Am I developing an eating disorder?
I really don't know what to do: I've been aware of my health for a couple of years now; I've always strived to be healthier and maintain a positive, balanced diet. Although recently I feel like things may have spiralled a little out of my control and I'm actually worrying myself.
Recently, I've been losing weight - not drastically, but enough for my mum (who's a doctor) to take notice and start to be concerned - I'm 5'3 and currently 96lb which is the lowest I've been in years but I still feel like its not really low enough... When I look at myself in the mirror, I see fat on my legs and stomach that I desperately want to lose in time for summer, and keep on convincing myself that once I 'lose one more pound' or whatever, I'll be able to feel confident but I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be satisfied.
I've been gradually cutting my calorie intake for a couple of months now but this week, I've not eaten anything over 500 calories per day and my mind still wants me to cut it down a little more... I generally have one Weetabix for breakfast, a small portion of fruit for lunch (like an apple, or banana or some grapes) then a Weetabix and an orange for dinner...
Last week during half term, I fainted 5 times which is abnormal for me since I've never done that before in my life, which is what made my parents worried. Now they won't stop questioning me about my eating habits and they call every day to ensure that I'm eating enough (I go to a boarding school). My friends are starting to realise that I don't eat as much and I'm worried that everyone is going to try and make me eat more so I'm going to gain weight.
I desperately want someone to talk to but at the same time I don't want anyone to help me eat more since I don't want to gain weight again. I don't know what to do..
Recently, I've been losing weight - not drastically, but enough for my mum (who's a doctor) to take notice and start to be concerned - I'm 5'3 and currently 96lb which is the lowest I've been in years but I still feel like its not really low enough... When I look at myself in the mirror, I see fat on my legs and stomach that I desperately want to lose in time for summer, and keep on convincing myself that once I 'lose one more pound' or whatever, I'll be able to feel confident but I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be satisfied.
I've been gradually cutting my calorie intake for a couple of months now but this week, I've not eaten anything over 500 calories per day and my mind still wants me to cut it down a little more... I generally have one Weetabix for breakfast, a small portion of fruit for lunch (like an apple, or banana or some grapes) then a Weetabix and an orange for dinner...
Last week during half term, I fainted 5 times which is abnormal for me since I've never done that before in my life, which is what made my parents worried. Now they won't stop questioning me about my eating habits and they call every day to ensure that I'm eating enough (I go to a boarding school). My friends are starting to realise that I don't eat as much and I'm worried that everyone is going to try and make me eat more so I'm going to gain weight.
I desperately want someone to talk to but at the same time I don't want anyone to help me eat more since I don't want to gain weight again. I don't know what to do..
You are underweight. You NEED to gain a few pounds.
The human body will ALWAYS have fat on it. If it had no fat, it would not be able to function.
Eat balanced meals, you do not need to lose weight. Eating healthily (which you are not) will not make you gain weight, it would maintain your weight within a normal range. Eating solely fast food and sweets will get you fat, not healthy eating.
Do not be afraid of gaining a bit of weight so you enter a normal range. You are too slim right now and a balanced diet will not make you fat. You will look so much better for the summer when your weight enters a normal range, too!
The human body will ALWAYS have fat on it. If it had no fat, it would not be able to function.
Eat balanced meals, you do not need to lose weight. Eating healthily (which you are not) will not make you gain weight, it would maintain your weight within a normal range. Eating solely fast food and sweets will get you fat, not healthy eating.
Do not be afraid of gaining a bit of weight so you enter a normal range. You are too slim right now and a balanced diet will not make you fat. You will look so much better for the summer when your weight enters a normal range, too!
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by Anonymous
I really don't know what to do: I've been aware of my health for a couple of years now; I've always strived to be healthier and maintain a positive, balanced diet. Although recently I feel like things may have spiralled a little out of my control and I'm actually worrying myself.
Recently, I've been losing weight - not drastically, but enough for my mum (who's a doctor) to take notice and start to be concerned - I'm 5'3 and currently 96lb which is the lowest I've been in years but I still feel like its not really low enough... When I look at myself in the mirror, I see fat on my legs and stomach that I desperately want to lose in time for summer, and keep on convincing myself that once I 'lose one more pound' or whatever, I'll be able to feel confident but I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be satisfied.
I've been gradually cutting my calorie intake for a couple of months now but this week, I've not eaten anything over 500 calories per day and my mind still wants me to cut it down a little more... I generally have one Weetabix for breakfast, a small portion of fruit for lunch (like an apple, or banana or some grapes) then a Weetabix and an orange for dinner...
Last week during half term, I fainted 5 times which is abnormal for me since I've never done that before in my life, which is what made my parents worried. Now they won't stop questioning me about my eating habits and they call every day to ensure that I'm eating enough (I go to a boarding school). My friends are starting to realise that I don't eat as much and I'm worried that everyone is going to try and make me eat more so I'm going to gain weight.
I desperately want someone to talk to but at the same time I don't want anyone to help me eat more since I don't want to gain weight again. I don't know what to do..
Recently, I've been losing weight - not drastically, but enough for my mum (who's a doctor) to take notice and start to be concerned - I'm 5'3 and currently 96lb which is the lowest I've been in years but I still feel like its not really low enough... When I look at myself in the mirror, I see fat on my legs and stomach that I desperately want to lose in time for summer, and keep on convincing myself that once I 'lose one more pound' or whatever, I'll be able to feel confident but I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be satisfied.
I've been gradually cutting my calorie intake for a couple of months now but this week, I've not eaten anything over 500 calories per day and my mind still wants me to cut it down a little more... I generally have one Weetabix for breakfast, a small portion of fruit for lunch (like an apple, or banana or some grapes) then a Weetabix and an orange for dinner...
Last week during half term, I fainted 5 times which is abnormal for me since I've never done that before in my life, which is what made my parents worried. Now they won't stop questioning me about my eating habits and they call every day to ensure that I'm eating enough (I go to a boarding school). My friends are starting to realise that I don't eat as much and I'm worried that everyone is going to try and make me eat more so I'm going to gain weight.
I desperately want someone to talk to but at the same time I don't want anyone to help me eat more since I don't want to gain weight again. I don't know what to do..
Thats a very unhealthy way of thinking. Clearly you arent eating enoughand fainting is not normal. Not enough info to calculate your BMI as you need to use special child versions and that requires a date of birth.
You arent eating enough. You should really see your schools GP or the nurse.
Alternatively contact BEAT the leading charity specialising in eating disorders. You can talk to them in confidence and they have the experience to understand how you feel plus knowledge to assist.
Helplines
Youthline: 0808 801 0711
Our Helplines are open 365 days a year: 4pm-10pm
Email support
The Beat Youthline email support is open to anyone under 18: [email protected]
https://www.b-eat.co.uk/support-services/helpline
I would just add you arent eating enough from a nutrition point of view and your body needs t get enough of the right food otherwise things become unhealthy when you move past a certain point.
Eating less will not improve the look of your body when you get to low weight. the best method is to get lean and string by protecting the muscle you have, which will give you definition. That requires a bit of resistance training.
You wont feel confident from just losing weight because as you recognise theres a mental issue which means you will never be satisfied about wanting to lose the extra pound. That is to do with your unrealistic and inaccurate perception of yourself plus low self esteem.
You do not need to lose weight.
You do need assistance with helping you feel good about yourself and comfy with your body.
Please talk it through with BEAT and theres also plenty of information on their site plus forums.
This is definitely disordered, and talking to a professional might be helpful. Look, EDs aren't all about food - food is just the outlet used. There's always something else going on, and ignoring whatever it is that's going on, for the sake of not having to gain weight is going to make your life so much harder in the long term.
What's likely to happen here is that you might start seeing a school counsellor, or go on the waiting list for CAMHS, and you'll need to eat enough to maintain your weight. If your doctor encourages you to gain weight, you're looking at about 5lbs, maybe a bit more - which honestly? No one will notice, likely you won't even notice once you've gained it.
Also, fainting so frequently in one week is definitely worrying - I know multiple people with restrictive EDs, and fainting has still been pretty rare for them. Are you sure you're properly hydrated? Especially when you're not eating enough, staying hydrated is really important, so I'd consider trying to drink more throughout the day.
Hopefully this helps, and I hope you find someone to talk to!
What's likely to happen here is that you might start seeing a school counsellor, or go on the waiting list for CAMHS, and you'll need to eat enough to maintain your weight. If your doctor encourages you to gain weight, you're looking at about 5lbs, maybe a bit more - which honestly? No one will notice, likely you won't even notice once you've gained it.
Also, fainting so frequently in one week is definitely worrying - I know multiple people with restrictive EDs, and fainting has still been pretty rare for them. Are you sure you're properly hydrated? Especially when you're not eating enough, staying hydrated is really important, so I'd consider trying to drink more throughout the day.
Hopefully this helps, and I hope you find someone to talk to!
Hi everybody,
Firstly I'd like to apologise massively for what I wrote all those months ago; back then I had no awareness of what could be triggering to other people and I hope that nobody has been negatively affected as a result.
But yes, 'tis me! Thank you so so much for your guys' help, it prompted me to speak to someone a month later, reach a diagnosis and move forward. So ya, Ive been with Camhs for almost a year now and have since, after a v v helpful inpatient stint, reached a healthy weight and am getting my life back!!
Happy days
Firstly I'd like to apologise massively for what I wrote all those months ago; back then I had no awareness of what could be triggering to other people and I hope that nobody has been negatively affected as a result.
But yes, 'tis me! Thank you so so much for your guys' help, it prompted me to speak to someone a month later, reach a diagnosis and move forward. So ya, Ive been with Camhs for almost a year now and have since, after a v v helpful inpatient stint, reached a healthy weight and am getting my life back!!
Happy days
Hi everybody,
Firstly I'd like to apologise massively for what I wrote all those months ago; back then I had no awareness of what could be triggering to other people and I hope that nobody has been negatively affected as a result.
But yes, 'tis me! Thank you so so much for your guys' help, it prompted me to speak to someone a month later, reach a diagnosis and move forward. Admittedly it did get a lot worse before it got better, but he important thing is that it did get better after all! So ya, Ive been with Camhs for almost a year now and have since, after a v v helpful inpatient stint, reached a healthy weight and am getting my life back!!
Happy days
Firstly I'd like to apologise massively for what I wrote all those months ago; back then I had no awareness of what could be triggering to other people and I hope that nobody has been negatively affected as a result.
But yes, 'tis me! Thank you so so much for your guys' help, it prompted me to speak to someone a month later, reach a diagnosis and move forward. Admittedly it did get a lot worse before it got better, but he important thing is that it did get better after all! So ya, Ive been with Camhs for almost a year now and have since, after a v v helpful inpatient stint, reached a healthy weight and am getting my life back!!
Happy days
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