NUTRITION HOTLINE: Moderate Exercise
By Diane Keddy, MS, RD
Reprinted from Eating Disorders Recovery Today
Spring 2008 Volume 6, Number 2
©2008 Gürze Books
Q: I am bulimic and my dietitian wants me to stop compulsively exercising for 2 weeks. Won't this make me gain weight?
A: Compulsive exercise fuels the binge/purge cycle. People with eating disorders typically do not eat enough to support their exercise, which puts their body in a state of depleted glucose and glycogen stores. This results in your body panicking and sending out signals to binge on carbohydrates to provide the necessary fuel for your brain and body. By not compulsively exercising you will have the opportunity to hear your body's internal hunger signals for the first time, and you can eventually work moderate exercise back into your life with the help of your dietitian and treatment team.
