Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 8/5/2009

Question
Alright - So...I know I DID have some type of an eating disorder a while back. It was related to depression and I dropped about 28 pounds. 116 to 88 and I was 5'7!!! I know scary to think how I let that happen. Anyway, I kind of shocked myself back into reality when I realized what was really happening. I am eating normally now, but I have a question. I randomly have these sparks..like I will eat a lot of something that I didn't have for a long time. I don't think it is A LOT - but sometimes I feel like it is. For example, I had a lot of vanilla cookies today! I am still trying to gain some weight back (haven't gotten my period yet..eek) however, I am just concerned that I may be developing a binge eating disorder?? I mean, I know the extra calories will do me plenty good so I am not worried about that. I am just worried about when I get back to where my body wants...this will continue to happen. I don't eat really fast, or by myself, or until I am uncomfortable...I just don't know why I feel like I am eating a lot of cookies. Is it because I am not used to it? And my body is reacting saying oo I like the sugar and cookiess! :) haha Did it just forget? Because I know I still have some more weight to gain, but when I look up the symptoms for binge eating one symptom is feeling like you ate too much...but I don't know if I did! I mean I eat slowly and I have thought do I want this? And I do! I am just wondering if this is just a way by body is sorting itself out from all the restricting I have done before. This happened before with chocolate chip cookies - I had FOUR big chocolate chip cookies! I didn't feel sick or anything I was just like whoa bro! hahaha. I don't know I just might be putting too much thought into it. I always get myself worried. Thats my question though : does this seem like a problem? This doesn't happen all the time only occasionally. But my body isn't at its healthy weight yet because I haven't gotten my period yet. So I am saying that it's okay - I just don't want it to continue when I am at my normal weight. OR if this is just normal!!! hahaha ahhh! I am sorry if I am confusing you. I probably only had like ten small vanilla cookies. Still though my little brother was like wow you ate all those! lol Sorry thanks though!

* Heather (who is a little concerned)

Answer
Dear Heather,

I'm so glad that you wrote me!  First of all, you really need to see a nutritionist and get a good food plan.  If money is an issue, try the Mediterranean Food Pyramid -- you can't go wrong with that.

First of all plan your meals -- actually write them down first thing in the morning.  You might make changes throughout the day, put you'll have a plan.Another thing is for you to learn about intuitive eating.  When you sit down for a meal, ask yourself how hungry you are.  A 1 is very very hungry, a ten is very very full.  Let's say that you're pretty hungry and you say you're a 3.  Then half way through your meal, you stop eating and ask yourself how full you are now -- you might say, I'm getting pretty full, so I'll say a 6 -- remember that you're trying to feel inside your hunger levels.  Then at the end of the meal, ask yourself how hungry you are.  You might say and 8 -- and say, I think I'm full enough.

The purpose of this is to teach you how to tell when you're hungry and when you're full.  The nutritionist will make sure you're  getting enough food for a slow weight gain - and she'll help you when you've gained enough to make sure you don't gain more!

This is really hard, Heather -- but you can do it!!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com