Expert: Cheri Purpur - 8/23/2004

Question
I'm not overweight, 5'2, 120 lbs. but the people I'm around all the time are skinnier than me, and I feel bad about myself.  I've tried to not eat, but I get hungry and it's too hard.  I've tried to throw up, but I can't make myself do it.  I think about starving myself to get skinnier every day.  Nothing I do to lose weight helps.  I jog 5 miles a day, but I don't want to restrict my eating habits.  I'm afraid that when I go off to college this fall, the stressful environment will make me have an eating disorder.  I don't want one, but I don't know how to get over these feelings.  Help.  S

Answer
Hello S. Feeling bad about yourself is the real problem- it has very little to do with your wt. You need to work on why you cannot accept yourself as you are. I suggest that you seek counselling with a professional before you let your feelings take over and ruin your health. You have some work to do to come to a place of knowing that you are great just the way you are and not CARE what other people look like. Please find some help- Cheri.