Is it an ED if you do extra exercise every time you eat a little more?

[Anonymous]

I've started having people I know say things like, "I'm worried about you", "There's such a thing as purging through exercise instead of making yourself sick", and some straight up say "I think you have an eating disorder".

I do tend to worry about food quite a bit and if I end up eating extra one day, I'll try to burn a few hundred extra calories (the normal "active calories" I burn during the day according to the Apple Health app is around 1,000 plus or minus 100 depending on the day and on weekends can reach 1,200 or more). Is it actually an eating disorder to try to burn off excess calories like this? I admit that some of my behaviors don't exactly feel healthy but isn't it normal to not want to lose the results you worked so hard to get? I'm terrified of gaining weight.

On top of this, I have had a lot of people in recent months say they're jealous of me. They wish their body looked like mine. I'm hot. That sort of thing. It feels like all my work has paid off. I look better than any time in my life, including when I was a teen or 20 year old. Obviously I don't look like I have an ED. Does it sound like I have one to you?

[Anonymous]

If it is, I guess I have that ED too! For me, not so much in the winter, but in the summer I will go for an extra run or bike ride if, for example, we plan on taking the kids for ice cream and I think I want a cone, or if we plan to eat a more decadent meal than usual, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it is, I guess I have that ED too! For me, not so much in the winter, but in the summer I will go for an extra run or bike ride if, for example, we plan on taking the kids for ice cream and I think I want a cone, or if we plan to eat a more decadent meal than usual, etc.

See, I do that kind of thing too! Sometimes it's after but I do absolutely plan ahead and pre-burn the calories (if that's a thing that makes sense?). I just thought it was a smart thing to do. Kind of like saving for the future, you know?

[Anonymous]

I think frequency makes the difference. Are you compensating once in a while or 3-4x/week? Undereating leads to binge eating, I can tell you from personal experience. I too loved being smaller than I was 30 years ago when, at 5'6, I got down to 110 lbs. The problem was that I could not sustain this, for me, unnaturally low weight, and the eating patterns necessary to maintain it. I always drifted slowly back into my natural range (120-130), despite always exercising. The fact is that you simply cannot outrun your mouth. Now my goal is to minimize the consumption of processed and sugary foods as I personally never succeeded in consuming them moderately.

Are you the kind of person who can eat just one Pringle? If not, you are on a slippery slope. Trust me.

[Anonymous]

What does "extra" mean to you? If being "terrified" of gaining weight is causing a preoccupation with food and exercise that interferes with your life, that is a good indication of an eating disorder. If friends who actually know you are concerned about you, that is also a good indication -- they have a much better perspective than strangers on the internet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does "extra" mean to you? If being "terrified" of gaining weight is causing a preoccupation with food and exercise that interferes with your life, that is a good indication of an eating disorder. If friends who actually know you are concerned about you, that is also a good indication -- they have a much better perspective than strangers on the internet!

I agree with this poster. I would really take the comments of your friends to heart. Maintaining balance is important. Having a treat shouldn't make you feel scared and since you admit that some things don't feel healthy indicates you know something is a little off. Your second paragraph reminds me of a family member who had an unhealthy relationship with food.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a good sign that you are asking, though.

[Anonymous]

What does ED mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does ED mean?

Eating Disorder.

[Anonymous]

I don't think so exactly, but it's not really holistic or balanced either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've started having people I know say things like, "I'm worried about you", "There's such a thing as purging through exercise instead of making yourself sick", and some straight up say "I think you have an eating disorder".

I do tend to worry about food quite a bit and if I end up eating extra one day, I'll try to burn a few hundred extra calories (the normal "active calories" I burn during the day according to the Apple Health app is around 1,000 plus or minus 100 depending on the day and on weekends can reach 1,200 or more). Is it actually an eating disorder to try to burn off excess calories like this? I admit that some of my behaviors don't exactly feel healthy but isn't it normal to not want to lose the results you worked so hard to get? I'm terrified of gaining weight.

On top of this, I have had a lot of people in recent months say they're jealous of me. They wish their body looked like mine. I'm hot. That sort of thing. It feels like all my work has paid off. I look better than any time in my life, including when I was a teen or 20 year old. Obviously I don't look like I have an ED. Does it sound like I have one to you?

This sounds disordered and does not sound healthy to me. Yes, it is normal to not want to lose the results you worked for, but it is not normal to be so terrified of gaining weight that you immediately go exercise to burn more calories every time you eat extra. Worrying about food all the time shows you do not have a healthy relationship with food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does "extra" mean to you? If being "terrified" of gaining weight is causing a preoccupation with food and exercise that interferes with your life, that is a good indication of an eating disorder. If friends who actually know you are concerned about you, that is also a good indication -- they have a much better perspective than strangers on the internet!

This, who are the people worried for you? I wouldnt give same credit to everyone. Now, you reminded me of Coutrney Cox's story, when apparently she would run laps around the block before going to a party if she hadnt met her exercise/calory goals (probably a urban myth). That would fall in the category of exercise interfering with life.

Are your kids/ husband/ parents/ brothers-sisters telling you it is taking too much space in your life? Or friends you see once a month?

FWIW, i watch my calories, i love counting my steps and i would plan a cardio session the morning of a party i know i will go over my calory goals. But I also know myself, i love being thin but i also love being healthy and fit, i love food, zero chance i become anorexic. How do you feel about yourself OP? DO you feel you have a good honest view of yourselves? Or have your loved ones ever given you feedback that could contradict that "wait? What? No you def should not lose one more pound, you look gaunt"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've started having people I know say things like, "I'm worried about you", "There's such a thing as purging through exercise instead of making yourself sick", and some straight up say "I think you have an eating disorder".

I do tend to worry about food quite a bit and if I end up eating extra one day, I'll try to burn a few hundred extra calories (the normal "active calories" I burn during the day according to the Apple Health app is around 1,000 plus or minus 100 depending on the day and on weekends can reach 1,200 or more). Is it actually an eating disorder to try to burn off excess calories like this? I admit that some of my behaviors don't exactly feel healthy but isn't it normal to not want to lose the results you worked so hard to get? I'm terrified of gaining weight.

On top of this, I have had a lot of people in recent months say they're jealous of me. They wish their body looked like mine. I'm hot. That sort of thing. It feels like all my work has paid off. I look better than any time in my life, including when I was a teen or 20 year old. Obviously I don't look like I have an ED. Does it sound like I have one to you?

If your behavior is such that other people notice and comment on it, I’d take that seriously and have a conversation with a doctor.

[Anonymous]

No. It's common sense.
I would not go crazy about it.. not counting exact calories for every bite. But if I had cake after dinner at a party - I would add an extra walk into my day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does "extra" mean to you? If being "terrified" of gaining weight is causing a preoccupation with food and exercise that interferes with your life, that is a good indication of an eating disorder. If friends who actually know you are concerned about you, that is also a good indication -- they have a much better perspective than strangers on the internet!

Not OP but for me, it’s not so much “terrified” but rather, I know how much work it is to lose the weight, and how easy it is to become a slippery slope.

I was obese once, and I worked my ass off (literally) to lose the weight. I know how easy it is to fall into poor eating habits. I’m undoubtedly healthier now than I was when I was obese, particularly my mental health. I had depression and the beginnings of a heart issue. So if going for a quick run to allow myself a Blizzard treat a couple time a month is what keeps me on track, then you can call it an eating disorder if you want to.