Distorted Body Image?

Hey everyone,

So my therapist told me that I definitely have a distorted body image. She also thinks I'm in danger of developing an eating disorder. It really upset me when she said this, and I do not agree with her at all. Isn't a distorted body image when you think you look like something you're not? I do not think I'm fat in the least. I'm 5'6" and 135lb. I'm trying to lose 5-10lbs, but she doesn't understand why. I'm training for a marathon, and she thinks it's a bad idea to restrict my calories during this time. However, I'm only going to restrict my calories for 1-2 months.

Also, I definitely don't have an eating disorder mentality. EDs are about control, aren't they? Well my desire to lose weight has absolutely nothing to do with control - it's purely physical, not mental.

Ugh it's just frustrating to hear my therapist say things like that. Sorry for ranting.

Personally I'd get her to clarify why she's saying you're in danger and honestly more of her viewpoint on what she's been saying.  If you don't like her answers there then I'd be seeking a second opinion.  I've done a cut phase during training to lose 10# and no one batted an eye or said I was going to develop ED.  Her viewpoint baffles me so getting to the route of why she's saying that is where I'd start if I was you =)

IF you have not any history of calorie restricting/ED/extreme diets/rapid weightloss

i dont see why your therapist is against you. 5-10 is reasonable (any more than 10 however, i think you would be in a danger zone; too thin and shows you cannot set boundaries/obsess too much)

only you know whats right on this one. why does she think you have BDD? surely in past sessions you must have given her reasons to believe this? if you DO have BDD tendencies i understand why she would be against it, as BDD is often a precursor to anorexia/bulimia, and also if you are depressed or do become depressed you could react by wanting to focus too much and change your weight as a coping mechanism.

i would talk it out with her, and listen to the points she makes. x

Honestly, from what I can hear in your post, you've got some really disordered thoughts going on.  Questions to ask yourself: Really, WHY do you need to lose weight (your weight and height ratio are ideal!)?  Why would you restrict your calories when you are training for a marathon?  Why exactly are you training for a marathon?  Do YOU think you have distorted body image (that is, do you see yourself as larger or smaller than you are?)?  Why did you feel angry when your therapist suggested this?

Eating disorders are not solely caused/triggered by one thing.  It's a common assumption that EDs are just about control; that's a typical generalisation pertetrated by ignorant medical professionals.

Your therapist is the person who might just know you the most intimately (that is, if you are candid with her), so there is a reason she is suggesting disordered body image/eating/thinking.  I recommend that you openly accept this theory, and explore it with her.  You shouldn't feel ashamed to do this- in a recent survey, it was shown that 90% of American women have disordered eating/thinking.  And wouldn't you want to get to the root of issues you have with yourself before things spiralled out of control, turning into a diagnosable eating disorder like anorexia/bulimia nervosa?

Just my two cents.

Note: Body image distortion is different from BDD (Body Dysmorphia Disorder).

thanks for the replies, guys.

littlegirlinabox, I understand what you're saying, but I don't think it's a big deal for me to lose 5-10lbs. I can weigh lower than 120lbs and still be considered healthy. The reason I want to lose weight is because I still have love handles and excess fat on my thighs. I'm training for a marathon because I enjoy running and I want to be challenged. I get a high from competitive events, and a marathon is one of the most difficult athletic events to complete. I eat at least 1500 calories a day...so it's not like I'm starving myself. I think I have a very healthy outlook when it comes to fitness and dieting. My goal isn't to be thin - it's to be fit.

I will talk to my therapist more about this, though. I do think I need her clarification. And you're right - if I do really have a problem, I want to stop it before it turns into something more serious, like an ED.

Not to be argumentative, but when you're running a marathon, or even practising for one, you should not purposely try to lose weight.  Restricting your calories could lead to dire consequences.  Also, for a young woman who is 5'6" to be training (or even just leading a moderately active lifestyle) on 1500 calories...that's restriction in itself.  I really REALLY recommend you seek out a registered dietitian to get some clarification on what is an appropriate amount for you to be eating, ESPECIALLY if you are going to be running in a marathon!

Trust me, restricting your intake to lose weight ("love handles and excess fat on your thighs" or not!) while training for a marathon will not help your endurance, pace, or time in any way.  Instead, you will find yourself getting more cramps, side stitches, and your running will suffer.

Also, I read that you have 18% body fat- that is the lowest amount of body fat a NON-PROFESSIONAL female athlete should have.  And guess what?  Like I said before, 135 pounds at 5'6" is seriously the ideal weight-to-height ratio!  If your goal is TRULY to be fit and healthy, not just thin, as you claim, you'd do best just to focus your efforts on getting enough nutrients (fat included, with no restriction).

Try to let your body dictate a weight that it is happy at through striving to do what is best.

For me, adjusting my carbohydrate/fat/protein ratio’s, as well as eating 100% clean unprocessed food and doing Pilate’s a couple of days a week, as well as only ONE body pump class each week, has naturally put my body at an ideal weight for me.

By taking the focus of a number, and striving for the best skin/healthiest looking hair/how toned I am/over all image/ has helped me achieve my ideal weight more then anything else; deliberately striving to achieve a set number usually makes people want to rebel against the fact that they have to make any effort and go out of their way to lose the weight.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be 120 lbs; it is still a healthy weight for your height. It is WHY you want to lose weight and HOW you think about it that matter; 120 may be too low for you to live realistically, without deprivation, or it could be fine, but you are far better off letting your BODY decide what weight it wants to be at, instead of what YOU want to look like/weigh

You want to eat 1500 calories, at your height and weight AND while training for a marathon? Are you nuts?

I eat 1500 calories now, no exercise and I'm 2 inches shorter, and 20 pounds smaller, and I feel the need to INCREASE my calories because I'm still losing weight, and I want to maintain.

If I trained for a marathon I wouldn't even think of cutting calories. That's some serious strain on your body. I think it would take some serious bingeing eating to even gain a tiny bit while training for a marathon, normally most people notice that they're losing weight even though they eat like HORSES.