Have you ever had an eating disorder?

[redqueen]

I did, in my teens. Bulimia.

My sister was anorexic for a while, too.

The 'plus size' and 'i LOVE porn' threads got me thinking about this subject...

[JVS]

1. Does just being a glutton count?

[redqueen]

2. Heh, no.

I mean the kinds where you think you're too fat and so you do something stupid to try to look better.

[commander bunnypants]

3. no

but i consider eating a chore, now my wife dreams about eating

cb

[redqueen]

5. Um, could you expand on that, please?

I have a very dirty mind ...

[commander bunnypants]

6. only food

and i like fish

CB

[redqueen]

36. huh huh huh

huh huh huh huh

[Metatron]

4. Yep.

And every thread where someone thinks anorexia is funny offends the hell out of me.

[redqueen]

7. Yeah well I can crack jokes about just about anything...

but the pressure on people to conform to the ideal really makes me unbelievably angry.

[Metatron]

10. Not this thread at all - sorry I wasn't clear, redqueen!

Eating disorders include many criteria for diagnosis - only a couple of which deal with body image. It is just as much a disease as cancer or anything else. Normally, I try not to jump in when people are joking about it since I might be hypersensitive about the issue, but sometimes it distresses me. :)

[redqueen]

11. Wow

I had no idea that an eating disorder could manifest with no correlation to body image. Interesting...

[Vanje]

8. I voted , "no", but....

....I started smoking in college to keep from eating too much. Does that count?
That wasnt very healthy!

Fortunately, after 20 years of it, I quit smoking.

[redqueen]

9. Hmm... technically, probably not.

I had trouble quitting smoking for that same reason.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

12. deleted

[redqueen]

13. Thanks

just wondering how common it is...

[AlCzervik]

14. More commin then we think, just not admitted to

I had one for 11 years and i didn't come out with it until i was in therapy for over a year. I had full dental resoration because of it, thankfully i had a great dentist who specialized in that area.

[redqueen]

15. I don't get why people won't admit these things

I think removing the stigma from such things is absolutely necessary if we're to make progress combatting it.

[AlCzervik]

18. I think it's the shame factor

admitting that you're not really in control of what you're doing. thats how it was for me until i hit the bottom, you know?

[redqueen]

23. Yeah... I suppose

I don't feel ashamed about that sort of thing, really. I'm weird I guess.

:shrug:

[AlCzervik]

26. I don't anymore but i remember at the time

not wanting anyone to ever know my secret. thats how is was for me, i'm sure not everyone feels that way but i did.

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. Posted in wrong spot.

[Placebo]

16. Yup, and I'm a guy.

It's tough for guys these days too. You girls think you have it bad (and you do, worse than we do I'm sure), well now guys are expected to be ripped and muscular or stick figures, and there is a lot of pressure to look like one of the two.

[redqueen]

17. I know... it's sad.

Part of me wants to feel happy -- as in 'okay you guys, your turn!', but really it's just sad... steroid abuse is rampant... gee now why would that be?

[Debi]

19. I did, but

Not because of thinking I was too fat...I starved myself and worked out constantly because the rest of my life was out of control...my relationships...my child's health...work...so I attempted to control the one thing I could, my weight.

No, I'm sorry to say, I eat for comfort...no longer too skinny, now I'm fat (and clincally)

[redqueen]

25. Wow thanks for sharing

I never knew it could be as a result of anything other than body image.

Sorry to hear about your new troubles... my sister went through that and found weight watchers to be a big help.

[Debi]

27. I did WW last year and dropped 25#

Then my father got ill and the 2 hour drive back and forth to the hospital (over two months) I went off the program and onto Burger King and A&W! So I put the weight back on.

I'm spoiling myself over the holidays and will get back on the program in January. Every stresser, I run for the fridge and NACHOS!

IT WORKS (and after the initial...Why can't I have ice cream at 10:00 pm..grumbles I didn't notice the decreased amount of food intake).

Plus WW magazine has GREAT recipies for low point fill you up meals and snacks...Geez, do I sound like a commercial?!

[redqueen]

33. Kudos to you!

I don't know how much my sis lost, but I know it was a lot... here's hoping your return to the system goes smoothly.

:toast:

[ChloeForKerry]

20. yes, i was bulimic for 10 years

Almost died because of it. Now I help girls with eating disorders.

[Metatron]

21. Welcome to DU!

What a rewarding occupation you have chosen. :)

[ChloeForKerry]

28. Thank you

:)

[AlCzervik]

22. Welcome and good for you

[ChloeForKerry]

29. Thanks for the welcome!

:)

[redqueen]

35. Welcome to DU, CFK...

Sorry you went through that, but good on you for doing the work you do!

:yourock:

[MissMillie]

24. Food addict

and compulsive overeater

[Debi]

30. What do you do

When you crave? If I could just replace food w/something else I would be fine....drinking is out of the question...I've already done the starvation/over-exertion bit.

I need something to turn to when my world spins out of control!!:crazy:

[redqueen]

37. I'm so sorry

that's exactly what my sis went through.

:hug:

[Bouncy Ball]

46. Hi

MissMillie. Me, too. Three years of abstinence. How are you?

[Red State Rebel]

31. Bulemic/somewhat Anorexic in my 20's

I got down to 109 lbs. and wore a size 4/6. I would skip breakfast, have a cigarette and a diet coke for lunch and maybe a lean cuisine for dinner. I ended up hospitalized twice because of what the purging was doing to my system.

I remember trying on a pair of size 6 slacks and asking the clerk if I looked fat. Sad.

[redqueen]

39. Oh, that's so sad...

I hope you're doing much better now.

:pals:

[FizzFuzz]

32. I used to have compulsive eating problems

In high school and college and grad school. Grad school was my first time really away from home, I was a real wreck for many reasons and had no idea of how to take care of myself. I never had food in the house, didn't know how to shop or cook and ate out of garbage pails, when the "urge" was on me.

I didn't force vomiting except for a very few times, though I had some body image issues--was chubby back then and hated myself deeply for that and other things. Was very focused on looks. (Part of why looksism makes me so angry--I have it internalized)

[redqueen]

41. You sound just like me

I was homeless for a spell and literally ate other people's leftovers. At that time I lost a lot of weight and when I went back to 'normal life' I put a lot on... then the bulimia started.

I'm right with you on looksism.

[FizzFuzz]

57. very interesting! I'll bet there are some amazing stories here at DU.

I wasn't homeless, just suddenly on my own in grad school after having spent all my years before extremely sheltered, abused by my mentally ill mother, and with an intestinal disease that caused problems such as getting beat up verbally or physically by schoolmates and strangers.

I've always been extremely keyed in to sexism too. Partly internalized as well which again, is part of why I can identify it so well, and why it enrages me so. Well, like they say, what makes you most angry has to do with your own issues too (And that is NOT to say that having issues on a subject makes your opinions on it invalid. Actually I think especially if someone is aware of that stuff rather than functioning unconsciously, their insights are more likely to be useful.

[SarahB]

34. I was much heavier and addicted to food.

I ate too much to cope with massive stress in my life. With the exception of those on steroidal drugs, most overweight people are addicted to food and sugar. Once I broke that physical addiction, I had to take care of the emotional issues as well. It's like drugs or alcohol for some people and I never want to go back to that place (which has meant major changes in my life to reduce the stressors).

I like feeling healthy, energetic, and free. A better appearance is only icing on the cake.

[redqueen]

43. What a great attitude!

"A better appearance is only icing on the cake."

:loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. Yes. 5'9" and weighed 108 and still couldn't fit into a size 6.

Obsession with weight is an awful, awful thing. I worry about my daughter now.

[redqueen]

44. Oh my god, MrsG!

That's AWFUL!

Don't keep a scale in your house, for one thing.

Those things are godawful... as long as you're eating right and active it doesn't matter one measley $#&$ what the numbers say. At least that's how I feel about it. :)

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. It was years ago, when I was 18. I pay the price for it to this day though

Which is why the current trend to call a size 10 heavy really, really worries me.

[redqueen]

48. It is worrisome

I don't care really what individuals consider 'heavy' or 'thin'... just so long as my daughters know they need only care about their health and peace of mind. I don't want them to think they need to please anyone else (the way I was raised).

[SarahB]

49. Sports

I got my daughter involved in sports at an early age. I was never very sports-minded as a kid (didn't help my parents never supported me in anything, but that's a digression). Anyway, my daughter is now 5'6" and about 135 or so (not at all fat, but not super-skinny). She's almost 13 and she seems to be getting my curvy sort of body. She's so much more confident than I was at the same age and I think sports has a lot to do with it. Not that she never has a bad day, but she's a very confident girl overall and I know this has helped.

[FizzFuzz]

58. sports are supposed to be very good for girls' self esteem

from what I've read. (wasn't good for mine, way back, heh heh, but that's a digression too).

Self-confidence, team building, scholarships, correlations with success later in life. That's why it's so wrong that Drinky wants to cut title IX. I don't know where that stands now, but I remember reading some articles about it. Really pissed me off.

[Pithlet]

52. I'm the same height as you

At one point I weight 105 lbs. At that time I ate nothing but slim fast shakes and veggies and ran 5 miles a day. I was never diagnosed, but I'm betting I was edging close to an eating disorder. I fit into a size 4. Now I'm a size 10, and hover around 140, which I think is the right size for my height.

[sonicx]

42. overeating and laxative abuse...

still trying to shake it.

[redqueen]

45. Oh please do!

You'll ruin your body doing that... I think many people on this thread can attest to that. Me, for instance.

Good luck ... you can turn to any of us, I'm sure, if you need moral support.

:pals:

[JimmyJazz]

50. I was an elite gymnast - I was anorexic

[redqueen]

53. Glad that word is *WAS*

:hug:

[JimmyJazz]

55. I still can't walk past a scale without weighing myself, but my

eating habits are healthy now. It was hard not to have an eating disorder when, at 98 pounds, my coach would tell me I was fat, lazy and uncoachable and scream, "92 is the OTHER way." I was 15.

Thanks love - :hug:

[redqueen]

56. That makes me feel like Skittles

I want to KICK HIS ASS!

Keep away from the scales, they're the devil, I tell you!

:hug:

[Wapsie B]

51. I've used food as a drug for years.

Whenever something was bothering me I'd eat to dull the pain. But that's slowly being replaced by a desire to exercise more and not eating till I can't move. My greatest motivation is to be able to look at a photo of myself (clothed and otherwise) and not be ashamed at what I see.

[redqueen]

54. Aw, BWA...

You shouldn't be ashamed... motivated to change, yes; ashamed, NO!

:hug:

[Wapsie B]

59. I know redqueen.

It's just that I'm the type that's 100 times harder on myself than anyone else. That has probably contributed to my using food as a comfort for years. I look at myself in the mirror and see a person underneath all this wanting to get out. And slowly he is, inch by inch.

On a more narcissistic level I'd like to be able to have a woman as beautiful as you turn your head when I walk by. That and post a nudie somewhere else on the 'net. ;-)