Expert: Melissa - 4/18/2009

Question
Dear Melissa

I'm am 21 years old and have suffered from Bulimia for the past year , I have
a major addiction to food (the same food every day for a year eaten in the
same order) . I starve all day and then go to the store and steal (yes steal)
over 50 dollars worth of binge food. Ones i was so out of control i ate 2000 dollars worth of food in 48 hr. Yes thats 2 -with 3 zero's 2000$! That day i purposely ran out with the food in hope to get caught and put to jail for some
control haha i still laugh at that day because the security chased me ...
caught me ... and told me to go home while i begged them to call the police.
One night i called 911 because i thought i was going to kill myself.
Now, I weigh 103 lbs flunctuate between 103 and 107 lbs. I eat aprox 10 to
15 thousand calories a day. and binge and purge for 3 to 6 hrs straight
without stoping , every 10 to 15 min all i have to do is just bend over and the
food comes out ( i hear that called "something reflex") you get that from not
keeping anything down. I was 125-130 lbs before i started, 5'6 inches tall.I
dont use laxetives or duiretics nor do i restrict liquids i drink about 2L a day
(not including my binge liquids with is 6L to 8L every binge/purge within 4-6
hours) And my bowels are fine (2 a day, my skin still looks greet i look
untouched by the disorder so far)

NOw heres the question.
I have not purged in  2 weeks so far. I've been eating 1200 cals a day . I dont exercise, never did and dont have desire to.MOstly sit all day. I weigh in at
105lbs .  
Why is that ? should I not be more. Or is this because ive been consuming so
many calories that now that im "eating" its not making difference in weight>?
why am I staying at 105lbs (no complaint) I mean Its still considered underweight for my 5'6 height. I barely have fat on me just muscle.
This is my fist time not purging (2 weeks) i've binged purged every EVERY day
for the past year.

Thank you

Answer
1200 calories still isn't a lot. And now that you are eating throughout the day without purging it, your metabolism will pick up. When someone is not eating or is underweight, your metabolism slows down and almost stops in order to keep you alive. So maybe your weight isn't changing because your metabolism is working again.

If you feel like you can't get a grip on this, may I strongly encourage that you check into an inpatient facility? You can go through the ER if you're feeling suicidal and they can admit you. Its not a long term thing [typically 3-7 days] and it might give you some more time under your belt without purging and 24 hours a day there are nurses and doctors there if you need to talk.
It could allow you to get some control back in your life.
Melissa