By: Irshad

Irshad — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:29:56 +0000

Thank you very much RW for posting this. I am in receovry from an eating disorder. Believe me it is quite possible to eat that few calories, even fewer. I overexercise and have been for years, especially running. My body has maintained a normal weight on very few calories, running 2 consecutive hours a day, and purging. There are also times I have exercised less and eaten a little bit more and weighed 10-20 lbs less. One’s body will do whatever it can to survive. There are horrible complications from eating disorders. Eating disorders are a viscous cycle. It is always I just want to lose a few more lbs or I am just going to run another mile. Eating disorders aren’t about wanting to look thin. They are bad coping mechanisms. It is best to seek medical attention. There is definately help out there and the sooner that one gets help, the more successful receovry/treatment is. There are psychiatrists who specialize in EDs, nutritionists, social workers/psychologists, and many other medical professionals that work with ED patients to ensure receovry. Recovery doesn’t happen in a few week hospital stay either. It is an ongoing process that is much more difficult than running any race. If anyone knows someone that they think may have an ED, whether it is related to exercise and running or not, give that person your love and support. Encourage them to seek help. There are really some great resources on the internet on how to start seeking help. Ff someone is afraid to even approach their MD there are other people to approach. I am a Registered Nurse and I was afraid of saying it to my doctor. Many people with EDs are actually a normal weight not the stereotypical skeleton. ANAD is a great resource. Psychiatrists or your primary care physician are a great place to start. They can make sure that your medical needs are also being met. Even tell the nurse in your doctors office if you don’t feel comfortable bringing it up to him/her. Speaking from experience, let the person know that you care, are worried about their health/well-being. And DO NOT encourage eating disordered behaviors!!!! Many people will praise people who overexercise for their stamina and ability to exercise/run. It is sickening. They will praise their weight loss. This validates their eating disorder. I am glad that this girl asked this question. RW does an awesome job in all of their articles. Whether it be an article on just running performance or nutrition, it encourages PROPER behaviors and nutrients. I absolutely love this site. I see other fitness magazine related sites promote drastic low-cal diets and other inappropriate diets and exercise. RW is amazingly wonderful! Thank you for posting this so others can see that eating disorders are real, other there, and yes a problem for many runners.

Comments on: Eating Disorder

By: Irshad