To think that I understand my own body?

[mylittledoggie]

I've recently lost a bit of weight (always been a healthy weight) and got really into exercise. Running in particular but also gym and cycling.

I'm on the lower end of BMI but quite a small person for my height (small hands, feet, not broad). My diet is quite strict but feel like I'm fuelling my body to do what I need it to do. I feel great!

Getting a lot of negative comments from family! Too skinny, look hagged, not eating right etc. not listening.

I feel good and happier! But should I listen?

Your BMI is 18, you're losing weight, and have recently got really into excercise. There is no evidence in the photo of the excess fat you feel you have, far from it.

It sounds like you've been down this road before, even if it was 20 years ago, you know how this works. You don't need confirmation from Mumsnet. Your family know you, and while their delivery is clumsy and unhelpfu, they are expressing concern, I'm thinking probably for good reason.

As someone mentioned upthread, have a look into RED-S. It is quite common among athletes and leads to all sorts including fatigue, hormonal issues, and low bone mineral density - preventing that last one neither reason lots of us do weight exercises in the first place. It stands for
Relatively Energy Deficiency in Sport. Basically not eating enough to sustain the intensity of exercise you are doing.
It has only had that name since 2014 but even before then we knew athletes who exercised hard and underfueled resulting in their periods stopping. Effective fueling leads to effective training (personally I prefer the term "eating" but since protein shakes exist, "fuelling" is the widely used term).

You are underweight, still think you have body fat and have 1500 calories a day (you should not be even thinking about calories when you are very slim and exercising), I am sorry but I think you have an eating disorder, what you are saying it is not normal. No wonder your family is concerned and saying things, maybe not in the right way...

I lived with an anorexic, she was also feeling very good! I guess the feeling of being so slim gave her a sense of elation, and that was like a drug for her. I am not saying you are the same as the person as I lived with, but 'feeling good' is not proof that you are doing what is correct for your body.

I'm sorry, OP, but you're having a relapse. You know that anorexics are never 100% 'cured'. That little voice never goes away.

The RED-S thing is interesting @Love51. I guess you can kid yourself that you are eating well but if you are in a constant calorie deficient then the long term effects can be just the same as if you weren't exercising and hardly eating.

I know you will all just say I am not listening and making excuses but I genuinely don't have any of the symptoms; I have periods, energy, not been poorly for ages. But I'm going to try hard to stabilise things.

No you shouldn’t listen at all OP and - congratulations! 💪

This

Sorry I haven’t RTFT

You've had a lot of good advice OP but I really, really think you should go and have a good, honest chat with your GP. My closest friend struggled with full blown AN for many years and sounded (still sounds) an awful lot like you. You are still talking about a fat bum at an underweight BMI. I know BMI is a blunt tool but you KNOW 1500 cal is too little at your height in your activity levels. You may feel healthy now but muscle loss will be happening, and you need to bear in mind it's not just where you can see. You will waste your heart as well as your glutes.

The thing my friend keeps in her mind is that anorexia is a bit like alcoholism. It's a method of control / self soothing which lurks in any time of stress or anxiety. Those of us who watched her develop sores on her spine from being so thin that lying down hurt her feel entitled to gently remind her when the control starts taking over again. It's fear and concern and let me tell you, watching someone you love actively self harming this way is horrific.

By the time your periods have stopped you're well into the long grass. You know what's going on here, you feel great because your brain is trying to hijack your body and it's working. Get some help.

@mylittledoggie that 'feeling good' feeling you're getting in calorie deficit is a physiological response to starvation which helps famine victims keep going seeking sources of food

It's a warning sign not a sign of good health

Op has her own agenda for starting this thread.

Exactly. Your heart is a muscle too.
My anorexic flatmate (from years ago) is now having cardiac problems.

looking at your photo, I can see why your family are concerned. You look underweight. You need to gain not lose weight now. Please speak to your GP.

They could be worried your have an ed and may continue to lose weight, which obviously has risks to your health and life of this was the case.

"Feeling good and happy" doesn't mean you are healthy, and is a common feeling for those with mental health issues around food, addiction, brain disorders etc

As others have said, given your history of restricted eating, your family sounds concerned that you're relapsing into it again. That might not be the case, but you can understand their concern.

I don't think it's jealousy or criticism, they're just worried. 1500 calories is a low intake, I'm glad that you're going to increase it.

Yes. I'm going to unfollow the thread as I'm not being part of her weird confidence boosting thing shes doing. I'm actually quite annoyed.

She knows shes got a problem, shes come on here to feed the eating disorder. Everytime someone says she is too skinny or underweight the ED will be loving it.

This is just a really awful way of her making herself feel good

@mylittledoggie you're certainly very slim. If you really do want to gain then you can use supplement like ensure compact. They're really small but very calorie dense, if you can't take too much more food volume then a couple of those a day would help you gain. But ideally just treat yourself more, have a couple of extra biscuits with tea, a slightly bigger portion at each meal.
You look good btw, so I'm not saying you don't look well.

@RacingThoughts111 why be so nasty? Trust me, this thread has not made me feel good in the slightest!

Literally no one on this forum can accurately say if BMI of 18 is unhealthy for you as an individual, if you are short and have a slight frame, as it is quite a rough guide. Perhaps you should consider other factors and note them down then go and see a medical professional who you trust and who doesn't have a bee in their bonnet one way or the other, and check. In particular changes to : skin (drier, patchier, more spots?) resting pulse (lower or higher than before?) general health - more colds than usual? Need to wear jumpers more often? Periods the same? How are your joints feeling? How are you sleeping? I lost a lot of weight too quickly a few years back and it played merry hell with my health. My resting pulse actually went UP more than 15 BPM. I see now that a more patient approach would have been sensible.

Are you going to speak to your GP?