Eating From the Kitchen of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)- One Food at a Time

Healing your Disorder with Cucumber

Hadrat Malik bin Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "I have left amongst you two things. You will not go astray so long as you hold fast to them. These are the Book of Allah, and the Sunnah of His Messenger." (Malik)

Eat from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and you will be taking a step towards conquering your demon of eating disorder.

Allah has mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example to follow, for the one who hopes in the meeting with Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.”
(Qur’an, 33:21)

In order to live, food is necessary.  In recovery, food is the main source of healing for physical and mental ailments. No recovery from ED is possible without food. Try one food at a time from the kitchen of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and enjoy its blessings.  Today I present to you Cucumber. One of the most common problems with anorexia and bulimia is dry skin, thinning hair, loss of muscle, constipation, bad breath and etc. Cucumber with its numerous benefits can aid in treatment of many of these problems. I find that refusing food is almost as bad as refusing air. It is an exhausting and frustrating battle every second and with time consequences are dire and often irremediable.  It is essential to get vitamins from food. Supplements should be taken in addition to meals and with meals for their essential and proper absorption.

Go for recovery Go for Life and Reach for the Stars.

How much do I need to Eat?

According to Ulrike Schimidt and Janet Treasure author of getting better bit(e) by bit(e) “ you should need to eat atleast between 1,500 and 2,000 calories per day. However, if your levels of activity are high or you are high or you are still growing, you may need considerably more.”

Do bear in mind this is only for people who are not underweight and are not suffering from malnutrition (caused by both bulimia and anorexia). If your in recovery, then please consult your dietician. Don’t forget that you need to work with your body to achieve your optimal weight and well-being and that can only be done through feeding.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are very powerful vegetables and come from the same family as pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon and other types of squash. Also they are one of the best foods for your overall health.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) combined cucumbers with ripe dates saying: “the heat of the latter is reduced by the coolness of the former.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah)

Why not have cucumbers and dates as one of your healthy snacks in your recovery from ED?

For a healthy snack recipe, try slices of cucumber covered with delicious medjool dates!



Cucumber has a cold effect and dates have a hot one. By combining the two it becomes mild. From this hadith we gather that it is recommended that the effect (hot or cold) of things eaten should be taken into consideration. Cucumber is insipid and tasteless, and dates are sweet which results in the cucumber also tasting sweet.

Ibn al-Qayyim said the cucumber has the following health benefits:

• Quenches thirst


• Calms an inflamed stomach


• Beneficial for pains of the bladder


• Its seeds are diuretic

Some more benefits of Cucumber

Rehydrates body and replenishes daily vitamins- Cucumbers contain enough sugar and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache.
Good source of B vitamins

Fight cancers - Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.
Relieves bad breath

Aids in digestion- the high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion.

Relieves constipation- Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
Cures diabetes

Reduces cholesterol

Hydrates Skin- When applied externally, the astringent properties in cucumbers draw out dirt and cleanse the pores and reduce puffiness around the eyes.



Hair Nail and Skin miracle- They are very high in silica which gives you strong hair, nails and skin.  

Controls blood pressure

 

Use Cucumber in Daily Diet for:

Cooling:  During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of cucumber + celery juice. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature.

Hair growth:  The silicon and sulfur content in cucumber juice makes it especially helpful in promoting hair growth. Drink it mixed with carrot, lettuce or spinach juice.

Water retention: It supplies the necessary electrolytes and restores hydration of the body cells, thus reducing water retention.

Enjoy Cucumber with all your Meals

A Perfect accompaniment to any Meal Salad-e-Shirazi

One of the favourite Salads of Iran, finely chopped tomatoes and cucumbers mixed with olive oil and lime juice and subtle spices make salald-e-shirazi a hit.

Ingredients:

• 3 large, firm tomatoes


• 2 cucumbers


• 1 small onion, red or yellow


• 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, depending on taste


• 2 tablespoons olive oil


• 1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped


• 1 teaspoon minced garlic


• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Mix minced garlic with olive oil, lime juice, fresh mint, salt and pepper and set aisde.

Finely chop tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Toss with remaining ingredients and gently mix well.  Viola your beautiful salad is ready. Serve immediately.

Serve chilled.  Serves 4.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Want Smooth Skin and Strong Hair?

Cucumber Apple Ginger Juice for Strong Hair & Smooth Skin

Source:www.suesnutritionbuzz.com

Reverse damage to your skin and hair with this great smoothie. An energising beauty tonic in a glass. Juicing is a great way to get all the essentials nutrients into your body.

“Since cucumbers are 96% water they make the perfect juice veggie. They hydrate skin with valuable nutrients. When applied externally, the astringent properties in cucumbers draw out dirt and cleanse the pores and reduce puffiness around the eyes.  They are very high in silica which gives you strong hair, nails and skin.

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber


• 1 apple


• 2 stalks celery


• 1 inch ginger


• 1/2 lemon

Directions

1. Wash all veggies and fruit. leave skin on if organic.


2. Lightly peel or wash with a fruit veggie wash to remove pesticides if not organic.


3. Juice the cucumber first, followed by the apple, ginger, lemon and celery.


4. Drink plain or pour over ice and enjoy your cool refreshing cucumber juice !

Note-Loaded with silicon and hydrating minerals and vitamins, this juice will make you glow and nourish your skin from the inside out !

Strengthen Your Hunger Awareness

Strengthen Your Hunger Awareness- Emotional Hunger vs. Real Hunger

By Richard Kerr- www.bulimiahelp.org

Most people with bulimia see hunger as the enemy. Something to fight against, ignore and push aside. You probably hate feeling hungry because it can act as a warning sign that you 'need' to binge.

It is important to realise that in order to recover from bulimia hunger needs to become something that you acknowledge, accept and embrace. It needs to become your best friend.

This can be a real challenge...

Right now, I know your hunger is scary, massive, erratic, uncontrollable and insatiable. This type of hunger is a NORMAL side effect of a restricting your food intake and is a result of bingeing and purging.

To recover from bulimia it’s very important that you learn to get back in touch with your subtle hunger sensations. The sooner you start to tune into your hunger sensations the faster they will return.

At this stage it is important to focus on identifying and recognising subtle hunger and satiety sensations. It may take a few months for these sensations to return, and a little longer again before you can rely on them 100% of the time so it makes sense to start practicing right now.

In time once your hunger signals have fully returned you can then use them to help you decide what, when and how much you should eat and when you have had enough to eat but for now the only objective is to look out for the hunger signals.

To practice this you can start using the hunger tracker to rate your hunger levels throughout the day. As you can see number 1 on the scale relates to being at your hungriest while number 10 relates to being at your fullest.

As a general rule you should eat when you notice yourself between numbers (3 and 4).

REMEMBER: Hunger is the most powerful binge trigger there is, so don’t let yourself get down to numbers 1 or 2 or you may trigger a binge.

REMEMBER: Bulimia often makes you eat beyond number 7, whereby you feel uncomfortably full. This puts you at high risk of feeling the need to purge. Staying between numbers 6 & 7 will help you feel comfortable after eating.

If you don’t feel any hunger sensations continue with structured eating, ensure you eat without distractions and eat slowly. In time the sensations will return. 

I found that after the first few months of structured eating I did start to feel real hunger and fullness sensations. Although this was only at certain times of the day and I couldn't really rely on them fully until way after a year of recovery. That can sound scary, ecpecially if you're just starting out on recovery, but it is so important to keep the bigger picture in mind. It's also important to understand that everyone is totally different, often your true hunger and fullness signals can return within only a few weeks.

 

No matter how much time it ends up taking, recovery is always worth it! Think about how long you've had bulimia for, if it takes you a few months or even a year to get those hunger and fullness signals working 100% of the time it's still really nothing when you have the rest of your wonderful, bulimia-free life ahead of you!

 

A great tip to distinguish emotional hunger from real hunger is that you feel emotional hunger high up around the throat, where as you feel real hunger lower down near your stomach. It might sound a little strange at first, but when you know you're trying to numb emotions with a binge think about it and I bet you'll feel that same sensation in your throat!

 

Catherine Liberty (BRS Coach)

 

 

Task for today

Throughout the day try to rate your hunger level using the scale above. At first this will be a big challenge and It may take weeks before you start to really recognise your first subtle sensations of hunger but stick with it.

The more you practise the stronger the signals will become.  

Source: www.bulimiahelp.org

Getting Sectioned for My Eating Disorder- Detained and Locked Away for my Anorexia

I have been asked quite a few questions on sectioning for Eating Disorders under the UK Mental Health Act. Having an eating disorder especially Anorexia nervosa and a BMI below 13  puts you at higher risk of being sectioned  simply because you can become uncooperative and even aggressive so it may mean you need to be sectioned in order to treat you. I escaped sectioning very narrowly. I instead went into hospital voluntarily. I remember how my reasoning skills had become very impaired, and my delusion of being fat had spiraled out of control. That’s where enforced refeeding can work for patients with anorexia, providing it is done correctly and with sensitivity taking into account patient’s history, background, culture and religion: it gets your brain to the point where you have a half-chance of thinking coherently again. Fear of feeding tube encouraged me to gain weight. It is a shame that after all that time the battle is far from over. Going inpatient is often a right choice to make it puts you at a much, much higher advantage and gives you a much higher chance of successfully recovering.

A reader is sharing her experience of getting sectioned with us. We have omitted lots of details from her story. The world of Eating Disorder is a very dark and turbulent world, some of the behaviours and thoughts can be triggering for people who are suffering from Eating Disorders and are desperately seeking recovery. To safeguard all, we have decided to use the censor board method (many apologies for that). Also name and some of the locations have been changed to safeguard the privacy of our contributor.

What is Sectioning?

According to Royal College of Psychiatrists “being sectioned means being admitted to hospital whether or not you agree to it. The legal authority for your admission to hospital comes from the Mental Health Act rather than from your consent. This is usually because you are unable or unwilling to consent. The term ‘sectioned’ just means using a ‘section’ or paragraph from the Mental Health Act as the authority for your detention. A better word is 'detained'. You are detained under the Mental Health Act. The paragraph or ‘section’ number is often used so a patient may told they are on a section 2 or section 3.”

Sectioned for Anorexia

I was sectioned and held forcibly against my will for three months. They simply pinned me to ground, tied my arms and legs with my mother’s scarf and threw me in the back of my father’s Mercedes, two of my brothers sat with me in the back, while my father drove at record breaking speed to the local hospital. To drown my screams, a bollywood music was playing at full blast on car stereo.



I was 19 years old then. I will be 22 in December. I am maintaining my weight at the BMI of 18.5. In order to be considered recovered; this is the minimum weight you have to maintain.

Families love getting people with anorexia or bulimia nervosa sectioned. Anorexics have a good chance of getting sectioned due to very low body weight. Bulimics are cleverer and will avoid getting sectioned, even if it means playing along with treatment team and manipulating them to suite their choice of bulimic lifestyle.

Once you’re sectioned, anorexics also play the same game. Gaining weight just to fulfil a minimal requirement to get out of the hospital and willingly going through all the therapy programs.

I hated that unit more than I’ve ever hated anything in my life. There was no freedom. All control was taken away from me. I was told that I couldn’t leave the hospital.   I was fed through the feeding tube for the first two weeks of that period. According to some I was very close to the point of death. 

I was forced to remain in-patient till my weight reached a certain point which was deemed healthy for my age and height. If I wasn’t sectioned and If I didn’t experience what I experienced in that in-patient unit, I would still be anorexic today. 

My Anorexia

My anorexia was triggered by many factors. I come from a large South Asian family. I have 9 siblings and I’m unlucky number 7 one.  My father is very skilful in making money.  We always did and still have money.

As a child, I wasn’t abused but I was often neglected. My five brothers had a spoilt and arrogant upbringing. My two sisters were always too busy deceiving and lying to my parents. My two youngest siblings were just quiet and withdrawn. In other words, brothers got away with the drugs and alcohol and sisters got away with the deception. We only had one rule to follow and that was that every summer holidays we had to go back to our parent’s village to spend time with their relatives. We also knew that one day we will be getting married in that village to so and so relative’s offspring.

I first met Ana (anorexia) at the age of 12 after witnessing a beating my father gave my mother over something she had over cooked. I remember going to bed hungry and that’s when the whole cycle of not eating started.  While my father exercised control over his off springs and wife, I exercised rigid control over my diet. It went undiagnosed because my parents were too busy bickering and trying to get my brothers out of one trouble after another. We also missed school for months and months at time, because again my parents were too busy building a dream empire back in their village. They also wanted to avoid social services at all cost and the police that would turn up with search warrants time and time again.  We would come back to UK after a long absence from school with fake certificates that would show the authorities that we had been in full-time education abroad.

Anorexia ruled my life for eight years and it took two force feedings and one sectioning under Section 3 of Mental Health Act 1983 to overcome this disorder. Being detained under section 3 means that you're detained indefinitely. The initial period lasts for up to 6 months, but it can be renewed for a further 6 months, and then yearly after that. Section 3 is all about treatment. This means that you have to take medication (at least for the first 3 months) even if you don't consent. Everyone has the right to appeal against their detention, but only about 13% of appeals actually result in the section being lifted.

I was 19 when I was first hospitalised for this disorder. I collapsed at home from sudden cardiac arrest. I was lucky that it happened in front of everyone. I have no memory of that incident, but I was told that I was out and was given CPR in our drive way while my family and neighbours watched.  I arrived at hospital with slow heart beat, low pulse rate, chest pains and a very low blood pressure. I was put in intensive care. I almost died hooked up to a life support machine caused by the strain that the anorexia had put on my heart. After days in coma, My family made a decision to switch off the machine and an Imam was called to make a final prayer.  But I did not die, that night, my heart kicked back in and I came back to life. I was then force fed through a tube and once my weight stabilised, I was discharged. Three months later, I was sectioned against my will. To be sectioned, you have to have five people who agree you are ‘a danger unto yourself or others. And I was a danger to myself.

 

Life under Section and Inpatient Treatment

The first time I was inpatient I had no choice but to eat. I was put on a feeding tube and through petrified eyes I read the labels on feeding tube... Fat... grams, Cals...grams. I tried to pull the tube out, but couldn’t. I was being monitored 24/7.

Second time I was inpatient was when my family and treatment team got me sectioned. I refused to eat anything and wanted to stick to a starvation diet. I was under a lot of mental and physical stress. With the stress of staying in hospital, gaining weight and losing all control over my life, I felt my mind was giving up. My anxiety worsened and  I just ended up lashing out at anyone who came near me. I was restrained, forced to take medication and injected.

Feeding Under Sectioning

If you refuse meals and supplements for 3 days you will be given a feeding tube. After skipping meals for several days I was forced into tube feeding. This was my second time on tube feeding. The difference was that I have no memory of first tube feeding. All I remember is waking up and being on feeding tube. This time it was more real and I pulled out feeding drips time and time again. I was put on one to one observation for several days.

 Once my weight was restored to a certain BMI. I was taken off the feeding tube. After coming off the feeding tube, I had to eat solid foods and stick to meal plans. I was supervised during and after meals and if you don’t want to go back on feeding tube then you would never ever dream of refusing meals, (another alternative they will offer you is a supplement drink). I was not allowed to move around. By that time, I had learnt my lesson a very hard way. Those 14 days on feeding tube were the most horrible days of my life. It took my weight about 12-14 weeks to get back down to my healthy safe weight. I was given a weight band and told to gain between 1.5 kilos to 2 kilos a week.  I had an eating plan and  I had to finish everything on my plate and stick to my meal plan. Chances are you will most likely be given 2-3 choices to choose between everyday. I was provided with halal meals.

In the unit, it was a different world, where manipulation and weight loss was the way of life. What I hated about in-patient was that basic basic things were taken away from me like my ipod, mirror, and make up, diary, toiletries, perfume, shoes, scale, tape measure and tweezers. Your luggage is searched on arrival which is completely humiliating, despite the fact that my sister and mother had packed my luggage to the exact instructions of medical team.

I saw a therapist and a nutritionist. My family was only allowed to visit me once a week and those visits were often filled by arguments and negotiations. I hated inpatient with sheer vengeance. I hated my family. I knew if I wanted to get out, I had to sacrifice everything and do what everyone wanted me to do.

 

Leaving Inpatient

I was discharged within three months because of the increased pressure from my family and relatives that I would make a full recovery if my family was close by and more intimately involved with my treatment—helping to administer feeding, working with the medication and so on.  Of course, my family had their own agenda and I agreed with them on home treatment simply because who wouldn’t want to go home from the eating disorder unit? Forced into leaving home was very disruptive and depressing. But I was out of control. I simply wasn't capable, at that time, of being sane or rational. The depression that I was experiencing was severe.  I didn't sleep, I couldn't concentrate, I could only see one thing and that was fat and layers of fat on my body. And yet I didn't want to be in hospital. I wanted to be discharged, or to discharge myself, so that I could go quietly on my way and live my life without rigid rules of the hospital.  So I reached a compromise with my parents that I gain weight, attend day unit, behave myself and get married. I went to Day unit and left the program after four weeks. What happened after the Day unit is irrelevant. Am I recovered? Yes, I am. Food is a very small struggle, but I’m never ever giving that control to anyone ever again. I maintain my weight because yes that experience has scared me for life.  That act of taking away my iPod, my toiletries, and my tape measure is something I never want to experience again. It has made me tough. At times I dance to my family’s tune and at times they dance to my tune.

The day I was discharged with restored weight it was the most disturbed day of my life. My mind felt numb.  After losing your liberty, autonomy and freedom of choice, home feels like heaven. That freedom to make small choices is the greatest thing you can ever experience.

I don’t know how to explain this, but if I compare anorexia and my family, then anorexia is my worst enemy. My family did not send me to hospital and to my grave but my anorexia did. The voice telling me to starve myself to death did not belong to my family but to my anorexia. Under weight, malnourished and erratic behaviour was not dictated by my family but my anorexia.

The issues I have with my family are my personal issues and if I was anorexic, underweight, brain dead, low in self-esteem, then today I wouldn’t be fighting the battle I am fighting for myself. Over the years I have gotten used to my history of eating disorder and I'm aware it will always be a part of my life. My mum still gets emotional about it sometimes and looks for signs of a new episode. I used to get really down about it and not want to talk about it. I still don’t talk about it. But now I want to share my experience and try and to help other people in the same position, why because many people don't fully understand the condition and there is still a huge amount of ignorance about it.

From my personal experience, it is much better to try and work with your team prior to getting the point of being sectioned.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. May God Bless you and protect you and fill your life with love, light and eternal blessings.

 

I really believe that more time and resources should be invested in educating people to increase understanding of eating disorders in Muslim communities so that we can reduce the stigma and discrimination but also to save lives and control the situation before it gets out of hands.

Peace on all of us.

7 Key Steps to Kick Binge Eating Addiction out of Your Head

7 Key Steps to Kick Binge Eating Addiction out of Your Head

By Karen Philips

 

Binge eating / overeating is mainly an emotional problem. The good news is that you will be able to stop binge eating if you start to feel more confident, more powerful, more energised and more loved and loving. I guarantee that if you start feeling more positive about yourself it will be easier for you to stop this addiction.

To make things easier and more practical here are 7 Important Steps to kick binge eating out of your head.

Step 1. Make your S.M.A.R.T. goals: that is Specific, Meaningful, Attainable, Realistic and Timed.  For example, goals like "lose weight", "eat healthy", or 'have less stress' are far too vague and unspecific to help to create a positive change.  On the other hand, goals like "eat only 5 small meals a day and only water in between" , " exercise 30 minutes a day every day"  or "meditate 15 min a day every day" sounds much more specific, meaningful and realistic.

Step 2. Decide your final moment of success.

How would you know when you finally achieved your goal? For this reason you should create a picture in your head of the "ideal you". For instance, you may see a picture of yourself as a slim, happy and radiant lady who eats 5 small meals a day, exercises 30 min a day and mediate at least 15 minutes a day.  She does it all with ease and enthusiasm.

Keeping this picture in your head will always remain you of who you are going to be. When you achieve what you imagined - that will be your final moment of success.

Step 3.  Identify your friends and enemies. Take a piece of paper and draw a vertical line on the middle of page from the top to the bottom of the page. On the very top of the page on the left half write FRIENDS and ENEMIES on the other half. Then think creatively what are they. For example, your friends could be exercise, meditation, eating fruits and vegetables, drinking water, feelings of excitement etc. Your enemies could be deep fried food, rich cakes, loneliness, boredom, sitting on the sofa, laying in bed too long, watching TV too much, negative attitude and stress.

Constantly remain yourself of who they are (friends and enemies) and decide who you are going to be with: with your friends or with your enemies.

Step 4.  Chew your food longer and start the meal with a mouthful of protein. When you start every meal with a mouthful of protein this reduces the cravings. This also reduces the amount of insulin released by your pancreas.

Make affirmation for yourself like: "The more I chew my food the healthier I become". Repeat it as often as possible.

Step 5. Drink more water while you eat. Before you start eating - have a glass of water. Water fills the stomach and can reduce the cravings.

Step 6. Meditate every day to get in tune with your body. Binge eating means that you are not in tune with your body and eat emotionally instead of eating when you are hungry. Binge eating means you use food as a tranquiliser and pain reliever.

To stop doing that you must know when your body is hungry and when you just have cravings and urges.  Meditation is the best tool to focus your attention on your body's vibrations and be able to identify your body's needs.

Step 7. Exercise at least  30 minutes a day. Regular exercises will speed up  your metabolism and correct the damage binge eating may have done to your body. Regular exercises will also make your body to produce special chemicals - endorphins which make you happier, beautiful, radiant and confident.  When you become happy, beautiful, confident and healthy - the binge eating will stop. Guarantee!!! Can you put yourself in this picture?

Source: http://www.mom-please-help.com/

Eid Al-Adha and Demon of Eating Disorder- Survival Tips

Eid Al-Adha and Demon of Eating Disorder-

Celebrate the Day Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Loved and Not your Eating Disorder

To all Muslims around the world, I wish you all a very happy, peaceful and blessed Eid.

For people suffering from eating disorders, their friends, and their families the Eid can be a time of exceptional stress and frustration.

On the 10^th day of Dhul Hijjah, the three day celebration of Eid takes place. Eid al-Adha commemorates when God appeared to Abraham -- known as Ibrahim to Muslims -- in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son. During Eid al-Adha, many Muslim families sacrifice a sheep and share the meat with the poor. They also send fresh meat to neighbors, relatives and friends as a sign of sharing and caring throughout the three days of Eid Al-Adha.

No holiday says “food” more than Eid Al-Adha.  A variety of meat dishes await the Muslims on this day. Vegetarian diets are somewhat more common among adolescents with eating disorders. Therefore, as Eid al Adha is a meat Eid, this can bring heightened stress for those who avoid meat or are following rigid Vegetarian/Vegan/No Meat Diet. Going vegetarian can be another way to cut out a food category, which is unhealthy. These three days of Eid will provide a great challenge for those who suffer from Eating Disorders. The stress of being with family, and being in the spotlight for three days, can trigger strong feelings.  Food, the eating of it in a social setting, the preparation of it, the celebration of it, has been the glue of human societies everywhere for as long as there have been humans.  But for people with eating disorders, food celebrations offer special challenges. People with eating disorders, for example, cannot just suspend anxiety for a day and “eat normally”.  And those whose challenges include bingeing and/or purging behaviors cannot just “quit doing this” because it is a special day and family will be around.

But surviving Eid Al-Adha is possible, with some planning.

Note: Eid is a joyous occasion. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) loved Eid. My Request to you, this Eid Love what Your Prophet Muhammad loved the most and be part of this festive occasion. Tell the Demon of Eating Disorder to take a hike.

Debunking some Myths about Eid

Is Eid Just About Food Food and Food?

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “They are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God.” [Reported by Bukhari in his Sahih, an authoritative collection of the sayings of the Prophet.]

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Jibaly writes: “The major part of the celebration is not eating or drinking – rather, it is a prayer that brings Muslims together to remember Allah’s bounties and celebrate His glory and greatness.

Eid is about Good Deeds

Eid is an occasion to increase in good deeds. Each Eid marks the conclusion of an important worship, and the determination to continue in obedience and submission to Allah. In moments of extreme pleasure or sadness, a Muslim never forgets his Lord’s greatness, might, glory, and watchfulness. A Muslim’s actions are always controlled by this continued remembrance and awareness.

Is Eid About Extravagance, Lavishness and wasting Money?

Eid is not an occasion to take a vacation from Islamic responsibilities and commitments, nor to waste time and money in extravagance. It is not ‘fun for the sake of fun’. Rather, it is controlled and directed rejoicing that is of ultimate and definite benefit for the Muslim. The Eid is a chance to multiply good deeds by bringing happiness and pleasure to the hearts of other Muslims, by helping and supporting the poor and needy, and by getting involved in pastimes that emphasize the strong and serious Islamic character.”

Step Away the Demon of Eating Disorder- Thy Servant is Ready to Celebrate the Eid, to adorn itself in best clothes, and to seek beautiful blessings of the day. Angels are smiling and my Lord and His Prophets are Happy. This is a universal celebration.

Importance of Starting your Day on the Positive Note and With the Sunnah-

The following actions are Sunnah on the day of Eid:

To rise early to prepare oneself for blessed Eid prayers- The holy Prophet advises the Muslims to celebrate Eid by offering prayer, thanks giving Almighty Allah, and forgiving each other.



To clean the teeth with Miswaak



To take a bath

Looking your Best- to adorn oneself and dress in the best clothes that are available-

To use perfume

The companions of Prophet (pbuh) and himself performed Ghusl (ritual bath) and wore their best clothes and applied perfume. Ibn Al-Qayyim writes: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) had a special (Yemeni) cloak that he would wear on the two Eids and Jumu’ah.”

Go to the Mosque early



To walk to the Mosque if possible and to recite the takbeer Allahu Akbar, God is Great

Listen to Khutba

Greeting and Meeting People



Give Gifts (Especially to Children)



Smiling at Everyone

Giving Charity

The Prophet would take his wives and daughters to the two Eids, and after he prayed and gave a Khutbah, he went to the women and reminded them of Allah, and ordered them to give charity. (Al-Bukhari)

“Adorn the eids (the Eid-ul Fıtr and the Eid-ul Adha) with La ilaha illa allah, Allahu Akbar, Al-hamdu lillah, Subhana allah.” (Ebu Nuaym)

Survival Tips for The Day

If you are struggling with binging, restricting, or overeating, these tips are for you:

Don’t isolate- When faced with the prospect of food and family, avoiding the Eid altogether can seem like the easiest solution. Isolating rarely helps. Instead be part of the day without exerting extra pressure on yourself, think of the joy Eid brings to people. This is a day, when Muslims across the world in war-torn countries will be coming together to celebrate the day that our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) loved.

Show Mercy- The practice of the greatest Sunnah is showing Mercy- This Eid show mercy to yourself, to your health, to your body and to your family, by making an intention/Niyyah to heal yourself from the demon of eating disorder.

Focus on more than Food, such as the other things that make Eid special. Ask family members to share what the Eid mean to them. Perhaps it means reconnecting with family members that you don’t usually get to see, or sharing in a service activity that feels good. Discuss with family members what you can do together to make the three days of Eid more special.

Try making your family’s Eid traditions more about relationships than food. This may mean sharing with family members what you value in your relationship with them, sharing memories of  past that don’t involve food, or letting them know how that have helped you in your recovery.

Perform Good Actions- Some one asked the Prophet Muhammad, what actions are most excellent? He replied, To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the wrongs of the injured. Adopt one of these blessed actions for the day when you feel that demon of eating disorder is about to ruin the day for you.

Talk to family members in advance about not pushing food or commenting on diets, calories, or weight loss. Often times family members want to see you “enjoy” the meal, and think that the only way that you can do so is to overindulge. Alternately talk about how much you (or they) are eating, or how to burn the calories is also not helpful. Remind family that you are trying to enjoy your time with them and that food cannot be your focus.

Practice gratitude! Eid a great time to reflect, spend time with loved ones, and to feel gratitude for blessings received.

Plan, plan, plan, discuss- Think about what the challenges have been during past Eids or try to anticipate any you may face this year. Discuss your Eid game plan with your therapist, close friends, family members, nutritionist, or other members of your treatment team so that they can help you predict, prepare for, and get through any uncomfortable family interactions without using food, or restricting, to cope.

Spend Eid talking about things that are really important- challenges, dreams, goals, or spirituality. Allow yourself to have fun rather than rigidly focusing on food or body concerns. This Eid can be memorable if you make it that way.

Seek the support or friends or peers- Whether it’s a friend, or a support group, remember that others can help when things become too overwhelming. If you are already involved in a support group, stay active, or seek one out if you are currently not involved. Avoid isolating, and allow others in. Friends can help you take the focus off the stress and to refocus on positives.

Have plenty of coping skills you can call on-  Write in your journal, take a walk, draw or color, call a friend, pray, read Qur’an, meditate, do dua. Use these skills if you feel things are too stressful. Have a list of coping skills ready to look at, or create a coping bank- a box that holds slips of paper with different coping skills. Go to the bank whenever you need to.

Don't focus on Body Image- Comments about weight should be avoided. Instead consider compliments such as, "You look healthy and happy!"

Eat regularly- It may be tempting to skip meals or plan to restrict or diet the day following a Eid — this will set you up. Make the Eid meal just one more meal in the week rather than investing it with supernatural powers. Remember, much of the meal is healthy. The key is portion size and moderation.

Below is an example of Balanced Eating for the Day:



Don't watch what others Eat- If someone wants to eat more or less than you during these three days, do not make that the focus of your concern. If you focus on what you are eating, you can set a positive healthy example.
These three days of Eid are days of eating. This is also called meat eat, where majority of dishes that are consumed are made of meat. If you have meat issues, then understand that Eid al Adha is the most difficult time of the year for you. See this day as a good challenge for you and all the people around the world who struggle with eating disorders. You are not alone.


Create your own bubble of comfort- Eid is not an occasion to take a break from prayers and performing good deeds. Instead this is a day of immense blessings. Double your rewards by taking a small break from all the celebrations and turning your heart towards your Almighty Lord.


Allow yourself to be human- Allow yourself the freedom to have some stress and not react perfectly especially during the most difficult holiday for people with eating issues.

May Allah grant that we become increasingly more mindful of the gifts and blessings of Allah, we become more grateful and also to offer our compassion and mercy to those near us through acts of charity, goodness and love. Those suffering from Eating Disorders and other illnesses, May Allah heal you and grant you with good health and strong Iman. Eid Mubarak to you all.

Eating Disorders and Fasting on Arafah- Who are you going to Fast for, Allah or the Demon of Eating Disorder?

Step Away the Demon of Eating Disorder, Here Comes the Majestic Day of Arafah

I had a phone call from a Mother, who told me that her Daughter’s therapist advised against fasting on the day of Arafah.  She said her husband wished for all the family to be part of this great day, so she felt stuck between her husband, daughter and the therapist. According to the therapist, they could arrange for their daughter to go out after school to movies and to spend a night at friend’s house  to get away from the triggering fasting culture. Her daughter wants to observe the fast and her husband cannot understand how going to cinema and spending a night at Friend's house was going to solve any underlying Eating Disorder issues. I am not a therapist and I am not qualified to give any advice, but I do think that a 16 year old, who has been maintaining her weight for over 7 months now, should be able to participate in the day of fasting.  I doubt that one day of fasting will result in a relapse or her dropping significant amount of weight.



The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar) is the Day of 'Arafah. It is the day when pilgrims stand on the plain of 'Arafah to pray. On this day, Muslims all over the world who do not witness the annual Hajj should spend the day in fasting, in preparation for the three days festivity following 'Eid ul-Adha (the celebration marking the end of the Hajj commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness of sacrifice).

Why Fast on the Day of Arafah?

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah; and indeed fasting is one of the best of deeds. Almighty Allah says, “All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.”’ (Sahih Al Buhari)

Note: The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the day of Eid ul Adha and it is prohibited to fast on this day.

If you’re Fasting on the Day of Arafah, then Remember try to distance yourself from your dangerous Eating Disorder Behaviours and instead focus on the blessings of the day and doing good deeds. Try to lock away the demon of Eating Disorder for this Day.

Disloyalty to Eating Disorder

You have a choice to be loyal or disloyal to your Eating Disorder.

You'll be sad and upset, if you spend your day exhausting your body with compulsive exercise, planning elaborate evening meals, or planning future weight loss programs.  Before you know the day of Arafah will be over and you have allowed this demon to rule the day.  Instead pray for recovery, for healing, for world to be a better place and try to be happy and seek closeness with Allah.

Don’t Forget that “The best of supplications are those on the Day of `Arafah.” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Malik, and others).

 

Should People with Eating Disorder Fast on the Day of Arafah?

It's just for One Day and I believe why not. We know the significance of fasting on this day, the rewards are immense. We who suffer from Eating Disorder and other ailments are in desperate need for some solace and blessings; indeed Arafah is the day of immense blessings, so lets renew our intentions and observe this day for its greatness. 

I also believe that one day of fast, doing it for the sake of Allah will not Inshallah result in relapse or in the empowerment of the demon of Eating Disorder. Why? Because Fasting on the Day of Arafah is more than refraining from Food and Drink.

Tonight, on the eve of Arafah, Muslims will spend their evening and remainder of the night supplicating to Allah to forgive their sins. 

Tip: Eat light and hydrate well. If you will be staying up until Fajr, then the more you eat, the harder it will be for you to stay up and the less productive you will be! Keep some water with you at all times during the night. This will help you stay up, feel energised and refreshed and have a clearer mind.

On the Day of Arafah, which is tomorrow, Monday, Muslims seeking blessing from their Lord will spend their time in prayers, doing good deeds and abstaining from bad behaviors.


‘O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa (God consciousness)’.

As I mentioned before, please bear in mind that fasting in Islam is not like crash dieting, it is adequate in calorie intake and involves no malnutrition.

Intentions behind Fasting

All religious acts in Islam begin with a Niyyah (Intentions). First of all, behind any action or form of behavior there are certain motives.  What Islam regards as essential is that the motives behind what we say or do should always be directed towards God.  They should always be directed towards the purpose of perusing the pleasure, approval and satisfaction of God. Fasting in this month is purely voluntary and for those who are healthy and able to do so. A person suffering from Eating Disorder at times may be unaware of some of the inner motives that motivates them to fast. Whatever your motive for fasting, Don’t forget that God sees us and knows what is in our hearts. These last few days of Dhul Hijjah are all about connecting with Allah and seeking His mercy. Don’t let the Demon of Eating Disorder take away the joy and blessings of Dhul Hijjah away from you.

Don’t Forget that Eating Disorder is a demon that is insincere to Allah, to you and to your loved ones. An individual suffering from this disorder often pushes this reality into their subconscious and act as if they were entirely perfect and right. At the basis of this insincerity there lies the assumption that nobody will know about the secret thoughts they have in their minds.



Consider that Allah knows all the thoughts and secrets of all hearts. The subconscious mind is also included in this knowledge, even if the individuals do not themselves know what lies there. Allah states this fact in the following verses:

“He knows what is in the heavens and on earth; and He knows what you conceal and what you reveal: and Allah knows well the secrets of all hearts.” (Surat at-Taghabun, 64:4)

 

The Benefits of the Day of Arafah

Beauty of Islam: The Day of Arafah

On this day, Allah  grants fasting Muslims forgiveness for their faults of two years, if they have committed any, if not, Allah elevates their degree in Paradise.

The Day of `Arafah is one of the days when supplications (du`a) are more likely to be accepted.

(Ibn al-Haajj,al-Madhkhal; Saffarini, Ghidha’ al-Albab)

Day of Arafa is one of the great gifts of Allah that people all over the world can benefit from.

The Muslims should celebrate the day of Arafa by restraining themselves from committing sins and iniquities in order that Allah may forgive them.

The Prophet of Allah (pbuh) said:

"On this day (of Arafa) whomsoever holds his hearing, sight, and tongue (from committing sins), he will be forgiven by Allah.

On This Day:

Muslims should say the Tahlil (La ilaha il Allah),

Tasbeeh (Subhanallah)

and Takbeer (Allahu Akbar).

It is also recommended to do as much dua (supplication) as possible on this day, since "there is no other day on which Allah frees a larger number of His slaves from the Fire of Hell than the Day of Arafah." (Sahih Muslim)

Forgiveness of the Sins even if they are like the foam on the Sea

As for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allaah descends to the sky of the Duniya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if your sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.’

It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s Favour was completed.

In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”

Allaah Expresses His pride to His Angels –

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’”

Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

Invocation to be recited on the Day of Arafat

The Prophet (SAW) said: The best invocation is that of the Day of Arafat, and the best that anyone can say is what I and the Prophets before me have said:

لا إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَريكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ ولَهُ الحَمْدُ وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَديرٌ.

237. Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer.

None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things.

Reference: At-Tirmithi. Al-Albani graded it good in Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/184, and also Silsilatul-'Ahadith As-Sahihah 4/6.

Performing Good Deeds is very Important in Islam. Here are some Very Easy, Quick & Rewarding Good Deeds for all of us to do on the Day of Arafah.

Earn a thousand good deeds in Minutes Say Subhanallah-
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Is anyone of you incapable of earning one thousand Hasanah (rewards) a day?" Someone from the gathering asked, "How can anyone of us earn a thousand Hasanah?" Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Glorify Allah a hundred times by just saying “Subhanallah” and a Good deeds will be written for you, or a thousand sins will be wiped away.” (Muslim 4:2073)

Uphold the ties of kinship

Treat people with respect and kindness

Be considerate of your friends and family’s feelings

Seek Forgiveness and Forgive Others- Practice the art of forgiveness

Say Alhamdulilah- Show gratitude to Allah and His people. Forget the Past- the past is gone forever. Do not live in the nightmares of former times or under the shade of what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past and focus on the blessings of present, here and now and being grateful to Almighty Allah- Say Alhamdulilah- Today is all that you have.

Visit the Sick and elderly

Spend time with your elder relatives

Visit your neighbours

Give Charity

Read Quran

Help your Family with chores

Smile and Smile

Please try to make most of this day. Remember it is in your hands, what you want to day with this day. (You're choice, whether you want to spend the eve of Arafah and tomorrow seeking Allah’s mercy and Blessings, or you want to spend that time remaining in the slavery of your Eating Disorder).

Remember Every Action in Life Begins with a Thought- Your Thought for today, I will do it for Allah and for myself and not for the Demon of Eating Disorder.

Eating Disorders and Blessings of Dhul Hijjah

Taking Steps Towards Recovery in Dhul Hijjah

The days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most blessed ones; therefore let’s make much from this opportunity. Let us unite and embark on a journey of recovery to defeat the demon of Eating Disorder.

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are full of virtues and great blessings.  These 10 days are a blessed gift to us from Allah, a fresh opportunity to erase our sins and cleanse ourselves.The ten nights mentioned in Soorah Al Fajr are the nights of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Allah says:

By the Dawn; By the ten Nights; (89:1-2)

Among the deeds recommended during those ten days are observing voluntary fasting, offering animal sacrifices (lamb, goat, etc.), sincere repentance, recitation of the Quran, staying up the night and finally praying the Eid prayers on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah.

For those who suffer from Eating Disorders, after Ramadan this is another challenging time of the year.

During these ten days, there is a voluntary fasting on the day of Arafah (9^th of Dhul Hijjah) and many Muslims across the world start observing the fast from 1^st of Dhul Hijjah to ninth of Dhul Hijjah.

"O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa (God consciousness)."

But do bear in mind that fasting in Islam is not like crash dieting, it is adequate in calorie intake and involves no malnutrition. All religious acts in Islam begin with a Niyyah (Intentions). First of all, behind any action or form of behavior there are certain motives.  What Islam regards as essential is that the motives behind what we say or do should always be directed towards God.  They should always be directed towards the purpose of perusing the pleasure, approval and satisfaction of God. Fasting in this month is purely voluntary and for those who are healthy and able to do so. A person suffering from Eating Disorder at times may be unaware of some of the inner motives that motivates them to fast. Whatever your motive for fasting, Don’t forget that God sees us and knows what is in our hearts.

These last few days of Dhul Hijjah are all about connecting with Allah and seeking His mercy. Don’t let the Demon of Eating Disorder take away the joy and blessings of Dhul Hijjah away from you.

You can live your life free from an eating disorder. Recovery is possible.

We should make the necessary changes to defeat the demon of Eating Disorder, and what better time to make such changes than present, during these blessed 10 days of Hajj, you never know it may change your life forever. We must internalise these changes and make a firm commitment to recovery, Inshallah.

Take these Small Steps towards Recovery



Let’s Increase in glorification & remembrance of Allah -Reciting tasbeeh, tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer abundantly to defeat the voice of Eating Disorder that constantly belittles us and controls us.



The following are some easy and very beneficial dhikr and glorification we can do throughout these blessed days and nights.-

• Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd


• Subhanallah


• Alhamdulillah


• Allahu Akbar


• Laa ilaha ilallah


• La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah


• Asthaghfirullah


• SubhanAllahil azeem wa bihamdihi


• Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm


• Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer


• One can also recite the durood that one recites towards the end of one’s salaah or the shortest durood: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim.

Tip: Have something in your environment or on your person as a reminder for dhikr. It could be a special ring that you wear or a sticker placed on your desk or car wind shield.

Increase in Good Deeds

Do more good deeds than usual- be kind, love yourself and your family, offer gratitude to Allah, help your community, visit sick and elderly, help your mother with daily chores, be kind and generous to those who are in need, smile, and show immense kindness to yourself.

Give Charity

Show an Exemplary Character

 

 We must aim to be the best in character during these blessed days and nights and continue to do so for the rest of the year. We must not argue, swear, backbite, slander or gossip.

Tip: Make an extra effort to be good to your friends, family, and neighbours, and especially those of other faiths.
Respect and honour thy parents- Make an extra effort to spend time with them during these blessed days. Recite Qur’an with them, read a book together, discuss a lecture you heard, share your plans for the future and seek their input. Call them a few more times in the day if they live far away.

Don’t Forget that Suffering purifies our humanness
When we go through difficult times, when we have a financial loss, when we lose a loved one, when we struck by bad times, it brings out the real humanness in us, and we begin to ask the very questions that are most fundamental to us, “Why are we here?”, “What is the purpose of life”, “why me”, “What happened to all my plans and dreams, etc. We learn the frailty of our humanness. The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Look at the ones who are less fortunate then you, not at the ones are more fortunate then you.”

Take an Oath to Love yourself and to Make Positive Changes in Your Life

Start a 'recovery journal'

Fill it with positive and affirming thoughts. Take excerpts from Quran, Hadith. Use Rumi’s Mathnawi, Ghazali’s work. Write about why you want to recover, how your eating disorder has impacted your life, and anything else that will help to keep you motivated to recover. It’s totally up to you to choose what you write in your journal. Write a plan in your journal for how to manage feelings that trigger the binge and purge cycle. For example: “If I’m feeling angry, I will leave the room.” “If I’m feeling fearful, I will write in my journal what I’m afraid of.” If I’m feeling guilt or shame, I will talk with a friend.”If you do make this plan, you’ll start smiling more with increased awareness. If you don’t do this plan, you’ll stay stuck in your negative feelings and keep bingeing. It’s totally up to you to choose what you write in your journal.

Heal Yourself By Honey

Honey can be the new antibiotic for the 21^st century! Thousands of studies and experiments proved this. The Holy Qur’an, however, proved it 14 centuries back.

Honey cures the following diseases:

                     Anxiety and lack of sleep can be treated by drinking a class of water that has a spoon of honey dissolved in it (honey drink). Scientists found that drinking water with honey has a very calming impact on people.

One spoon of honey everyday can protect you from a deadly heart attack.  This has been proven by new studies made on honey where scientists noticed that honey helps to regulate the work of the heart.

Honey has a wonderful energy in regulating and reducing the symptoms of anxiety, polyneuritis, and other disorders that can be found in the body, in addition to its calming effects.

Work on your Impulsivity

If you feel compelled to binge or purge and feel you cannot control it, begin by trying to delay the binge or purge for 10 minutes by listening to music, calling a friend, or writing in your journal. If you cannot control your impulsivity, you will have a lifetime of regret ahead of you.

One of the  complaint made by recovering anorexics and bulimics is about the size of their stomachs and The Dreaded Bloat. Are you ready to address solutions to the Dreaded Bloat?

“You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.”

Spend time around supportive people

Try to find people who are comfortable with their bodies and don’t spend all their time talking about dieting and food. These might be people who have qualities that you admire and want to develop within yourself.

Talk to other people who are recovering/recovered 

Mutual support can be motivating, and seeing someone else make progress or enjoying life might help to keep you inspired, too. Support groups can be a really great way of seeking support from people going through similar things. . Stay away from people who are emotionally abusive to you. If they even walk in the room, leave as soon as you can. Spending time with positive people is the way to grow your self-esteem and begin to heal. Negative people will just drag you down and leave you wondering if they’re right when they say, “You will never be all right.”

Read recovery-oriented books

These can help inspire and keep you motivated.

Make Dua

Dua/Prayer is a solution of all problems. Allah the Almighty, loves his creation more then seventy mothers. How can HE not listen to us when e are asking for from protection from Anxiety and depression.‘

‘O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.’

It is related that when someone fell ill, the Prophet would recite one of these du'as for them.

Allahuma rabbi-nas adhhabal ba'sa, ashfi wa entashafi, la shifa' illa shifa'uka shifa' la yughadiru saqama.

Oh Allah! The Sustainer of Mankind! Remove the illness, cure the disease. You are the One Who cures. There is no cure except Your cure. Grant us a cure that leaves no illness. (Recommended to touch the area of pain with the right hand while reciting this supplication.)

'As'alu Allah al 'azim rabbil 'arshil azim an yashifika.

I ask Allah, the Mighty, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, to cure you. (Recommended to repeat seven times.)

 

Help Others

When “you give happiness, you get happiness”. This is very simple formula to be happy. Giving one’s time to provide happiness to others by engaging in social causes have an  effect on a person’s mood, countenance and disposition.

It can be any act that you can do to make others happy and helping them. Helping someone else will bring and internal feelings of satisfaction and this will help you not to feel low of your self esteem. When  you start to put a smile on others faces, in sha Allah you will  feel happy.

Stay Busy

If someone suffering from ED stays idle, while isolating himself from the world, then there is a greater chance of one being more depressed as it is said that “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”. Starting a new hobby can act as solution for your ED anxiety by making you busy. Hobbies bird watching, knitting, reciting the Qur’an, learning, reading books, painting, and writing  are all productive hobbies.

Remember that your responsibility is limited

While we need to carry out our duty to the best of our abilities, always remember that you don't control the outcome of events. Even the Prophets did not control the outcome of their efforts. Some were successful, others were not. Once you have done your duty to your health, mind and body, leave the results to Allah. Regardless of the results of your efforts, you will be rewarded for the part you have played.

However, never underestimate your abilities. Understand the concept of Barakah (blessings from Allah) and remember that Allah can and Insha Allah will expand them if you are sincerely exerting your energies for the right path.

Leave the demands of ED behind you five times a day

Use the five daily prayers as a means to become more connected with Allah and less attached to the demon of Eating Disorder. Start distancing yourself from the demands of Eating Disorder as soon as you hear Adhan, the call to prayer.  When you perform Wudu, keep repeating Shahada, the declaration of faith, as water drops slip down your face, hands, arms, and hair. When you stand ready to pray, mentally prepare yourself to leave your ED and all of its worries and stresses behind you.

Of course, your ED will try to distract you during prayer. But whenever this happens, go back and remember Allah. The more you return, the more Allah will reward you for it.

Please Seek Help!

If you are suffering from an eating disorder, it’s important first and foremost that you seek some professional support. You are not alone. Remember you are not suffering in silence. There are millions of people world-wide who are suffering from this dreadful illness and many worst ailments. Help is out there, all you have to do is reach for it. Through our connections, we will break the chain of eating disorder that leads to depression and anxiety.

Excuse Me the Demon of Eating Disorder! You do not control the world, Allah does. Leave me Alone!

Control has been attributed as a key motivator behind eating disorders. Eating disorders can provide a sense of control and escape, allowing sufferers to temporarily forget depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and guilt. Ironically, the ability for one to exert control over food, accompanies their loss of control in relation to food. It is important to remind ourselves that we don’t control all the variables in the world. God does. He is the Wise, the All-Knowing. Sometimes our limited human faculties are not able to comprehend His wisdom behind what happens to us and to others, but knowing that He is in control and that as human beings we submit to His Will, enriches our humanity and enhances our obedience towards him. It is suggested that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can potentially assist a person's need for control and help adjust maladaptive ways of thinking and behaving.

Begin the Day on a Positive Note

Get up early. Get up thanking God that He has given you another day. Alhamdu lillahil lazi ahyana bada ma amatana, wa ilaihin Nushoor (Praise be to Allah Who gave us life after death and unto Him will be the return). Invest in an audio tape driven alarm clock so you can get up to the melody of the Quran. Develop your to do list for the day if you didn't do it the night before. Begin with the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing in the heavens or the earth can hurt you. He is the Highest and the Greatest. (Bismillahillazi la yazurru maa ismihi shaiun fil arze wa la fis samae, wahuwal Alee ul Azeem). The Prophet used to say this after every Fajr and Maghrib prayers.

Avoid Media Overexposure, Fashion Tabloids: Switch to Books

Don't spend too much time checking out the latest fashions on television or internet and catching up with celeb gossips. Spend more time reading good books and journals. Cut down media time to reduce your stress and anxiety.

Pray for Others to Heal Yourself

The Prophet was always concerned about other people, Muslims and non-Muslims, and would regularly pray for them. Praying for others connects you with them and helps you understand their suffering. This in itself has a healing component to it. The Prophet has said that praying for someone who is not present increases love.

Make the Quran your Partner

Reading and listening to the Quran will help refresh our hearts and our minds. Recite it out loud or in a low voice. Listen to it in the car. Connecting to the Quran means connecting to God. Let it be a means to heal your heart of stress and worries.

"O humanity! There has come to you a direction from your Lord and a cure for all [the ills] in men’s hearts - and for those who believe, a Guidance and a Mercy" (Quran 10:57).

Recite Al-Mu’awwidhatayn ; Surah E falaq and Surah e naas

Eating Disorders are internal  feeling of self-doubt and thinking one’s self  extremely low in esteem. Mainly depression that comes with Eating Disorder is nothing but the deceptive whisperings from the Demon of ED.  If one peruses through the meaning of Suratul Nas, it is  noticed that it is a  best prayer for protection from the whispering of the demon of ED.

The Holy Prophet (SAW) said:

“Do you not see that there have been Ayat revealed to me tonight the like of which has not been seen before. They are “Say: “I seek refuge with, the Lord of Al-Falaq.” (Surah Al-Falaq 113:1) and “Say: “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.’‘

(Surah An-Naas 114:1))

[Muslim]

Reciting Surah tul Nas will safeguard one from depression and uplift the mood whenever feelings of self-doubts surface; of one who suffers from depression.

Sleep the way the Prophet slept- This helps trust me...

End your day on a positive note. Make Wudu, then think of your day. Thank Allah for all the good things you accomplished, like Zikr and Salat. Ask yourself what you did today to bring smile to someone’s faceJ. For everything positive, say Alhamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah). For everything negative say Astaghfirullah wa atoobo ilayk (I seek Allah's forgiveness and I turn to You [Allah]). Recite the last two chapters of the Quran, thinking and praying as you turn on your right side with your hand below your right cheek, the way the Prophet used to sleep. Then close your day with the name of Allah on your tongue. Insha Allah, you will have a good, restful night.

Be Thankful to Allah

"If you are grateful, I will give you more" (Quran 14:7).

Counting our blessings helps us not only be grateful for what we have, but it also reminds us that we are so much better off than millions of others, whether that is in terms of our health, family, financial situation, or other aspects of our life. And being grateful for all we have helps us maintain a positive attitude in the face of worries and challenges we are facing almost daily.

Ideals: One step at a time

Ideals are wonderful things to pursue. But do that gradually. Think, prioritize, plan, and move forward. One step at a time.

Efforts not Results Count in the Eyes of Allah

Our success depends on our sincere efforts to the best of our abilities. Unlike our disorder that demands results and is never satisfied, It is the mercy of Allah that He does not demand results, Alhamdu lillah. He is happy if He finds us making our best sincere effort. Thank you Allah! Just do what you can do and leave rest to Allah.