u r beautiful @vegbethany - Tumblr Blog

I really hope you feel better💙Sending prayers your way, it gets better!

Aww I’m going great! Thanks for the prayers, babe♥

Did u experience redistribution of body fat after gaining weight in recovery :)?

I believe so. When I was gaining weight I did my best not to pay attention to what was happening to my body. I think a lot of what people think of as weight distribution is often water retention/bloating, but regardless what matters is that the body is doing what it needs to do! We just have to keep nourishing it and being patient and it’s all going to be okay. It is worth it♥

Do you ever just get school done by like 3 and be on your phone and laptop all day? This is basically my life and I feel so sedentary and restless. Like I feel like I should be active and should do something for execise even if its just walking. I feel like I should automatically eat less and that I'll not be toned this way.

Hahah all the time!! When I don’t have to work or have any assignments coming up due, I do nothing. I totally know how this can feel uncomfortable. I remember feeling the exact same way. The best thing you can do, though, is to not push yourself to move but to learn how to relax. I know it’s tough, but trust me it will be so worth it! You aren’t a bad or unhealthy person for not working out all the time. Being toned/fit isn’t going to make you feel better about your body. Of course moving our bodies and exercise is a great thing, but so is rest and self-care. You’re not wrong for being sedentary. Give yourself permission to do this and find ways of filling your time that make you happy. You’re doing great, love!

Hiya Bethany! Could you share your thoughts on wanting to become a psychologist/ studying psychology after having suffered from mental illnesses yourself? I'm recovering from anorexia (almost recovered) and considering doing that but I'm afraid that I'd still be very sensitive to these issues and easily triggered, but at the same time I really want to help other. Lots of love! <3

Hey babe! Gosh I feel you. When I started studying psychology I was super nervous about this. Even if it wasn’t about the topic of eating disorders exactly, I was nervous about how a prof would handle it and if they were educated or not. So far, my experience has been incredible! I haven’t had a single prof make assumptions or talk about it in an insensitive way. I go to a small university, where class sizes are around 25-35 people, and the professors who teach here love the environment. That has made my experience positive and personal. I’m now in a place where if the topic of eating disorders or mental health comes up, I can get through it just like any other topic.

But before this, I would look ahead at the syllabus and see what we would be talking about in class. I also would read the chapter ahead of time. There were two classes in my 3 years so far of university where I didn’t feel comfortable going or staying in class. Before these classes I would tell my prof why I wouldn’t make it and they were super understanding and even encouraged me to go and that they would try and make it a safe place. I had one prof send me the lecture materials ahead of time so I could decide whether I wanted to stay or not.

Psychology is such a diverse field. Coming from a mental health background, psychology feels like it is more related to mental illness but there’s a lot more there. I’m halfway through my degree and I have only taken once course related to psychopathology, and maybe two other classes covered mental illnesses for one or two weeks (out of 30 courses total). If studying psychology is something you are interested in pursuing, it’s totally doable when in recovery. So much of it isn’t related to mental illness, and you never know what you will find interesting. If you aren’t feeling stable enough to take it on at the moment, that’s okay. There’s no rush. It will always be there later♥

I stopped having milk some years ago but at home my breakfast is prepared before I get up and I've noticed some days it tastes like cow milk. I've asked about it and the answer was no, but when I use that vegan milk on my own it tastes much sweeter. I feel so betrayed and my stomach goes weird after having cow milk, I literally have to go to the toilet in about 5 mins. I've talked about it but I can't find a solution

It could just be the way they prepare the breakfast that makes it taste a little different, but you’re right that there is a chance it is milk. If it’s making you sick, maybe it would help getting a doctors note or something to show that you have an intolerance and physically cannot eat it, that it’s not just a small preference. I guess the other option is to see if you can prepare your own food. Maybe the night before you can meal prep for yourself. I hope it all works out! I know how frustrating this can be.. You’ve got this!

Hun I really hope you feel better❤❤Sending prayers

Aww I’m feeling great, thank you so much for your prayers! Sending lots of love your way♥

Do u drink alcohol?

On the odd occasion. Usually holidays (like family dinners) and maybe once every couple months I’ll go out drinking with friends. Never really more than 2-5 drinks though haha

You have such a pretty skin, how you keep it clean from blackheads and pimples? Have a nice day🍓🍓🍓

You know what’s funny.. is I definitely do not have “clear” skin. I have blackheads and lots of pimples, you just usually can’t see them in pictures because of lighting or filters or (sometimes) makeup. When you get close to my skin you’d see there’s lots of scarring and redness and “imperfections.” So often our own insecurities are only noticeable to ourselves, or even if others do see them they don’t judge us for them like we imagined. Skin is just skin. It’s a thin external layer, but it doesn’t make anyone more or less of the wonderful person that they are. Of course, skin can reflect internal health in many ways. I find when I am stressed, not sleeping enough, or eating out more often I do breakout and in these situations I try to take care of my body again, but the skin alone isn’t “bad.” It’s our body doing it’s best, and we’re still beautiful regardless of blackheads or acne or anything like that♥

is it normal to be skinny overal but have thighs that rub and a bit of a big stomach? I naturally have a petite structure, but I look this way and I wonder if i should work out to maybe be less flabby?

Whatever your body does, it’s normal. Our bodies aren’t abnormal for looking a certain way. We all hold body fat and muscle differently. Our genetics determine so much of how we look, everyone is so different. Having thighs that touch and a stomach is sooooooo normal you have no idea. Most people have this. Having body fat is GOOD! Fat is stored energy. We need this for a healthy body, healthy hormones and nutrient stores. You do not have to ever justify how you eat or exercise to look a certain way. Your body is good enough. Exercise can be a great part of a healthy lifestyle for many people, but you do not have to be active to look a certain way. This will never make you happy or confident or feel good in your skin. The key lies in self-love and self-care. Take care of yourself, honor your body and your journey and embrace your body as being beautiful just the way it is.

aporx how many grams of oatmeal do you eat for breakfast?

I use 1 cup dry, not sure what that is in grams. I don’t have a food scale.

Do u live on your own right now? :)

I live at home with my family (8 of us here at the moment)

Hi Beth! First of all thank you for being there and helping other, you're such a incredible source of inspiration! <3 How can I leave the ED identity behind? I feel like "sickness" and "skinniness" are still a huge part of how I give myself value and even if I know it doesn't make any sense rationally, I feel like I can't live without it (because it has been my coping mechanism against very low self worth for all these years) and that if I recover completely I will loose all worthiness :(

Hey!! I meant to post this sooner, but because of this message I filmed a whole video on letting go of the ED identity. I will leave the link to the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoC6VdXOlHM

I know that you’ve been going through some hard times lately, and first of all I just want to say that everything WILL get better. You are so incredibly strong, don’t let the state of events drag you back down to your darkest moments. Right now the universe is just giving you a hard time, but it will soon pass and everything will be even better than it was before! I was just wondering if you would be willing to share what had happened? You definitely don’t have to if you’re not comfortable tho<3

Thank you soooo much!!♥♥ I’m slowly feeling better each day. For those of you who didn’t know.. This last month has been really rough. I don’t know how much I want to share on here, but basically I had to let go of a lot of plans and aspirations and people that were really important to me. In a matter of 2-3 days I lost my car, moving out, a job promotion, friends, relationships, school opportunities, and more. It was rough. I had this feeling of having everything finally falling into place, getting myself together and making huge progress towards what I have been working for. I had this vision of the perfect start to 2018 where I’d have a great job, car, suite, school and social life. From Dec 26-28 all those plans fell apart. It was one of those weeks where I thought “okay it cannot get any worse than this” and it did. Continuously. It was really hard to have everything go backwards so quickly. I fell into a pretty dark depression for like 3 weeks and it was really, really stressful. The hard part was knowing that I couldn’t do anything about any of the things that happened to me other than wait for it to turn around. Which I have been doing.

So I guess an update: I dropped a couple classes to make my workload more manageable while living at home. My house is really loud so I am not home often, which comes along with a whole new set of difficulties but I’m managing. I sold the Audi and bought a new car (yesterday actually). I’ve distanced myself from some toxic people in my life and have met many other wonderful people instead. I’m working a little bit, not a lot as up until today I haven’t had a vehicle to get to and from work and school in time. It’s getting better. I would say I am happy again. Happy and stressed but I trust that it’ll get easier again soon.

Thank you for your love and support during this time♥

Whats your stance on taking a month "off" of being vegan in recovery? I used to think I was ethical but recently I am questioning that and feeling restricted. What would be your advice for someone craving meat (not dairy)?

I’d say it’s more necessary than not. So many people go vegan for (even slightly) the wrong reasons when in recovery from an eating disorder. It is super important to challenge the ed thoughts in every way, and it’s really difficult to do when living in a non-vegan society and having to “avoid” many foods. Even if there are positive reasons to go vegan, it is even a little bit isolating and when it comes to recovery this can be a very challenging thing. I had to take a break from veganism in my recovery a couple of times and it was 100% worth it.

Keep in mind, cravings happen for many reasons. If you are craving meat it means you need the nutrients in meat. It might be protein, calories, iron, etc. It’s important to have your nutrient needs met! I know some people who had to let go of being even vegetarian for a while in recovery, some people found other ways. Maybe talk to a doctor or dietitian who can help you come up with a personal plan that is going to be best for your recovery!♥

Youre such a lovely person. I'm starting to eat more seeds in order to improve my health (i've been feeling super weak and tired) but i really dont know what to do with pumpkin seeds for example 🤔 i know its silly but i tried them on my morning oats and i didn't like it to be honest. Any advice on how to mix seeds with food to make them taste good? Have a great day. 🍎🍎🍎😊

Hmm maybe try adding them into recipes, like chia pudding or bliss balls. You can also try adding seeds on salads with a nice dressing! My favorite is salads are made with seeds, berries, greens, cucumber, maybe some other veggies, and a vinaigrette dressing. Also, try making your own (or buying) trail mix! You can add what you want, including seeds, nuts, dried fruit, etc. Such a great snack and easy to carry around with you throughout the day too♥

Do u pay attention to way 10k steps per day :D? Do u think its unhealthy to do so?

I don’t think it’s necessary. There are so many better things to think about, like family and friends and school and spirituality, etc. As long as you’re moving your body somehow and giving your body what it needs/wants without restriction, that’s what matters :)

I really want to be vegan but I always end up eating meat and dairy. Do you have any tips?

I found what helped me was to make sure I was eating enough of the right nutrients. Part of cravings can come from needing certain nutrients, and the best way to combat this is to give the body what it is asking for in new ways. Some people love the dairy and meat alternatives, others don't. Also, our body gets used to eating a certain way. It craves what it is used to consuming because it is "missing" something. This does get better. It is really difficult at times initially but most people experience this and share that it goes away. Try some new things in the meantime and see what works best for you. What matters is that you are doing your best❤

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