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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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"

My partner told me I have an ED. My teen daughter said “you’re torturing yourself”. I had friends say they thought I should stop losing weight or that I spend too many hours a day exercising, they’re worried about me, that sort of thing. It’s true I was spending a huge amount of time exercising and I’ve tried to listen and reduce the number of hours. I went from 4hrs a day to maybe 2.5 or so except on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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"

My partner told me I have an ED. My teen daughter said “you’re torturing yourself”. I had friends say they thought I should stop losing weight or that I spend too many hours a day exercising, they’re worried about me, that sort of thing. It’s true I was spending a huge amount of time exercising and I’ve tried to listen and reduce the number of hours. I went from 4hrs a day to maybe 2.5 or so except on the weekend.

Yes, I think you do, but I'm not a doctor. (I am someone who has struggled with disordered eating and it sounds exactly like something I would have done back then.) You should reach out to a medical professional.

[Anonymous]

Are you able to NOT exercise and eat what you want for a day or two without intense guilt or shame?

[Anonymous]

Do you have any hobbies that are activity based, versus the gym? Maybe try to spend more time on that, less on “working out” and assess the thoughts you’re having about yourself before and after engaging in it. It is not necessarily bad to be active 4 hours a day, but the motivation can be. If you are anxious about your body, and that’s why you do this, you need to get some help.

[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. If these are close family and friends making the comments, and they are people who know her and love her, then their comments hold a lot of weight.

To this internet stranger, it's the compulsion aspect that makes it an ED. If OP feels overwhelmed with guilt if she doesn't compensate with exercise for eating more, the "terrified" aspect of gaining weight, if she is skipping out on time with friends and family in order to exercise those extra 200 calories away. If she can't relax or enjoy herself until she is able to do the "extra exercise." These are all signs that it's reached an unhealthy point.

It's normal to want to maintain fitness and appearance, but not at the expense of all else. Not if you're thinking about it constantly and it's dictating your decisions and actions.

Also "I do not look like I have an ED" shows you don't actually understand the crux of what an ED is. It's not as simple as "are you emaciated or not?"

Here is a website from the Mayo clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353603

"After eating, due to guilt, shame or an intense fear of weight gain, purging is done to get rid of calories. Purging can include vomiting, exercising too much, not eating for a period of time, or using other methods, such as taking laxatives...

Bulimia also involves being preoccupied with weight and body shape, with severe and harsh self-judgment of personal appearance."

[Anonymous]

I think it's in that area, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you able to NOT exercise and eat what you want for a day or two without intense guilt or shame?

I mean, not really. I don't like to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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"

My partner told me I have an ED. My teen daughter said “you’re torturing yourself”. I had friends say they thought I should stop losing weight or that I spend too many hours a day exercising, they’re worried about me, that sort of thing. It’s true I was spending a huge amount of time exercising and I’ve tried to listen and reduce the number of hours. I went from 4hrs a day to maybe 2.5 or so except on the weekend.

I am the poster you are responding to and yes, in that case i do think you have an ED. Again, i say that as someone who is just back from a 5k run and who entered her calories in her app this morning even though my BMI is at the low end of normal,ready to cross to underweight. So i fully understand the desire to be thin and working for it. But what you describe is a red flag to me.

Exercise is taking way too much space in your life. at this stage it is obviously an addiction, and an addiction that an impact on the people around you AND that you are not managing happily. It seems induced by fear and anxiety and not by joy. Trust your partner and your daughter, they are on to something. Get help.

[Anonymous]

Yes -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you able to NOT exercise and eat what you want for a day or two without intense guilt or shame?

I mean, not really. I don't like to.

Not liking it is one thing, obsessing over it and feeling shame about it is another. Awareness of your body’s needs is good, obsession is not. How happy are you feeling generally with your life? Are there things you wish your were spending your time on? Does your family wish you had more time for THEM?

Based on what you’re saying I think it’s worth seeing a therapist, if only to help you reset mentally after you’re hard won weight loss. You should be able to enjoy life and maintain your weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you able to NOT exercise and eat what you want for a day or two without intense guilt or shame?

I mean, not really. I don't like to.

The actions don't seem directly concerning. Generally balancing eating and activity is a good thing. But you said you were "terrified" and now suggest not doing it would cause you intense guilt or shame: THAT seems like a problem. Only you know how much it is interfering with your life and emotional stability.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I need to think about it a little more.

[Anonymous]

Try eating a bunch of garbage for a week, go back to normal, and check after the water retention goes down after like three days of normal. You won’t have gained any appreciable weight. That’ll help.

I lost a ton of weight and eat well to support endurance sports I really enjoy. Because doing so helps me recover and sleep well. Still eat ice cream and drink high octane beer with the boys every once in a while. Once you’ve changed your “normal” and your body composition, minor overages really don’t matter in the grand scheme.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it sounds like you do have an ED. Exercising 2.5 hours a day (and presumably more if you think you will eat more than usual), plus more on weekends, and feeling this uncomfortable about ever eating a treat is disordered. Listen to your loved ones and seek help please.

[Anonymous]

It’s definitely disordered thinking.