participate in the month of Ramadan without Eating Disorder thoughts . After the treatment and in recovery, it can be difficult to relearn how to proceed with Ramadan without Eating Disorder thoughts/behaviors. In recovery, Ramadan indeed becomes a month of beauty and blessings.

This is my third year in Remission and I thank Allah for making it my first ever Ramadan with no bad ED thoughts on food and calories. I wasted so many Ramadans hiding in my bedroom, fretting over food and calories and being ill.

Only this year I came to realise that in recovery you enjoy a month of unity, love, peace and blessings with increased mental stamina and physical strength.

 

My Ramadan Evening in Recovery

Reclaiming blessings of Iftar after the Ravages of Eating Disorder

In Recovery I accepted an invite from a dear friend to spend an evening with her in her country cottage.  My Friend is 60+ and I often wondered how she managed to have so much increased energy and stamina. She often puts me to shame with her creativity and hard work. She has defied age and her skin is just amazingly flawless. I discovered her graceful age secret when I visited her Country Home in Surrey. She does her own gardening, plants her own vegetables and herbs and eats fresh and organic.  In recovery, I was able to appreciate her beautiful Country Cottage, all the colors and all the hard work she has done to maintain her home and her Garden.

 

In recovery I was able to admire her herb garden, learn about different cooking herbs and I enjoyed preparing a Ramadan Evening meal with her, using fresh produce from her garden.

In Recovery I was able to experience the Excitement of Anticipation Before Fast Opens

In recovery you enjoy that feeling of anticipation just before the fast opens and you see minutes tick by.  You help prepare the meal and set the table for Iftar.

That joyous feeling of achievement when you take the first bite of date, first sip of water. You are just excited about opening your fast with  date and Fruit Infused Water.

In Recovery you Learn that Eating Rights makes a huge different to your health and lifestyle.

 

You enjoy praying and you enjoy spending time in a company of beautiful people.

 

We made a Fresh Fruit Juice with Carrots, Celery, Beetroot, Left Over Red and Green Grapes and Oranges. We added a shot of Wheat Grass Synergy to give this drink an extra edge. I would not have been able to do that few years back.

 

 

I made this salad to accompany our meal. Most of the ingredients were fresh from my Friend’s Garden. Fresh Produce Tastes so different.

 

 

Add all the Salad Ingredients, whatever is available. Combine extra virgin olive oil, we used oregano oil and vinegar, season with salt and pepper, then toss with Salad Leaves.

 

 

I would not have been able to sit and enjoy my Iftar in her beautiful company and have her share mint yogurt with me.

 

 

Simple Recipes Healthy Eating

 

In recovery we are the decision-makers of ourselves . We prepare and eat the food that will nourish us and heal us. I would not have been able to enjoy this organic Chicken Vegetable Soup with Home made Harissa if I was still living under the demon of Eating Disorder.

 

After Prayer and before we dashed off to mosque, I thoroughly enjoyed her home-made Cappuccino.

 

As you proceed with your Prayers you realise that in recovery you enjoy increased energy that comes with eating right.

Of course, I have my challenges, but Alhamdulilah (I thank God) that every year I see the improvement and lessening of those ED thoughts.