Help! I can't stop dieting

I'm glad you've taken the step of writing down your worries as admitting you

may well have a problem is half the battle in solving a potential eating


We all need some form of dietary restraint and planned activity if we want

to keep a healthy weight, but it does sound like you are beginning to take

things to extremes. One of the classic signs is that when you do 'let

yourself go' you tend to binge rather than just enjoy a small amount of the

'treat' food without any guilt.

Almost certainly you will also have a

warped idea of a normal healthy portion size. Crucially you also omit to say

what your weight and height are. Can I guess that you are officially

underweight, but actually feel hopelessly fat?

One of the thins you will have to face up to is that if you are underweight,

eating healthily may mean you put on a pound or two. But remember you'll

never be overweight if you also do healthy (non-obsessive) amounts of

exercise such as half an hour's brisk walking or swimming 5-7 days a week.

Eating better should also make you feel so much stronger you'll hopefully

not want to go back to your old restrained way of eating.

On a nutritional level what you need to do is add some essential fats to

your diet which means eating some nuts, seeds or vegetable oil every day.

You also appear to be lacking in calcium, protein and iron, so try to

include a little red meat and dairy products on a regular basis.


remember that for energy we need 5-11 portions of carbohydrates a day, where

one portion equates to a slice of bread, 3 tablespoons of breakfast cereal,

1 tablespoon of cooked rice or pasta, or 2 smallish potatoes.

As most eating problems also have a large psychological element I would also

advise talking to the Eating Disorders Association on 01603 621414

( or the National Centre for Eating Disorders on 01372 469493


Also ask your doctor if he or she will refer

you to a state registered dietitian. If you have difficulty getting referred

you can also see one privately; contact the British Dietetic Association on

0121 200 8080 for details.