Am I Anorexic?

I'm 5'4 and weigh about 125. Not what people would consider an anorexic frame.

But, I exercise 2 hours a day and don't eat much. I pretty much go all day without eating and then when my husband gets home, I eat dinner with him. Usually very small portions.

When I was in my early 20s, I did have a problem, but I am nothing like I was then, so I'm confused.

Am I borderline and possibly getting back into trouble? What do you think?

Wed. Jan 31, 2:34pm

Count your calories. Are you getting at least 1200 calories a day? Probably not, if you're only eating a small dinner. Try adding some nutritious snacks throughout the day, and getting your calories up. With 2 hours of exercise, you may need more than 1200 calories!

If you aren't eating b/c you're not hungry, don't think about it, etc., that's not really anorexia. If you aren't eating because you think you're fat and food scares you, that's a bad thing and you should definitely go to the doctor. Also, does your husband know that you don't eat all day, or do you hide that from him and tell him that you ate? If it's something that you have to hide, again, see your doctor.

Think about what your body needs as fuel - vitamins, nutrients, etc. And the best place to get those is with a well-balanced diet. The best thing to do would be to see a nutritionist, and find out what you are eating and what you should add, to make you feel the best and make your body function the best.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 2:39 PM

it is my experience that anorexia is a mental disorder that manifests itself physically, so your thoughts surrounding your consumption of food are very important. do you AVOID eating on purpose? do you think you are too heavy? are you always analyzing food and judging whether or not it is fattening? perhaps you are just not hungry or don't need as much "fuel" as someone else, this is entirely possible. honestly, if you had a problem in the past and are concerned about it now, you should probably consult with a professional in the field of nutrition or eating disorders. there's no shame in finding out that you may be slipping back into "sick" ways of thinking about your body. and it's better to head-it-off now than to have to deal with it as a threat to your health. they can do psychological evaluations and ask you targetted questions that will help them to determine what your current relationship is with food. congratulations on taking the step to ask about it! best wishes!

Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 2:46 PM

Consult your doctor, not strangers.
Even if you're not underweight, you could be redeveloping habits of anorexia. Get yourself checked out as to WHY you're doing this. Anorexia isn't just physical, but mental. If anyone here were to tell you "No, by your weight, you're not anorexic", doesn't mean you should dismiss it. As long as you're eating balanced and have a good calorie intake, that's good. But if you're not, along with the exercise of 2hours or more a day, then it can be a little excessive. Don't let it spiral out of control. The fact that you're on here questioning your behaviour is a red flag to yourself that what you're doing may not be healthy.
Best of luck to you.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 2:55 PM

OP here

I always think that I need to lose just 5 more lbs. I don't tell my husband that I don't eat all day, not that I hide it from him, it doesn't come up.

He wasn't with me when I did have an eating disorder so he's not real hip to my behavior if it changes.

I know that anorexia is also mental; I don't spend a lot of time thinking about food or being fearful of having to eat, or other strange things. I guess I compare myself now to how I was and I don't know if I'm falling back into old patterns or if I've "evolved" into a new anorexic to be.

I guess I could talk to my doc about it. Thanks everyone for posting helpfully and not flaming me :)

Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 3:01 PM

here's something else to consider - a lot of athletic women like you are not mentally anorexic, but they don't consume enough calories to account for their exercise. their bodies still respond as if they had an eating disorder - they stop menstruating, develop stress fractures from osteoporosis, and continue to lose weight. no one here knows your emotions about food. but it sounds like if you are only eating one meal a day while you exercise 2 hours a day that you are headed for trouble, whether you are trying to lose weight or not. in the same way, if someone is training for a marathon or a triathlon, but they eat as if they are dieting, they will also have some problems. there is a reason why olympicans eat like 8000 calories a day or so.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 5:04 PM

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Burn Fat Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight? Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Weight Watchers Meetings Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: Weight Watchers Points Plus How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge