Since I haven't been eating well for the past 6 months or so, I've slowed my motabolism down alot. Any task that requires a bit of energy makes me so exhasuted and so out of breath I look ridiculus. I'm panting so hard after such an easy thing, especially if I did not eat a bit before, that sometimes people look at me strange. At school, sometimes the kids look at me as if I'm such a wimp or something. I HATE IT! The worst is at ballet after our jumping excercizes. It's so much harder than it used to be! I'm really trying to eat better now, and I am gaining some energy back. It's also difficult when my parents ask me to do some hard chore like shoveling the snow out of the driveway, and I just tell them I don't feel good. Now they just think i'm making excuses and they yell at me. I know that if I do go out I can't do it, or it will be SO HARD i would barly get through it, cause I tried before. I feel as if I could just lay around all day. Does anyone else get this tired? Especially those who write about how they go weeks without eating a single thing?!?!?

Nicholen,

How old are you? how much do you weigh and how tall are you?

Are you having trouble at home, that make you feel bad. Why don't you trust your parents, have they treated you unfairly in the past.

If you haven't eaten in days, this could be the reason for your symptoms. Your body needs the nutrients to do the basic things in life. If it doesn't get them it will take the calcium from your bones, it will take the protein from your muscles, it will go into suvival mode, which will eventually will cause a collapse of your basic systems.

Some of the side effects of starvation may not be reversible. YOU cannot get ob=ver this by yourself, you need a friend to help you get out of this hole. Remember when you were young and you thought you had done something bad, how you would go to your mom or dad for help! Well, it's probably a good time to see if they can help you again so you can get back to normal.

there is something else that may be affecting you, You could be sick and you don't know it. Go see a doctor and get some help. No matter what it is they will always make it better.

Good luck.

Hey Moon,
Thanks for replying.

I'm 17 and I'm 5' 3.5" . I weigh about 120 lbs now, I used to weigh 135. I have been eating much better latley, although it could be a possibility that I don't get enough of certain vitamins and maybe that's why I'm always tired. You see I mostly eat junk food like pizza. I don't eat alot of vegetables, but fruit is ok. Anyway I'm scared of doctors. We always have blood drives at my school, and I'm planning to donate when they come again. This is my 1st year I'm old enough. They do test to see if you have enough Iron or something, so if I go, they could probably tell me if I'm not getting enough.

About my parents. My conselour at school is always telling me to talk to them, BUT THEY NEVER TAKE ME SERIOUSLY! They always think I'm having one of my "episodes" when I talk to them and start to cry. SHE even talked to them about my poor eating habits. For a few days they got REALLY mad and forced me to eat. Then it all blew over. They say that they notice when I skip meals, but I really don't think they do, or care that much. If they've noticed latly they haven't said anything. I'm afraid that if I tell them I'm still having problems that they'll get really upset again. But I AM trying to make this better and get my motabolism back up.

Nicholen,

Thanks for the reply. First, if you believe your health is compromised, the last thing I would do is to give blood. If you want to know (not really a prodessional test) just gives you and idea. Pull your bottom eyelid down a bit and see if it looks pale. (like red eye liner on the inside of your eye) if the color is very pale, you may need to get it checked. Otherwise, giving blood is only another drain on your body that needs that will require more nutrients to make up. If after you make some small corrections in your lifestyle you still feel like you should feel better. Then go to one of those clinics that will take you without an appointment and tell the doctor you would like to get some blood work to see why you have no energy. They take a sample, (small) and you get the results by phone a few days later.

All this would be better if you did it with your parents. (they would pay for it!!). Now , I think you need to talk to your parents and see if you can convince them that you don't feel good, and you don't know why. Don't wait until they ask you to take out the garbage, clean your room, or do some other chore you hate. Talk to them when they are calm and (you too!) and you are not postponing a request from them. Then you will have their attention. You might try, when you are about to do something you really like. Then they will know you are serious.

I really think you may want to try the basic things before you escalate to the medicine man and drawing of blood.

Step one. (if you are in general good health, do not have a history of medical problems, your period is regular and not excessive, you are not on drugs, you are not bullemic or trying to be anorexic, and in general you are a normal 17 year old female, Then, the doctor could wait a little while you correct the things that are under your control.)

- Are you getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night? Equals rest and beauty sleep.
- Are you doing the the basic things that are expected from you at home and at school without having to be forced and nagged constantly? Equals a less stressful life, get it done on your own, before they have to ask.
- Have you lost a lot of weight in a short period of time? equals feeling tired and maybe sad. (yeah, I know you are happy because you lost the weight! but your body is sad and is not getting the nutrients it once got in abundance.)
- Are you eating balanced diet? equals weight control and less ups and downs with your stamina and your personality. One time I was told my cholesterol was elevated, and I stopped eating red meat. I then checked my blood and was told my cholesterol was OK but now I was anemic. There has to be something in each food group that you can bear to eat. And eat from all the food groups. (personally, I don't like vegetables, so I drink my vegetable (fiber) from metamucil. It's not pretty but it works)
- Are you smoking, drinking lots of coffee, or doing something that throws your body into an imbalance? equals periods of stress, maybe anxiety, sleeplessnes, moody etc. And also drains you body of some important nutrients.
- What kind of daughter are you? Are you the the type that will respond to every request with an nasty attitude. Or are you the type that will ask your mom if there is anything you can do to make her life (or your dad's)nicer or happier. Do you give them the love and respect that (hugs and kisses and nice words)you expect from them. Do you feel like they are the enemy, and all they can do is think of ways to make you feel miserable.
If this is the case maybe you need to make some changes at home. (You get alot more sugar than you do with vinegar!).

I know for sure that if you are happy, your body will be happy. (And for sure, if your parents are happy, you will be the happiest person in the world!!)

One last thing, at your age, your body is developing, and it needs all your help to do so in an appropiate way. Look at it like a machine that will take you anywhere you want to go, for a long long time, as long as you put in the time to do the maintenance.

Hi Moon. Thanks for replying again.

You know my bottom eyelids do look pale. What does it mean? I need to get my blood checked?

I have about a 3.6 average at school, but latley I'm not putting as much effort into it as I used to. I'm so tired of school and it's getting too hard. I haven't really been caring as much about it as I used to either. I'm just trying to make it through my senior year! I have been talking to my conselor. She also suggested I get a physical and blood test. I am probably not gettin enough sleep. I get up at 6:20 and school starts at 7:25. Sometimes I get in bed as late at 10:00. But all the good shows are on between 8 and 10! I am always tired in the morning, but the kind of tired I've been feeling is more of a physical tiredness. I have been under alot of stress this year also. My father is going through a job change and it's difficult. It helps to know now that I'm finishing off my school year at the same school.

I'm probably not getting a balanced diet either, but I don't think I've ever really had one. I've always been a picky eater.

I think i've convinced my parents to take me to the doctors sometime. My parents want me to take those daily vitimins but they're a pain to remember to take. I also think I may have a magnesium deficency cause I saw the simptoms and I have some.

Thanks for listening and also with being concered about me. It helps to know that someone else cares.

Anyway, I'll talk to you later.

Nicholen

Hi Nicholen,

Firstly evrything that Moon said to you if true. I do the same not eat much and when I do it's junk food, again no veg, and then i wonder why i get tired and everything is such an effort. If you are under body weight then you will not be alllowed to donate blood for your own health. Try to talk to your parents, I know it's not easy mine were the same it's because they were scared that I would end up in hospital or dead, and it's hard for them to understand that you are not doing it on purpose or to get attention. If you can't talk to them what about a friend or teacher. You need to get help before it ruins your life. I am now 29 and I am still doing the same things, you need to get out of the routin.

Good luck and take care.
Jade

I'm getting ready to go out in a few minutes and I'm going to have a nice big steak with a baked potatoe and a delicious Caesar salad.

I bet if you did the same you would feel a lot better tomorrow. (throw in a glass of milk to push down that multiple vitamin).

Eat all your steak and then tell me how you feel. (also a good steak will make that pale red get nice and deep red. may take more than one steak.

You may be thinking that eating that steak could be bad for you. but I can almost guarantee that if your are of normal health and only need a little boost, a steak will do wonders for you.

Good luck and get up to that table. Remember , it's not how much you eat, but what!

To Moon and Jade,

First of all, thanks for replying to my messages and listening to me. It helps alot to know there are people who care.

Jade, i am planning to talk to my parents. I think that maybe they'll get me a physical and then I'll really find out if I'm ok. To donate blood, I've heard you have to be at least 110 lbs and I'm 120. so I think they'll let me donate anyway. They are supposed to come to our school, but I don't know when. The thing is, even though I'm deathly afraid of all needles, i'll feel bad if i don't AT LEAST try to give blood. I watch ER and those medical shows, and I know they really need it. hopefully I'll be ok in time so they can use mine.

Moon, Like I said i'm a picky eater, and I'm also Lactose Intoleant, so a glass of milk is out of the question, unless, of course, it's Lactaid Milk! See, I have to take Lactaid pills when I eat cheese or pizza. It's such a pain. Sometimes I eat more than the pills can handle and I get such an upset stomach that this also discourages me from eating for a while. Just be glad you're not lactose intolerant. It can be painful! Oh yeah, and I don't like steak that much!!! LOL I told you I was picky!

Anyway, thanks both of you form listening. I am actually doing much better now and eating more often. Thanks for the support. I'll talk to you later!

Nicholen