Do I have an eating disorder?

[Mentalhealthworries]

Sorry about the name change. Also apologies for using AIBU and not one of
The more specific forums, I just need some traffic.

I’m worried about my state of mind. I’m at slimming world and doing averagely ok. However, I am obsessed about what I eat. If I eat anything not on plan, I faff and it makes me feel really down for days. It really plays on my mind. I run to try and burn it off. I don’t syn anything and must weigh myself up to 20 times a day.

I’m obsessed and using it as my control. My work is really tough at the moment and home life isn’t the best.

Does this sound familiar? Has anyone else found this? Is it an eating disorder or AIBU and it’s just normal for SW?

Sorry can't be of much help but weighing yourself 20 times a day is most definitely not normal, even on slimming world!!

It's proto-purging behaviour. Not healthy.

No - just an unhealthy obsession with weighing yourself. You're not actually sticking to the plan if you are denying yourself syns. Chill out.

Your eating has become disordered, yes. Depending on how well or unwell you are, you can potentially nip it in the bud as you are aware of it and are talking about it.

Could you arrange some counselling/ therapy with someone who is experienced in eating disorders?

It's not ED imo.

I've done this. Taken up slimming plan and become obsessed with it being perfect and not breaking the calorie limit.

ED are deep seated MH illnesses. If you did have i doubt you'd be asking on a public forum!

I would disagree, having obsessive thoughts about food can be the start of an eating disorder. I find slimming clubs can trigger things off, I can't use them for that very reason, obsession and control can become destructive very quickly.

Don't know about an eating disorder but it certainly isn't normal to be so obsessive

I don’t think any of us can know, but I will say it doesn’t sound normal so I think you’re right to be concerned.

If you’d like some support these people are really helpful: b-eat.co.uk

I wouldn’t really be qualified to say if it was an ED, however if it’s taking over your life I would be concerned yes.

If you’re obsessing, distressed about stuff, struggling with your mental health and feeling down for days over something inconsequential, then it’s tome to seek help. The name of the problem is not what’s important.

Maybe start with talking to your GP and quitting slimming world.

It's how my eating disorder began.

You have some symptoms of disordered eating yes. I wouldn't know from your op if you meet the criteria for a diagnosis of EDNOS. Have you looked on Beat website?

What do you mean by 'I faff'?

Alarm bells are ringing. It’s certainly how my eating disorder started. You seem overly obsessed with over eating.

Probably not, but this is how they begin.

I do SW too (well actually I follow a low GI plan but just get weighed at SW) and I find the whole ethos of the company unhealthy [ironically paying a fiver a week to an organisation I don't agree with has helped me finally start losing weight]

You say you are doing averagely ok with the weightloss? So I assume you aren't starving yourself?

What do you eat on on an average day?

Yes. It sounds like both your eating and your mindset are becoming disordered and I would reccommend talking to a professional before it gets much worse as eating disorders are very pervasive.

Dieting in itself is very unhelpful. Research shows that over the long term, most people will put the weight back on plus some. The dieting mindset will tell you its because your will power isnt strong enough etc but really its because dieting sets us up to fail. Deprivation leads to obsession. The more you tell yourself you cant have something, the more you will think about it. I would encourage you to read about the Health at every size movement and focus on making healthy lifestyle changes that make you feel good. Eg. Find a way of moving your body that you enjoy, experiment with some new recipes that focus on legumes and vegetables and seek counselling to develop a healthy mindset.

Good luck.

Don't weigh yourself more than once per day
In fact, once per week is enough

I suggest seeing your GP and telling them this, so you can get proper advice

Sounds disordered. I haven't weighed myself since Christmas - and I can't begin to remember what I weighed then. I just did it because there were scales at my in-laws.