You Can Heal your Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4xvvTAB_Fo

I was sent this video by Kate Walsh.. In Kate Walsh's words: " What she says is important to know". First steps towards recovery from ED, positive movie with many positive affirmations.

Rumi

"Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?"

“What you seek is seeking you.”

"Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious."

"Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form."

Why are you so enchanted by this world, when a mine of gold lies within you?

"If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?"


"There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into Light."

If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?


There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into Light.

It is love that brings happiness to people.
It is love that gives joy to happiness.
My mother didn't give birth to me, that love did.
A hundred blessings and praises to that love.

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Quotations

Every experience that is drawn through any of the senses has an effect on one's health.

Don't waste money Don't waste time Don't waste food Don't waste energy.

When one cultivates the inner look, one attains the conviction of the basic equality of all.

Anger, ego, jealousy are the biggest diseases. Keep yourself aloof from these three diseases. Anger cannot be destroyed by anger and cruelty by cruelty. Anger can be subdued only by forbearance and cruelty can be overcome only by nonviolence. Anger is like an intoxicant; it reduces man and degrades him to the level of an animal.

See good Hear good Speak good Do good Be good

Being a good example is the best form of service.

Friendship is the expression of unshakable LOVE, LOVE that is noble, pure, free from desire or egoism.

Money comes and goes; morality comes and grows.

GOD first; the world next; myself last.

Try to conduct yourself in such a way as not to injure others.

Do not use poisonous words against anyone, for words wound more fatally than even arrows.

Patience is all the strength that man needs.

With effort and prayer destiny can be attained.  Start the effort.

You must welcome tests because it gives you confidence and it ensures promotion.

Too much food results in dullness of mind.

With good and sweet words, keeping desires under check and control (for ultimate removal), one should start on the path of sacrifice.

The secret of happiness is not doing what one likes to do but in liking what one has to do.

Bear all and do nothing; Hear all and say nothing; Give all and take nothing; Serve all and be nothing.

Make your life a rose, that speaks silently in the language of fragrance.

Greed yields only sorrow; contentment is best.

You are not one person, but three: The one you think you are; The one others think you are; The one you really are.

Eating Disorder and Nutrition

RE‐FEEDING PROCESS

At the beginning of the re‐feeding process you may experience some bloating which can be uncomfortable, but it is natural.

•  NEVER  force a sufferer to eat

•  Small frequent meals/snacks

•  Limit gas producing & high‐fat foods 

•  Begin re‐feeding with foods that are  easy to digest

• Once the body readjusts to food, solids can be introduced, but make sure they are introduced slowly

•  Base meals around individual preferences

•  Establish a  structured eating plan ‐  it may be useful to know what you are eating in advance

•  Distract yourself after eating with an activity you enjoy

 

 

Anorexia Nervosa and Nutrition

Easily digestible foods should be consumed to start the re‐feeding process.  Good examples include mashed potato, oatmeal, and macaroni & cheese.  Eventually solid foods can be introduced. High fibre foods should be regularly consumed to help regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation.  Good examples are cereals, oats, whole‐grains, lentils, fruit and vegetables.  

Gas producing foods include fizzy drinks, sweetened drinks, sweets and cabbage.  They can leave bloated feelings and therefore should be limited.

Low‐sodium (salt) foods control fluid retention and constipation.  Consume fresh foods, and fresh poultry, fish & lean meat, rather than canned, smoked or processed.

Energy is needed for the body to function properly and for muscular work.  Good sources of energy include: bananas, oats, jacket potato, fruit and vegetables.

Protein is essential for body growth and repair, and also supplies iron, B vitamins, zinc and magnesium which help strengthen the immune system.  High protein sources include meat, fish, poultry, milk, beans, pulses and eggs.

 

Bulimia Nervosa and Nutrition

Breaking the Cycle

To help break the cycle and achieve nutritional goals change should be introduced gradually.

Meals should be based around individual food preferences.

Initially an individual may experience bloating which can be uncomfortable, however this is natural and as the body adjusts, the symptoms will reduce.  This is only temporary!

Start off by eating little and often.

High fibre or low sodium (salt) foods help control fluid retention and constipation.

Limit gas producing and high fat foods.

Begin the re‐feeding process with foods that are easier to digest.

A structured eating plan may be useful so you know what you are eating in advance.

The GOALS of NUTRITIONAL THERAPY for eating disorders are:

•  Identify food fears 

•  Correct food misinformation 

•  Re‐establish healthy eating patterns (this may take time to achieve)

•  Restore nutritional status

•  Maintain a safe weight

•  Plan meals

•  Do not skip meals

Binge Eating and Nutrition

Breaking the Cycle

Take each day at a time and make targets small and achievable thus not setting yourself up to fail.

It may help to plan your meals and structure your eating plan in advance.

Establish a pattern of regular eating which involves restricting your meals to 3 planned meal day, plus 2/3 planned snacks.

A regular eating pattern displaces binges, with the result that the frequency of binges decrease.

Leave no more than 3‐4 hours between planned meals/snacks.

Do not skip meals/snacks, as skipping a scheduled meal/snack will make you vulnerable to binges.

Consume pre‐planned food amounts.

If binges occur, resist temptation to avoid your next planned meal/snack, this will only increase     problems.

Concentrate when eating.  Being aware of what you are doing will help ensure that meals/snacks do not turn into binges.

When cooking avoid tasting, as this can trigger a binge.

Plan food shopping or shop with a friend/relative, and limit the amount of money you carry.

 

 Taken from:

 SEED Eating Disorders Support Services Charity No 1108405. Produced in partnership with Emma Drayson.

 

Five Short Medi...

Five Short Meditations on the Virgin Mary

Taken from: http://ecstaticxchange.wordpress.com/2012/12/25/poem-five-short-meditations-on-the-virgin-mary/

Five Short Meditations on the Virgin Mary

for Abdal-Hakim Murad

1

The Virgin Mary sat on a rock that was not wholly rock
in a world that was not wholly world

in a light that was Light direct
in the echo of a Command that came from God direct

whose womb was now to house a halo more than she could
possibly long for

and which made her fear
and caused her angel messenger to comfort her

as he stood at the door and mentioned how
God had designated her the hallowed hall for His pure breath to enter

to make a child with no seed but Himself
to show mankind His holy fatherhood over all

within the physical
but without physical union

2

The pen is hardly lifted

The penalty for birth is death

But he who would be born without coitus
would slide out of death without its mortal coil

Would be taken up to God without entering death’s womb
as he had entered Mary’s womb without birth’s usual folderol

She clutched a tree to steady herself
and dates fell to the ground around her

And he spoke to her from herself
to steady her

Rings of tumult sang around her
The Garden’s tree was now there to strengthen her

her nearing it part of God’s ordained structure
to redeem Adam and Eve’s descent to earth

by new prophecy through standing under
the virgin birth-tree’s sacred agency

Adam of no visible parents
Eve of no mother but father Adam’s rib-side

being both mother and father
now terrestrialized again in Mary’s husbandless pregnancy

though all of us are actually children
of much more than our mere mother’s earthly sympathy

3

I saw Mary board a bus at Broad and State
her head covered and her face radiant

small and held within herself
careful and preoccupied

a heaven seeming to be wrapped around her
her cheeks red her lips dry her eyes lowered

interior moisture her preferred cloister
the bus passengers sudden ghosts before her

her shoes small and tattered
her hands carrying a book

If any had spoken to her she might have become lost

If she had spoken to anyone
they might have become saved

4

None can be Mother of God but God

nor Father of flesh but God Himself

Jesus begat in light sat in light and was transformed into light
beyond light’s shapes of dark and light

his salutation from where he is continues to excite us
just as Mary’s humility brings us home

to where impossible things are true
and true things impossible or possible by our own lights

to submit as purely to God’s sheer command of: Be!

more than enough to be
in Being’s age-long mystery

5

In Ephasis is Artemis
with multitudes of breasts
and legend says where Mary went
and where she died and rests

Teets our forms are fed from
virgin light that salves our souls
the two eternal females
through whom our life unrolls

The Virgin ever virginal
in modesty extreme
and Artemis whose many breasts
supply an endless stream

One statue standing among rocks
the other in her cave
whose house of stone is all alone
within the Light we crave

____________________________

NOTE

Walking in the woods as is my wont in the morning
June 9th 2005 Philadelphia Pennsylvania after strong storms and
all the trees dry now creaking in the heat and humidity
thinking of this poem
thinking of Mary peace be upon her
walking along the trail wondering to myself about the
Sufi Tariqa of the Mariamiyya
I suddenly hear a crack like horrendous thunder seemingly from
far away but look up above me in time to see a
huge bough break from the top of a tall tree with a giant screech and
hurtle down toward me at seemingly supersonic speed
I step aside yelling “Allah!” automatically heart thumping
and the heavy branch crash-lands exactly where I
stood a split second before and breaks into four or five
raw pieces cracked and shattered and me shocked and grateful
thanking Allah over and over thanking Him with all my being
my position just under it one split second before happily
not there for it to
crash onto me now safe and sound at the side of the trail
I wonder at the force of it as I continue now to wonder
Allah’s full and Awful Power exposed to me direct from the
core of the universe as if sky and earth and mortality itself were
opened up in the blink of an eye
and my life actually only a literal hair’s breadth away
from death

At the Thursday night Sufi meeting I describe it in detail
to Baji our Pakistani shaykha and first thing she asks is
“What were you thinking just before the bough broke and fell?”
and when I tell her I was thinking of the Virgin Mary
she says without a moment’s pause
“Just as Allah protected and saved Mariam
so Mariam protected you
and saved you!”

_____________________________________________

6/7-6/9/2005 (from Holiday from the Perfect Crime, The Ecstatic Exchange, 2011, first published in a different version in
Mary, the Complete Resource, Compendium Books, 2007)

Ottoman Tasavuff- Instrumental

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7EJbyPylKc

Enjoy the best from Mevlana's heartland. The best of the best. Let your soul take its flight- Roohe e parwaz indeed.

Best TURKISH Instrumental Music Ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h6FgqV1IMg

Relax with Turkish Music by

Cahit Berkay

Sufi Healing Meditation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_SfqDLvco

In Eating disorder, it is pivotal to influence our limbic system and put it in right order. Meditation is a method, which has been recommended by renowned psychologists for a long time now. This is brilliant.

Dalai Lama

"We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves."

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.”

“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”

Dalai Lama

Experience the Essence of Prayer by AHmed Hulusi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuWeWVrsQ4o

Eating disorder are demonic in their very essence, but with the prayer, and belief and conviction you can defeat this demon. I love essence of prayer by Ahmed Hulusi. Indeed connection with Almighty is empowering and answer to many of our problems.

Brain Mechanics, The Quantum Potential And The Quran by Ahmed Hulusi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlxPakZdAE8

We all know that Eating disorders are psychological, an illness of mind, where our subconscious mind dictates and controls us. This video is not related to eating disorder, but Ahmed Hulusi is brilliant in explaining brain mechanics from Sufi perspective. Everything we perceive is taking place inside our brain. All data that reaches our brain is essentially composed of electrical signals and waves,

Anorexia Bulimia Recovery: Top Ten Breakfasts

 

I agree that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Energize your day and your recovery by having a nutritional breakfast. My top ten breakfasts in recovery from eating disorder are:

 

Oatmeal 

40grams of Oatmeal made with milk and topped with half banana, 1 ounce Walnuts and 1 TBSP honey or 3 dates. (To make it extra delicious, soak your oats with a cinnamon stick, 3 chopped dates if not using honey overnight in 50ml milk, 50 ml water, and cook it next day).

 

2

1 Boiled Egg

2 x whole grain toasts with flora spread

200 ml skimmed milk

or Wholemeal pitta bread with hard-boiled egg slices and lettuce and a glass of milk

or eggs in any style, poached, scrambled, etc.

 3

Any high fibre cereal, shredded wheat, Weetabix, All bran, Fruit N Fibre with 200 ml Milk, Glass of fruit Juice and half whole grain bagel with honey.

or try Weetabix served with 1 cup yoghurt and topped with sliced banana and cinnamon.

4

1 English Muffin toasted with 1 TBSP peanut or nut butter and 1 tsp honey. Cup of milk and 1 banana

or 1 English Muffin toasted with 1 TBSP peanut butter, 1/2 sliced banana and cinamon

5

Breakfast Berry Merry Smoothie- 

Berries are full of antioxidant and slow down the signs of ageing.

2 tsp Flaxseed oil

1 cup pineapple

1/2 cup ice

1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

10 strawberries stems removed

1 cup Rachel's organic yogurt

Just whizz it all in a blender till smooth and creamy.

6

Full of soluble Fibre

Beans on Toast with 200 ml Apple juice

7

1 toasted poppy seed bagel with 1 tbsp cream cheese and smoked salmon with a glass of juice

8

1 pot of any breakfast yogurt with 28 grams of mixed museli topped with 1/2 cup of raspberries or chopped strawberries.

I love Activia

try it with fresh figs

9

 Pancakes with mixed fruit salad and yoghurt

10

Best Breakfast ever Barley

Quinoa and Barley breakfast porridge with cinnamon and honey

or Barley porridge with dried apricots, almonds and dates

or sweet barley porridge with a glass of juice

Eating Disorder Bloated, Swollen, Puffy Face (Home treatments)

In refeeding you have to go through many changes, one of them is how your face changes. Due to fluid retention and use of excessive condiments, my face would often swell up. what came to my rescue was Crunchy Betty.

She's brilliant and has posted top five methods to depuff your face.   Her number one method for depuffing your face is Mocha Frappuccino mask, it works wonders on your face. (Do an allergy test first though).

Top Solution: stay close to nature and drink as much water as you can

1

Mocha-Frappuccino Mask (Coffee, Cocoa Powder, and Honey Facial Mask) Recipe

• 2 Tbsp freshly ground coffee (the finer the grind, the better)


• 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder


• 3 Tbsp. milk (whole), heavy cream, or yogurt


• 1 Tbsp. honey

Mix all the ingredients together well. Apply to a sleepy morning face. Allow the mask to dry for 15-20 minutes. Wash off in the shower, scrubbing VERY lightly over the skin while rinsing.

2

 Cucumbers

Get rid of the bloat plaguing your whole face by tossing half a cucumber (washed, but unpeeled) into a blender – or just mush up pieces with your fork. You can either apply the whole cucumber mush to your face, or get a small washcloth, soak it in the juice and dab it on your face. Leave the juice (or mush) on for at least 10 minutes, then rinse and move on with your day.

3

Brew Some Green Tea (and Then Freeze It)

Brew some strong green tea, filtering out the leaves or tossing the bags, and freezing them into tea cubes.

Just run an ice cube all over your puffed face in the morning (concentrating on the puffiest parts). The green tea not only helps with the swollen look, it’s high in antioxidants that are terrific for skin. It can be used by any skin type – from dry to super oily – with great benefit.

4

Break Out an Egg White

Egg whites tighten your skin like you wouldn’t believe, so they’re an excellent remedy for a bloated-appearing face. To give this treatment an extra boost, I suggest using an egg white, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp salt. Apply this mixture to a clean face and lie down while you wait for it to dry.

As the egg white hardens, it will pull your skin in whatever direction gravity is taking it (which is, by the way, down). If you’re sitting up, it’s going to drag your cheeks down. If you’re lying back, it will pull your skin back – which helps disappear wrinkles temporarily, too.

I recommend the lemon juice and salt addition only for oily skin, as it’s pretty drying. However, if you have normal or dry skin, you can just use egg white – plain and unadulterated – in the exact same way.

5

Massage, Massage, Massage

This method uses only your digits, so it’s quick, easy, effective, and costs the same amount of money as nothing.  And you can use it in conjunction with any of the other ones on the list (preferably before, as you’ll stimulate circulation, which helps your skin be “ready” for other ingredients).

How to do it? Gently. In half-moon motions (always going up, to prevent dragging your skin down) lightly massage your face with your ring and middle fingers. If it’s eye puffiness that’s bothering you the most, use only your ring finger in the under-eye area, as it’s the weakest finger and won’t be so likely to affect the delicate skin.

Taken from http://www.crunchybetty.com

Anorexia and Bulimia Recovery Dates for Breakfast

“Indeed in dates there is a cure"

Hands down, One of my favorite nutritional breakfasts ever. Milk and dates are two top foods that really aided in my recovery. One of the world's oldest cultivated fruits, it is high in fibre, essential minerals and vitamins. 

After a fast, eating dates is a gentle way to ease the body back into the act of eating (this is practiced by Muslims in a month of fasting, Ramadan) and prevents metabolic, digestive, and other physical issues that may be caused by the practice of fasting.

According to organic facts.com:

Muslims break their fast by eating dates and water according to their traditions. Breaking fast with eating dates helps us to avoid overeating of the food after the fast. When the body absorbs the nutritional value of the dates, the feeling of hunger gets pacified.

I also love having dates for my dessert and to satisfy any sugar cravings.

Prophet Muhammad said: "A house without dates has no food."

Fresh dates were eaten by Mother Mary at the time of the birth of Prophet Jesus. Eating dates every morning is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.

Health benefits of Dates:

• High in natural fibres, vitamins and minerals.


• They contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium.


• Helps fight constipation and intestinal disorder


• Excellent alternative to refined sugar


• Natural sweetner


• Best food for muscle development

According to natural facts.com:

It is said that consumption of one date daily is necessary for a balanced and healthy diet.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The one who eats seven dates in the morning will be protected that day from poison and envy.”

 

Try this highly nutritional Omega 3 infused smoothie for Brekkie and put some love back into your body.

Walnut, Dates Milk Smoothie

3 dates, soaked overnight in 1/2 cup of milk

1 ounce walnuts

1/4 cup ice

1/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

Add 1/2 cup milk with dates in blender or a food processor with remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. Enjoy.

Eating Disorder recovery Omega 3 Flaxseed Oil Fruit Smoothie

To boost your serotonin and melatonin levels or like me you want your brain to function coherently, then you need Omega 3 in your diet. I love flaxseed oil for its added value (I hate the taste though). I usually take 1 tsp of flaxseed oil with my breakfast and 1 tsp after my lunch. I also love using flaxseed oil in my smoothies. This smoothie is excellent as a morning snack. It doesn't just allow you to tick 3 servings of fruits from your daily food pyramid, but it also gives you healthy fats, replenishes your potassium levels and keeps you full till next meal time. For the wheatgrass, well we all know how super good that is.

Ingredients

1 papaya, peeled and deseeded

2 tsp flaxseed oil

160 grams mango, peeled chopped

1 cup apple juice

1/4 cup ice

1 tsp synergy wheat grass powder (optional)

Method:

Put all ingredients in a blender and whizz until smooth. Serve immediately.

Power of Islamic superfoods Barley, Mushrooms, Fenugreek, Coriander and Olive oil in eating disorder recovery

 

 

 

"Man seeks to change the foods available in nature to suit his tastes, thereby putting an end to the very essence of life contained in them." Sai Baba

Barley and Mushrooms are mentioned in Islam as super foods for their positive properties in helping to fight diseases and maintaining a healthy immune system. In Pakistan, my first attempt at recovery was through the foods that were mentioned in Quran. In Islam we often use Quranic science to heal our illnesses.

This soup or stew made a big difference in my recovery. I could not eat much, except few dates and a cup of chai (Pakistani tea 75%milk , 25% water with cardamoms and loose tea). This stew did aid in breaking the cycle of semi starvation and weeks later in refeeding kept my hunger levels intact.

Super foods:

Fenugreek, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) once said "If my people knew what there is in Fenugreek, the would have bought and paid it weight in gold."

Coriander: Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s) said, “ Make yours the seed of coriander, for it is a cure of all diseases except swelling [cancer], and that is a fatal disease.”

Mushrooms: The Prophet ( SAW) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also serves as a form of birth control and arrests paralysis.

Olive oil: Olive (Zaitoon) is cure for 70 diseases. Among them, olive oil is most commonly used in the treatment of skin diseases. Alqama Bin Amir narrates that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “There is olive oil for you, eat it, massage it over your body, since it is effective in Haemorrhoids (Piles).” (Ibn Al-Jawzi, Zanbi)

Barley (talbina).

Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) recommended barley soup for the sick and grieving. He is quoted as saying, “At-talbina gives rest to the heart of the patient and makes it active and relieves some of his sorrow and grief” (Bukhari 7:71#593).

 

Mushroom Barley and Lamb stew

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sliced Mushrooms


• 1 cup chopped White Onion


• ½ cup chopped leeks


• ¼ cup chopped spring onions


• 4 tablespoons Olive oil


• 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour


• 6 cups lamb broth


• 2 cups skimmed milk


• 150grams diced lamb


• 2 cloves garlic minced


• 1 cup Barley rinsed and drained


• 3 tablespoons chopped Fresh Fenugreek


• Salt and pepper to taste


• 2 tablespoon fresh coriander


• 1 tsp chilli flakes


• 2 bay leaves


• 1 TBSP lemon juice

Method:

• Heat 1-tablespoon oil in a deep pan and add garlic (if you haven’t got fresh fenugreek, then add 1 TBSP fenugreek seeds to oil as well). Cook for 1-2minutes and add diced lamb. Fry for 4-5 minutes and add mushrooms. Sautee mushrooms, onions, leeks over low heat, until it’s all tender.


• Remove from heat and set aside.


• Heat 2 TBSP olive oil and stir in flour. Cook flour in oil for 3-5 minutes until flour browns.


• Gradually stir in water, milk, chilli flakes, lamb broth, barley, chopped fresh fenugreek and bay leaves.


• Season with salt and pepper.


• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and add cooked mushrooms, onions and lamb.


• Reduce heat to low. Cover the pan. Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally till barley is all fluffy and cooked.


• Add additional water if soup becomes too thick upon standing.


• Garnish with spring onions, coriander and sprinkle on some lemon juice.

 

Hearty High Fibre Soup for Bulimia Anorexia recovery

This soup is excellent in winter and keeps you going till your next meal. You can have it as a snack or as a starter. It's high in fiber, rich in taste and low in calories.

Cream of Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

1 large butternut squash 900 grams (skinned and deseeded)

4 TBSP olive oil or coconut oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

1-2 red chillies (deseeded for less hot)

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

1 carrot peeled and sliced

1 leek trimmed

1.7 litres/3 pints water

salt and freshly ground pepper

1 TBSP lemon juice

150ml single cream

1/4 tsp Cayenne powder

1 stock cube (optional)

28grams chopped coriander

Method:

roughly  cut the skinned and deseeded butternut squash into cubes. heat the oil in a deep sauce pan, add crushed garlic  and cook the butternut squash for 2-3 minutes.

Add the finely chopped onions, leeks, sliced carrots and cook until they have softened.  Cover the vegetables with water and add stock cube (optional) and bring to boil and simmer for 20minues on low heat till vegetables are tender. Add salt, black pepper and 1 TBSP lemon juice.

Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Liquidize in a food processor or a blender to form  a smooth puree and then pass through a sieve into a sauce pan. Adjust seasoning to the taste and add all but 2 TBSP of cream and enough water to obtain the correct consistency. Bring the soup to boil, add Cayenne pepper, chopped coriander and serve immediately swirled with cream.

Anorexia Bulimia Meal Plan- Eating the foods of Prophet Muhammad

And the earth hath He appointed for His creatures
Wherein are fruit and sheathed palm trees,
Husked grain and scented herb.
Which is it of these favors of your Lord
that ye deny?
Qur'an 55:10-13

I believe having varied meal plans throughout the recovery is essential for defeating the demon of eating disorder, plus it keeps your body intrigued and your metabolism moving.

Allah did not create any illness without also creating the remedy, except death [old age]. Allah said that he who lives according to the Qur'an will have a long life.

My first attempt at recovery from low weight was in Islamabad, at that time eating disorder, anorexia nervosa had not been diagnosed, but it was there. My mother tried all methods in dictionary for my cure from anorexia nervosa. We went to doctors, homeopathics, scholars, imams, everyone.  One day we went to a cave of Sufi Saint Bari Imam in Islamabad. I met a 75 year old lady, who was Sufi at heart. Every week she boarded a bus from her village in Gujranwala, and came to pay homage to Bari Imam. It’s not an easy journey, especially for an elderly lady. What astounded me how she was so full of vigour and vitality.  When we reached Bari Imam, it was lunch time, she offered us a piece of bread made of barley flour. Carbs, my mind screamed and I refused, she scolded me gently for refusing the food of Prophet. Well how can you refuse such a kind act of hospitality?  She said she was in love with the Prophet and she ate what Prophet ate. She said to my mother to begin my recovery with the foods of Prophet.

The origin of every disease is cold. So eat when you desire and refrain when you desire.

It began with dates, three in the morning, and then we gradually added other foods to my list. Back in UK, I was so busy building my international career that eating took a back seat. I forgot all about fresh fruit and veggies from farms in Islamabad, organic poultry, fresh water fish, it was like nothing existed and the only existence that was real was my anorexia nervosa.  After hospital, relapse and another attempt at recovery, now I dedicate two days in the week, where I incorporate foods of Prophet Muhammad into my meal plans:

List of foods Prophet Muhammad loved:

Barley 

 

Dates



Figs



Grapes



Honey



Melon



Milk



Mushrooms



Olive Oil



Pomegranate



Vinegar



Water

Sample recovery Meal Plan/Menu

Breakfast

Barely dates and honey Medley 300cals

Cooking time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups water
1/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed and drained
3 pitted dates
¼ cup almond milk, soy milk or semi skimmed milk

1 -2 TBSP Honey

Method:


Bring water to boil in a saucepan. Add pinch of salt and barley, cover and cook on low heat for 40-45 minutes. When barley is cooked, add chopped dates, milk and stir in honey. Serve hot or cold.

Morning Snack

200 ml Milk with Fig rolls or fig almond cookie

Drink 8oz water

Lunch

Chicken salad with spiced figs

• Ingredients

• 4 x 200g chicken breast fillets (skin on) (see note)


• 1 tbs olive oil


• 2 cups rocket leaves or baby spinach leaves, or any other greens

Spiced figs

• 1 cup (220g) caster sugar


• 1/2 cup (125ml) balsamic vinegar


• 1 cinnamon quill


• 6 cardamom pods


• 6 peppercorns


• 2 star anise


• 2cm piece ginger, thinly sliced


• 4 lemon slices


• 8 fresh figs

1. Step 1For the figs, place all ingredients except figs in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add figs and simmer for a further 3 minutes or until figs soften slightly. Remove figs with a slotted spoon and set aside. Return pan to the heat and simmer liquid for 4-5 minutes until reduced to 1 cup. Remove from heat, return figs to pan, then allow to cool. (The figs can be made up to 2 days in advance.)


2. Step 2Preheat oven to 180°C. Season chicken. Heat oil in an ovenproof pan over medium heat. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes each side until golden. Transfer to the oven for 5 minutes or until cooked through. Rest while you prepare the salad ingredients.


3. Step 3Remove figs from syrup and halve. Slice the chicken into strips. Arrange chicken, figs and rocket on a serving platter. Drizzle with some of the spiced fig syrup, then season and serve;

Recipe taken from:

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/21181/chicken+salad+with+spiced+figs+and+buffalo+mozzarellaMid

Afternoon Snack

pomegranate and grapes smoothie

or just make a fruit salad with seasonal fruits and add seeded pomegranate  and grapes.

Drink 8oz water

Dinner

Mushroom Stroganoff

1 serving of Mushroom Stroganoff with herbed olive and vinegar salad , 8oz water

Recipe (BBC Good food)

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil


• 1 onion , finely chopped


• 1 tbsp paprika


• 2 garlic cloves , crushed


• 300g mixed mushrooms , chopped


• 150ml low-sodium beef or vegetable stock


• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce , or vegetarian alternative


• 3 tbsp half-fat soured cream


• small bunch parsley , roughly chopped


• 250g pouch cooked wild rice

Preparation and cooking times

Prep 10 mins

Cook 20 mins

Vegetarian, Low-fat

1. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and soften the onion for about 5 mins. Add the garlic and paprika, then cook for 1 min more. Add mushrooms and cook on a high heat, stirring often, for about 5 mins.


2. Pour in the stock and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil, bubble for 5 mins until the sauce thickens, then turn off the heat and stir through the soured cream and most of the parsley. Make sure the pan is not on the heat or the sauce may split.


3. Heat rice following pack instructions, then stir through the remaining parsley and serve with the stroganoff.

PER SERVING

329 kcalories, protein 11g, carbohydrate 50g, fat 9 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 4g, sugar 8g, salt 0.7 g

"http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1898646/mushroom-stroganoff"

Dessert

Fruit Platter: Selection of Melons

Alternative dinner ideas using Mushrooms:

Mushroom Chicken Pasta

Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom Biryani

Mushroom and potato curry

Creamy Mushroom tagliatelle

Moroccan stuffed Mushrooms

Mushroom rice pilaf

Alternative lunch ideas:

Middle Eastern slow-cooked stew with lamb, chick peas and figs

Mushroom barley soup with olive bread

Breakfast ideas

slice of date and walnut bread with 1 TBSP honey and a glass of milk

Eating Etiquette in Islam

Allow your food to cool before eating, for in hot food there is no blessing.

When you eat, take your shoes off, for then indeed your feet have more rest.


There is blessing in the middle of a dish. So commence from the side and not from the middle.

There is blessing in three things: in the early morning meal, in bread and in soup.

Let no one drink while standing up, except one who is suffering from sciatica.

Eat your meal at dawn, for there is blessing in a meal at dawn.

Taking a risk in Eating Disorder Recovery-

God helps those who help themselves

Benjamin Franklin

When I failed to recover at the local eating disorder unit, relapsed at home and hit rock rock bottom and then  again attempted one of the millions failed recoveries at home, I took a risk and challenged my disorder. Changing my social environment helped me in beating my disorder, as I was forced to stay in an environment with no eating disorder triggers.

I love these words by Rumi:

To be or not to be Is not my dilemma. To break away from both worlds is not bravery. To be unaware of the wonders That exist in me, That Is real madness! ~

Hehehe Yes I wanted to see what exists in me, and distinguish it from my eating disorder demon.

I can now really relate to what Kate Walsh said in her book:

An eating disorder is a disorder of behaviour

An eating disorder is a disorder of lifestyle,

An eating disorder is a disorder of relationships,

An eating disorder is a disorder of thinking,

An eating disorder is a disorder of life and values and emotions.

Geez , what a price to pay for thin body? (I’m referring to myself)

Anyway at home, underweight, depressed, sun is not shinning Grrrrr. Your disorder is not changing and you are losing your spiritual connection with God and in your starved mind, everyone is either fitting into black category perfectly good or white category very bad. I knew what I needed, so I changed my environment for few days. Deep down, I knew that it will be just me and my disorder and I wanted to see and monitor the behaviours I would indulge in while away from the comfort of my environment.

It was a four day break, but a break with a purpose to heal my body and soul. More than anything I wanted to reconnect with God and refrain from disordered behaviours that took up 20 hours of my day. I wanted to be steady in my prayers and marvel at simple things in life. I dedicate this recovery to a dear friend who was committed to the belief that I can and will become responsible for my own recovery.

So with yellow skin and shivering body I leave my home for Gatton Manor Golf Club in Surrey. I booked a room, with no breakfast. I’m going to recover by taking my own food with me, I cajoled my disorder. I remember arming myself with Quakers instant oats boxes. All I had to do was boil the kettle, add hot water and within 2 mins my 213 cal breakfast was ready. wow what a way to recover? All the green negative calorie fibre from local Sainsbury’s store and tins of dieter friendly fish were in my suite case. No milk, yes but fat free yogurt was in abundance. There was some fruit and some packets of very low calorie soup packets. First night I was sick, trying to ingest and digest all that green and omega 3 goodness.

Following morning, was I satisfied with my watery porridge? NO! I guess my body had enough of my disordered behaviors and as a result of malnourishment my hunger signals were all over the place.  At the Golf Club, without the demands of work and hectic home life, I was able to stop and reflect the needs of my mind and body, and perhaps it was the first time in years that I knew what I wanted for breakfast, lunch and dinner, something with fats.  I went to Gatton Manor's Club House, and decided on Beans on Toast. At the end of the meal I felt oddly satisfied. So Club House brekkie was in for next four days and boxes of porridge were out for good.

As a Muslim, I can only eat Halal, so every morning I had a choice of following:

Omelette and salad with one filing

Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs

Baked beans on toast with Juice

2 eggs, poached, fried or scrambled on toast

So one of the most satisfying and heartiest brekkie ever in my relapse refeedig was Beans on toast. I know hard to believe, but God it worked miracles at keeping the bulimic and binging thoughts away.

I remember one of my famous rants, who eats sandwiches for lunch? If I'm going to eat, it will be on a table and not grab and go grub.

At Manor House, lunch time menu was limited (even more so, due to my dietary restrictions) , but a choice between packets of MSG laden soups or freshly prepared sandwiches, I opted for former.

Lunch- All Day Menu

Choices were:

Luxury Fish and seafood pie

Ceaser Salad with prawns

Traditional Fish and Chips

From Sandwich Bar

Egg Mayonnaise served with a salad garnish

Tuna Mayonnaise with Red Onion

Mature Cheddar Cheese with pickle

With optional side orders for all lunch items:

Skinny fries

Cheesy chips

Nachos



Those four days were a winning battle against my eating disorder, why, because I tuned into my body's needs. Oddly, I just knew when I wanted something with Carbs, or something with Omega 3, or something just plain sweet.  I learnt one thing that recovery doesn't have to be complicated, meals don't have to be stressful. Something as simple as egg mayonnaise sandwich can act as a tool to healing and satisfying your hunger pangs.  There is no way you can recover without Dairy, Protein, Carbs, Fiber and Fats, it’s simply impossible.

In beginning when I made my pledge to structured eating, I was overwhelmed, at home I completely freaked out. In Manor house, I stuck to decisions I had made in advance because it was my recovery and indeed the choices you make in recovery determine your future.

So at Manor House, I bore the cold, went for short walks when I wanted to get rid of my lunch. Meditated when I had thoughts of skipping next meal and indulged in Dhikr, when eating disorder thoughts became too much to bear.  I prayed, reconnected with needs of my body, turned towards my heart and well just allowed my body to heal.



For me to detach myself completely from my comfortable environment was the key to recovery because it allowed me to change my thought pattern, acknowledge myself and my spiritual needs, spend time with myself. Eating structured meals is a key to nurturing your thoughts and disciplining your body.  At times when I thought I would choke on panic, oddly there was something for me to do, even in my room. The view from my bed room window was spellbinding and calmed my disorder. I marveled at God's creation and reflected on steps I would be taking in future to beat my disorder.



Only one complain from Manor House , their staff is way too nice. Their lovely house keeper kept my complimentary tea coffee tray well replenished with delicious biscuits, extra milk and lots of decaf coffee. God bless them all!