Expert: Susan - 9/4/2006

Question
hi i was wondering if i just eat like 1 carrot stick per day some chewie and sometimes cabbage soup with 4 hours of exercise should i lose weight? i am anorexic and need to lose weight so bad as i am obese and it is diagusting...
please help

Answer
Dear Jenna,
If you came to this site thinking that people, like me who have suffered the consequences of eating disorders, are going to help you continue down this destructive path, you're VERY wrong. The volunteers in the category for eating disorders are hear to listen to people's concerns about their eating habits and what they can do to CHANGE. These volunteers want to help others because they know how it feels to be so depressed because of your weight.
Doing exercise for four hours a day is over doing it especially if you barely eat anything all day. It would be wise to cut your exercise time in half. By you working out so much, your body will gain weight. Your body will gain weight because you are developing muscles. Muscles weigh more than fat so even if you lose fat, you'll still be gaining muscle.
Symptoms of being anorexic include:
Dressing to hide body shape (e.g. baggy clothes, layers)
Obsession with weight, calories and/or fat.
Frequent and long trips to the bathroom, often with running water, after meals.
Food rituals such as shifting food around, cutting food into tiny pieces, or keeping utensils from touching lips; hiding food.
Hair loss.
Pale or “gray” skin.
Frequent complaints of feeling cold.
Loss of menstrual cycle.
Bruised knuckles, bleeding in eyes, bruising under eyes or on cheeks.
Insomnia.
Being perfectionist.
Reading books or visiting websites on anorexia and or weight loss.
Visible food restriction, use of diet pills, laxatives, enemas or Ipecac, or dramatic weight loss.
Dizziness, headaches, or frequent sore throats.
Statements putting self down about being fat, eating, or about being worthless or stupid
I am not going to encourage your eating disorder. The best way to lose weight is to exercise and that's what you're doing. Even if you lose 4 kg, what next? Will you want to lose another 4 kg or will it be 6 kg instead? Will you ever be happy with your weight? Probably not.
Eating disorder are a coping mechanism and whatever problem you have, you need to talk about with someone. Talk about it with someone on this site or to someone you trust. There are other cateogories on this site that help people with their problems. Don't let this get out of control before it's too late and there's no turning back. Stand up for yourself and take control of your life instead of obsessing over food and weight.
Losing weight does NOT equal happiness. What you are saying is that the only thing that matters in life is appearances. How superficial are you? Do you even see yourself? Time to face reality, people die from eating disorders. Your body starts to shut down because you're not eating.
If you want to eat healthy and stay fit, talk to a nutritionist. That's what all the famous people do. They don't stop eating. They tone their bodies and watch what they eat.
I hope this convinces you.
Susan