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Diet and Autism (formerly the 'My Diet Hell' thread)

Steven

I attended an ASD advice session a couple of weeks ago and, amongst other questions, I was asked if I obsessed over anything (it was put more gently than this, of course). I'm often a bit slow to realise obvious things, so I couldn't come up with an instructive answer.

Hours later, it dawned on me that I'm needlessly over-concerned with losing weight. I am 5-foot-9 and exactly 11-stone which, as far as I'm aware, isn't over-weight anyway; so why the obsession? It perhaps doesn't help that I'm truly terrible at everything from basic mathematics to understanding weighing-scales in an ordinary fashion (I frequently think of '11-stone' as '11 o'clock', and can't get out of the rut of thinking that mistaken way). Obviously, this obsession features the usual calorie-counting routines and fretting about the *enormous* calorific legacy of adding a single sweetener to a cup of coffee. All this is difficult to explain because, like most people, I defiantly tell myself that I don't care what others think of me or my appearance...while secretly worrying about what others think of me or my appearance...and vice versa.

Anybody else have this or similar problems?

Parents

  • Hi, I do have issues around food but they aren't centred around weights- for me it is more tied to digestive issues, fear of change, love for routine and sensory sensitivities. This can end up in me eating only a handful of foods for long periods and unintentionally resulting in a lot of weight loss which is really depressing.... but I've also had issues with binging etc. I have recently learnt that issues around food are very common in autistic people. I think it might be because food is such a grey zone... there is no clear right and wrong and also because of love for routine and sensory sensitivities. It's hard to tackle these issues- I still haven't figured it out- I've come back from severely underweight several times now but never in a good or healthy way.... I am learning though. I think it's very much of a question of - do you want to change anything about your relationship with food? In my experience you have to be in the right mood and state to even begin to engage with change. I think the only way to end the calorie counting obsession is to stop counting- I had phases of counting calories as I was trying to reach a certain amount to gain or maintain weight etc. but in the end it never really got me far and instead led to more stuckness. It's quite hard to stop as I presume like me you probably know the calories of many things off the top of your head- but maybe try not to tally them up or delete any apps to track them? I also get really stuck in wanting to do things the same way each time/ day which can result in me getting stuck eating the same meal over and over- the only way that I have managed to get out of this so far is to just completely mix everything up and try to be spontaneous and go with what I fancy. I know people always say small changes etc are easier but for me if I do that I will just keep comparing to and want to go back to my routine (as it is so close to it) and will stay stuck.... Not sure how this might apply to you but I know that for me at least with these issues, going all in is the way that works best. ie I try to switch off my brain. Not working great but I'm trying.... I hope you figure out a way to be more at peace with food etc- it's not a nice thing to struggle with -we all deserve to be healthy and free. 

Reply

  • Hi, I do have issues around food but they aren't centred around weights- for me it is more tied to digestive issues, fear of change, love for routine and sensory sensitivities. This can end up in me eating only a handful of foods for long periods and unintentionally resulting in a lot of weight loss which is really depressing.... but I've also had issues with binging etc. I have recently learnt that issues around food are very common in autistic people. I think it might be because food is such a grey zone... there is no clear right and wrong and also because of love for routine and sensory sensitivities. It's hard to tackle these issues- I still haven't figured it out- I've come back from severely underweight several times now but never in a good or healthy way.... I am learning though. I think it's very much of a question of - do you want to change anything about your relationship with food? In my experience you have to be in the right mood and state to even begin to engage with change. I think the only way to end the calorie counting obsession is to stop counting- I had phases of counting calories as I was trying to reach a certain amount to gain or maintain weight etc. but in the end it never really got me far and instead led to more stuckness. It's quite hard to stop as I presume like me you probably know the calories of many things off the top of your head- but maybe try not to tally them up or delete any apps to track them? I also get really stuck in wanting to do things the same way each time/ day which can result in me getting stuck eating the same meal over and over- the only way that I have managed to get out of this so far is to just completely mix everything up and try to be spontaneous and go with what I fancy. I know people always say small changes etc are easier but for me if I do that I will just keep comparing to and want to go back to my routine (as it is so close to it) and will stay stuck.... Not sure how this might apply to you but I know that for me at least with these issues, going all in is the way that works best. ie I try to switch off my brain. Not working great but I'm trying.... I hope you figure out a way to be more at peace with food etc- it's not a nice thing to struggle with -we all deserve to be healthy and free. 

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