Can anyone help? Health related. Anyone feel this way?

[Melonsandberriew]

I think I may have an eating disorder, which I’m trying to address (seeing my GP tomorrow morning). It’s been building and the physical consequences of being underweight are becoming more obvious and worrying (blood tests showed my hormones are all over the place, oestrogen etc), hair falling out and generally look a bit of a mess.

The problem is how I *feel*and I wonder whether this is to do with the possible eating disorder or something else.

I start the day feeling ok. In fact I often go for 8-10k fast and strong runs, and I feel great.

But as the day progresses, oddly enough especially shortly after eating, I begin to feel odd. Very low level nausea, a bit light headed, a bit dizzy, distracted, low, flat, fatigued. Very off. Very flat. Makes parenting difficult as I struggle to muster enthusiasm.

I eat 3 meals a days, albeit very low fat and low cal

I am trying to eat more for breakfast in hope it will make me feel better but it’s not working...

Porridge pot (70g) with water for breakfast
Fruit salad
Sometimes a few slices of chicken

Lunch
Huge undressed salad with 1 skinless chicken breast or tuna steak
2 apples
Big Fruit salad of mixed berries

Dinner
Huge mound of steamed veg (as in huge! Three slices leeks, 1 large courgette, 3 carrots, a few pieces of broccoli and a pile of asparagus)
Fat free Greek yoghurt
2 apples, a nectarine, a bowl of blueberries and raspberries

I don’t think I should feel as rough as I do on this diet, but I do. Do you think it’s the restricted diet or something more sinister?

TIA

Can only answer very briefly as I'm off to work - but there is no fat in your diet which is likely to make you feel ill. Can you add oil to you salads? Have full fat yoghurt etc?

You need fat - nuts, cooking your veg in coconut oil and something like sweet potato wedges - you could still have carbs.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/m.huffingtonpost.com.au/amp/2017/11/19/9-signs-youre-not-eating-enough-fataa_23279029/

An eating disorder also has an emotional component. Can you identify its role in the issues with food? As you feel ok when exercising and not so good ayer eating I would not be surprised if it’s related to the sensation of no longer being in control or however you experience the emotional side of the disorder.

I absolutely definitely 100% agree that you need to see your GP about this. When I started running (much less in distance and frequency than you do), after a time I had to up my calorie intake as I felt dreadful running at the previous calorie deficit I was losing at when my exercise was less. My hair started falling out, I was knackered all the time and falling asleep ridiculously early.

Not at all surprised you’re feeling rough eating your current diet and doing your current level of exercise. and think you need to add in some fat and carbs. But more importantly you need some professional support to help you get on top of the psychological side of this. Recognising that things aren’t right and go8ng to the GP is a very positive step.

Hi OP. I’m an eating disorders practitioner and it sounds as though you are struggling with a lot of the physical effects of malnutrition which could or could not be part of an eating disorder. Your diet is predominately fruit and veg and as you’ve written yourself it’s a restricted intake. Lots of people with eating disorders continue to “function” at very low body weights but the fact you are losing your hair, fatigue, dizziness are all signs that you are malnourished and may have been for some time.
I would suggest visiting your GP and asking to be referred to your local eating disorders team or if your local team has a self referral system I would probably bypass the GP and do that. They will assess you and try to figure out if you have an eating disorder or if you maybe don’t fit the mental health criteria they may be able to provide support to help you increase your intake.
In the beginning food is the medicine, in that in order to recover weight needs to be restored before effective psychological help can take place. Studies show that starvation is the cause for much of the way you are feeling and once this is eradicated we can work on any underlying issues that remain. For lots of people this is incredibly difficult for them to hear as this is the part that may be most frightening to them.
Good luck OP 💐

You're not eating anywhere near enough to sustain your body after running for 8-10k as others have said you need more fats. Are you taking any supplements as you sound like you could be anemic as there is no iron in your diet.

I can’t thank you all enough. Such thoughtful considered responses. Thank you.

@kiabella
Is there any reason why I start the day feeling pretty normal, normal enough to go for wonderful enjoyable 8-10 runs.

But as the day progresses - the odd off slightly faint and very flat feeling creeps up on me.

I enjoy the food I eat hugely. And I forgot to add that I often end the day with another Greek yoghurt(fat free) with some oats and dried fruit mixed with it. Helps me sleep and I wake up with energy.

I know lacking in fat but I don’t think it’s too bad a diet, especially not to warrant feeling shit so much of the time. I do need help to put on weight. I’m 5’7 and weight 7.5 stone.

It’s the patte n of the day that perplexes me. Woke up feeling good, just been on beautiful 7k run. Back now and feeling good. But I know by 9ish, after eating a decent breakfast and not much exertion - i will get the weird feelings - a mix of physical and mental.

Plantpot1983

Very helpful article that resonates

I know I need more fat. I know I need to sort out my diet. I’m going to try.

I’m just wondering whether the feelings (both physical and mental) are linked with diet or whether perhaps something else that others have experienced

@melonsandberriew
It could be that by doing the big runs in the morning you’re using up all your reserves so don’t have much energy for the rest of the day.
I work with children so only have access to 0-19 scales but based on your weight and height you are 74% of your ideal weight for height, we usually put people at this percentage on complete bed rest and they’re not able to attend school until they reach 80%.
Do you have foods that are scary to you, if I were to place a chocolate bar in front of you would you be able to eat it or would it be difficult?
For some people they get caught up in trying to be healthy and go a bit too far, for it to be classed as an eating disorder we would usually look at if there is an intense fear of gaining weight or a refusal to maintain a safe body weight, fear foods, behaviour that is undertaken specifically to reduce body weight or maintain low weight (eg is the running out of pure enjoyment or do you feel you have to maintain the running else your weight will increase)
Like I say though I work with children and the treatment model is different for adults. If you feel able to please do refer yourself to your local ED team. EDs very rarely get better on their own

@kiabella

That’s genuinely helpful.

I think I am more obsessed with eating “healthily” (I recognise my view of healthy is warped) than deprivation.

For instance I have just really enjoyed 70g porridge pot with punnet of blueberries. Followed by pot of fat free Greek yoghurt and punnet of raspberries. And an apple. I feel good. But I know the off feeling with creep up soon enough.

I would never ever ever ever eat a chocolate bar by myself, or crisps or indeed any junk at all. I will eat a few crisps, everyThing that is served and dessert if going to someone’s house. No one would think I have a weird relationship because if I am with people I eat whatever served. It’s out of my comfort zone though. I enjoy it but then I do tie myself up in knots about it a bit the following day.

Exercise - I do it every day but not hours. Just one hour a day. Max. Either run, weight class or yoga. If I don’t do it, yes I do feel agitated.

Re gaining weight. I want to. I really do. But I do get a kick out of seeing the low weight on the scales and I hate myself for it

The physical way I’ve been feeling - you think linked to lack of fat?

I'm the same height as you. I once weighed 8st at my lowest and was a size 6. My bmi was 17. I'm now 10st and a healthy size 12. It took me several years to very slowly gain back my weight. My dietician told me to switch everything to full fat and to try and have slightly bigger portions at each sitting. Most low fat things aren't actually better for you as they replace the fats with sugar to make them taste nice.

@melonsandberriew Sorry for late response it’s been a hectic day!
Sounss like there’s definitely some ED cognition here.
For some people there will always be a fear of “unhealthy” foods etc and while it’s not essential to challenge your fear foods once weight restoration has taken place, i personally don’t think a full recovery is possible without doing so.
I’m not a dietician so couldn’t give an accurate answer on weather it’s specifically to do with fats but in general your intake is very very low. It takes approximately 3500 extra calories a day to gain 1lb (so 500 extra calories per day). Of course you could make this up with your safe foods but you would need to eat a bigger volume to get those calories in. Fats and carbohydrates would be a good way of condensing the calories. Looking at your original post i would say you probably have around 1000 calories if not less per day, not to mention the exercise you do. Based on the average healthy intake for a woman of 2000 calories, plus the extra 500 extra in order to restore weight you would need to add an extra 1500 calories per day.m in order to gain weight and restore your physical gealth.

Some vitamins and minerals are fat soluble which means you won't be absorbing them on a diet that is very low in fat like yours.

You need carbohydrates you are eating a lot of fruit and veg

Im no expert but it sounds like you are burnt out by the evening & DC are missing out on you.

Can you exercise when DC are in bed, then they get the best from you?

Hi
Please visit my website for free links to blogs and videos and discussions on all topics of eating disorders.
Hope you find the info useful.
Warm Wishes Marissa
www.nourishingroutes.com

You admit to an eating disorder. You experience hair loss, hormone imbalance. Yet you continue to focus on food and exercise. You are underweight and lacking fat, carbohydrates and vitamins in your diet. Without addressing the eating disorder no diet changes on their own will help.