Doctors allowing low calories and heavy exercise

alesandramichelle · May 2020

Okay so I just wanted to get some different point of views on this.

In 4 months I had lost 72 pounds 217 to 145 and I am 5 ft 6. I have been to 3 different primary doctors during those months and my weight has always been charted as well as me discussing my overly obsessive exercise and calorie counting (I’m on depression meds and they always ask about factors in my life causing me addition stress)
I have been doing over 3 hours of cardio (75 minutes running on the treadmill, 90 on the elliptical and 30 minutes speed walking on the treadmill at a 9% incline and everyday (maybe take 3 days off a month do to my body hurting and feeling too weak) as well as an hour of light weight training with toning exercises. my body has truly transformed and has done so super quickly but instead of doing it to solely improve my heath I’ve used it as a way to torture myself as I struggled with self harm for many years. I’ve been exhausting myself to the point of passing out and feeling extremely weak 24/7 I only allow myself to eat 900 calories a day consisting of protein powder drinks, egg whites, chicken, veggies and tons of water as well as cold brew coffee. Many days I don’t reach my 900 calorie mark. I’ve talked about this with THREE different doctors as both my mother and fiancé have asked me to do so to get the professional standpoint backing their points of me needing to fuel myself more and stop the workout obsession and unhealthy calorie intake. I, as well as them have all read about how you shouldn’t eat too few calories and you should fuel your body for heavy workouts. After talking with three different doctors and sharing my workout and eating habits, none of them say it’s bad and 2 of them have said it’s perfectly fine. All of my numbers when I get my blood drawn are healthy and normal so there is “no risk” for diabetes or bad cholesterol that would cause them to urge me to these extremes as my mother tries to explain. My loved ones seem worried and the doctors aren’t phased or concerned in the slightest. Who would you listen to? Should I tell my loved ones they are wrong since the doctors approve? Or look at my doctors in concern as my mother and fiancé are furious with all of their lack of leading me into a “proper” healthy lifestyle. Just looking to get some point of views on this. Thank you kindly everyone

rheddmobile · May 2020

First of all, you have such a pretty profile pic! You and your baby are just lovely! I hope you don’t mind me saying so, your picture just made me smile.

Now, about those doctors. They sound kinda nuts. What is up with that? I can imagine finding one doctor who would advocate for an unhealthy diet and unhealthy exercise habits, but two is unusual and three seems like really bad luck! What you are doing is very unsafe, and in fact it’s so unsafe that for liability reasons MFP doesn’t even allow such low calorie diets to be discussed on the forums. So, if your post gets flagged or removed, that is probably why.

Obviously you are postpartum so maybe that is part of why they don’t find the weight loss so alarming. But with your history of self harm and your own awareness of doing this as a form of self harm, they should really not be so casual about it. As far as your current health, the thing about very low calorie diets is, you can get away with it for a long time - you may be okay until you’re suddenly not. As in, electrolyte problems, heart failure, brain dead, going from okay to dead within hours. It is really really not safe to play around with not eating enough. In terms of milder problems, losing that quickly can do a number on your hair, which you won’t notice until months later, when new growth would start to come in to replace old hairs that have stopped growing.

It also doesn’t sound very fun to push yourself so hard, pass out, and be exhausted all the time.

You know that what you are doing isn’t okay, because you told me so! You know that your behavior has a mental health aspect to it. Your family are right to be concerned. You need to seek out a mental health professional who treats eating disorders.

I wish the best for you and hope to hear you are getting help!

Avidkeo · May 2020

First, beautiful pic.

Second: drs are NOT Dieticians, nor are they experts in proper nutrition etc. It's normal to lose a lot of weight in the PP period, so that's why it may not have caused concern.

Third, I'm concerned as to why have you seen 3 different drs in 4 months? Is it possible they do not have the full picture.

Fourth: you know this is a problem. Please see your therapist if you have one and be completely honest with them

Finally: you are likely anorexic - the medical definition where you are losing muscle mass despite the exercise. Your blood work will be fine, until it isn't. There is a thread here somewhere where someone talks about how she was completely fine, until she wasn't. And that it completely messed up her health permenantly.

Hugs, I know it's hard. Please get the help you need!

snowflake954 · May 2020

I too, think you should see a counselor. You are on a slippery slope--you know it and your family does too. Not eating enough can cause problems that you will then carry forward for the rest of your life. Please see a different type of doctor--mental health and see what they say.

cupcakesandproteinshakes · May 2020

I think you know who you should listen to and it’s not the doctors. Your lifestyle sounds miserable and unsustainable .

Get some help as you are harming yourself. Don’t wait, this is urgent, even in lock down.

PAV8888 · May 2020

alesandramichelle wrote: »

instead of doing it to solely improve my heath I’ve used it as a way to torture myself as I struggled with self harm for many years. I’ve been exhausting myself to the point of passing out and feeling extremely weak 24/7

rheddmobile wrote: »

You know that what you are doing isn’t okay, because you told me so! You know that your behavior has a mental health aspect to it. Your family are right to be concerned. You need to seek out a mental health professional who treats eating disorders.

@rheddmobile, and everyone else commenting above, see clear!

alesandramichelle wrote: »

After talking with three different doctors and sharing my workout and eating habits, none of them say it’s bad and 2 of them have said it’s perfectly fine.

Hi doc: I've deliberately increased my exercise and controlled my food intake and lost a lot of weight, do you think that's bad?

vs

Hi doc: My family thinks I have exercise bulimia and I am tipping into full fledged anorexia with my eating habits. I've self harmed before and I think I may be doing this right now. Do you think I should continue to exercise 3+ hours a day and eat less than 900 Cal a day while feeling extremely week and exhausting myself to the point of passing out? What happens if I pass out while driving? Or on a bike? Or while using powered equipment?

Irrespective of anything else, physiologically, the level of starvation you've pushed on your body is enough to trigger ED behaviour in people who have never had one.

You've lost in a third of a year the amount of weight I lost during a full year. And in my personal opinion it took me more than a year, almost 2 years, for my brain and body to catch up.

You are already on anti-depressants so a specialist may not be a terrible idea, right?

Also... silly question.... but when exactly do you increase your calories and decrease your exercise to get to maintenance?

I mean... you've been supporting all this with old energy stores... that no longer exist. And you're already well within the normal/healthy weight range, so...

What happens next?

https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625071-Eating-Disorder-Resources

The start of a real answer is in the link above.

Lietchi · May 2020

Your story reminds me of a friend of mine. Her exercise getting so extreme and her food intake getting so low that she became severely underweight. I think that is where you are headed if you continue this way.

She ended up admitting herself to a psychiatric hospital specialised in eating disorders and was there for over 6 months. She's doing great now.

You're not in the dire situation she was (yet), so I would urge you to consult a doctor/therapist/other medical professional specializing in eating disorders, not 'random' doctors who only look at your blood work.

pink_mint · May 2020

I think the responses above are very good and something you might really want to think about.

One thing I wonder is what antidepressant you're on. You don't have to say, but what you're describing reminds me a little of Wellbutrin/ Bupropion. Everyone reacts differently to it, and any antidepressant. But for some, and I was on it for quite some time, Wellbutrin can be like methamphetamine. In other words, not good, not good at all. But some stay on it bc they like that it makes them skinny.

KrissFlavored · May 2020

As someone who ended up with exercise bulimia, please... please go see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.

You are destroying your whole being and there are only a few options here..

You slip into anorexia, and begin fading away and potentially dying.

Your body just gives out and you end up with a major health condition that also could be fatal.

You finally cant do it anymore and due to how much you starved your body, you binge until you've regained and surpassed your weight you've lost.

Or you can go get therapy and take control of your situation and make sure you can still be there for your family.

Please choose option 4

springlering62 · May 2020

If nothing else, do it for your daughter. She deserves to have you as healthy and as available as possible. If you continue this path, you risk hospitalization, and won’t be there for her. I know you love her, I can tell by the big sloppy grin on your face,and the cuddle. Your family is concerned. You are so lucky to have people who care, and who are even angry on your behalf.

jaymijones · May 2020

I agree with others who asked what you’ve told your drs. It’s very important that you are giving them the same story you gave us. While my mental health issues are different from yours I have struggles of my own. I will admit that in the past when I have discussed them with my primary drs I haven’t always been completely honest. I will often downplay and carefully phrase things to make it look like I’m doing better than I am. I do this because I am embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid. You have to tell the Dr something is wrong, not ask them if they see a problem. Drs have to keep track of multiple patients and can’t see everything. Especially if you don’t give them all the information.

I think instead of asking “is this healthy” you need to say exactly what you wrote here then follow up with “This isn’t healthy I need a referral for a mental health consultation.” Too many Drs equate weight loss with good health and that just isn’t true, especially under the circumstances you have described. But unless they are made aware of the bigger picture all they will see is good bloodwork and a “normal” BMI.

Bring your mother or your husband to the next appointment.

VeryKatie · May 2020

You're seeing the wrong type of professional. You need to talk to a registered dietician and a therapist (or psychiatrist) to go over the diet aspects and the self harm aspects. A doctor could refer you if you ask but seek them out on purpose. The doctors are just checking blood and stuff, and don't have specific training on diet and mental health.

A friend of mine and my husband's died in January at age 30 after her battle with anorexia. Eating disorders can and do kill.

janejellyroll · May 2020

Have you clearly told your doctors "I am using exercise and calorie restriction as a way to torture myself. My family is very concerned. I often feel weak, like I will pass out. I have a history of self-harm."

Your doctors only know what you tell them. If you're saying things like "Hey, I'm currently losing weight and exercising a lot," their advice will be based on that. You need to clearly tell them what you've told us here and what your family is seeing.

dsgoingtodoit · May 2020

Please get help....before your life is cut short by your extreme habits. At this point...you might not see your value. You may not be a person of faith, but if you are - God has a purpose for your life....and you are loved...even when you do not like yourself...even when you do not feel adequate. If you are not religious...guess what...you have value to all who know you...but until you are taking care of yourself in a healthy way...you will not realize the worth you bring. Please. Listen to your family members who love you... and go to a psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in eating disorders.

Doctors allowing low calories and heavy exercise

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