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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on December 13, 2007, at 21:53:07
So, here's the story:
Personally, I think I'm significantly overweight; perhaps 30 lbs or so. I'm 5'6 and over 170.
I do eat alot, and drink lots of soda. 2 liters of Mt. Dew per day, 1 qt chocolate milk, a couple glasses of regular milk, a bag of potato chips, perhaps a pound of meat, a pound of vegetables, some chocolates, etc. I eat a lot.I do exercise a lot though. I'll ride my bike at least a couple, to perhaps 20 or 30 miles per day. some people have told me that I'm possibly bulimic. I don't purge, per se, but I go to the bathroom quite a bit, and don't really want to treat what might be IBS.
I got a bit nervous today when I figured out that I'm probably eating over 4000 calories per day, and I think that's a bit high. If I cook supper for my family, and everyone's gone, I'll probably eat it all. Then I'll feel like crap for doing so.
How do you know if what's going on is really an ED, or just being someone who likes to eat a lot, and exercises a lot, and maybe has a minor problem, or if you have a significant problem?
I hope the detail wasn't too much. I apologize if it was, but I don't know how to be clear otherwise.
Blessings,
--Dee
Posted by Racer on December 14, 2007, at 5:24:30
In reply to how do you know if you're bulimic? (ED trigger?), posted by deirdrehbrt on December 13, 2007, at 21:53:07
Well, you could look at the Four Ds:
Deviant
Dangerous
Dysfunctional
DistressIf a behavior involves all of these, it's probably a disorder. Not all that helpful, huh?
While the best known form of purging is self-induced vomiting, the actual definition is "inappropriate compensatory behavior" -- so excessive exercise counts as a form of purging. I guess I'd ask *why* you ride your bicycle so much? If it's an attempt to compensate for eating so much, then it's probably purging. If you ride because you enjoy it or enjoy the scenery, AND it's not interfering with other aspects of your life, then it might not be. I say "might not" rather than "isn't" because I don't know to what extent you might be in denial, saying that it's enjoyment, when there's that inner voice saying, "better enjoy it -- it's why I can keep eating..." (I've got those little voices -- I assume I'm not unique in that.)
As for the other part of it, if you've got bowel trouble, get that checked out. Trust me -- NOT something you want to play with. While I doubt that's actually purging-related -- unless you're doing something to help it along -- it's still potentially serious.
Frankly, the only part of your post that would worry me is that you say that you feel bad after you eat. That distress is a problem, in and of itself. It's worth exploring that in more depth.
By the way, you don't have to have a diagnosed -- or even diagnosable -- eating disorder to post about your distress here. If you find you're using food for emotional reasons, that's what this board is for. If you're not sure why you continue eating after you've had enough, or if you're not sure how to recognize hunger and satiety signals, those are things to discuss here. (Dieting, of course, goes to the Health board.)
So, to me, what you're describing doesn't sound like bulimia, but it does sound as though you've got something going on that bothers you. Maybe what you're doing really is purging, but that's not what it sounds as though you're doing from what you've written. How to tell whether or not you're having trouble? Well, most bulimics I've known have KNOWN that they have a problem. They may not have a name for it, but they've known that what they're doing is not normal, and they've known that it's a problem. I don't know if that helps you figure out your situation, but I hope so.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Poet on December 15, 2007, at 16:38:49
In reply to how do you know if you're bulimic? (ED trigger?), posted by deirdrehbrt on December 13, 2007, at 21:53:07
Hi Dee,
When you over eat is there an emotional trigger to it? For me bingeing/purging is one of my bad coping mechanisms when I get stressed out or in a major self-hatred mode. My if I were thin I'd be happy thinking takes over.
As Racer said exercise is a form of purging and if you are riding your bike because you really enjoy the exercise is one thing, riding it to try to get rid of what you ate is another thing. Binge eating is an ED, too. It's just not as widely recognized as anorexia or bulimia.
Do you wait until your family is gone to finish the leftovers so they don't see how much you're eating? Shame is a big reason why I don't let anyone see me binge. I don't want someone to think "what a pig, look at her." My binges are my secret.
You seem unhappy with your body and this board is definitely a good place for honest discussion of body issues. I know why I hate mine (geez, Racer I can hear you yelling through cyberspace "Poet does not have fat thighs.)
Poet
Posted by Racer on December 16, 2007, at 0:07:16
In reply to Re: how do you know if you're bulimic? (ED trigger?) » deirdrehbrt, posted by Poet on December 15, 2007, at 16:38:49
> (geez, Racer I can hear you yelling through cyberspace "Poet does not have fat thighs.)
>
> Poet
>And do you also hear me yelling, "Darn it, I wish I had that nice, flat stomach she's got?"
Or my quieter comment, "Geez, Poet -- nice socks!"
You're beautiful, you just don't know it.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on December 16, 2007, at 17:24:14
In reply to Re: how do you know if you're bulimic? (ED trigge » Poet, posted by Racer on December 16, 2007, at 0:07:16
Yeah, I guess I do wait,and try to not get noticed. I didn't think sweets were a real problem, but my kids were looking for candy today. There's none in the house. The Halloween candy seems to have gone missing; along with the girl-scout cookies.
Lots of times I'll avoid eating when I visit somebody because I don't want to eat like I eat, and I know they won't have enough for me anyway.
I tend to get anxious late at night if there isn't enough food around.
Still, I get upset if when I weigh myself, I see that I might have gained some. I'll do what I can to get rid of it. I don't like not having a scale around. I occasionally house-sit for people, and they'll tell me that I can eat what I want, but I'll be very careful, and go out and buy my own food so that they don't see lots of theirs gone.
I think it's more of an issue than I was at first thinking. I guess it's another issue to figure out.
Thanks for the input.
--Dee
Posted by Poet on December 17, 2007, at 11:58:10
In reply to Re: how do you know if you're bulimic? (ED trigge » Poet, posted by Racer on December 16, 2007, at 0:07:16
Hi Racer,
My stomach isn't as flat as it used to be, but it still doesn't stick out as much as my thighs.
Thank you for noticing my socks. They are very nice and soft. Very pretty colors.
Poet
This is the end of the thread.
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