Introduction

Recovery is not going to be a linear path; there will be some ups and downs on your journey. Coming from a place where you can’t accept yourself or your appearance is going to be mentally and physically challenging, and it will need time to heal. 

Recovery isn’t just a checklist of things you are obligated to do, but a deeply personal commitment to healing your body, your mind, and your relationship with yourself. Over time, you will repair your emotional state and your healthy body. Just remember, patience is key!!

To get your period back and have your body trust itself again, it’ll take different amounts of time for each person. These steps will help in your journey. 

1. Eat Enough and Often

After an extended amount of time of energy deficiency, your body needs fuel to operate correctly again. Eating more is ESSENTIAL in recovery and requirement. Eating more carbs and fats specifically will help stabilize your hormones and give your cells energy to heal.

2. Lower workout intensity

You have to reduce your energy output to make your body feel safe again. Doing intense exercise will only raise your cortisol (stress hormone) and prevent your body from rebuilding. To conserve your energy, switch to low-intensity workouts like yoga or walks!

3. Sleep!

You need good sleep in order to repair your tissues and lower your stress levels. Sleep is essential for a balanced hormones and ovulation. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. 

4. Lower stress

When you stop ovulating, this means your body is under chronic stress that it can’t support your reproductive organs anymore. Therefore, you must lower your stress to restore your hypothalamus. Try meditation or start a new hobby. Reducing stress is necessary to make your body feel safe again.

5. Professional help

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Seeking a professional might benefit you, since the experts will give help guild you guidance in the right direction. This might even make the process of recovery faster. Dietitian, therapist, and doctor will help monitor your physical and emotional health, keeping recovery on track.

6. Keep an Eye on Your Health Markers

It’s a good idea to go see a doctor for hormone panels, thyroid function, and other labs to help identify nutrient deficiencies, confirm ovulation, and rule out mimicking conditions like PCOS. Monitoring these removes guesswork and builds trust in your healing process.

7. Stop Restricting 

After years of restrictions, your body is going to need all the nutrients it can get. No more avoiding food groups and eating the lowest calorie option. You have to break the cycle of limiting yourself from certain foods and let go of rules that hold you back. Eating calorie-dense foods and “fear foods” will help with your recovery process. I know it is more mentally hard than physically to accept this, but this is one of the key steps in change, a shift in mindset for your body and health.

8. Embrace and express

Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or mutrals. Having a social outlet during your journey can be reassuring and encouraging. Knowing someone is there for you and cheering you on during this journey can help motivate you to continue. 

9. Listen to Your Body’s Whispers

When you are feeling hungry, eat something. If you are feeling anxious, stop what you are doing and take a break. You must honor what your body feels and try to fulfill the need instead of avoiding it. Remember, you must trust your body.

10. Give Yourself Grace

GIVE YOURSELF SOME LOVE! Self-compassion reduces shame and strengthens your mentality. You must stop the negative thought about your body, appearance, or anything else you judge about yourself. This change in mindset is essential for long-term recovery and will mend your relationship with your mind and body.

Conclusion

Your journey won’t be easy. There might be days will your old habits and thoughts consumes you and you revert back to your original habits, but don’t let that discourage you. As long as you keep trying, to make an effort in changing your past habits, time will eventually heal you. 

Doing these 10 steps will direct you to the right and effective path of recovery. These steps are essential if you want to have a healthy and operating body. The top three steps I recommend to focus on are eating more and reducing stress/high-intensity workouts, since they are the ones that helped me the most during my recover.

Remember to keep pursuing and be strong! Don’t let a number take over your life; you are worth so much more than a number on a scale.