Expert: Joanne - 1/25/2006

Question
hi i asked you a question before but accidentally deleted the email before i could ask a follow up question.what is an unhealthy caloric intake. and how do you know when its becoming dangerous.  since i sent my last question i have been eating less than 1000 calories a day. i am in gymnastics (not competetitve yet) and the more weight i lose the more skills i aquire to move up to the next level, which is just more incentive to lose more even though i know in the end it is counterproductive to lose weight this way.  its just such a thrill when i see the numbers on the scale go down at least for a few minutes and then i think of how  much more i have to lose.  i cant really talk to my doctor about this because she wouldnt believe me if i told her about this. when i was depressed about 4 years ago all she told me was how other people had worse lives.  im afraid to tell anyone else one because they might make me stop and also because i am ashamed that i would do this. is there anyone else you could suggest for me to talk to.  i just feel like this is not gonna get better but i dont know how to stop myself.  

Answer
I think that you should maybe consider changing Drs if you feel that she doesn't take you seriously.

I think that the fact you are knowingly restricting to the extent that you are signals that there is a real problem here - especially when you throw gymnastics into the equation.

Can you speak to your coach about this?  Let them know that you are beginning to engage in unhealthy behaviours in order to get a lower weight and see if they can suggest something?  They will probably have dealt with a number of gymnasts in your position now, a lot probably in a worse state!

In quite a number of places it is possible to make an appointment with a therapist yourself without going through the Dr.  If you aren't so keen on seeing a therapist, try making an appointment with a dietician or nutritionist.

Please, if I haven't answered this well enough, or you have any further questions, please get back in touch.

Holly