Expert: Ryan Hale - 4/26/2010

Question
I eat less than once a day, and my job is exercise all day long, very physical and strenuous, and I sweat no matter how warm or cold it is outside. It's an outside job. So I was wondering if Im anorexic or bulimic? Or hopefully none. One more question, if I may ask? I'm sorry for asking!?
I'm so close to throwing up every time I do eat, I binge eat once a day, usually @ night right before I go to bed and I exercise every night  right after I eat. My husband is terminally I'll so he doesn't usually notice. My son is too young to understand about this stuff! I'm sorry it's so long!?
Thank you and Im so sorry to bug you
Mai

Answer
Mai- technically, I'm not sure if you meet the clinical definition of either.  Bulimics are usually closer to a normal weight, either slightly higher or slightly lower.  It also involves purging food... most commonly through throwing up, but it can also include exercise to rid calories or laxatives.  As an anorxexic, there is the refusal to maintain a normal body weight due to body images or irrational fears of being fat.  So, there is more that would need to be known here.  It does sound like you are under a great deal of stress, raising children and having your husband's serious illness to deal with.  

When I first read your email I thought that maybe you were just working so hard physically that you were effecting your appetite, which can happen with some highly trained individuals, however, then I got to the rest of it and it sunds like there are some more issues there.  Have you been to counseling with your husband to help deal with what you are all going through?  There may be a great deal of things he and you would like to deal with before he dies.   Your young son may understand and notice more than you think, he may want the opportunity to spend the most quality time possible with you both before it's too late as well.  The best way to make sure those interactions are as good as they can be, would be to make sure everyone is dealing with this in the best way possible.  Counseling can help that.  It could also help you indentify what may be going on for you when it  comes to your eating and exercising.