About Saffron Expertise I can answer most questions related to Anorexia and other eating disordered behaviors. I am not a medical professional but have read a tremendous amount of medical and other information related to eating disorders out of curiosity.
Experience My eating disorder started when I was 15. I was anorexic until the age of 27. I went through periods of being less and more anorexic but I did not have a period for 10 years. I was a very high-functioning anorexic. When I hit about 70 pounds I knew I was at a point where I couldn't continue living a normal life (going to work etc.). I did not want to be hospitalized and I knew I was on a downward spiral. I struggled with severe depression and was given a prescription for an anti-depressant. It was not long after that I was really able to think more clearly and did not have the same level of anxiety and believe it or not, I made a choice. I could die or I could live and let go of my need for such control and not care so much how people perceived me and admit that I did not have to be emaciated to look normal as I had convinced myself. My recover started when I was 27 and I've not been "anorexic" since but I don't think one ever becomes totally free in the food and body area as one was before it all started. But I am very healthy now, not underweight and not overweight and eat healthily.
Education/Credentials I have a BA from an Ivy League college but no professional credentials.
Question hi I am back again! You just always make me feel better about everything. Okay well - I have noticed as I am trying to gain weight, that I sometimes lose weight as well. My weight seems to fluctuate. I am not weighing myself, but I can feel the differences in my body on different mornings. I just recently got weighed however because I had a physical exam and they stupidly said my weight out loud! Ugh! Aside from that, I just wanted to know if it was common for someone in recovery to gain and then lose weight without really doing anything different. I guess on different days I just get kind of confused about what exactly is going on with my body. Thank you, once again! haha
Answer Hi Stella! Well I'm certainly happy to hear that I make you feel better. That is the best feeling ever. Listen, women especially have minor weight fluctuations every day! Or most of us anyway. This is water weight and it's difficult to control so one just has to roll with it. I mean our bodies are 70% water. It has to do with hormones, and how much we've eaten or not eaten and the amount of sodium we've taken in etc. etc. But in addition we aren't calculators -the perfect amount of calories in and out every day to perfectly match our energy expenditure. It's just going to happen and it's really not worth worrying about it. That said apparently our bodies are pretty good at maintaining a baseline weight within 5 pounds. My weight goes up and down by at least 4 pounds all the time especially around my period. And that's a lot for me because I'm only 5 foot 1 and under 100 pounds. But like I said you just have to roll with it and pay more attention to how you are feeling overall -your energy levels etc and just making sure you are eating enough and eating healthily. If you are hungry-- eat. If you are full-- stop-- because even if you are trying to gain weight you don't need to overeat to accomplish your goals.
