Update-

[dancing1234]

Once I’ve eaten things I feel bad for eating I have the desperation to go running etc? Is this normal for people desperate to look thinner? Im an aspiring dancer and therefore it’s a necessity to look the best I can.

[lucigret]

Hello dancing1234,

I think some of us feel bad when we have eaten something we shouldn't and others who are desperate to loose the weight probably do have the same feelings as you. There is no need at all to feel bad as long as you are sticking sensibly to your calorie range and eating the right foods. I understand your need to look as good as you can for your dancing, but hope that these feeling don't lead you down an unhealthy path. You need to have a good balanced diet to give you the necessary energy to dance. If these feelings continue and make you eat less and less, I really think you should consult your Doctor.

Wishing you well

[BridgeGirl Administrator SS Supercook 2 stone]

Does looking the best you can mean looking as thin as you can in the dancing world? Think carefully about it. You have a healthy BMI. Think about where the pressure is coming from to make a healthy, slim young woman want to be thinner. Is it from you? Is it from the outside? Is it what you think people want or what they do want?

Lucigret is right that you need to be healthy and strong for a career as a dancer and that is a large part of your preparation for your career.

[Elisabeth3 Maintainer]

Do not blame yourself for eating 'things'. What are those 'things'?

As you have a healthy BMI, you may be just hungry. Then it's normal that you eat. And you don't have to jog it off.

I am not in the dancing world, and I know that things are different there. Weight and slimness are very important indicators there.

If you do need to be that slim, what if you regulate those 'things' eatings?

Every week you can announce certain days/meals with less control.

Then the stress eases for the other days, plus you can look forward to those meals.

How does this sound?

[S11m]

I have known a few hundred dancing girls - my late wife had a ballet, tap and gymnastics school. Do you dance RAD, BDTA or what?

Are you early teens or late teens?

Are you still growing?

How much exercise/dancing do you do a week? do you sometimes feel you lack energy?

Feeling that you have to rush out and go for a run seems to me to be typical of anorexia - make sure you eat enough.

Remember you need to be strong to be a dancer.

[dancing1234 in reply to S11m]

Many thanks for your reply!!

I am 17 years of age, and have seem to of stopped growing. I dance everyday straight after eating lunch at school, at school in lesson and also twice in the week after school and all day Saturday. I do ISTD exam board i also am pretty active and do over 10000 steps a day! Yes I usually complain about feeling exhausted during school to the point I can’t walk home some days because so tired and usually end up dozing off in lessons! Thank you once again for your reply!

[S11m in reply to dancing1234]

It does sound as if you are not eating enough.

If you are not naturally slim, you can still be lean, fit and strong.

You could check your body-fat percentage using the U S Navy system, or the fat-calliper method - but I do not know if the advice covers teenagers.

See:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...