Well, I use to be the same, I use to exercise at least six days, and if I mussed a day, I would go crazy. I then resorted to little mini home workouts and walking at a zillion miles an hour when I took my daughter for a walk. I was then advised that the first thing I had to stop was exercising even walking. This was/is crazy. And I to thought I couldnt eat as I wasnt burning off any calories. I then started to do crazy running around the house, sit ups, push ups, chasing my daughter, vacumming, scrubbing the floors ANYTHING.
I cant say how to deal with this, I dont know. But I can say that the initial thought of not exercising scared the hell out of me to and I thought for sure the weight would pile on. It has been two months now, I manage a walk here and there but am finally accepting this is the first step and once I conquer this I will battle the food thoughts.
Just keep up every second day, see how you go but make sure you eat to keep your energy at bay, then eventually you may drop off to every other day. Hang in there.

I ran 6 miles every single day until I was told I would have a heart attack at any time. I stopped cold turkey and it didn't make me gain weight, even though this is eventually the plan.
So don't be afraid. Listen to your body and just go for walks, doing some positive self talk. I hope you cope with your fear and do the right thing. I know it's hard but this is what needs to happen.

I was a compusive exerciser for quite a while. I would wake up at 5 am and exercise for a couple hours. Then I would go out during the day and only go places where I would have to do alot of walking. Then I would exercise again when I got home for an hour, and again before bed for an hour. It was crazy. Exercise ruled my life. Last year in October I fell down the stairs at my house and bruised my ribs pretty bad. I had to stop exercising in order to heal. I did try exercising the next day though because I had this constant worry that I was going to gain weight if I didn't exercise. It hurt to much so I couldn't continue. For a couple days I had a constant battle in my head that I was going to gain weight. The battle eventually started to subside and I did not gain any weight. Once my back was healed I never started exercising again. I hated exercising so I am so glad I was able to stop. I feel like I somewhat have some of my life back.

While I won't go into details about my compulsive exercising (as that seems triggering and competitive), I will say that it takes dedication not to run or lift away your problems. No matter how you do it, you're only wasting your muscles, destroying them more rapidly than gaining. Health-wise, that will leave you crippled and that is the worst fate of them all. No one wants to have the joints and muscles of an 80 year old when they're in their 20s.

So take a break. Hard, right? What to do with that energy, that pent up stress, that anxiety? Do the exact opposite- take that time to take a warm relaxing self-pampering bath. Sounds silly, but it's a great idea. Don't have a tub? Okay, snuggle under the covers, close your bedroom door/lock the front door, light some incense (if you're funky like that) and read an engrossing book. You will NOT die from a week or two or three or more of relaxing and taking care of yourself. If anything, you will come out of it a healthier person.

I didn't know this for a long long time, but am so glad I now do: Did you know that 70% of your daily calories are burnt off just by your body's metabolism alone? (i.e. breathing, heart beating, digestion etc.). Only 30% of calories are burnt by exercise. This means that, even if you just lie on your back and don't move for the entire day, you can still eat 70% of the recommended 2000 calories per day without gaining any weight whatsoever! That's 1400 calories without even having to move. Please tell me you'll take this on board. It certainly helped me a tonne.

RedSuze, you're smack on the money with that info. I MAINTAINED WEIGHT while in treatment for my ED earlier this year (and that weight was "slim" for my height, not excessive) despite doing one 15-minute walk, 45 minutes of yoga, and 45 minutes of pilates in a week (yes, a week!). Wanna know how many calories I ate? 2100 calories. Remember, I was maintaining a slim weight. I didn't mention calories to trigger or scare anyone, only to show that you can stay healthy, exercise very little and in moderation (which lord knows we were monitored like crazy in treatment), and still be slim. Your body will settle into a natural weight if you can learn to eat right and exercise appropriately, and a natural weight will not be heavy or overweight.

Thank you guys so much for this. It truely has helped to read your posts. this morning, I still didnt get up. I really tried hard to justify it all in my head. Here I am typing this, still in bed! But I am still really scared. But thankyou for your replies. I am going to try really hard to give my body a break. its true- I dont want to be 80 at 20.
Anyway I wont talk my feelings out too much as i put it all in my journal this morning. Just wanted to say a big thanks to all of you.

Span, how much were you exercising everyday? Maybe you were overdoing it each session. In my opinion I don't think it's bad to move every day, it just depends how much. I usually dedicate 3 days a week to a full work-out (few miles jog, 90 min in gym, high intensity cardio class), and then 3 to a light one (swimming/walking/low impact cardio for only 30 min), and then a day off. Just listen to you body. Maybe just taking a walk will make you feel not guilty, but walking isn't going to hurt your body.

I know I am overdoing it, but i had pulled back to one day on, one day off. BY NO means am I saying exercise is unhealthy, or walking, or anything. I desperately want to get back to being able to enjoy it. Jillian, It sounds like you have a good balance and I aim for that when i get better. But its the fact that I am not even eating enough to support my body right now in a sedentary state that is the issue.
But yeah I agree, exercise is not bad. Its just with me, I need to learn to stop abusing it.
WE cannot compare ourselves to others.

You're right - about comparing US to others. You need to start pumping some good, wholesome nutrients into your body for fuel and you'll feel great and have the energy to work out. Good luck!