Expert: Joanne - 9/12/2004

Question
Hey, I'm 15 years old and for the past month i would say that i have only been eating at the max a meal a day no matter how bad my hunger pains are. I have already lost 17 pounds in the last month. I have restricted just about all of my favorite meals, and everything that i do eat i have to know exactly how many calories are in it. Just, about a week ago my mom made me eat some cheesesticks for lunch (gross) and i only ate 2 and then i went in my bathroom and put my finger down my throat and threw it up, whenever i got done my eyes were really red and it looked like i was crying. It really scared me at first and thats when i really did start to wonder about having an eating disorder. Ever since then whenever i eat something i go straight to the bathroom and throw up that one meal that i ate that day. Also, i have been really obsessed with counting calories and have been weighing myself at least 3-4 times a day. I have also alot of guilt whenever i do eat, so i sometimes take some laxitives. I have been exersizing like crazy too even whenever i am super,super weak from not eating. I sometimes dont stop until i am about to pass out. Please write back soon, thanks.

Answer
I know your problem and I know it well.  You need to break this habit and break it soon.  It has taken over my life and once you've got to my stage it is very hard to gain it back.  I know that this sounds almost unthinkable but try talking to your mum.  There are healthier ways to lose weight and I'm sure your mum won't mind helping if it is going to stop you following these behaviours.

When you purge, you don't actually get rid of everything you eat - no matter how hard you try!! The maximum number of calories you will actually rid your body of is only 50% of those you have eaten.  Usually it is only about 30% though.  

The only way of stopping this is totry and break into to the cycle.  Do this by meeting friends or walking the dog or something to distract yourself immediately after eating.  This may stop you throwing up and in the end you may not feel the need to do it anymore.  It is proven that eating 2000 calories a day will maintain a healthy weight combined with exercise.

Please seek help.  I feel that the best thing I ever did was talk to my guidance teacher about it.  I am now meeting with a counsellor once a week.  It is still a struggle, so don't expect any miracle cure, especially since I've been meeting this woman for over 4 months now.  Things were better to begin with, but as I have opened up more things have become worse but I do feel that I am getting somewhere.
The last thing you want is to be hospitalised, and that could happen.  This will threaten your future.  I am about to begin to study medicine and I know that if I allow myself to get to ill I won't be allowed to attend uni.  I know that this may still seem a long way off for you but seek help now.  Speak to a friend and get them to approach a teacher or your family.  Once it is out in the open  it is much easier to deal with.

Hope to hear from you soon

Holly