Expert: Nafeesah - 6/13/2008

Question
I'm a 21 year old Female, i've only been battling anorexia nervosa/obsessive compulsive excercising for about 5 months. I was addicted to Laxatives, but never went a day without food. I was addicted at getting a 'flat tummy'. Because both my parents are quite big now(both slim till they were 50). But Over excercising and not eating all together.

At the end of last year i started losing weight, there was no real time limit. I had 'Implanon' (the rod/pill) in my arm which did make me gain quite alot of weight. I also ate junk and never excercised. I started dancing, lost more weight. Walking for an hour a morning, hour a night and only eating Lettuce and Tuna. Joined a gym. All that. Finally got 'diagnosed' with anorexia nervosa. Though no treatment centres in Australia would see me because my BMI was of Normal Weight. I'm just under 6 foot tall and now weigh 60kg, the rapid decline is what hurt. Now i am in recovery (and still losing) as i became obsesed with excercising. My question is, because i was in the fashion industry, which i VERY VERY QUICKLY QUIT i was hearing so much dull information "you'll gain it ALL back..plus more" yada yada. I've been eating normally now for a few weeks, trying to do it slowly. Trying to learn to eat breakfast and eat 'when hungry'. But i am petrified of getting "FAT" again. Which is where it all stemmed from. As i am not yet talking about the issues at hand(i AM recieving help now, even threats of hospitilization)

So i am wondering if i will infact gain all this weight back, i'm doing it healthy. My bowels are working properly again and i'm eating 'normally' again. I still do stretches and a warm up excercise of a morning but now always eat breakfast/snack/lunch dinner and so on.. drinking loads of water. I just want to get out of this Calorie Counting phase. This isn't me, i lost alot of me. Literally and metaphorically. I just want advice on whether or not i will gain the weight back. I am not to see a nutrionist until i gain at least 8 kg. But in doing that, slowly i am still losing weight. My mother has taken months off Teaching to be by my side twenty four seven.

I just need advice.

Answer
The issue with anorexia is that this disease can do some major damage to your menstrual cycle and cause you not to be able to get pregnant or hold a pregnancy. If you're in therapy this is the best time to discuss why you're in constant fear of being fat. If you have a healthy exercise regimen without going overboard you're in shape. The problem with the fashion industry is that they contribute to the dysfunction relationship women have with their bodies and with food in general.

My issue was that I would eat out of stress and frustration instead of addressing the issue of why I was doing it. The only thing I can say is that you have to take the first step and address these issues because if not you'll continue down this path of self destruction and as far as gaining weight I can't advise on that because only a doctor can tell you what the deal is on that and to monitor your progress medically before you're allowed to see a nutritionist. First start off with talking about why you're doing this and begin to address those key issues and that should open the door to really making therapy work for you.