Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi I'm a teenager between 16 and 19,when I was 15 I lost 60 pounds in
just over 2 months through diet and excersise, years later,I weigh 130 and
I'm 5 ft 7and I would like to go down another 15 pounds, but I eat under
500 Cale daily any I spend at least an hour on the treadmell evry nigh,my
weight wontchange,and my friends tell me I'm anorexic,how can I probe
that I'm not

ANSWER: Dear Chuck,

Are you a male?  Chuck here is usually a boy's name.

130 pounds at 5'7"  is a very good weight, a very healthy, fit weight.  When you're eating under 500 calories a day, you're gradually starving your body.  Did you know that the people in concentration camps were fed 800 calories a day?  The pictures of them are horrible --

Your body is at its set-point right now and your metabolism is not working.  It's like your body saying No, No.

What leads me to believe that you're anorexic are your beliefs that you need to lose another 15 pounds.  A good thing for you would be to go to a therapist that specializes in eating disorders and get an assessment.  See what a professional says who can meet with you in person.

The health consequences and damage done to your body are severe.  Let me know how your assessment goes!

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Owner
www,mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So evryone in my family has been to rehab or therapy for eating disorders
exept me and I don't want that to change,yes I am a male,any
suggestions that I can use to make my metabolism normal on myown?

Answer
Dear Chuck,

The way for you to not have an eating disorder is to maintain your weight, work out at the gym with weights, and eat protein.  See a nutritionist -- when you start to eat again, you'll find that your metabolism will jump start.  When your body is in a state of starvation, your metabolism literally stops.

Protein is so so important!!

Warmly,
Jeannie