Overweight and anorexic?

You can be overweight and have an eating disorder. But it doesn't sound like you are overweight. It isn't healthy to eat so few calories and it might not be affecting you now but it will do if you keep it up long term x

I am though...my weight is still at the very tip of healthy, BMI wise

Throw away BMI wise. What does your body fat % look close to?

Hmmm I'm not exactly sure. Do I need to go to clinic to get that measured?

Dexa Scan, Body pod, and hydrostatic testing. These are the three best accurate ways to do so. Google can help narrow down prices and locations in your area.

Oh okay. Thanks I'll try that.

Even if you don't go get your exact body fat percentage measured you should really try to work hard on changing your own mentality about "weight," "health," "normal," etc. Forget everything you ever thought you knew about BMI. Ignore what "most girls weigh" where you're from.

The simple fact is women (and people) can WEIGH the same, be the same height, and look completely different! This is mostly because of body composition and distribution. BMI only takes into account your weight not how much of that weight is made up of muscle, fat, bone, water, etc.

You'll see lots of women who post pictures of themselves and you'd never guess they weigh as much as they do because they have a flattering body composition. Some women on here have even posted pictures where they've GAINED weight but look smaller!

If one of your goals is to be strong then you have to fuel your body and lift weights accordingly. That means you have to eat ... The coolest thing is that the more muscle you gain the more you'll get to eat because your muscle will absolutely torch calories! It's one of the best parts of lifting!

It really sucks to feel like you don't fit in and to feel like you aren't "normal" but to be honest, you should probably just keep your weight to yourself around people like that because chances are they would probably guess that you weigh less than you actually do and it's only when you tell them otherwise that they begin to "judge" you.

Thanks! I live in the Philippines...in a place where an average woman weights around 45kg to 55kg hence I grew up in so much ridicule.

Oh,...now it makes more sense.
I don't know how much you weigh now, but weighing 45-55kg would probably be too low for you!
Maybe those other girls have smaller frames, so may look OK at that weight - whereas at the same weight you might look skinny and ill.
There are many women out there at my height that are 10kgs+ lighter than me, but i don't want to be that weight.
Concentrate on upping your calories and maybe take up a Sport (if the Gym isn't your thing).

Yes the picture was taken last week...why do I need to lose 10kg? to prove to myself I can...I was always, always overweight as a teen, am a bit overweight now and I wanted to reach my goal of 55kg for a 5"5" height. Dieting for 10 years now, yo-yoing too, so this resolutions is to prove that I can do it

Oh I see. But as most people here will tell you, aiming for an arbitrary weight target on the scale rarely leaves people with the physique they are looking for and 10kg seems like a lot for someone your size.


Perhaps a better goal would be to try and improve your health and fitness levels? That way you can move towards your goals while eating a healthy amount of food (so that you'd have energy to work out for example).

And yes! being physically strong is also one of my main goals I guess in my head the physique never really mattered, it was all about the number, it was always about numbers...but I do want to be stronger and I have begun adjusting my calorie in-take day by day. It's a struggle to find and plan food that are healthy and will hit that 1200 to 1300 cal count (I'm starting with this for now). I've just been used to this "punishment mode" and on top of that I will always be a fat girl at heart hehehe I will always love food and fear it at the same time. But thank you really...no one has ever told me that my size is "fine"...

Im glad to hear you have some fitness goals to focus on! I think that will make it easier to transition away from just worrying about how much you weigh (but should still leave you looking good and healthy). Good luck!

It might be better for the OP to reframe expectation.

Instead of setting a "I must lose X kg," type of goal. Set a BF% target goal.

Based on this, I'd suggest the OP get a BF% check, and shoot for the middle of the healthy range.

Per Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage

Average BF% for women would 25-31%. Shoot for 27%.

True that is how I made my goal. I went in the bod pod first got my stats. Set a body fat % goal. Weight scale does not matter anymore.

What a nice, clear factual answer

DSM diagnostic criteria for anorexia are:

Refusal to maintain a body weight that is at or above the minimum normal weight for your age and height

Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though you're underweight

Denying the seriousness of having a low body weight, or having a distorted image of your appearance or shape

In women who've started having periods, the absence of a period for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20033002)

At most, you'd be more likely to qualify for EDNOS :^) I wouldn't worry about anorexia.

solid first post: an internet non-diagnosis.
You have NO FRIGGING idea if she has anorexia or not. All you do know is you can find anorexia in the DSM.
THINK pls. A glance at your friends list and your profile suggests that you are pro-ana and your weight loss ticker looks like an advertisement for zombie thinspiration. Please don't share that philosophy here.

What a rude response to an educated post. If the OP does not fit the weight criterion for Anorexia Nervosa or still has her menses then she does not have the illness, bottom line. EDNOS is Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. It means that she can fall under many other characteristics for Anorexia Nervosa, but doesn't totally meet the strict criteria. Those criteria are there for a reason; so someone can get the correct treatment and help he or she needs.
No, a random person cannot diagnose online, but it doesn't take a multiple degrees in the field to understand there may be an unhealthy relationship with food present. There was no actual diagnosis, just a likelier scenario. "I wouldn't worry about anorexia." should not have been stated, though. I will give you that part.

You're new here.

I'll let you in on something. By and large the community does not respond favorably to someone trying to make an eating disorder diagnosis on another online, particularly when they don't have a verified professional license and are practicing.

You have no basis to make a diagnosis, and frankly, adding the easily googled content from the DSM looks more a form of concern trolling, than actual concern.

Now you know.

If you're referring to me being new here, only on paper. I have lurked for almost a year and only just decided to join for reasons such as this.

He was referring to below

DSM diagnostic criteria for anorexia are:

Refusal to maintain a body weight that is at or above the minimum normal weight for your age and height

Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though you're underweight

Denying the seriousness of having a low body weight, or having a distorted image of your appearance or shape

In women who've started having periods, the absence of a period for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20033002)

At most, you'd be more likely to qualify for EDNOS :^) I wouldn't worry about anorexia.

You're new here.

I'll let you in on something. By and large the community does not respond favorably to someone trying to make an eating disorder diagnosis on another online, particularly when they don't have a verified professional license and are practicing.

You have no basis to make a diagnosis, and frankly, adding the easily googled content from the DSM looks more a form of concern trolling, than actual concern.

Now you know.

If you're referring to me being new here, only on paper. I have lurked for almost a year and only just decided to join for reasons such as this.

He was referring to below

DSM diagnostic criteria for anorexia are:

Refusal to maintain a body weight that is at or above the minimum normal weight for your age and height

Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though you're underweight

Denying the seriousness of having a low body weight, or having a distorted image of your appearance or shape

In women who've started having periods, the absence of a period for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20033002)

At most, you'd be more likely to qualify for EDNOS :^) I wouldn't worry about anorexia.

Well, that makes much more sense

The average anorexic eats about 800 calories a day. It's an illness, and has nothing to do with size.

Plus most of them start out overweight or at a healthy weight. You don't get to 70 pounds overnight.

So bump it up to 1200 calories a day of good nutritious things, like lean meats, veggies, fruits, you know, good clean unprocessed foods. And make sure you do something like go walking, yoga, etc most days for your exercise. That should get you on the right track. Eating only 700 cals will waste your muscles and organs and take calcium out of your bones, which will mess you up permanently. It will be harder to tip yourself over *into* an eating disorder if you make sure to start taking care of yourself now.

I know what you mean. I eat very healthy. I weigh everything and do not deviate. What I do realize now is that any type of exercise is crucial and as much as I hate it, I force myself to drink water.

In reality, because she is not underweight, she could not be diagnosed as anorexic, so the post was correct. If she does have an ED, it would be classified as EDNOS. Don't get on a high horse. Many people on here struggle with eating disorders and know a lot more about them than you would think.

In reality, because she is not underweight, she could not be diagnosed as anorexic, so the post was correct. If she does have an ED, it would be classified as EDNOS. Don't get on a high horse. Many people on here struggle with eating disorders and know a lot more about them than you would think.

I don't know who you're referring to here, but no. There is no weight limit in the diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa.

OP, I'm really glad you're looking into strength training. It will do you a world of good for not only your body, but your mind. The confidence boost alone will take you far. Good luck and be good to yourself.

She might be thinking of the diagnosis when it isn't an ED but just a diagnosis of being underweight, often due to another illness.

You can be diagnosed as anorexic without having anorexia nervosa. In that case, it makes sense what she said -- where it's a physical illness and not a mental illness.