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Fine line between dieting and an eating disorder?

Junction

Junction

Bluelighter
Joined
Jun 5, 2008
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118
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NJ
Hello,
I'm not sure this is the right location for this thread, if not, please feel free to move it.

About a year ago I became serious about diet and running. Consequently, I lost about 30 pounds. Now, I am a 6' 5", 27 year old male, and at my new weight of 170 I am beginning to look quite skinny. I get comments from my friends that they have never seen me this skinny before (even though I weighed about this much throughout college).

I am wondering if anyone here has experience with dieting and eating disorders because I am beginning to wonder if I might have crossed the line into having one. The feedback I get from others varies from "you look good these days" to "you've gotten really skinny". I don't really care what other people think, I just care about what I think and feel, but I swing between feeling like I have more fat I'd like to lose or I feel like I've gotten too small, mostly when other people tell me I have. It is this lack of ability to see myself objectively in the mirror that worries me somewhat.

Perhaps I am struggling with getting used to my new look, as the weight loss was quite rapid and my body feels and looks quite different now. I am a little worried about continuing to lose weight, even though by now I am kind of "addicted" to exercising and eating the diet that got me here and feel sluggish and gross if I just eat whatever and don't run anymore.

My question for those with experience: when does exercise and eating a supposedly healthy diet become detrimental and/or obsessive? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
 
Eating disorders aren't about your body size or shape - they're about your relationship with your body and with food and exercise.

If you are healthy and comfortable in your body, eating a balanced diet and exercising a 'normal' amount, you probably don't have an eating disorder. If your dieting and exercising is compulsive or extreme, or you're experiencing body dysmorphia (the thing where your perceptions of your body and diet restrictions is unrealistic) you may want to speak to a specialist and see if they think you're OK.

The best thing you can do is speak to a psychologist with experience in treating eating disorders - they may well tell you that you are worrying for nothing.

I'm going to go against my usual advice and recommend that you NOT try to research of your own accord - a large amount of published material about eating disorders is really voyeuristic and triggering and may be damaging for you to read if you do have problems with food restriction and weight. Maybe someone in your area can recommend a good therapist.
 
Thank you for such a thoughtful reply.

The body dysmorphia that you mentioned is what worries me, because I feel like I can't "see" my real weight in the mirror. I look sometimes and see that there is more I'd like to lose, and other times I see myself and I am like "wow, I've gotten really skinny! Almost too skinny!"

I alternate between feeling really light, healthy, and full of energy, but then someone says something like, I think the worst comment was: "Have you gotten tested lately? You've lost a lot/maybe too much weight!" And at that moment I can't help but think "Maybe they're right and I'm just not seeing it?"

The fact that all of this bothers me so much and that I think about it a lot worries me too, because sometimes I can get a little obsessive about it.

Anyway, thank you, I'll take your advice and see a specialist about it.
 
if your weight is being lost pretty fast over short enough periods of time where people are commenting about it, then theres a good chance it is probably not a healthy way to treat your body.

when trying to be healthy, weight isn't important, more important to listen to your bodies needs, treat it well.
 
Alright, I'm a little tipsy at the moment, but I'm going to attempt to address this topic because I have said experience :).

I'm completely recovered now, but I struggled with an eating disorder (anorexia) for about six years when I was younger. It's usually hard to tell when healthy eating and dieting cross that line because the line is really blurry and eating disorders are SO sneaky and insidious. You don't really realize they've hit you until you're in too deep to get out. They're very much like chemical addictions in that way, among others. So it's really good that you're questioning things now before more serious problems possibly catch up to you!!

I think SixBuckets' advice is legit. See a specialist and get a professional opinion. Researching eating disorders online can absolutely be a huge trigger if you do have one, and that can make things much worse in the long run. For me, my eating disorder started with a seemingly innocent decision to get into better shape and eat healthier. Some of the earliest signs of a problem were people telling me that I looked really skinny and feeling really shitty when I'd eat a normal, non-restrictive amount of food without working out after; "Sluggish" and "gross" are very fitting adjectives for that feeling, actually. The stereotype is that all people with eating disorders think they're fat when they're too skinny. In my experience, though, I saw myself as non-ideal (not fat, but not yet up to my own internal standard) about a quarter of the time during the throws of my eating disorder. The rest of the time I saw myself as really skinny. Basically, you don't have to think you're fat all the time to have an eating disorder. It is possible to have an eating disorder without any body dysmorphia at all.

The majority of people with eating disorders are actually at a healthy weight, contrary to popular belief, but a good way to tell whether or not you've lost an unhealthy amount of weight is to check your BMI, which you can do online by just googling "BMI calculator". A BMI below 18.5 is generally considered to be too thin.

If you see a specialist and the conclusion is that you have a completely healthy relationship with exercise and eating, maybe a nutritionist or a personal trainer could help you work out a healthy diet to maintain your weight at a healthy place as you continue to exercise.

Good luck!!
 
Someone who isn't me, thanks for such a well written reply! I guess the consensus so far based on your advice is I want to go see a counselor so at least in the best case scenario I can stop worrying about it.
 
Everyone basically covered it. Just remember that the misconception about dieting is it is only used in reference to someone losing weight. That is incorrect. It simply means a habitual form of eating. When you diet you are focusing on specific foods or specific nutrients that correspond with your Goal. Dieting is just the footwork. Your goal is what you should judge on whether or not you may be going to an extremist view or unknowingly beginning the horrid nature of an eating disorder that unfortunately takes grip on so many.

Good luck with everything. I hope you stay safe and healthy. Remember that what is on the outside is only superficial and should not define who you are.
 
Aww, you're absolutely welcome, Junction! Cliche, I know, but it's definitely better to be safe than sorry. And if you do have a problem, catching it early makes things MUCH easier. The more ingrained unhealthy attitudes toward food and exercise get, the harder they are to reverse. I wish I'd taken your approach when I was sixteen, haha...

I'd just go to your GP and ask if they can refer you to someone who specializes in eating disorders. Worst case scenario: You make the best of a shitty situation. Most likely scenario: You're fine and you get peace of mind!
 
Thanks, Grym Reefer and everyone else. I understand that diet is not synonymous with weight loss, but unfortunately for the average person it can be! Now, I need to make the transition of a weight loss diet to a healthy one of maintenance. That is the one thing I am having a little bit of difficulty doing: "you mean I should be eating all that food now that I am no longer trying to/shouldn't be trying to lose? Wow!"
 
Junction said:
Thanks, Grym Reefer and everyone else. I understand that diet is not synonymous with weight loss, but unfortunately for the average person it can be! Now, I need to make the transition of a weight loss diet to a healthy one of maintenance. That is the one thing I am having a little bit of difficulty doing: "you mean I should be eating all that food now that I am no longer trying to/shouldn't be trying to lose? Wow!"
Click to expand...

Haha its a little bit more work than that. Just find your maintenance caloric intake (calories in=calories out) so you don't gain weight, but you don't continually lose weight. If you have gotten your desired weight range then why not start to put a little bit muscle on? Don't think your going to turn into a muscle monster by picking up some weights. It will help you with maintaining your weight and possibly lowering your body fat a little bit more. Muscle is also more metabolically active than fat and takes more calories at rest to fuel itself.

Everyone is so worried about the number that their weight is. If you just eat healthy and live a healthy lifestyle then everything will follow. Don't be afraid to indulge on some naughty foods. You only got one life so don't spend it all torturing yourself with restrictions on food. Just learn the most important word for life, moderation!
 
Excellent advice, GrymReefer! Thank you. I want to try to put a little of muscle on, maybe it will make me seem less skinny, and to do so I will diversify my exercise routine.
 
Junction said:
Now, I am a 6' 5", 27 year old male, and at my new weight of 170 I am beginning to look quite skinny. I get comments from my friends that they have never seen me this skinny before (even though I weighed about this much throughout college).
Click to expand...

I just reread your introductory post and you actually are very similar to my build. Your an inch taller than me, but I outweight you by 15-20 pounds depending upon if I'm even trying to work out! lol

My advice is to get your body fat accurately measured and then you can gauge what platform of dieting you want to go from. We can hold 10-12% body fat without anyone being able to really recognize the baggage. It also goes the other way we can carry a good 30-40 pounds of LBM and people still think we are skinny punks until you start taking your clothing off. If you have a low body fat (7%-10%) then you could go the bulking route and utilize your love for exercise and put it to cardio to stave off the accumulation of fat during your hypercaloric state. Don't be mislead by the word "bulk" it simply means you are eating at a hypercaloric state (you are eating above your daily energy expenditure). What it doesn't mean is that you should just eat complete garbage and use the word "bulkin'" as a crutch for no discipline.

For weight training I'd advice to do some research in conjunction with experimental trials in the weight room. Just get a feel for pushing around metal and learn to practice proper form and harm reduction ideologies. The big mistake a lot of people make going into a weight room the first time is trying to compare themselves to the population around them and be something they aren't. You go to the gym to work those muscles NOT YOUR EGO! A lot of people put stupid amounts of weight on bars only to barely prevent a decapitation right in the middle of the room. Even if you don't chop your head off your joints and connective tissue will not thank you. After you get a feel in the gym and want to take it further you should post your routine up on the forum and experienced members will always lend a hand.

Keep in mind that the time frame at which you lost your excess body fat will not compare to the journey you embark on in terms of creating and maintaining quality muscle mass. Set short term goals to prevent discouragement and enjoy the path your about to go on. It is a learning process until the day you die. Just stay positive and be happy! Don't over think and over complicate the process. Simple and clean is the way to be.
 
I guess the tip off is that you say you fail to see yourself objectively in the mirror.

This may signal body dysmorphia, but could also mean a number of things,- mentally, emotionally & physically.

Break it down into how you truly feel within your skin atm. What foods of value you're ingesting versus healthy amounts of physical activity.

Disregard others opinions/judgement, only you can know if you're in a good place. Take some time daily to quiet your mind, listen to your body & then act upon what it is telling you.

In peace,

Rtp
 
Runtoparadise said:
Disregard others opinions/judgement, only you can know if you're in a good place.
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No offense, but isn't someone with an eating disorder not necessarily going to know if they're in a good place or not? I thought that's sort of the whole problem in the first place. The op's weight falls under "normal" with the bmi calculator, but IMO 170 is pretty damn thin for someone that tall. Best to see a doctor if you think you have a problem, op.
 
Junction said:
My question for those with experience: when does exercise and eating a supposedly healthy diet become detrimental and/or obsessive? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

What was/is now your motivation for this lifestyle? If you want to look good and feel healthy you're better off doing weights with a little bit of cardio peppered in, as opposed to just all out cardio. Running is pretty harsh on your joints too.. wearing foot gear fucks up the whole process of how your foot meets the ground and that translates pretty badly through your joints/legs. Much better off cycling, rowing, swimming for cardio.
 
-=SS=- said:
What was/is now your motivation for this lifestyle? If you want to look good and feel healthy you're better off doing weights with a little bit of cardio peppered in, as opposed to just all out cardio. Running is pretty harsh on your joints too.. wearing foot gear fucks up the whole process of how your foot meets the ground and that translates pretty badly through your joints/legs. Much better off cycling, rowing, swimming for cardio.
Click to expand...
Really? I run every day and it is something I enjoy, and helps to keep the black dog at bay somewhat.

Do u think you need to have vibrams or something similar to run?
 
Jogging is actually harder on your joints than running. Don't ask me where I read that tho, was years ago lol.
 
Jogging and running are the same thing to me tbh, i don't go for sprints or do interval training every day, I run/jog at a comfortable speed for 30 mins.
 
Do you run competitively? Do you still enjoy running...or is it a chore?

I'm a runner (used to be a gymnast) and grew up worrying about my body (never wanting fat). Great advice on this thread so far!

Running is supposed to be fun (even in competition)! If you find yourself focusing on weight/calories/mirror...I think it's time to see a counselor.
 
nuttynutskin said:
No offense, but isn't someone with an eating disorder not necessarily going to know if they're in a good place or not? I thought that's sort of the whole problem in the first place. The op's weight falls under "normal" with the bmi calculator, but IMO 170 is pretty damn thin for someone that tall. Best to see a doctor if you think you have a problem, op.
Click to expand...

Again, that's in an outsiders opinion. The BMI calculator is not without fault, but has been widely & acceptably used for many years. Only now are other methods overtaking it's reliability in favour of more healthy outcomes.

However, I don't dispute OP see a health professional for guidance.

Rtp
 
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