I know this is mostly just venting/storytelling, but I really have to talk to somebody who understands a healthy exercise lifestyle.
There's a woman at my gym who has severe exercise bulimia. She's there from noon until nearly close (10pm). She does a minimum of 3 spinning classes, my weightlifting class, and in between she's running on the treadmills or hefting weights in the weightroom. I'm not sure how she supports herself...maybe she works just mornings, or has a trust fund, or has a husband who can support them both. I dunno.
Unlike standard bulimics, exercise bulimics often get to scary low weights. She's roughly 40, about 5'7" (a bit taller than me) and must weigh less than 100 lbs. There's not a scrap of fat on her, and not much muscle...she's burned it all away.
I know a couple of the gym staff trainers have tried to talk to her, but she is very rude and tells them to mind their own effing business, she's paying her dues. Sadly, that's true, unless she's using the equipment in an unsafe fashion they really can't do anything.
It's just sooo hard to watch. She'll load up her bar for weightlifting with well over the reccomended weights and make little pained noises when she tries to lift. During cool downs in classes she'll either keep going full speed or leave to go run. Her skin has the most sickly tinge to it. I can't imagine what her kidneys must be like. And it looks like she might be losing her hair (I know that can be a sign of all kinds of bad things).
It's like watching a slow suicide. I know one of these days (possibly very soon) she won't show up for class and we'll all know what happened.
Even the "skinny chicks" who come to the gym, curl a 5lb weight, check out the guys, then leave give her frightened looks. When a 110lb college girl looks at you like you're too skinny you know you have a problem.
Just very very scary. Everybody, watch your exercise!