Bit confused not sure if i have an eating disorder.?

Question

Hi i'm an 18 year old girl and I have been self conscious about the way i look for a few years and have tried extreme dieting that has never lasted for long.But a few weeks ago i got fed up with the way i look so i'm doing really well on a diet of 500 kcal a day.But i find it strange how i'm less hungry now i've cut my food down so i can cope on less.But i don't know if i'm going to far and have some sort of problem.Please help?xxx

Answer 1

500 calories per day is WAY too little for a still growing and devloping young woman.

It is hard to advise without knowing your height or weight but here is a good rule of thumb.

Ideally, your body needs between 1500 and 2000 calories per day to function properly. You can adjust this amount if you are more or less at your rec. weight for your height and body type (endo/ecto/meso morph), and depending on your amount of daily activity.

Activity is key to any weight loss or shaping, toning. My daughter is a model and is 5' 10 and 120 pounds. She is ectomorph body type (long and naturally lean and thin). She eats no less than 2000 calories per day and exercises for at least 20 minutes per day (trampoline) and 1 hour every other day. Sure, she has to keep her body in shape BUT she also needs to retain a natural beauty that can be ravished by rapid dieting, weight loss, and other harmful side effects of over-controlled eating, smoking, or taking drugs (incuding diet pills) to stay slim.

Trust me. Eating healthy foods and daily activity - not just regimented exercise - but getting outside and moving around, is the key to body health and beauty

Answer 2

Your body needs 1200 calories a day to function. If you do not eat these calories, your body will take them from itself. You will store fat, and your body will attack the muscle. Please up your calories to at least 1200 a day. And if you are trying to lose weight, do it the right way. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. Eat a big breakfast and a smaller dinner. Decrease fats, increase protiens, and don't cut out the carbs. Your brain runs on carbs alone. You feel less hungry because your stomach has shrunk. At least take in the 1200 calories your body needs. You can always take a walk or exercise.

Answer 3

Yes, you went too far. 500 cal a day!

Go to a nutritionist.

The caloric requirement according to the USDA document is 1800 for women from 16 to 18 years if they are sedentary. Meaning you are eating less than the third part!

Answer 4

I'm just like you, and yes, it is an eating disorder. I forget the name of it, but it's nothing like bulimia or anything like a severe case of anorexia.

Some symptoms are:
Constantly thinking about food
Planning your meal the next day or planning on what to eat
Takes extreme measures dieting
Etc.

However, I would be very careful on what you are eating. 500 calories is too low and too extreme. Try to aim for 1,200 calories instead.

Answer 5

You're fine. Just because you don't eat alot doesn't mean that you have an eating disorder. Don't listen to all these bullshit people who give you crap. It's not our fault we don't have a SUPERfast metabolism like them. Tell them to shutup. Just eat a LITTLE if you're hungry. After I stopped eating, I got less and less hungry. That's just the way it is. You're totally fine.