obsessive/compulsive/over exercise - how did you stop?

hi everyone,

i have alreadt admitted to a few of you that i have a really bad exercise prob - sometimes around 6 1/2 hrs walking a day. i feel like i have to earn the  mass of calories i eat (round 2200-2500) and forget that my actual intention/need is to gain weight!

i really want to kick this damaging behaviour, as every step is getting me closer to the grave. i'm 5ft5.5inch +84lbs

so i was wondering, how did othersx who have suffered from this kick the habbit? did you do it gradually or 'all or nothing?'

how much exercise while reovering is ok/healthy? i feel i've lost sight of normal activity - i can barely sit down!

your experiences/advice would mean so much!

btw - how many cals would i need if i stopped over doing it? i maintain 84lbs on the above cals

thanks everyone

 

Are you getting help for your eating disorder? That would be my first suggestion. My gosh 84Lb I don't know how you have the energy to walk. If you are not getting any help please do so. Being skinny is not worth your life. You need to sit down and figure out an exercise routine. Should not be more than 6 days a week and in your current condition I would suggest 3-4. 1 hour a day. Some strength training and some cardio. Once you have a plan write it down on paper or log it on your computer and do not allow yourself to do any more. Check it off each day and be done with it. I know that is easier said than done but with any type of OCD the therapy is to make yourself not do whatever it is you are obsessing about. Find something else constructive to do with your time. But first and foremost get some help. Life is too short and to spend it like you are is just not worth it. You are so much more than what you weigh. Girls look better when they are fit, healthy and tone. Not skin and bones. I do understand about OCD as I have that too and it is hard to make yourself not do something but you must. Most of the time people who have OCD also have anxiety/depression issues and there are medications that can help. Recently studies have been done on Fish oil OCD/anxiety/depression and fish oil has been found to effect the seretonin levels in the brain. Many scientists now believe that these disorders are caused by a decreased seretonin level and fish oil helps to regulate those levels. Also flax and salmon oil. Maybe look into that. I currently take all of those supplements and they do seem to help. They are also very good for you in a lot of other ways. Good fats Omega-3's.

If you reduced your walking to half an hour a day you'd be able to gain weight steadily on about 2500 cals a day.    If you can't do this voluntarily then you need to ask for some help.... urgently.  Once a compulsive behaviour pattern is so entrenched and in danger of destroying your life it's going to take a professional to help you overcome it.

Have you tried simply not exercising at all?  Just for a day?  It sounds as though you are frightened what will happen if you don't exercise.... Maybe facing the fear and realising that nothing bad happens would be the first step?

holy moly, 6 1/2 hours per day is a lot of exercise and an unhealthy amount since you are only 84 lbs.  You didn't mention your age, but I'm guessing you're not holding down a full-time job because you wouldn't be able to exercise as much if you worked 9 to 5 every day.  (Who would have the time?).  Have you tried cutting down your exercise to one hour per day (that is a reasonable amount for a healthy person) or finding other activities to do to fill your time?  It sounds like a scary situation for you & I feel for what you're going through.  If you don't mind me asking, how long has this been going on?

i am a compulsive over exerciser.

my instinct is to say do nothing (stop exercising)... because of ur weight. but i know its not that simple.  i had a cbt for a while and we both agreed it'd scare the crap into me if i totally stopped and that i would fast (food-wise)

so i agreed to keep the calories the same and i knocked a 1/2 hr off it every second day till i was down to 1.5 hr (which is not unreasonable at a healthy weight)

the thing with fear is that if you really want to get better you have to face it.

you REALLY need to gain weight and the reason you are maintaing ur weight on 2200-2500 is coz A your weight is so low and B your body has adapted to the exercise. a normal person who eats regularly (the same as what you do in a day) would lose huge amounts of weight doing this exercise.

i can imagine ur legs and hips are very sore and tired. God knows mine were.

your weight wont shoot up fast the way some ppl's do coz ur doing so much exercise. chances are it'l take a while for the weight to go on.

graduating exercise is on thing BUT weight gain is another. you can change this today. and you should. you dont decide to come around to thinking about gaining it. YOU GAIN IT.

i know your scared but TRUST ME its a good move

your replies have been amazing

ok - brief history:

I’m a 5ft5.5” female weighing 84 pounds. I have suffered from an eating disorder for 5 years and im growing so very tired of it. I began with bulimia, then moved to anorexia and compulsive over exercising as a way of controlling my w8. I have been in and out of hospital for 3 years but have been flying solo these past 2 years after having a very traumatic experience with another patient trying to take her own life. Ive tried so hard to increase my weight in this period but have not been successful due to burning more than I was consuming. This is mainly due to developing OCD behaviours which incorporate with the over exercise.

I’ve tried leading a ‘normal’ life by going to college but have now reached breaking point. I walk around 6 hours each day and the people of my neighbourhood ect have started to notice – calling me ‘crazy’. It upsets me so much, I’m an A grade student who has been reduced to a walking maniac. It’s mainly due to the fact that I consistently eat throughout the day, as part of me is trying to gain weight despite the obsession. I eat around 2100 cals a day and then consume around 400 at night due to guilt of over exercise. However I feel so awful and wrong when I eat. My weight hasn’t shifted and the night snack only fuels the next day’s ocd exerciseL

it's so weird you mentioned ocd as i suffer with this+depression, coupled with the anorexia. who wouldnt be sad - i spend my whole day pretty much alone - i used to be popular!(ish) i hate the idea of hospital after all the probs ive had (have been 4 since 13yrs old) i gain weight fine, but come out and gradually loose control again. i need to want this.

and i do.after 5 long painful years. only i just dont know how to approach it. ive tried reducing by minutes. i tried reducing about 1 1/2 hrs, but it gradually snook back on. at xmas, i only walked my dog 90mins the whole day. it worked - was v.tuff but felt normal. however, college started up again + so did the walking back+forth - becoming compulsive due to ocd.

i just wondered what workd for others. please dont judge, i really do want to recover. i dream of being normal sized - not even really skinny like many do. i want lumps/bumps - everything! its so good to speak about it - your advice/input really helps

advice v.welcome x x

exercise doesnt jus creep back up, n weight doesnt just fade off u are doing these things n i think u need2 take a little responsibility.

if u want to stop find something like a job or voluntary work or something that keeps u occupied.

get a meal plan from a nutritionist or using the tools on this site and stick to it. i also reccommed getting a counsellor.

you sound dedicated and motivated but you have to be the one to do it