Eating Disorder Recovery

Eating disorder recovery can feel scary. It’s hard to imagine what life looks like after, and you might wonder if it’s even possible to get better. Eating disorders can show up in different ways—like eating too little (anorexia), overeating and throwing up (bulimia), or eating large amounts and feeling out of control (binge eating). But they often start with restriction, or not giving your body enough food. When this happens, your body makes changes to survive. You might feel very tired, lose your hair, or have trouble going to the bathroom. Your heart might beat too fast or too slow, or you might feel cold all the time. Some people even grow soft, fine hair on their face or body called lanugo because the body tries to stay warm. Your stomach may also slow down, which is called gastroparesis, making eating uncomfortable. Your lab tests or EKGs might still come back looking “normal” even when things aren’t okay. That doesn’t mean your body is healthy—it just means it’s trying really hard to survive. But surviving is not the same as feeling good, strong, or safe. Real recovery means giving your body what it needs so it can finally stop fighting and start healing.

THE REFEEDING PHASE OF EATING DISORDER RECOVERY

Refeeding is the stage between restriction and more balanced, normal eating. This part of recovery can feel uncomfortable, both in your body and in your emotions. But understanding what’s happening can help you stay grounded and avoid falling back into old patterns that once felt safe.

In the early stages of refeeding, your body puts the new energy to work right away. Your metabolism speeds up as your body finally gets the fuel it has been missing. This energy is used to repair and support vital organs that haven’t been getting enough care.

You might notice water weight gain as your body rehydrates and begins to heal. Because restriction slows down how fast your stomach empties, you may feel nauseous, bloated, or experience constipation. You might also feel very full even after eating small amounts. At the same time, it’s common to feel both intense hunger and fullness. This can feel confusing, but it’s completely normal. Your body is learning to trust food again.

THE WEIGHT RESTORATION PHASE OF REFEEDING

In the weight restoration phase, your body begins to rehydrate, rebuild muscle, and slowly restore fat. The fat part often feels the scariest, but it’s just one part of healing. Hunger can swing from no appetite to feeling insatiable, and your signals may feel intense or hard to trust. This is when eating disorder thoughts may get louder, trying to pull you back. It helps to stay open, talk through fears, and remember this is all part of the process. Weight often returns to the belly first to protect organs, but over time, it redistributes. Most people find it’s not as bad as the eating disorder made it seem, and body image can still feel shaky here, and that’s okay.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE WEIGHT MAINTENANCE PHASE OF EATING DISORDER RECOVERY

Once a healthy weight is reached, the meal plan shifts to focus on maintaining it. Your body’s needs—and metabolism—can stay high for up to a year, so comparing what you eat to others isn’t helpful or fair. Muscle tone can start to rebuild, and many people see weight redistribution within six months. Hunger cues may still be off, so it’s best to follow your meal plan unless a dietitian advises otherwise. This stage is about reducing fear around fullness, weight changes, and hunger. Emotionally, it can feel good to eat more freely—but also confusing, like a loss of identity. Recovery means learning who you are beyond the eating disorder.

EATING DISORDER RECOVERY HAPPENS ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Recovery doesn’t follow a perfect path. Some days will feel easy, others incredibly hard. That’s normal. What matters is staying connected, checking in with your team, your people, and yourself. Healing happens one bite, one choice, one moment at a time. Your body and mind won’t recover on the same timeline, and no one can tell you exactly when it’ll feel better. But it will. The hard days don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re doing the work. And through all of it, you are not just capable, you’re deserving of full, lasting recovery.