ED ??

ok i seriously am worried. i used to way 110 pounds ,  (height = 157cm) and after dieting and exercising im down to 88!! my bmi says im like underweight. ive missed my period this month and no im not pregnant or anything.

My calories through the day, well i maintain to eat 1200 or less. i dont eat anything fatty, no bread, rice pasta or any thing of that sort. ive lost the weight, im really really thin all over, ( like a UK size 4/6)but the funny thing is ive still got abit of belly fat which is why im scared to eat more thinking that if i increase my calorie intake i will put on the fat. if i miss one day at the gym, i feel really guilty and i have to make it up by either double exercising the next day or eating less. have i got annorexia? or am i just bieng too into things.

thanks for all our replies.

you sound like you're aspiring to have it-regardless of what anyone here might say.

Since the average reasonably active adult female can maintain her weight on about 2000 cals a day, you're undereating by about 800 cals.  Over time that'll mean you're permanently malnourished and increasingly underweight.  You're risking some quite serious problems if things don't improve.  You don't have "belly fat", incidentally... it's more likely to be loose skin.

If you're unable to eat normal amounts, if you fear being a healthy weight (i.e. gaining), if you over-exercise or exercise to compensate for eating, if you see fat where none exists and if you have irrational food phobias (fat, bread, pasta, etc) then you're certainly displaying a lot of the signs of disordered eating behaviour & body dysmorphia.  You may have a form of depression.  And since you're also underweight and your body is too stressed to menstruate, you're now in poor physical shape and you need medical attention. 

Only a doctor can diagnose you with an eating disorder and I'd strongly recommend you make an urgent appointment to see yours as soon as possible.  You're right to be worried. Good luck

I agree with the going to the doctor, or even a school counselor. I don't know your age, so I can't judge who you should go see, but def see someone.

I stopped eating the appropriate amount of calories to lose weight, and ended up affecting my internal organs. I don't know if my digestive system will ever be the same again, and my gallbladder needs to be removed once I get health insurance. It's not good hun. There are so many side effects to what you are doing. A thin body is only an appearance. You have to remember there are organs inside you that NEED fat around them, and calories to help them function.

The main one for me was the loss of fat in my diet. Lost fat = a broken gallbladder. Lost carbs = me getting dizzy and losing my mind. Lost protein = major weakness, lazy muscles. I took naps quite frequently.

People overcome this all the time. I can't give you specific advice, only a doctor can, but EAT girl :) Your body is asking you pretty please with a cherry on top :)

Sounds like an ED to me. Get to a DR. right away. You have to have a balanced diet and cutting out bread and other grains is not good. You need those along with every other food group. Each meal should be balanced. Not eating enough will cause your body to loose muscle and hang on to any fat it has. You are being counter productive. Up your calories, bring those foods back into your diet, also make sure you are getting enough fat, protein, fruits, veggies, low-fat dairy and whole grains. You need a day a week off from exercising. This will actually promote muscle growth and toning. You must allow for recovery time or you will not see the results you want.

thank you all for your genuine replies. I definiately need to see the GP, but its really hard to eat without worrying. well lets see what the Dr has to say and ill updte it. thanks once again!

Make the appointment... call them today, get one and put it in your diary.  If you have an eating disorder you will, by definition, worry about eating.  It's a tall order to expect to combat it entirely alone, even though recovery is ultimately in your hands.  Doctors can refer you to specialists that can help you overcome the mental hurdles and also give you some dietary advice.  

The vicious circle in all this is that one of the symptoms of malnutrition is anxiety/depression.  What you eat affects how you think, in other words.  Not eating is causing you to feel scared, anxious, guilty... all the negatives.  Recovery programmes have found that the simple act of eating better and eating more 'feeds' the brain which, in turn, helps stop a lot of the mental turmoil.  Brains particularly need fats and oils in the diet to function properly..... olive oil, nuts, seeds, dairy products, meat, fish, wholegrains  If you can start that process yourself, you're going to feel much more positive

Good luck with the doctor

Excellent advice Jane. Sometimes just being around other people who are going through the same thing or having someone to talk to makes a huge difference. You must get healthy and Jane is so right about the effect proper nutrition has on your mood and over all health. You have already made the first step, realizing you have a problem and knowing you need help now just make the next step and call your DR. Good luck.

An adult woman needs 1200 calories per day to survive, a girl under 21 or an adult man 1500 per day bare minimum, and a guy under 21 1800 per day minimum. However, this is when you are sedentary. Unless you're very small, and very short, you will need a lot more than this, too.

As your BMI is so low, I expect your GP will tell you to gain. You will need at least 2500 calories a day if you are totally sedentary. More, if you are not sedentary. For advice and tips on how to do this healthily, with structured plan and food ideas, read over at: The Aim is to Gain: Advice on Weight Gain, Whatever Your Reason

Eating too low a calorie intake, or having a deficit from your BMR greater than 1000 results in something called "survival mode", where your body holds every last thing it can get in expectance of a famine. Water, food, calories. Explained:

• Dieting & Metabolism - This article explains starvation mode and why undereating is counter productive.
• The Body Neglected - This is what happens when you undereat for an extended period of time. 

The physical dangers that come with undereating and being underweight are numerous. You put yourself at risk of osteoporosis, of loss of fertility as you have lost your period, hair loss, electrolyte problems, a weakening of the immune system, low blood pressure, blood disorders such as anemia, heart problems, and even death. From The Body Neglected: Between 5% and 20% of people who develop [anorexia] eventually die from it. The mental woes that come alongside can be just as devestating. Depression is common in undereaters, as well as distorted perceptions and problems like Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Distorted perceptions: im really really thin all over, ( like a UK size 4/6)but the funny thing is ive still got abit of belly fat - trust me, at 5'1.5 you don't have belly fat. ;\

It's good to hear you've taken the first step in seeking a doctor's help. Listen to them and value them because they are just that - invaluable! If you want some online support try http://www.something-fishy.org, and take a look through CC's Eating Disorders Health, Resources and Info Thread. Your most immediate concern is your health - and for that that means you need to talk to your doctor about everything - your guilt, your undereating, your low weight. Mental, and physical. It's also usually a good idea to trust in a close family member. But remember this: Calorie Count's mission is to promote healthy and sustainable weight management. So a caution for the future:

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Good luck, again, with your doctor. Do not be scared if they propose a referral to treatment of some kind as this may be the best thing for you.

- Ellie
Calorie Count Volunteer Moderator