Expert: Joanne - 6/1/2007

Question
Hi, I’m 16 years old and recovering from bulimia on my own right now. I’ve been purging after going on binges for over a year now and I’m finally ready to quit. I’ve gone four days eating normally and keeping all my food down but it’s so painful. I haven’t been eating more than 1200 or 1300 calories each day but I experience painful bloating. I’ve also gained weight. I’m 5’8 and at my lowest weight I was about 120. Currently I’m probably 134 but I’m not sure because I’ve felt so fat that I did not want to check the scale for fear of going back to bulimia because of anxiety and depression over my weight change.

I used to purge anywhere from 2 to 4 times a day and then I got down to just once a day and then every other day. Now I’m trying to stop for good. I read that this is just part of recovery and that it will soon pass. I wondered if you could give me an estimate of about how long it will take because I’m just so uncomfortable right now that it’s hard to focus in school and other areas of my life. Also, is there is medicine you recommend I take to ease this bloating? Can I recover on my own? (Because I’m just too ashamed to tell my dad or a medical professional so getting a doctor’s help really is not an option because I’m just not going to do it.)

Also, I didn’t have my period for about 14 months and I just started bleeding for the first time today. I went to an OB-GYN and she gave me Ortho-Provera (I think that’s the name) but she doesn’t know anything about my bulimia. Now I have to get some blood work done because she wants to figure out what stopped my period. Will they be able to figure out about my ED through the blood work? Can I lie my way out of it?

And my last few questions involve my diet. I love sweet potatoes and I often eat one of those ones that are sealed in the plastic and cooked in the microwave with ¾ cup of low-fat cottage cheese and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray (no calories or anything). So do you think that is a good meal? Is it too much? I’ve lost track of how much I should eat at once. I also like to slice up a banana and eat it will instant plain oatmeal and add Splenda and cinnamon. Grilled chicken and Steamfresh vegetables are good too. I also eat yogurt, strawberries, low-fat soymilk, and Kashi cereal with lots of fiber. Oh, and apples too. Are those good options? Do you have any recommendations??

Thank-you so much for any and all of your help.

Oh, and if it helps to tell you this….I also workout 6-7 days a week. I do 40 to 60 minutes of cardio on those days and I lift weights 2-3 times a week.  

Answer
It is going to be very hard to do this alone!

It is unlikely to be picked up in your blood work if you are eating normally now, but somethings may show up that are abnormal.  If they see this to be a problem, they may question you, sop you need to be prepared for this, and you should try to be as honest as possible with her.  She may be able to refer you onto someone, even just a nutritionist.  If this is the case (although I do not recommend lying to your dad), you could try and make out that your diet isn't right and that accounts for the lack of periods, and therefore your diet needs to be looked at.

You need to eat a minimum of 1200 calories, and I wouldn't recommend any less than 1500 calories.  The weight gain and bloating is most likely due to water retention rather than true weight gain, but please be aware that you may have affected your metabolism, and may experience a small weight gain as your body tries to stabilise itself again.

I think that your sweet potato sounds good as a midday meal/lunch.  I would have your oatmeal and banana for breakfast and then fish/chicken and veg for a main meal.  Please try to include a couple of snacks in a day as well such as your yoghurt and apples.  I would also consider cutting down on the exercise a little, just to 5 days or cardio, with a couple days weight training, giving yourself a couple of days off a week in order for your muscles to rest and repair!

I still would advise trying to speak to someone about this - preferably a Dr or your parents (I'm not sure how your healthcare system works but here in the UK we can speak to a Dr and have treatment without them from the age of 14 or 16 - can you?), but if this is impossible, is there a guidance counsellor or someone at school that you feel you can talk to?  Someone that you believe could help you?  I would recommend speaking to someone, and sometimes a teacher that you feel you can trust will be good and will most likely have information that they can share with you, or help you find someone that can help!

Please feel free to come back with any other questions, and please really consider talking to your parents or Dr!  

All the best
Holly