Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 1/5/2010

Question
Hello, and thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

I am a twenty year old girl and I have been struggling with obsessively counting and restricting calories for the last eight months.  I have lost over fifty lbs. and now have a BMI of 17.3.  I know that is not too extreme, but I am having lots of medical issues, including having lost my period for the last several months.  At first I exercised all the time, but after a while I was apathetic.  I honestly wanted to die for a while there, so I just slept and I didn't eat much.  

I am trying sooooo hard to get better, and I am starting to have a more positive outlook on the future, but I am a little confused about how much to eat. Right now I have gone up to eating 600-700 calories everyday, and this seems like so much food!  I love to cook, and I honestly LOVE food, but I make everything low fat so I can eat it without many calories.  Even my friends will comment on how I can't have an eating disorder because they see me eat meals. But I think I am still losing weight...

Anyways, I don't really want to gain weight, but how much should I eat to maintain?  1200?  1500?  1000?  Or do I need to heal my body and eat a lot more?  It just seems so wrong to eat more than the three squares a day plus a snack I am pulling right now......I know I really need to work on letting go of control and obsessive behaviors and I am trying to find counseling, but for now I at least want to try not to kill my body.  I'm starting to look and feel REALLY ill and people are noticing.

Any advice or shared experience would be so appreciated.  THANK YOU!!!!!

Charlie  

Answer
Dear Charlie,

I'm so glad that you wrote!  I am seeing you do what many women do -- and that is to switch eating disorders!  You've gone from being a little heavy to being what I would call EDNOS -- Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified.  You're bordering on anorexia but you're not less than 85% of your normal body weight.  It also sounds to me as if you're pretty depressed.

Right at this time it is so important for you to find a good nutritionist or dietitian.  When you've had such a huge weight loss and you're trying to refeed yourself, you really need professional help with the refeeding.  Refeeding can be dangerous if not done correctly, because your body has not been used to food.  Did you know that the prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps ate 800 calories a day?

Finding a good therapist is important as well.  Go to www.edreferral.com and click on the treatment finder -- and you'll be able to find a therapist in your community who specializes in eating disorders.

I really appreciate that you're wanting to get well and I know how hard it is!

Please keep in touch and let me know how you do!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
888-520-1700
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
@jeanniemirasol
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannerustmirasol