Thanks for joining us for episode 37 of The Ancestral RDs podcast. If you want to keep up with our podcasts, subscribe in iTunes and never miss an episode! Remember, please send us your question if you’d like us to answer it on the show!

Today we’re answering the following question from a listener:

“What is defined as “disordered eating”? I’ve heard you and Kelsey use that term frequently, and I used to think that meant the major eating disorders we think of such as anorexia or bulimia, or maybe even pica syndrome if you want to go way out on a limb. Is under-eating considered an eating disorder? I am a chronic under-eater. In my 20s, I frequently ate 900-1200 calories a day — not because I was trying to starve myself, but I was trying to maintain my weight. I was only 100 lbs at 5’3″, so I did have some body image issues that were skewed. But I honestly didn’t feel that hungry, and I didn’t realize I was only eating 900 calories a day until my husband brought it up to me. Fast forward to my mid-30s and my body is broken (HPA axis dysregulation among other things), largely due to the processed food I consumed for years PLUS the chronic under-eating issue. When I went Paleo over 3 years ago, my calories maybe got to 1400-1500 — still too low for my body, plus I was eating a ketogenic diet for 3 years. The past several months, I’ve been on a mission to increase my calories by tracking my food each day. Once I started eating about 2,200 calories with about 120 g of carbs, I noticed I began to feel and sleep better. Yay! But I find that eating an appropriate amount of food each day is a struggle. If I stop tracking, I ultimately slip back into old habits and eat 1500 calories. I thought my question might be relevant to other women out there since I feel this type of low-calorie mentality is pervasive in our society, specifically among women where we are lead to believe our self-worth is closely tied to our pant size. Thanks for your time.”

If you relate to this question, you’ll want to listen to this episode.

Thanks to our podcast sponsor Prep Dish for offering our listeners $10 off their first month of the online meal planning service. CLICK HERE to get your discount!

Here’s what Laura and Kelsey will be discussing in this episode:

1. The difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating
2. How to know if your food decisions are disordered
3. How we work with clients who are struggling with under eating

Links Discussed:

• Get your Prep Dish Discount
• Laura’s Haiti Trip Recap
• Are You An Under-Eater? 8 Signs You’re Not Eating Enough