About Rev. Dr. Abbott Expertise I've spent decades dieting and living with eating disorders. Now I am not only recovered, but a nutritional consultant and counselor.
Since 'no more diets' I've also been 100% free of any weight problem. It's that easy. No dieting.
Experience Nutritional advisor and consultant; counselor (ordained minister); ongoing extension education in human (and animal) nutrition, behavior.
Question Hi my name is Liz. I am 31yrs old. About 20 months ago I had cosmetic surgery after which I started dieting because I wanted the perfect body. At that time I probably weighed about 110-115lbs. I frequently skipped meals and reduced my serving sizes, I cut out a lot of junk food, ate more vegetables, and exercised (cardio and weights) three times a week for three hours.
I was menstruating at the time of surgery, but stopped the following months at 110 lbs. I also started having estrogen deficiency symptoms and eventually rapid heart beat,fatigue, and high cortisol symptoms (although all my labwork is normal) The lowest my weight reached was 93 lbs.(a year ago)
I started eating regularly after that again because I want my health back and my hormones back to normal.
The problem is, when I started eating again I developed a severe case of reactive hypoglycemia. I have been watching what I eat (low carbs, no sugar, fruit, or white flour, etc.)and I quit smoking. With these changes, in the last 5 months I have gained 10 lbs. I am now 107 lbs.
My question is, is reactive hypoglycemia normal recovering from anorexia? Also, am I gaining to slowly? How much should I gain? In what period of time? When will my periods return?
Answer Hi Liz, sounds like you're really trying to do the right thing (good for you!). I've been there, done that. I can promise you that it's possible. AND there is a life outside of what we look like. Oddly, once we get a handle on it, the body just does its thing - and does it perfectly. I can eat whatever I want these days and never bother with a scale.
I guess the question I wonder about most is who diagnosed you with reactive hypoglycemia. Did you sit through a several hour long blood test in order to get the diagnosis or was it made via symptoms?
