Anorexia/Eating Disorders/recovering anexoric

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 12/31/2010


Question
I have been in recovery for two years.  I have not stopped exercising and was eating healthy.  But, i gained forty pounds in two years.  And, I went to an endocrinologist and my stress hormone was severely elevated.  I thought I had Cushings Disease but thankfully I do not.  I just started getting my period since September and have lost 10 pounds.  I have twenty more to go.  I was wondering why my weight loss is so slow?  When will my stomach not be bloated anymore?

thanks!

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Dear Kate,

I'm not a physician so my answer to you will not be medical -- You've done the absolutely very best thing to do by seeing an endocrinologist.  Are you eating the same amount of food as you were before -- eating healthy and exercising?

I really think that your body was tremendously out of balance for some time -- 2 years -- and now it just needs some time to readjust.  I'm hoping you're continuing to see the doctor because he/she is the one that will make surea everything goes as it should -- including weight loss and bloating.  The bloating is temporary and will disappear.

You're doing every correctly, Kate.  You should be proud of yourself!  Let me know how this all works out!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc.
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
1-888-520-1700

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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