Expert: Joanne - 2/22/2006

Question
I have been dealing with Bulemia for about 8 years. Now that I have lost my gag reflex, and still in the habit of eating tons of calories in attemp to purge dosent work.....i am gaining and obviously HATE it!!  what do i do?  I work out 5 times a week vigerously and eat tuna, soup and oyster crackers.....is this the benefit of eating healthy, bulemia was easier...Iknow, i know.  Please help, i want to be health but also want to loose these 10 pounds ive put on since my......recovery(ability to not vomit anymore)

Answer
If you aren't eating enough calories, your body will try to hold onto what you do eat to prevent it going through starvation mode again.

I think that if you are eating very little and exercising a lot, your metabolism is either still in recovery, or there is something going on inside.

I think that seeing as you have lost your gag reflex, and are putting on weight that you obviously don't expect to be putting on, you should visit a Dr.  I think that you should get him/her to check your blood chemistry and check things like thyroid function, etc just to make sure that there isn't some underlying condition that is causing you the problem.

Are you in any sort of therapy?  If not, I suggest that you try to speak to some professional (the Dr will probably be able to help refer you somewhere as well) as although you are no longer purging, you sound as though you still have the mentality that goes along with eating disorders and that you have substituted self-induced vomiting with over-exercising.

If you don't fancy therapy, maybe try and get an appointment with at least a nutritionist as they should be able to help you work out some sort of meal plan that will allow you to get back to eating a more or less 'normal' diet without gaining.

Please, whatever you decide, go and get the blood tests done just to make sure that everything is fine.  Bulimia can really mess with electrolyte levels, and you need them to remain at certain levels for you body cells to function properly.

If you have any further questions, need anything clarified, or need to talk, PLEASE feel free to come back and contact me again!

Hugs Holly