Do I have an eating disorder?

If you believe you have an eating disorder, you need to get help as soon as possible. With that said, I think this is normal dieting behavior - almost every dieter who is misinformed about nutrition does it. It usually goes like this:
1. you eat too little, thinking that would accelerate your weight loss (and it does) which involves a lot of stress, hunger and deprivation.
2. You reach your desired weight
3. Your willower basically gives out. Your body, starved of nutrients, ramps up the production of hormones that increase hunger + emotional reaction to deprivation and you end up with a huge long-winded binge.
4. Oblivious to the fact that weight fluctuates naturally + gaining some weight from the binges, you start obsessing about the numbers on the scale
5. back to 1 and repeat.

To break this cycle you need to do a few things:
- Stop fad dieting, starving yourself, labeling foods as bad (that induces guilt which fuels the cycle)
- Pick a reasonable target, about 0.5 lb per week in you case, set your calories to that and patiently follow through without stressing yourself, changing your habits slowly.
- Realize that the scale can change its numbers depending on how much sodium you eat, volume of your food, water retention, new exercise, alcohol, being constipated..etc. Real weight loss is a general trend. There are apps that can help you calculate that. I use Libra for Android.
- Realize that it takes time to retrain the way you view food, so don't stress if you can't indulge within your calorie budget without feeling guilty right away. It's a process.

You do not have an eating disorder. I'm not really sure who on this thread so far is even qualified to make such an assessment. You do not need to get medical attention.

Its really pretty normal for someone to gain 10 pounds in a few months. It is possible that some of that is water weight, and some is fat and a small amount of muscle gain as well. The reverse side. It is possible to lose 10 pounds over the course of a few months. 1-2 pounds per week. Completely normal and doable.

You should start tracking better, perhaps you are eating more than you think.

brianpperkins wrote: »

"When I'm motivated to lose weight I eat as healthy as possible and I basically starve myself."

Just look at the contradiction within your first sentence ... and discuss that with a professional.

I think what she meant by this was that she's basically starving herself, and the only exceptions she makes is for food considered very nutrient dense. This is not a contradiction, but it is unhealthy.

I am a psychologist, but I it is impossible for someone on these forums to help you in the way that you need. Based on the information you provided, one cannot make a diagnosis of ED -- that being said, you do seem to have disordered thinking about food/eating and at the very least, it's bothering you. I would recommend talking with a professional about your concerns and getting help.

jainafaith wrote: »

When I'm motivated to lose weight I eat as healthy as possible and I basically starve myself. I eat very little. Once I reach my goal weight I end up changing my diet and binging on lots and lots of junk food. I would gain up to 10-12 lbs after binging. I start to obsess over my weight. I would check it several times a day. I would check when I wake up, after I eat lunch, after I workout, after I use the bathroom, after I drink water etc... I monitor my weight the whole day and it upsets me. I was 125 lbs a few months ago when I was barely eating. Now I eat soooo much that I reached 135 lbs in a short period of time. My weight always fluctuates like this. I don't understand how I can eat very little for a while and next thing you know my eating habits are the opposite. What can I do about this?

If you think you have an eating disorder you need to make an appointment with your doctor immediately and not ask the question to a bunch of internet strangers. We will all provide answers based on our own filters, and some of the "no" answers might come from people who have eating disorders themselves.

That said, what you described sounds like disordered eating to me. Consult with your doctor.

amusedmonkey wrote: »

If you believe you have an eating disorder, you need to get help as soon as possible. With that said, I think this is normal dieting behavior - almost every dieter who is misinformed about nutrition does it. It usually goes like this:
1. you eat too little, thinking that would accelerate your weight loss (and it does) which involves a lot of stress, hunger and deprivation.
2. You reach your desired weight
3. Your willower basically gives out. Your body, starved of nutrients, ramps up the production of hormones that increase hunger + emotional reaction to deprivation and you end up with a huge long-winded binge.
4. Oblivious to the fact that weight fluctuates naturally + gaining some weight from the binges, you start obsessing about the numbers on the scale
5. back to 1 and repeat.

To break this cycle you need to do a few things:
- Stop fad dieting, starving yourself, labeling foods as bad (that induces guilt which fuels the cycle)
- Pick a reasonable target, about 0.5 lb per week in you case, set your calories to that and patiently follow through without stressing yourself, changing your habits slowly.
- Realize that the scale can change its numbers depending on how much sodium you eat, volume of your food, water retention, new exercise, alcohol, being constipated..etc. Real weight loss is a general trend. There are apps that can help you calculate that. I use Libra for Android.
- Realize that it takes time to retrain the way you view food, so don't stress if you can't indulge within your calorie budget without feeling guilty right away. It's a process.

Very nicely put. And seek help if it feels too difficult.

brianpperkins wrote: »

ElisabethL27 wrote: »

brianpperkins wrote: »

"When I'm motivated to lose weight I eat as healthy as possible and I basically starve myself."

Just look at the contradiction within your first sentence ... and discuss that with a professional.

I think what she meant by this was that she's basically starving herself, and the only exceptions she makes is for food considered very nutrient dense. This is not a contradiction, but it is unhealthy.

Starving yourself is NEVER healthy. She didn't allude to the nutrition density of her food.

You're right I'm sorry for being unclear about my meaning what I meant was that the use of the word healthy might refer to the type of food rather than thinking eating like that was healthy. It is definitely unhealthy, and I have edited my comment to make sure it mentions that.