Hello,

I'm a 23 year old male, currently 214 lbs and 5'10". Earlier this year, maybe 5 months ago, I decided I wanted to join a branch of the national guard. The problem was that at the time I weighed 283 lbs and they want me at 190 before i can join. Things went great for the first few months, I stopped eating fast food, soda, and between meal snacks and my weight rapidly plummeted to around 220-230. But about a month and a half ago, I hit a plateau and could not lose any weight. I joined a gym and started working with a personal trainer, but the weight still barely came off, maybe 2 pounds per week, and it seemed like every time I wanted to enjoy real food, a few tacos or beer or things of that nature, the weight would come back instantly.

Currently I'm being offered a VERY large signing bonus to join the guard, but i've been told that as of the first of the year, it will be replaced by a much lesser incentive. So I have a very strong need to get down to that weight before that time.

For the last 2 weeks I've been pushing myself harder than ever at the gym, burning about 2000 calories per day according to the machines, and my diet has become VERY strict. This is where im concerned.

I've only been eating 2 small lean chicken breasts and about a cup of veggies each day, along with a small protein bar (120 calories 5g fat low carbs) before i work out. I know this diet is horribly bad for me, and i've even cut out one of the pieces of chicken the last few days.

about 3 times in 3 weeks, i've had actual large meals, but decided to purge them, not because i felt i didnt deserve food or that i didnt need it, but because i realized it was out of my diet and contrary to my goals.

The question is, when do the ridiculously low calories diet and occasional purging become a serious condition? I wasnt unhappy with myself at 283 pounds, I rather enjoyed being a big guy. I'm also very confidant that I could lose the weight regularly if given a few more months. So if I'm not doing any of this to improve my self image, but simply to get a paper signed on time, do i still have a problem? Should I be concerned about this becoming a greater threat to me or can i continue safely until I reach my target? Keep in mind that once I hit 190 I can eat normally regardless of some weight gain, as I will still be in the guard and have more time (and basic training) to get the weight back off the right way.

Thank you for reading my gigantic post and please let me know what you think.


also, if I've put anything here that would come across as advocating purging or anorexia, please help me edit it out as I wouldnt want that.