Eating disorder

countrygirlx11
countrygirlx11 Posts: 4
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
hey everyone. i've actually been a mfp member for a long time, about 6 months--but recently got this account as i kind of wanted to post in anonymity. I need serious advice. I know no one here is a "qualified professional" or anything, but I could really use opinions.

I guess, I need to know if I need to seek help for an eating disorder. Not sure which "type", or if it is me just blowing things out of proportion in my head, but a recent change in my schedule has prompted me to really think about it.

As I said, I began doing this about 6 months ago, and since then, have kept to the 1,200 calorie net almost consistently. Granted, not always from healthy things (although try to make it the bulk of my diet). I still eat candy/sweets, as that is the one thing I can't give up. There have really not been any days I totally let myself go. More days I was more lenient than others, but none where I just said "whatever, I don't care".

I'm terrified of gaining weight. I've lost about 12 lbs in this process, after having lost about 10-15 at an earlier point, resulting in about a 30 lb weight loss over the period of the year. I've never been this thin, but I still have a decent amount of chub on my stomach. (5'5" and weighed in at 120 at the doctors the other day). I've gotten compliments, I've never felt healthier, as I eat healthier, work out and am in the best shape of my life. Recently, I was sick, as well as traveling with a group of people to a conference for work, which resulted in lots of free food (free lunches, free candy, etc) and I just went off. I ate so much candy, convincing myself I didn't care, but then wouldn't stop talking about it. I realized I talked about how much candy I ate to everyone. My sister, who happened to also be here, said to me "would you stop talking about that for like 5 minutes? All you do is talk about calories and getting fat" and threw in the word anorexic somewhere. That's when it hit me. I haven't seen my sister in months. But she was right. I was talking and thinking about calories ALL day. Every night when we went out to dinner, I ordered a salad, as I couldn't bear all the damage I had done during the day. When people ordered other things (french fries, fried sandwiches, I judged them instantaneously, and was grossed out). I couldn't work out during this time either. I was going crazy. I realized yesterday, that even through it all, I may have gained one pound, because I didn't let myself get too crazy. And that shouldn't be a big deal.

But, now that it's over and I'm heading home, I've already planned out what I'm going to eat and got in the hotel gym for an hour this morning. I couldn't bear to deviate from my schedule. The idea of not being able to eat what I want/what I'm used to or ahve control over my diet/exercise terrifies me. All I think about is food, how much I'm allowed to eat and when I get to eat. It's not something I just do without thinking.

I definitely still eat. All my allotted calories, everyday. Because, I love food. And I keep thinking about it. I just ate 30 mins ago, but I try to distract myself so I don't tihnk about food. But, I can't even be productive and do my work because this is all I think about.
I'm sorry for the long post, but I really need advice. Some people have told me that watching what you eat and being healthy is all a part of being older. I need to get to the point where I know that I can go off for a day and still not deviate from my weight because I know what I need to do to stay at this point. But I can't get there. I'm so scared. I never thought this would happen to me. I just always thought it was silly--why wouldn't you want to eat? Well I still do, but it's taken over my life. Should I see someone about this?

Thank you.

Replies

  • asyouseefit
    asyouseefit Posts: 1,265 Member
    Sounds a bit like orthorexia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthorexia_nervosa) to me. Maybe you need to take a break? Put your calories on maintenance for a bit?
  • cowboydan43
    cowboydan43 Posts: 306 Member
    It wouldn't hurt to seek help or guidance.
  • durangocal
    durangocal Posts: 90 Member
    If it is causing you so much anxiety I would seek out professional help as it is making you miserable. It sounds like you have the actual eating process under control but your mind is driving you crazy. The mind is a very powerful thing! Good luck to you-I hope you can find someone to help you find peace of mind.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Yes, i think you should see someone and tell them all the things you have said as you seem to be developing some unhealthy tendancies which yo uwouldnt want to turn into somethign more serious.

    also, if you are 5ft5 and 120 that means you almost certainly dont have 'a decent amount of chub' anywhere (and i say this because i am 5ft5 and 124)
  • nkziv
    nkziv Posts: 161 Member
    This sounds similar to my situation, actually. I wouldn't say that I (or you, based on this post) have an eating disorder per se; however, I also don't think it's healthy to obsess about food. It's quite funny that I happened upon this now--I just got back from breakfast with friends at a pancake house where the servings are notoriously enormous. Everyone else ordered pancakes and omelettes and eggs benedict and giant muffins, and I got the small side of oatmeal with fruit. Even so, I had one or two bites of my friend's pumpkin pancake and felt SO guilty afterwards... I know I shouldn't, but I did anyway.

    I was considering going to talk to the guidance counselors they offer for free at my school (I go to college in Maine). It might benefit you also to talk to somebody and to unpack where the guilty feelings are coming from.

    But don't worry--you are not alone. This sounds exactly like something I would do!
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    I'd definitely seek help. It sounds like you have some eating issues that need to be addressed. I'm not positive but I would think there'd be some type of help for those with "disordered eating" as opposed to a full blown eating disorder. I think it's great that you recognize there's a problem, and I wish you the best in overcoming it. :smile:
  • sinclare
    sinclare Posts: 369 Member
    First off, congrats for losing 30 lbs! That is a huge accomplishment and you should be proud.

    About the rest, well, IMO you should probably find someone to talk to. It sounds like this is interfering with your life. I have my own battles and am no expert, but you need to feel good about yourself and confident in yourself and not so worried all the time.

    Losing weight is great, but now you need to work on the inside part, so you feel great AND look great, inside and out. :flowerforyou:
  • keiraev
    keiraev Posts: 695 Member
    I can actually kind of relate to some of what you are saying.

    I have never had an eating disorder as such either as I neither binge nor starve, although I have been both under and overweight in my time, and let myself get out of control with my eating habits, exercising but not enough etc

    I worry sometimes that I obsess to much about calorie intake and exercise. When I came on here 5 months ago I needed to lose weight, now I don't but I find myself thinking about food FAR too much.

    I went on holiday in September (having reached my original goal weight) and was so happy, and I wasn't logging anything, eating when I felt hungry and drinking copious amounts of alcohol.

    I think I put on a 1lb so no damage was done really. As soon as I got home after a week's holiday I started obsessing again- and your right it really isn't healthy.

    I have decided I am going to give this a definite break over Xmas for my own sanity, if I put on weight I will get back on it straight away afterwards. At least I know HOW to lose it now if I need to .
  • Thank you so much to everyone for all of your inputs and thoughts. It's really valuable to me. I hope I can face this and beat it. Thanks for all of your support and for letting me know I'm not alone, as well. I appreciate that you all took the time to help out a stranger.
  • kated930
    kated930 Posts: 132
    Hi,

    I am in this boat now! And I am seeing a counselor, and I think it's helping. Here are 2 books that I was asked to read

    " The rules of normal eating" & " Intuitive Eating"

    It helps you with not getting SO strung up about eating. Telling yourself its okay to eat foods that are outside your comfort zone ( I completely relate to you with this. I got to restaurants and bring my own dressing. When I go away for a weekend I bring my own food, this is NOT normal!)

    Good luck to you!
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