Sorry to hear about your struggles with eating and the exercise compulsion. Your daily training is obviously far too tough when you are exhausted and achy. Normal guidelines for gym training - if you want to develop - are two to three times a week with preferably a couple of rest days between training. The exhaustion of overtraining can be pretty long term and the longer the overtraining lasts the longer it takes to recover. Your body really needs a break. I dont believe that giving your body the rests it craves will make you gain weight. (Im generally pretty active but Ive suffered periods of exhaustion too when I just havent been able to be active as well as periods of injury. During those periods I havent actually put on weight but my weight has stayed the same) Can you take a complete break from gym training for a trial period of, say one week? Take it easy. Have short relaxing walks but nothing strenuous and just see how it feels? You almost certainly need more than one week - possibly many weeks to get back into shape. I fear that if you dont manage to cut back on your own your body will somehow just give up some day and youll end up in hospital with a serious illness. If it feels terrifying to stay away from the gym then Id advise you to look into professional counselling or therapy to beat the devil of a compulsion that is driving you towards a breakdown. I hope very much that you can take it easy and obey your bodys needs.

Hey Zinnfinity,

Your body is giving you clear signs of "burnout" which ultimately will lead to an even lower immunity to sickness, and propensity to serious injuries; you need to heed the warning signs your body is giving you. Exercise is okay in moderation but if you're in the state you describe it's gone beyond that. I speak from experience; in the height of my EDs (I'm in recovery now after 34 years battling them, from my teens to my late 40s) I exercised excessively. As a result, at age 51, I now struggle with fibromyalgia, chronic pain in my spine and other joints, and periodic chronic fatigue if I'm not careful to pace myself. In the short term, it may seem you can "get away" with these self-destructive behaviours, but it does catch up eventually with you. Please seek help. You cannot recovery from an ED alone. Take care and all the best.

I was just lie you, I would be at the gym for hours. my doctor said I was purging but through exercise. I have been able to get it under control but I still am so afraid of gaining if I don't do something. I have found that now when doing things that used to be easy, like mowing, gardening, takes a lot out of me and I cant do it as I used to, likely from ruining my body. take heed of what your body is saying and please get help, we cant beat ED in all its forms alone. hugsss

Thank you all for your support.

I have only been going to the gym three or four times a week and I won't stay longer than an hour.

I have not taken any time to relax and I am definitely sleep deprived.

I haven't exercised beyond walking in four days and I do feel better. I am giving myself a two week break to see how I feel. I am trying to learn to accept myself the way I am and know I have much more to contribute than a thin body.

Have you tried swimming while you're taking a break? It's not as rough on the joints as running and lifting weights, however this can become a compulsion too. I hope you are feeling better nearly a month later, how are you doing now??

Well done on cutting back. Your body will appreciate not being chronically overloaded. Take your time and allow yourself to catch up on sleep. All the best with keeping things moderate!

great job, get the rest your body has lacked, it needs it