Table of Contents:
EXERCISE in Anorexia Recovery (why I’m avoiding this..)
Video taken from the channel: Rebecca Jane
Before and After Anorexia and Exercise Addiction
Video taken from the channel: Universal Medicine
Should I exercise in Eating disorder recovery? Exercise Addiction??
Video taken from the channel: jax fanucci
What is compulsive exercise? | Kati Morton
Video taken from the channel: Kati Morton
Dangers of Exercise Bulimia
Video taken from the channel: CBS
Can You Exercise In ED Recovery? | Kati Morton
Video taken from the channel: Kati Morton
Dr. Smith on incorporating exercise in eating disorder recovery
Video taken from the channel: Rogers Behavioral Health
Excessive or driven exercise is a common component of different types of eating disorders. It may be found among patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and muscle dysmorphia, as well as other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED) and subclinical presentations.1 day ago · “Excessive exercise is a behavior people with eating disorders can engage in without anybody really noticing that they’re doing something that could be harmful,” said Danielle Chapa, a.Compulsive exercising has to do with control, much the same way people with eating disorders use food as a way to take control of their lives.
But, it can turn into an endless workout if you’re not careful since most folks never feel satisfied with their bodies or their fitness levels, no matter how much they exercise.Excessive exercise is observed in people with and without eating disorders but is more likely to affect quality of life or functioning when it occurs along with an eating disorder. Increased physical activity has long been identified as a feature of eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa when food intake is.
“Excessive exercise is a behavior people with eating disorders can engage in without anybody really noticing that they’re doing something that could be harmful,” said Danielle Chapa, a doctoral student at the Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors in the University of Kansas Department of Psychology.1 day ago · Excessive exercise is a behavior people with eating disorders can engage in without anybody really noticing that they’re doing something that.Exercise and nutrition are foundational to good health, but extreme behaviors can be a red flag indicating unhealthy behaviors. Examples of this include excessive exercise, weight obsessions, bulimia, anorexia and binge eating disorders.
Negative health effects develop when exercise or nutrition are taken to extremes.Excessive and obsessive exercise is very harmful to health, particularly for people suffering from eating disorder, according to a study which has uncovered for the.Although exercise is an effective intervention for many psychological health issues, it has often been overlooked as a potential adjunct to eating disorder (ED) treatment.A rapidly growing body of evidence suggests that exercise may be manageable in some, but not all, people with an eating disorder (ED).
Accordingly, several recent narrative and meta-analytic reviews have concluded that when nutritional needs are satisfied, exercise appears to be a safe option in ED treatment (see Cook et al., 2016 for review).In a 2017 article on the ethics of exercise in eating disorders, Cook suggests that “restricting all forms of exercise is an ethical issue because doing so eliminates autonomy, respect, empathy, and dignity for individuals with [eating disorders] by preventing them from partaking in socially acceptable healthy lifestyle behaviors and taking control of their recovery.”9.The eating disorders association notes there’s a strong link between compulsive exercise and various forms of eating disorders: Between 40% and 80% of anorexia nervosa patients are prone to excessive exercise, and an estimated 90% to 95% of college students with an eating disorder belong to a fitness.Excessive exercise and exercise addictions are often one of the accompanying components in an eating disorder.
In fact, among restrictive eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, some research indicates that people with a restrictive eating disorder may experience a biological drive to obsessively exercise.Exercise and Eating Disorders is important reading for students of applied ethics, medical ethics and the ethics of sport, as well as for fitness professionals, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, sports coaches and sport and exercise scientists looking to improve their understanding of.Including exercise in eating disorders treatment is not a new or novel concept. It has long been acknowledged that we need to do something about excessive and compulsive patterns of exercise in our clients/patients.
To this end, initial approaches have attempted to modify exercise behaviors and amounts. Certainly, many eating disorders.
List of related literature:
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| from Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence |
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| from The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion |
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| from Handbook of Obesity, Two-Volume Set |
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| from Handbook of Treatment for Eating Disorders |
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| from New Dimensions in Women’s Health |
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| from Principles of Addiction: Comprehensive Addictive Behaviors and Disorders, Volume 1 |
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| from Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder |
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| from Psychology of Physical Activity: Determinants, Well-being, and Interventions |
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| from Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders, Fourth Edition: A Step-by-Step Treatment Manual |
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| from The Active Female: Health Issues Throughout the Lifespan |
169 comments
Kati. I have started to realize this happening. Two years ago I lost 60 pounds and near the end it was getting unhealthy how I was loosing it. Now I started working out 15 days ago and I have already seen it going bad again. I have told myself that I have only have enough time for one rest day a week. I have been restricting what I am eating majorly and making myself work out even though I have been injured and told to take it easy. I tell myself I am not worth the food I am eating. I am not skinny. I can afford to lose weight.But is what I am experiencing, could it turn into a larger eating disorder issue? I have no place around where I live that I know of that I can go to. I have many other issues such as depression and anxiety and panic attacks…I need help Kati. I need help.
Can u talk about what it was like inpatient. I would be interested to know about the schedule, the table rules and rules in general, punishment and stuff like that.
Thanks XX
My dietician didn’t help and I started exercising 6 hours a day. The diet made me very unhealthy and I became bulimic out of desperation. I stopped in time. My metabolism slowed and I wasn’t willing to risk my life. I have fallen off the wagon forgetting to eat but I never found myself in the situation again gaining weight on low calories. I would walk for hours and run. It felt horrible. I am now slim the weight is gone but I have enough to stay well. I needed a basic amount and I was slowing down to conserve energy. Getting a second opinion helped me. Nothing extreme though. I proved by degrees my anorexia is telling lies. If I eat something I tell myself its not going to do any harm and it doesn’t. My doctor would tell me anyway.
Please tell your mother THANK YOU. I know that you mentioned that she does not like to be on the camera. But can I just say, I don’t have a mother that has ever talked to me about my anorexia. I’ve struggled for years and I don’t say that for pity. I think there are a LOT of us who do not have a strong support system or parental support. To hear her felt like a motherly voice-so nurturing and the voice of reason. She is your mother but she felt like a mother to me in that moment too. You are so brave. Thank you as always for sharing your journey-it makes us all feel like we are in this together. We are not alone with these thoughts, compulsions and behaviors.
Soooooo, I’m actively trying to catch the exercise OCD disease…
My doctor says I have to gain weight before I start losing it which makes sense but I never said I want to lose weight I just want to gain muscle or at least stop feeling like shit all the time. I am always pumped with unhealthy food and I feel tired and aggravated a lot. I feel like I’m just recovering from a cold most of the time. I feel like exercising and eating healthier sounds like a better option but at the same time that’s not enough calories. So Idk what I should do
Hey, can a female both have anorexia and bigarexia at the same time? Wanting to be boney, with very little fat, but with well defined muscles. I keep thinking about being chubby even though I’m a normal weight and I think thay my muscles are small. Also I want to be able to increase my cardio endurance and strength as much as I can. I do exercise a lot and I do restrict, sometimes way too much.
Really great video, it is such a good message to send for those recovering. So many people think they can hold on to this compulsion and eat enough to recover but it honestly isn’t the case. I had to stop exercising for two years and although it was hard, it was the best decision of my life. You can’t fully recover without letting go of the compulsive exercise. So good luck girl! You are a shining light and a great example for recovery warriors! ☺️
As a former XC runner, it took a long time to back myself down to working out only once a day 6 days a week. I’m still working out 6 days a week, just old habits, but I’d like to think I’m more comfortable taking rest days now when I need them, instead of pushing on past a fever or a sore knee.
this helped a lot but I cant go to the doctor right now and I don’t know how much I weigh right now but I’m going to start to do lift weighting for now.
thx for this ha bisky vid and i need to exercise more luckily i have barre class tomorrow i dont know if i am going weekly again now that my mom is back i might be able to until vidcon but i am going to try to do that
for me my depression has been kicking my ass recently so i just been laying around feeling horrible
I feel you! The sadness for all the lost time and energy to the ED and all the compulsions, like exercising and in my case also lower level movements! If I think back to all the time it has cost me and has stolen all the time I could have spent doing more meaningful things, it really makes me very sad. We can only make sure we don’t waste anymore time to it, no more listening to the ED BS!
Finally someone I (and I think lots of others!!!) can identify with….. how did you cope with ‘cold turkey’ on the exercise? Really interested to hear other peoples experiences and how they got their minds to move on xx
How much exercise is too much? At the moment I’m going to the gym 10 times a week for an or more at a time. Is that too much? Thanks Kati
It’s so hard to notice the line between obsession and dedication. Or even normal and obsession. Not just exercise but food too. Like you said, moderation. But all I’m good at is all or nothing.:)
When you said the Hulk I just thought at first, well of course we’re not going to turn green. He was so epic in the Avengers. hahahaha
its obviously that you exercise because you have a perfect body with perfect muscles
I struggle with exercising too much. Sometimes I am so exhausted that I wish I would get sick so that I wouldn‘t be able to exercise. But even if I am having a cold I will still exercise. It is a tough habit because you feel like you are letting yourself go on a day where you only exercise for 1hour.
I think there isn’t a thing as too much excersise. I think everyone should excersise because it does the body well. Also, it is incredibly good for the mind. I could go all day if I had a private gym, lol, it’s so much fun! I’m guessing athletes don’t ever get emotional problems, working out is good for body and soul.
i struggle with this issue myself. I usually work out too hard, and crash the next few days or a week with no working out at all.
Hi Rebecca, I love your videos! I would like to know if there is a reason why you travel so much, besides loving traveling. And also if you have some places to recommend. Xo
I always find it hilarious when Kati swears because she’s so clinical and professional, but when she’s like “the eating disorder voice FUCKIN lies” it makes me laugh xD
for me, i like exercising. i’m happy that i’m in a place where i’m energised enough to run 5 miles and exercise well. it’s great to no longer be exhausted by walking to the car.
that being said, i do obsess over standing up and not going to bed when i should because i’d rather ‘stand and burn calories’. THAT stuff is bad. i have a schedule so i realise when i’m doing too much:)
your mother is amazing❤️ and you are too! �� thank you for making these videos
exercise can be very addicting I use to be a fitness instructor until I had a relapse and knee injury and decided to stop. Its not good to exercise if you don’t have the nutrients to sustain metabolism going on within our cells.
And yes talk to you doctor to get medical clearance before doing any exercise.
she looks 10 times healthier now than she did in the picture, shes really strong
What if i self harm or have an eating disorder but dont have mental illness, everyone just says im experiencing hormones? Why do people self harm if they dont have an mental illness?
You speak good french ( I am french) and your accent is also good!!! Thank you for this video (and love to your mum!!!) ������
Compulsive exercise was a huge part of my disorder. I took a huge step this year and left my sports teams because of the exercise anxiety I was still dealing with and to prevent a relapse. Every day after school, I still panic because I ‘have’ to exercise. I keep going through phases of quitting, retrying because of the pain of not exercising, but then quitting again and dealing with the panic again. I’m actually starting anxiety medication for the panic attacks I have about exercising. Do you have any tips for really choosing to quit? Or what helped you stick with that decision throughout the pain? It was really really nice to hear that somebody else struggles with this too. I thought that I was the only one going through this. Thank you for talking about it:)
3 hours a day everyday? Sounds like every competitive athlete ever.
My dietitian helped me with this…she gave me “permission” to not exercise. I already burn more calories than I am taking in with my activity at work, but would feel guilty if I didn’t get additional exercise on my days off.
What if they are passionate about it? Or if what they’ve heard from the media makes them believe this is necessary to be healthy? You’re not ready for a marathon with just a little exercise, and here people have developed a subculture around it. You don’t go out with your old friends, but you make new ones.
Winter is coming…although where I live it’s still like summer everywhere else with an average of 15 degrees
I believe excessive exercise derives from a feeling of extreme self conscious. People are more insecur of their bodies because we live in a society where we are bombarded with photo shopped ads of models with physiques thats virtually unobtainable. So some people base their identity on the way the look. But this is a form of marketing because “sexy bodies” sell. So we have been indoctrinated to look like this. Another plausible reason is because exercise release feel good hormones in the brain and throughout the body. Dopamine, endorphins ect…..which gives you a high. And its an amazing strees reliever. But to much exercise is counterproductive and keeps your body at catabolic phase. Being addicted to exercising is definitely harmful but beneficial in moderation. But marketing from big business tells you that you should look like this….and people desperately try to look like these celebrities or models in order to feel adequate. Great video:-) Just my subjective opinion.
Thank you so much Rebecca, I so relate to this!! My exercise compulsion was so bad that I woke up hours earlier to work out in the lounge before going to university. I’d go the “toilet” every half hour and I couldn’t leave until I’d done at least 50 squats (even ripped my jeans thanks to the eating disorder��) every spare minute was spent running, doing push-ups, burpees… and although it killed me to stop, I became so much happier and I couldn’t believe the amount of free time I had to do things with my family and friends! I think your advice is great, and thanks to your mum too!
Lovely video, lots of great insights. Could you consider doing a video about lower level movement (always needing to be standing, moving, generally ‘busy’ but not technically exercise)? You’ve mentioned you struggle with it in a previous video and I would love to hear about your experience trying to cope with it.
Exercise Bulimia wtf. I don’t get it. 3 hours a day isn’t that much. If you join the marines you work out even more.
Give the video a like if you are proud of Rebecca and proud of her mom! ��
I hope it goes without saying but have you quit? Do you still start exercise and realize…. oops, this is not good?
wow kati this was an amazing video i love it. your amazing i love alll you do you are succh a role model to me.kati im really scared about getting an autism dignosis im getting a referal and i dont wanna have a label because youcant get rid of autism. could you pls do a video about labels and dignosis im just really scared.
What is the difference between compulsive exercise and exercise addiction? I feel like I am not myself if I do not exercise, so I want to exercise almost always and panick when I can’t.
The problem is I would probably end up starving myself if I didn’t do the exercise
Exercising for 3 hours a day? Sure, if you’re not eating enough of the right kinds of food, that could lead to a problem, but that’s really not “excessive” at all.
my friend was just diagnosed with Exercise Anorexia so this was helpful thank you!
You can beat it!!!! I did! Never, Never, Never give up hope. Check my channel, I want to help!
i fully have a workout disorder. working out is my best friend. i would rather stay home and do lunges than go out on dates. Unless the guy is super spectacular. �� meh.
Try strength training… Lift heavy weights… It helped me feel empowered when I can see progress in my strength…and I wanted to fuel my body properly so that I can be stronger!
Tis is me….I eat a lot n exercise a lot…I eat until I fell like vomit and exercise for an hour to burn off d calories”..tis is making me crazy
I know this is totally not related but… what foundation are you using????Your skin looks amazing!!!!
I understood all the French part��you have a cute accent❤I love you Rebecca
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this video! This whole point for defining what ‘excessive’ means was quite a journey for me.
I’m not cancelling plans to exercise, I enjoy sports and stuff, so I really thought I didn’t have a problem with this. Because it wasn’t excessive, right? Because I do it because I like it.
Well to some extend this was/is true, but I definitely had to notice during inpatient care that there was more to it.
One day I had an exposure therapy (exposure to fear foods) scheduled and they spontaneously added something: they cancelled the sport therapy I was supposed to go to later that day. And it freaked me out! I noticed how I couldn’t sit still. They asked me to stay in the room next to them and not to go for a walk or anything, and I really didn’t know that this would be so hard on me. Later on they also challenged me to walk a bit slower whenever I’m going somewhere, because apparently I was walking rather than moving in a ‘normal’ speed.
I guess my point is that EDs are REALLY REALLY good in making you believe that what you do is normal, when in fact it isn’t.
I might not be excessive to the point where I cancel plans to exercise, but I freak out if I can’t move enough every day. And I think that this is also an important thing to realize.
I felt that so hard when you said “I’ve never had complete control over my day” and how others who seem to be able to exercise/eat in a healthy manner without thinking twice about it is almost baffling… I feel you girl, I feeeeeeeel you
yes, more on exercise….Share!! update! also, please share how it is that you deal with weight gain and the thoughts of it, especially with eating more…just updates on the last year! also, i feel what you say is EXACTLY what is in my head!!! thank you!!
Can eating disorders be motivated by something other than weight loss?
TW: disordered eating, self harm (?)
For example, when my ED (?) was really bad I starved myself as a form of punishment whenever I felt my grades weren’t good enough, or whenever my home life was so bad. I felt like I needed to starve as punishment. Does this even count as disordered eating or does it fall under self harm?
#KatiFAQ
You’re awesome. Had a question for you:
Do you have any information about unipolar depression? It strikes me as something that it’s symptoms I can relate to greatly (I.e excessive crying, agitation, or a repetition of thoughts) Id love to hear your thoughts. Thank you!
if it was quick, it wouldnt be a permanent or lasting weight loss =/
I got to a level where I was offered professional contracts in basketball. But I was really excessive with my training because of my mental health. I used to train minimum 5 hours a day and would never do social things because I wanted it so bad, but it was also to a big detriment to me. I also suffered with eating disorders for 3 of my 6 years playing ball and most of my life. Can definitely relate to this really well.
At first i can do every exercise, now if i do Russian twist my tail bone hurt like hell, and if i do crunches my spine bone just get out of my skin,
@makemeskinny3 ah i so feel your pain, i do the binge and purge cycle all the time! ive never told ANYONE before so i cant really recover:/ im 15, how old are you??
Hey Kati! So my moms friend was just diagnosed with “Unvoluntary Bulimia” or some type of Unvoluntary Ed. I was wondering if you could explain what this is or if you could do a video on this.? Thanks:) Love your videos!:)
One thing that I have to do is to ALWAYS beat my yesterday’s step count. Every day I have to walk for hours to achieve that and if I’m sick or anything I still have to do it. It’s really getting in my way of really living because I think about walking all day so that I get mad at people if they don’t wanna go out walking in the freezing weather. I’m just scared what Will happen once I hit a impossible number of steps.
Wait, 70k subscribers in 5 months?? I know it’s bad to focus on numbers, but you go girl!!
Thanks again for such a helpful video. I am at the stage where I need to get back exercising now, but find I lack the motivation and interest.
That adding on thing is something I do. Although I don’t think it’s in an unhealthy way. Everyday I have a set of exercises that I have to do that I’ve gradually increased and if Im on a holiday and miss it I make it up on other days. It’s only about 10 minutes though if I added it all up and I do it while watching TV so I doesn’t get it the way. But there is a mindset if I’m not away somewhere that I can’t miss a day, that I just have to finish them. But I also find telling myself that helps me get things done in generally. It doesn’t get in the way or anything but I’ll have to make sure to keep it in check after watching this video.
Hey Kati, can you please do “a coffee and a chat” about what to do when a broken heart just doesn’t heal?
I’m currently in recovering from an eating disorder and I’m only losing weight. I want to be healthy but also don’t want to gain weight. Can u make a video about talking about things like this?
I started taking cipralex and man, it has made my obsessive thoughts stop!!!! It’s amazing!!!!!!
This used to be called “exercising too much”, now everything has a disorder name.
I don’t know if it’s too personal but I was wondering if you have regained a normal period
#katiFAQ Hi Kati! First off, your videos have really helped with my bulimia. I was hoping you could please help me with a “nightmare” that I have been having for the past 4-5months. In these nightmares my jaw is locked and I can’t unlock it no matter how hard I try. This causes an immense amount of pressure on my teeth causing them to break into a million pieces. Sometimes I wake up with my fingers in my mouth or with painful bite marks on my fingers. How do I make these nightmares stop? I know it might be due to stress but sometimes I don’t feel stressed. I also have a fear that the bulimia is going to ruin my teeth, could it be related? It’s very disturbing and very unpleasant sometimes causing me to wake up in a panic. I really appreciate any tips or advice. Thank you!
Hey Katie, I love your work, your such a beautiful person inside and out, keep doing you. cheers <3
So I do exercise but I also try not to eat at all or at least once a day with very small snacks and I wouldn’t say I have anorexia but it’s not normal so what should I do??
Thank you for this! I was never diagnosed with anorexia but I know I had it (have it?) for 2/3 of my life. I somehow managed to mostly get things under control by now but tbh it’s really not properly dealt with probably, because one way I deal with things is avoidance and another is trying to talk back to the voice.
Problem is, recently I did a yearly check up and they said I was super healthy blah blah but then it said my BMI was one point below the upper level of average for my height. And that completely horrified me. I’ve been thinking I should exercise for a while, just to be healthy, but the problem is I used to freak out on exercising and I’m scared to do any exercising at all. It’s kind of frustrating because people are like OMG NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT? JUST EXERCISE:D and I’m like, I can’t just randomly exercise. I tried running with my dog one day and I got instantly into that mindset of, “Well I need to run one more block. I need to sprint this far. I need to do this. I need to do that.”
I end up sabotaging myself when I do that because it’s currently the only way I know how to stop myself from proving to myself that I CAN do those things because like you said, once I acknowledge I CAN do those things then it goes on my list of things I HAVE to do. And the problem is once I start counting calories and actually using a scale and monitoring exercising and all of that, then I run right back into my old mindset of feeling like I have to overachieve and wouldn’t it be better to lose 30 or 40 lbs because then I’d know FOR SURE I wasn’t fat and in danger of a BMI going out of healthy range?, I’d be in the safe zone of being underweight or under_ and that’s always better than over_, right?, and then some of my clothes would fit a little better and etc etc etc.
It’s only remembering how miserable I was and the times I passed out that keeps me from jumping on that train, but at the same time it seems clear to me that I need to do something because my BMI shouldn’t be that high and I have been having issues with clothing not fitting as well as I want. Plus I legit can’t jog up a set of stairs or run a city block without getting a bit winded lol, and that’s really not healthy.
I’ve been feeling really stuck; like for my health I should go this direction but also precisely because of my health, that direction terrifies me. It took me… I don’t even know. 8 years? To really lose all the vestiges of those messed up thoughts on my own and even now they still pop up, I’ve just gotten a lot better at ignoring them.
I actually didn’t know OCD was BFF with EDs and that makes me feel better to know that because at least that puts in the right context what I used to do and why I did it. I’m going to download your workbooks, also I saw that video about exercising with an ED and I liked the ideas in that so I’m going to try to focus on that first. It’s actually really helpful to have something to start with, like, ok only 30 minutes 3 times a week, that isn’t horrible; I could feel like I’m doing something but I’m not going insane. And I liked the weights thing because I actually bought little 5 lb weights years ago planning to use them but hadn’t yet. I think I’ll pull those out. Weights was never a thing I did to exercise in the past so I think that might be a safe place for me to begin.
Anyway I know you get a bajillion stories all the time from people, and I hadn’t really commented much on your videos before because I don’t talk a lot about my anorexia issues in the past, but I’d been wanting to research this topic for the past few weeks but kept stopping myself for fear I’d go too crazy with everything. So this was perfect timing for me and I think I’ll start small with the workbooks and aiming more toward the 30 minute thing to see how I do. I’ll monitor myself the way I did in the past and if I start to feel myself going too far I’ll intercept myself and reach out to someone else. I guess the tl;dr is I wanted to say thank you for the timing, your videos, and all that you do:) And thank you for mentioning the workbooks too, since I didn’t know about them before.
#katiFAQ so I’ve been struggling with bulimia for over a year now, I’ve had no therapy or help or anything. In the past nearly 2 weeks I have not engaged in any bulimic behaviours, although it is constantly in my head, still counting calories & weighing myself daily & in no way whatsoever will I eat or buy food infront of anyone. Self harm has been worse this time tho, does that mean I’m replacing bulimia with self harm & I no longer have an ED? Thanks
I like the way you say gif haha. This is an important topic I feel like people often don’t talk about compulsive exercise when they talk about eating disorders, and it often goes unrecognized.
Oops. I might be handling my hobbies in a bit of an OCD kind of way
Your honesty, sincerity and passion to recover are nothing short of admirable. Thanks so much to you (and your Mum!) for sharing this aspect of your journey it means so much!
Hi from London rebecca.
A few thingscould your mother please give her opinion on whether anorexia is due to nature or nuture or both.
Also please can you show us more of hong Kong!! My sister used lived on Cheung Chau island for about 6 years in the 1990’s.
I would love to know you in real life because you are my kind o’ girrrl.
X
#KatiFAQ. PLEASE ANSWER. Hi Kati love your videos, they have gotten me through a lot, and still are. I have a question/suggestion for you, Could you do a video on FASD? Also, I have been feeling very, very dissociated the last few weeks, so dissociated to the point where I can’t function, I become so lost in where ever my head goes that I can’t seem to really eat, sleep, and now even drink water?! Do you have any tips on how to pull myself back into my body? It’s getting to the point where also, my performance at school has struggled tremendously. Please Help! And if at all possible, Be even more caring and amazing to this world! Love your work, Keep it up. Smiles Yana
Can you do a video about Paranoia?
Like I feel kinda creeped out about a lot of stuff I see or hear because I think they are all connected in some way and stuf…
Eg: My roll number in school is 1223 and so is your PO box number thing, and when I first saw it, I had to close the tab and think about how it might be connected.
Kati please check ig dms I really really need your advice ������ much love xxx
hey Kati, I know this is totally off subject, but I LOVE your ring!
I’ve been on a compulsive exercise schedule before. I neglected my responsibilities, and I was always tired.
Yep, you’re right. I don’t like your definition because it’s true. The other parts of my eating disorder I have a good handle on, but the exercise I still struggle with. I felt like I was doing a good thing getting in the habit, but it sucks as it takes over your life.
Hi Kati! I just wanted to say how amazing you are! Your videos are such an inspiration. I know that I am just one of a billion people watching your videos and letting you know that you by posting those videos saved my life and gave (and still give) me comfort and hope even in my darkest hours! But with that you not only saved my life but also my friends’ and family’s! Thank you so so much!
I would be so glad if you could answer my question, cuz I don’t know what to do and I am scared to ask my therapist about it. –
#katiFAQ
So I haven’t been eating anything in the last three days and I’ve already fainted twice in the gym yesterday and today.. I know it’s because of my ED and it won’t happen again if I start eating something again. But still I am a little worried and don’t know if I should see a doctor.
I just feel like I don’t want to bother him because I know there are a lot of people who feel way worse. I don’t know what to do –
Exercise is also hardest part of my recovery. I know I need to quit. I couldn’t even get through the video the first time…. my ed brain was like “ turn her off!!!” Opposite actions!!!!! Thanks so much! Love and support you so much Rebecca
I have been trying to download your self harm workbook ages! it just want work so it would be amazing if you could email me with the file! thanks!
This resonates with me so much… Even though I was so lethargic from not eating I would still make myself go for a 10k run every second day. It got to the point where I was getting sore joints from being so malnourished but I didn’t care, I kept going on my runs. I made the conscious decision about 3 months ago to eat more and stop running but feel myself starting to get back in to that old cycle of restricting and doing intense workouts again. The struggle is real:(
I love how real you are with everyone. You have helped me to be honest with my therapist and I finally got a diagnosis of an eating disorder. Thank you so much (:
@bheavynsad
you gotta push yourself beyond your limits and you gotta stop feeling pity for yourself.
Only YOU can control what you eat, and only YOU can choose to work out.
If you want it you need to let your actions speak for themselves.
It all starts and ends in the mind. You need to become love mates with Pain and adore every last characteristic because what you think you hate is really what you need to make you who Y O U want to be.
Change your mindset and change your lifestyle.
Great video as always Kati! You were right though, you did irritate me in this video, but only because I know what you say is the truth, heh.
Can u make a video abt your period? I lost my period about 6 months now and now i’m trying to eat more but i haven’t get my period yet..
Katie great video! Can you do a video on situational depression and how to tell the different between it and regular depression? Thanks!
I’m always scared to listen to my dietition. I got diagnosed as diabetic and I felt like I was gaining weight on the diet they made me so I stopped going. I felt disappointed with myself and started feeling like I couldn’t trust her anymore.
Kati, could you do a video on brain fog please? Your videos really help and I love watching them, so thank you!Xxx
I think it’s easy to recover when you are naturally slim and gorgeous. I’m killing myself to look ‘normal’. I don’t look underweight or sick because of my body type.
Well, I do exercise because it makes me feel better, but I’m at a pretty acceptable weight, I guess. But as I was severely underweight, I cut out exercise because my heart almost failed…
I have a very bad relationship with exercise.
I don’t do it = I feel guilty
I do it = I feel anxious because i force myself and cannot seem to enjoy it one single bit
I try to find balance but it seems impossible… I have lost all my joy for exercise and i am afraid i will never get it back:((((
I’m rlly scared of gaining weight and I’m a dancer and I have to be small and it’s rlly hard for me to get nutrients and the doctors and my parents r worried and are about to make me quit dancing Bc they r scared I will pass out! Can u talk about how u got over the fear? And maybe how many calories were u eating in a day when u were in trouble?!
Thank you for this awesome explanation. I used to use exercising for my purging behaviors. In Recovery, I had to cut down my exercise routines. five years later I still struggle with it. Not in such a excessive way, but its definitly there. But I never understood, what this actually means; “obsessive exercising”. Being fit and active is good, right?! Well, now I understand what this means for my body and that I cant fully recover without stopping these obsessive behaviors. And I realised, after watching this video, that I still have routines in my day, where I use my behaviors, because my head tells me, that I have to do it, otherwise I gain weight. So, thank you for this lightbulb-moment!!! I will work on this!!!
Kati, I’ve downloaded the ed and sh workbooks when they came out. I’ve tried to download them again but it won’t let me.. what can I do?
This is an amazing video Rebecca!!!!Heck I love all of your videos.Iam a 17 year old boy who also suffered from an ED.It was so bad that after every meal I would go to the bathroom not to purge but rather to do 100 Jumping jacks and also just before is ate.Im now following my own recovery method.It is going very well.Im still exercising but not cardio but rather strength training. I put on quite a lot of muscle and I feel great!!!!!!����������������Love you
You are not to abuse anything and that means over working yourself. Even those who go off to work are not to work so many hours a day just for the love of money as well.
What an AMAZING blessing to have a mom that is so, so supportive of you! I know you’ve spoken about it a lot and are fully aware how lucky you are (and how lucky your family is to have you!) but gosh, love seeing your mom in the video. 2 amazing women!:)
Thank you so much for speaking about this! I’m so sorry that you’re struggling so much with it:( I never dealt with exercise issues in my ED, so it’s really helpful to hear the perspective of someone who has. Love this and all of your videos!
Yoga a couple of times a week isn’t enough exercise for anyone.
i found myself doing taekwondo when i was starting my recovery and it was amazing. i mean i still think that stop excising is important while recovering ‘cus it brings a lot of bad thoughts and it’s triggering. do what you think it’s better for you and do not push yourself. ��
as a french girl i think you’re doing well with french! you have a completely another voice with another language aha you’re cute, thank you so much for your videos ❤️
Hey Rebecca, I love your channel, not sure how I got onto it but it’s been fascinating and inspiring watching you. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of or tried The Work of Byron Katie? I’ve been working with my own obsessive compulsive behaviours (albeit not eating related) for some time and have made a lot of headway through doing her work and questioning my stressful thoughts and beliefs. All the best!
You somehow make my recovery something I actually want when I watch you. I’m really glad you talked about this because kicking my exercise addiction is my next big challenge. Thank you so so so much for doing this channel
I used to over exercise as part of my ED. I counted calories, and then I would go on a run for example, and I would say I have to burn X calories before I can be done, and X was usually twice as much as I consumed. It was really unhealthy and looking back, scary. Not only was I starving my body, I was taking away everything extra it had!
ommgg I live just next to Marseilles!! I wish I could meet you but I’m in hospital because of my anorexia..:(
hello guys, I just suggested on twitter to the Jenna and Julien podcast (the podcast of Jenna Marbles and her boyfriend Julien) that it would be a great idea to have Kati as a guest! Please like and retweet my tweet, I just mentioned Kati in it, or search by my username (@myrest). Thanks!
thank for this, I am currently struggling SO MUCH with not being able to exercise, walk or play sports because it has always been such a major part of my life and I love it. It is so therapeutic for me and I find it enjoyable. I hate just sitting all the time and eating and eating. So thank you so much. I use it as motivation to get better so I can exercise again once I’m at a healthy enough weight!
I need this video I have been told that I need to stop exercise and have found it almost impossible and I feel like someone is lying to me or trying to trick me into bringing out my true laziness or something. Very hard so look forward to more videos on the subject.
Please talk about the topic of potentially overshooting your set point and it not settling back down (because you’ve created a new higher set point, happens with yo-yo dieters, after pregnancy etc), or if your set point before ED was overweight, how to not become overweight again in ED recovery. Particularly if eating completely unrestricted, as much and whatever you want without counting calories AND not exercising at all. ��
Can you make a video about dealing with other ppl’s comments during ur ed and during recovery pls?
Also, if anyone wants a great recovery account to follow on Instagram, check out @dietculturesucks. She’s great ��
Anybody have exercise addiction that also relates to life in general like just doing physical activity that’s not exactly structural exercise? Like cleaning compulsive or walking around pacing just to burn calories ������ I have issues I would love to see if anyone else has any similar issues
I know this is totally off topic, but your mom has the most wonderful skin EVER. How is it so bright and zero texture? I’m blown away.
My boyfriend doesn’t want me to excerise even tho I didn’t really workout like in 12 months I would like to call you my consular
This used to be a HUGE part of my eating disorder before landing in the hospital with cardiac failure at age 25.
Now I’m terrified of running (or any cardio) because I know that “little OCD” voice will start talking again.
Thank you for saying something about this; I think so many younger sufferers believe overexercising benign.
I certainly thought so, & I was SO wrong!
Awesome info, as always:)
this is something that effects me daily even when I’m recovering from a leg wound that required stitches I have too exercise
what if you feel a million times more depressed and just like crabby and bitchy and miserable all day long when you don’t get up and do it first thing in the morning..?
@heavynsad
I’ll be 100% honest with you.
I’m 5’2 and I weigh 125-129 pounds. (you can look at my page picture),
And you’re in luck because there ARE tips to weight loss.
You may not like the tips, but honestly The absolute best way to lose weight is not fast, There are no fast ways, and if you try to do a fast way you will wreck yourself.
You need to get your mind strong and stop looking for an easy way out. If you want something in this world you have to sacrifice.
@makemeskinny3 aw im sorry:( dont give up! you can beat it!!
The video is very good but the music on the background is sooooo distracting, please turn a little bit down:)
How do you balance exercise avoidance with having a life that still involves being ‘active’, such as going out with friends, going on trips, etc… sometimes on vacation you end up walking a ton simply because of the environment without trying…
Weird, my eating disorder has never really revolved around exercise… It’s always focused on either heavy restriction or b/p. I don’t know why exercise has never played a big part. I do exercise but that’s because I think it makes everything tighter. ❤ So proud of you, you’ve come such a long way xxx
you look like Vanellope von Schweetz from wreck it ralph. its adorable!
Seeing this made me realize that yet I continue to do impulsive exercise, even while being at a hospital, and make myself believe that its a harmless form of “meditation”. Thank you for the reality check ❤️ XOXO
PS: Your mom is such an amazing woman, she seems really sweet and kind. I adore her already lol
I don’t know if you will see this, but I used to exercise obsessively. In treatment I wasn’t allowed to walk or exercise and now, a couple of years later, I don’t exercise enough. How can i increase my exercise without becoming addicted again? Thank you!
I do rigorous running and cycling almost everyday, if I miss it for a day I literally eat nothing, I can’t enjoy anything. I feel extremely guilty and try to punish myself. I’m so devastated and lost.
This week I started getting sick/a cold, woke up with hormonal acne (that usually comes when I have been overly stressed), felt really tired after late nights, and had started having some negative food thoughts again; so I made a deal with myself that this week I am not to go to he gym!
This will allow me to rest (which I have a MASSIVE problem with doing as I feel unproductive), and prove to myself that NOTHING will happen if I don’t exercise/move much at all for a week!!
also forgot to mention that I am forcing myself to eat the same amount + treats (previously I would restrict on days without movement due to guilt, which is an emotion that I am 100% banning this week; also banning any comparison of food, exercise, calories, body, etc.).
I AM FEELING SO MENTALLY CONTENT SO FAR!
Try it! I dare you�� (you won’t regret it)
p.s. here is my weekly mantra to help me with my mission this week: “I am a brilliant entity”
it removes any physical association with body, weight, ability, etc.; instead focusing on my whole being!
I quit the gym cold turkey and it’s been almost 2 years now. I’ve decided to do forms of exercise that are more recreational than anything else and usually dependent on group activities so I can’t be caught overdoing it alone. I joined a rollerskating class which is only twice a week and I walk my dog on a daily basis. When he is tired, we finish up. I would hate to see my dog suffering from exhaustion so why do it to myself? My partner kept asking me to join the gym with him and so I thought I’d try and see where I’m at and give it a go again. Within the first session, was immediately triggered with disordered thoughts and I haven’t gone back since. This has worked well for me for the past few months and until I’m ready to hit the gym in a wholesome, healthy way I won’t go near it. I don’t need it. Good luck with your journey to recovery!
Hi Rebecca, I’m an Italian girl and I think that your videos are very helpful for me. You are a wonderful person in my opinion.
Thank you ❤️
Battling over whether or not I should do an arm workout. I’m not going to do it.
Guys this is a selfish request but can you pray for me? I’m a little depressed, because I was doing really good and then I backslid, and now I am trying to get back up again. Sorry to bore you with my soapbox��
I relate so much to your stories, for me the worse part of the recovery is eating more, because i know that i should do so, but I still have this thoughts in my head that normal people don’t eat when they’re not hungry so what would I? Thanks so much for making the videos, though. I share many of my struggles with you.
Some potential Marseille food challenges (!):
cordon bleu (the deep fried kind)
foie gras
cheese fondue with bread
quiche
and of COURSE, all the sweet pastries! ��
Have fun!
Hi Kati, this video describes me exactly. I have been working with a therapist for my ocd and depression/anxiety for about a year now but i can’t get out to her the fact that i compulsively exercise and restrict/purge. i have been secretly dealing with this for years and i am too afraid/ashamed to tell anyone but it has gotten so out of hand that i don’t know what to do anymore. do you have any tips on how to tell her or is it too late? i am afraid to recover but i’m afraid to live like this anymore
I have an eating disorder… I exercise constantly. I have to exercise so much, or I refuse to eat. I have to cancel out the calories. Thankfully, I’m getting treatment very soon, becoming an inpatient. This video answered a bunch of questions I have before going into recovery. Thanks
what do you think aboud doing yoga in recovery if this makes me feel better and i really enjoy it?
Thanks for covering this topic. You are so brave to admit that this is still a work in progress for you and it is similar for many in recovery. This brings so much support for your viewers
Really respect you for making this! I’m observing how I exercise because I am in recovery but exercise is and always has been very important to help my mental health. I think I have a good relationship with it, even though I do it a lot. It’s interesting how issues can differ between ED sufferers even though it’s fundamentally the same ��
Hey! I’m vlogging my anorexia recovery journey and currently vlogging my hospital life. Just give it a look and tell me what you think about it!:)
You’re such a lovely vibrant person. Beautiful inside and out.
You are the sweetest. Love your Mum. I had compulsive exercise habits too. I can relate to what you said about how the exercise didn’t contribute to your life now. My compulsion was walking. Seems so strange because it’s not powerful or good for toning. But anyway, it was the constant movement I craved. At the worse of times I did it for 3-6 hours a day. I also skipped school to exercise. And forced myself to walk for hours after school in winter nights (Canadian). Looking back I feel frustrated that it resulted in nothing but injury for me. It never gave me an amazing body. It never gave me anything.
Hi Rebecca, I’m watching this months later, and I was just wondering if you’re still sticking to this? Or have you started exercising again?
i believe the topic of exercise is super individual in recovery. if you are at an extremely low body weight to the point where you can’t physically expend the extra calories, then yes not exercising is important. however, i also feel like exercise can be very healthy in many ways, both mentally and physically. it can be a great way to relieve anxiety and release endorphins, which is definitely helpful in recovery. in general, if you are exercising for the purpose of building a stronger mind and body and NOT just a way to burn extra calories, then i think its great. LIFT WEIGHTS AND DONT DO CARDIO!! lol its a great way to rebuild lost muscle tissue as well!
Katie, I just want you to know that you’ve helped me more than any psychiatrist/counselor has. I come from a country where EDs aren’t really recognised or understood. So thank you for doing what you do. You’re the best. GOD bless Xx
Hi, LOVE your videos!
Question!
Did you have something you still do every day? Something that make you feel good of course (:
Videos like this where you’re honest and venerable are my favorite. LOVE your mom!
Is there a video where she talks about what she does for a living? I’m really curious how she balances ED recovery with work, and food pressures in the work place.
This is a great video with helpful tips…I have had a tendency to overexcercise during recovery…almost as if to “make up” for the food I’ve been eating. The tip about listning to your body is good…I’m a runner and I find myself wanting to run an hour or two each day, when I know I need to take a day or two a week off to let my body recover. I will start doing that from now on! Thanks for the tips!
Wow I didn’t expected you to come to Marseille! I live near to Marseille. You should definitely visit Aix-En-Provence during your trip, this is where I study and it’s a very cute city. Anyway, thanks for your videos, you motivated me to recover after a bad anorexic episode this summer. Love you from France!
Hi Kati, great video. when you were taking about if ocd behavior is only around food is an eating disorder what about the other way around? what I mean by that is if someone has ocd and they have obsessions and compulsions around food does that make it amazing disorder?
Thanks for talking about this! I ‘m also tackling the food but have been ignoring the exercise… the only way to recover is to go ALL IN none of this one step forward three steps back. I encourage you to keep talking about it and challenging yourself so we can join in on your journey and support you being vocal has helped with the food aspect and I ‘m positive it will with exercise as well! Don’t let the disordered thoughts deceive you that you need to fix it before you share it; that’s just another sneaky mechanism at holding you back. You’ve got this! Your channel has helped me so much, please keep sharing and remember it doesn’t need to be perfect! ♥️
Have you ever dealt with purging? if so how did you manage to stop
I’m still here! HI! <3
lol
I’m not even someone who has an eating disorder, but I enjoy watching your videos.
Also your mom is adorable.
exercise helps me regulate and recognize my hunger cues. if I don’t do it, I just don’t feel hungry after a while and then I start binging cause I can’t tell. then I start restricting once I reach my limit binging. plus it helps me feel better about my bodystrength and functionality wise not appearance wise.
I’d like to have your thoughts on what makes you keep going in recovery, and made you push throught the very first stages in recovery, at the beginning, and what made you start following a more structured way of eating. I’m struggling eating the amount of time the team that surrounds me suggests I do (5-6 times a day).
Your french is pretty good!:) I loved your mom comments! Thanks for your videos, they help me greatly in my recovery!
Watching your videos make me feel like I don’t actually have an Ed because I’m not like you. Like I know everyone is different but it makes me think that because I don’t experience certain feelings I don’t deserve recovery because I’m faking it
Hey Robin, you seem like a really awesome person, and you’re really inspirational to me. I’m glad that you’re doing better now.
Cool video:) For me exercise works best when it’s not exercise for the sake of exercise. I prefer to do things that are like ‘exercise in disguise’ like rock climbing or riding my bike to get from A to B.:) That way I don’t get all uptight about running on the treadmill for a specific amount of time, and watching the amount of calories burnt go up and up.
Kati, it is SO cathartic when you cuss at/about ED voice. I know it’s true but it’s so hard to say those things on my own behalf, and it is so satisfying to hear it articulated by someone else.
I do exercise at school. We have fitness tests every 2 months where we run a mile and they time us, then a one minute sit ups test (to see how many we can do) everyday we do warm ups and then play soccer, football, or do any activity that they tell us to do. That’s how I keep my relationship with exercise pretty well. Outside of school I tend to not exercise by myself. I exercise with other people like going for a run with friends, or having a long walk with my mom, or playing soccer with my siblings. For me doing exercise with other people helps me understand what a normal amount of exercise is. I’m still in recovery and underweight but not as severely underweight as before. I don’t exercise by myself but I gained a significant amount of weight that I don’t get tired easily when I do exercise.
@tribunalfunk The “but there are starving kids in Africa!” refrain is a familiar one to anyone who’s had an eating disorder. No, EDs don’t just affect white women. If you’re really interested in learning more, I recommend Lauren Greenfield’s film and book THIN. Joan Jacobs Brumberg has written some really insightful books about EDs as well.
“Most people exercise to keep those extra pounds at bay…”
I wish most people set performance related goals, as opposed to goals that are only focused on aesthetics. I feel much more fulfilled and satisfied with my body now that I aim for being able to get stronger (squat 2x bodyweight, etc.) instead of trying to be X number of pounds.
I have a friend who has had an eating disorder this year, but she’s been in recovery and says she’s better, however, she exercises every day, even more than before her eating disorder, and I can’t see that it’s doing her any good. She has gained weight and looks more healthy, but that doesn’t matter if her brain is still sick. Any tips on how to talk about this subject with her? I really wanna help her, but I don’t know what will just annoy her and make her hide it more, and what will help
@***** I’ve been in pretty solid Recovery since 2011 as you know. But I am craving binge eating again and chewing and spitting. Ever since my cat died a month ago, it’s all I want to do.Also I tried downloading your LGBT= workbook but all I got was blank pages.
So, haven’t you workout during your recovery? You look like that without workout? Omg how do you have that body without working out����❤️
I totally get that stopping exercise is important for recovery, but if you or anyone else wants to to something active later on in the future, I would really recommend dance and martial arts. I really enjoy karate because it’s about skill and interaction and learning the moves rather than straight up exercise, and I finding dancing to be so much fun! I did tap dancing for about 7 years and it’s my favourite because I love the rhythm of it.