I was wearing kids clothes - a 12 - at 35 years old

[Aerows]

I was very ill. I'm now up to a kids sixteen, and can wear ladies 1.

I had anorexia. I weighed 79 lbs. at the doctor's appointment when he told me if I lost anymore weight, he'd hospitalize me.

Didn't think it would happen to me.

Anorexia is a serious problem.

I'm healthy now at 120. It's amazing what you can overcome.

[HappyMe]

1. I'm glad you are healthy now.

[Aerows]

5. There are girls out there that think it is normal

to weigh under 90 lbs. I was one of them.

Anorexia sneeked up on me. I didn't realize it until it was full blown.

I started this post to discuss it, so more women didn't have to get to the point I got to. It's not attractive to be skin and bones, and you have to resort to shopping in the children's section.

EDIT: And it was a LONG way back, too.

[HopeHoops]

2. Good for you! My wife weighs all of 95 lbs, but she's under 4' 11".

Anorexia is a horrible condition. My wife is just small, but finding clothes (and SHOES) is a major problem for her. I worked my way down from 175 to 120 over the course of 2 years. You have to find your healthy weight and try to stick to it.

We're both 48.

More power to you. Stay strong (mentally) and the body should follow. It doesn't always, but it won't without the support.

[Aerows]

12. I'm 5'3"

You can only imagine what I looked like at 79 lbs.

[HopeHoops]

15. Yeah, I sort of had a mental image.

[Aerows]

136. Skeletal

I looked like a skeleton.

[emcguffie]

22. I'm 5'3" and I got down to 90 pounds, from illness, once.

The sad thing was that I looked great, except that I was trembling all the time and wasn't functioning mentally.

I was out on sick leave (which led to disability, alas), and when I came in to work and people saw me they told me how wonderful I looked! Because I was model thin, that is, and normally I was overweight. My daughter got pissed off at me. One day I went out and bought a pair of jeans and a shirt that fit me (I had been wearing old clothes that were much too big, and tying them on), and when I put them on (and I did look good in them) she yelled at me: "But you're my mom!"

It didn't last long.

Now I'm back up to 160 lbs and look terrible, but I feel much better.

[Aerows]

27. It's better to weigh 160 lbs

than to be dead. You can't work with dead, honey, and that's what I had to learn.

[RebelOne]

81. No, not really. 160 pounds at 5'3" is not healthy either.

I am 5'3" and weigh between 125 and 130 pounds, which is my ideal weight.

[Aerows]

89. It's true that it isn't healthy

But dead isn't healthy, and that was where I was headed at less than 80 lbs.

[iris27]

128. It's not better to weigh 160 than to be DEAD, RebelOne?

Reading comprehension fail.

[Aerows]

130. Honey, let's not go there

I know where Rebel is, and I'm not even going to fight. Thanks for taking up for me, but in this case, it's Rebel we need to care for.

[REP]

134. You're an awesome person

...and a hell of a lot nicer than I am. :hi:

Good wishes for good things for you!

[Aerows]

135. :Knuckles: n/t

:hi:

[emcguffie]

139. Well, it just so happens I have a chronic illness.

Sometimes it is called chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a ridiculous name for it. The Journal of Internal Medicine has just printed an article by an international group of physicians asking for it to be called myalgic encephalomyelitis (the old name for it from UK) and establishing a new set of international criteria for it.

One of the common symptoms of it is unexplained weight loss or gain.

Another one is dysfunction of the mitochondria.

Another one is delayed fatigue after exertion, either physical or mental. And by delayed, they mean a day later or more, and fatigue that lasts for several days -- meaning you pretty much can't get out of bed.

So there's something really wrong with the mitochondria, and people with ME can't burn energy. It just isn't accessible.

I eat much, much less than I used to. And now I'm also celiac and am allergic to all corn products, including corn starch and corn syrup. So I eat pretty much no bread, no pasta, and no candy. No pies, no cakes, no cookies. I hate the fake stuff. If I eat a nice little slice of prosciutto, say, with goat cheese, that's what it is, a piece of ham and a piece of cheese.

So as far as I am concerned, my weight gain is due to this illness, just as my tremendous weight loss was.

Sorry for the big reply. And excuse my approaching rudeness, but jolly good for you you weigh what you should. It's this whole in-your-face holier-than-thou shit about people's weight that is partially responsible for anorexia. So go pat yourself on the head and get out of my rather ill face. You're damned lucky to be healthy. And you should be thankful for it, especially in today's world.

And, please, be sure, the illness came long before the weight gain, then loss, then gain.

Smug is so unappealing.

[Lorien]

121. I was 95 pounds at nearly 5' 8"

when I was 18 and 19 years old. My doctor also threatened to hospitalize me. The sad thing is that many runway models today weight that much, and some are taller than I am.

[Aerows]

124. It's a control thing

You lose control over every part of your life except what you eat.

Are you better now? Have you gotten your weight high enough?

[hlthe2b]

3. So glad you got help and are recovering....

As one who has fought weight their entire life and had a short episode with anorexia-level of dieting as a teen, I bemoan our culture's focus on the superficial that destroys body image. Anorexia and bulimia are exceedingly serious problems. I suspect the fight is "One day at a time", but it sounds like you definitely have overcome. Congratulations, Aerows! :toast: I hope your example might help some others.

[Aerows]

9. Thank you

I started this post because it is a problem. It snuck up on me. When the doctor told me that if I lost anymore weight I'd be hospitalized, it was a wake up call.

It is a one day at a time thing, though.

[xchrom]

4. awesome! nt

:toast:

[Aerows]

96. Thank you :D n/t

[October]

6. It is indeed a serious problem. Glad you are healthy!!! /nt

[Aerows]

63. Thanks for the kind words :D n/t

[raccoon]

7. I have a close relative who's had bouts with bulimia. Glad you are doing OK today. nt

[Aerows]

59. I hope your relative is getting support

It helps to have people who take up for you.

[monmouth]

8. HA! Bet it was the cheesecake. Glad you're healthy again...n/t

[Aerows]

36. LOL

I'm not at the cheesecake stage yet, but I'll get there :D

[Poll_Blind]

10. The American female is the most psychologically attacked organism in, possibly, the world.

What commercialism does to women, in attempt to sell them more products, could unflinchingly be compared to a bootcamp in which all self-worth was destroyed and girls were re-built by commercial innuendo into self-doubt-filled consumers. And even that doesn't really capture how deep it goes.

PB

[kath]

83. Wow - your post is so, so true!

I've never seen it put in quite those terms, but you really nailed it. And the fact that you're a *guy* who so totally, totally "gets it" makes it even more remarkable.

+ a brazillion for your wonderful post.

[Odin2005]

140. This guy agrees with you.

It's really horrifying.

[gateley]

11. I'm so happy you're better. We love you. nt

[Aerows]

94. Thank you

Support means everything

[gateley]

95. We're here for you, and like all good support groups,

others here have suffered from the same disease (pick your disease - DU has alum!).

It helps so much to know you're not alone and while you feel so alone, others absolutely understand what you're going through. :hug:

[Aerows]

98. It's amazing

to have such a wonderful place as this. Thank you so much, Gateley, for expressing it so well.

[seabeyond]

13. ah baby, all that time on wasting away battling you. it is all about control

for you, in a world you feel you have no control.

been there, done that.

i hope you have addressed the real issues.

[Aerows]

16. Still fighting, my friend

I wanted to open up and talk about it, because we all have our daily struggles. This is mine.

[seabeyond]

19. need to just talk, let me know.

i didnt let that go until i had my first child. nature took over and put my body to its natural healthy. which i realized was pretty damn slim. i havent messed with it much since and it has worked fine for almost a couple decades.

there is physical, emotional and spiritual all wrapped up in one, with this issue

[Aerows]

61. It's true

spiritual, physical, mental and emotional.

I'm glad having children has been such a good thing for you. I'll bet you are a fantastic mom :D

[frazzled]

29. Yes, control ...

Another survivor here, from many many years ago. I was a teenager in the 1960s, and they barely knew what this was. I was hospitalized when I got down to 69 pounds. Then quite a few years of therapy (old fashioned Fredian kind). I was lucky to emerge in my early twenties and have stayed healthy for 40 years.

[Aerows]

33. God I hope I can stay healthy

that long.

You give me hope.

[frazzled]

102. You should have lots of hope

And I wish you every bit of encouragement and best wishes for staying free of this difficult illness. As you must know, when you are inside of it, your perception of the world--most especially, your perception of yourself--is very skewed. I never thought I looked thin or was ill or weak—even though I looked like a concentration camp victim to others. To the contrary, I felt powerful, almost transcendental. I wanted, I think (as so many young women do), to achieve something spectacular, to be "better" (it sounds so stupid now) than anyone else, though with few means to achieve that. What did everyone else in the world do? They ate. I could become unique and special by not having to eat. So I stopped eating. I hid food. I subsisted on scraps of lettuce and an occasional poached egg (no toast).

I can't tell you what awoke me from this self-imposed dream state. But I do think the therapy helped. What helped is that my therapist made me so angry--an anger that built over time--that I think I snapped out of this strange world I'd created for myself. He used to tell me I sounded like a forty-year-old woman (I was 17 or 18 at the time). He told me I was jealous of my sister, which I found ridiculous (but maybe true). At any rate, one day I became so angry at him that I broke down in hysterical tears. I sobbed and sobbed. It was, as he pointed out, the first hint of emotion of any kind he'd seen me express in the entire year I'd been seeing him. Somehow, this was a cathartic moment. He'd broken through the iron-clad self-control I had built up, and I guess I just was never able to fully recapture it. It was okay to lose the control.

Maybe I was lucky I was still young and malleable. Maybe I was lucky I soon moved away to college in New York and started a new life. Maybe I was lucky I eventually found love.

All I can say is: be kind to yourself. You are already wonderful, you are already possessed of great things to offer. And it's okay not to be "perfect." In fact, it's really good not to be perfect. Plus, food is life! And it tastes good!

[Aerows]

117. LOL

I'm trying, my friend. I'm so glad you made it. I'm not so optimistic that I believe I've gotten over it - it's just manageable. "Self-imposed dream state". Yep, that describes it.

[Aerows]

120. That sounds like me

The emotional control.

[Aerows]

14. I can't even believe I've gotten over the shame enough

to post about the problem.

Shame is a huge part of the problem.

[Taverner]

84. Posting about it shows your courage nt

[Uben]

17. Good for you

I know that's a hard one to kick. I had a good friend in highschool back in the seventies with anorexia. She almost died from it, but she overcame it. She was very beautiful before the anorexia, and is once again so, but she got down to a toothpick.

We had the opposite problem in our family......overweight. But, my oldest daughter is a personal trainer now and all but my youngest in the family are in excellent health and condition. The youngest is just starting her journey to better health. SHe has changed her eating habits, has a job that keeps her moving, and walks with her mom.

I'm 56 and she has me doing 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and knee bends daily. I was doing a couple of miles a day on the treadmill, but I have been slacking off lately. Need to get back on it, but I have reached my goal weight and am currently in the best shape I've been in decades! Keeping fit is hard work, but the pay-off is worth it.

[Aerows]

38. It's strange

One day I wake up and have an aversion to all food. It isn't like "I'm a picky eater" it is something different. I have to fight it.

[midnight]

18. Good for you. For those raising the next generation what advice would you

want parents to be aware of?

[Aerows]

20. I'd say if your child isn't eating

Anything with fat in it, that's a sign. I never have liked sugar, but then I went extreme and wouldn't eat fat, either.

You can't function without a little fat and sugar. If you are eating nothing but salad with no dressing, you are on the way to where I went.

EDIT: I'm not a professional by any means, I just went through it. Watch for signs of aversion to food. That's all I can say.

[Rex]

21. Glad to hear you are a healthy 120 pounds now!

Wow! I knew that you are a strong person from your posting, but that must have been a hard thing to get over! I am glad you overcame it. :hi:

[Aerows]

45. Thank you for the kind words

You are a good poster, too, and I'm glad my posts have an impact :D

[Rex]

68. Mental illness

can seem impossible to overcome at times, I still struggle daily with my issues.

[Aerows]

73. Nothing is ever easy, my friend

Feel free to PM me if you are having a hard time.

[LynneSin]

23. Glad you stuck around! The world is a better place with you in it!

I can't even begin to understand the complexities of Anorexia but it seems like a slow pace form of suicide. Then again I have a serious overweight issues which I remind myself is the same exact thing. No we aren't putting the knife to that big artery on the wrist but we are(were) doing something to our bodies that ultimately can(could) kill us. I'm making big changes myself and it's courage that you found to change your life around that inspires me even if mine is too much weight and not enough.

Thank you for your post!

[Aerows]

24. "Slow paced form of suicide"

Couldn't describe it better.

[polly7]

52. Yes, that's it exactly. nt.

[Aerows]

58. I'm so relieved to see another survivor

It is very difficult at times to express what is going on with this problem.

[a la izquierda]

25. I had obsessive-compulsive eating disorder.

I ate literally nothing but lettuce and diet coke for weeks, and then I'd binge and purge. I weighed 85 pounds when I was 21. I ate about 30 diet pills a day. I wore a girls size 10. I idolized the heroin chic models.
I now weigh 120, crossfit, am I vegetarian, and race mountain bikes when I have time. I'm built like a brick outhouse. And I like how I look, because I'm fit and strong.
I still have an image issue, but I don't let it get too out of hand. Luckily, my husband helps keep my head on straight.

Glad to hear you're feelin' fine. It's a long, long road to recovery. It's so very sad how Hollywood and the media make girls and women (and boys, too, I should add) feel like they must be twigs.

[Aerows]

31. I ate nothing but salad

I drank 44 oz coffee like it was going out of style.

Thank you for sharing your story, and I'm glad you have a good husband to support you.

It makes you a wreck, doesn't it? This body image

[hedgehog]

34. The last research I saw suggested that anorexia is strongly related to OCD -

in other words, it is a physical disorder that we put cultural significance to. These days, anorexics try to explain their condition to themselves as a concern for body shape. There are dozens (hundreds?) of Roman Catholic female saints who explained their anorexia as a sacrifice to God. They were praised for subsisting on water and communion, and tended to be dead by age 30!.

[Aerows]

37. OCD

Hello. I am familiar with it LOL.

[hootinholler]

26. I had no idea

When I made the taternut crack in the other thread. I just love taternuts and miss them, especially the cinnamon sugar ones.

I'm sorry if that crack hurt, I would never do that intentionally, cher. :hug:

Plus you gave me a great new term of endearment.

[Aerows]

28. Thank you, Hoot

and no, I didn't take offense. I've been in a long haul kicking this. You are a good friend, and I didn't take offense.

I didn't post this to garner sympathy, but rather to make folks aware of how this can sneak up on you.

That's all I was trying to do was raise awareness.

EDIT: I'm glad, cher :D

[Aerows]

127. P.S. It makes me feel better to have friends

Thank you so much :D

[TBF]

30. I worked in a psych hospital years ago -

we had anorexic clients from time to time ... glad to hear your weight is up. Keep working - we are all with you.

[Aerows]

35. Thank you my friend

Nice to know there are people in my corner.

[NNN0LHI]

32. Thank you for sharing this with us

:hug:

[Aerows]

39. We all have our problems

If I can spare someone from getting to the point where I did, I'm doing a good thing.

[Spazito]

40. I have a relative, my niece who suffered from bulimia ....

and it was only when she was pregnant with her first child did she begin to control it. Her son is now 10 and she says she still has to fight against the urge to go back to gorging and purging. It is day by day, week by week, month by month. She still works hard at seeing her body as it really is, healthy and strong, instead of the distorted image that still had the tendency to re-appear in her mind.

It really is amazing what one can overcome.

Thank you for starting this thread, it is a subject that needs to be discussed in the open.

Recommended.

Edited to fix typo

[Aerows]

41. It is amazing what you can overcome

and you are right. It isn't some sort of "poof, it's over" sort of thing. You have to fight it every day.

[OhioChick]

42. I'm happy to hear that you're healthy again....

From what I understand, anorexia can be a bitch.

Stay strong! :hug:

[Aerows]

43. It's an aversion to food from hell

I've learned how to cook to get over it, or at least, make it less intense.

[Initech]

44. I'm the opposite - weighed almost 300 now I'm down to 265 and losing more and more.

[Aerows]

47. It's two sides of the same coin, I think

That which sustains us breaks us.

[Initech]

87. Pretty much.

[MineralMan]

46. I'm glad you are at a normal weight now.

The daughter of of friend of mine is anorexic. She's now in her 20s and is resisting all efforts to treat her. I'm very fearful for her, and her parents are beside themselves with worry.

[Aerows]

48. Oh god, I hope she will see the light

It's such a hard road back from it once you get to a certain point.

[MineralMan]

51. I do, too. I don't really know the young woman very well, since

my friend lives far from me. She's been hospitalized multiple times, but has always reverted to anorexia shortly after being discharged. It's a terrible thing, and seems impossible to treat for her. It's such a sad thing, and I wish there were something I could do, but I know there's not. All I can do is to be supportive to her parents and hope.

[Aerows]

50. Is there something I can do?

I'd hate to see her get to the place I was at.

[MineralMan]

54. I can't think of anything, really. She has alienated herself from her

parents and doesn't communicate with them much at all. It's such a frustrating disorder, for the person who suffers from it and for everyone involved. Since she's an adult, her parents can't really intervene any longer. She just doesn't seem to want to recover, despite all the efforts so many have made to try to find a way to help.

[Aerows]

70. I'll do anything to help

If I could spare somebody what I went through, I will do it.

[MineralMan]

78. I know you would. Currently, I don't have a contact method for

her, though.

[Aerows]

104. If you do, please contact me via PM

I'll shoot you my email, and at least be a point of contact. It's not easy, but sometimes knowing someone that went through it makes it a bit easier. I'm willing to help.

[MineralMan]

144. Will do. I'll contact my friend and see if he can provide contact info.

[polly7]

49. That's really great Aerows.

I'm 5'5" and was down to about 85 lbs. last fall when my Dad got sick. I'd go for 3-4 days without eating. I was so worried about him and started out just forgetting to eat, then it came to the point even thinking of it would make me ill. It's only a year later I've gotten back up to my normal weight of 115. It really can sneak up on you, and you don't realize how sick you are at the time.

[Aerows]

53. I did that, too

I worry, and quit eating. It's not easy.

That's exactly how it happened to me - it sneaks up on you.

You wake up one day and eating is disgusting.

[polly7]

57. ...

:hug:

[Aerows]

74. If you ever want or need to talk

I'm here. Thank you so much for opening up about it.

It's hard to admit sometimes when you are not 100% perfect. It is for me :D

[polly7]

146. Thank you Aerows.

It is hard, but opening up may give others hope knowing they're not alone and that there is support out there. You're brave, and very strong. :hug:

[babydollhead]

55. Peace to you.

[Aerows]

116. Thank you, cher. n/t

[kestrel91316]

56. One of my assistants is a recovering anorexic. I understand her struggle

better than I did when she first came here. She has told me a lot about it. She is approaching a healthy weight and has a fairly healthy attitude about food now.

Keep up the good work.

[Aerows]

65. I'm glad

That she has you as a support system. So many don't have people that understand, or even try to understand.

[kestrel91316]

101. I don't know how healthy it is that she has been a sort of support system

the past 3 months while I have been back on Weight Watchers to lose 10 lb. LOL

But she is in therapy and says that has really helped - she had a relapse of anorexia after being fairly normal for 10 years (a personal trauma involved) but is getting back on an even keel.

Oh, and we both love chocolate so we share treats.

[Aerows]

105. It's a struggle

If you both like chocolate and share treats though, that's a start :D

I can't stand sweets, but when I do eat them, it's chocolate I go to :D

[HockeyMom]

60. I'm 5'1.5" and weigh 100 lbs.

I have been this weight since my 20s and I am 63 now. The only time I have weighed more than this was when I was pregnant (127 lbs.) or nursing (105 lbs.). After all these decades, I guess this is what I am MEANT to weigh. I have NEVER in my life weighed what those charts say I should, but I also can wear little girls Size 3 SHOES (women's size 5) and my wrists are 5.5 inches. Neither my feet nor my wrists were any bigger when I weighed that 127 lbs when pregnant.

My daughter is 5'4" and 110 lbs (27 now). I guess some would consider her too skinny, but she doesn't diet either. When she was in HS, they thought SHE was anoerix or bulmic. They called me into school to discuss it, but their mouths dropped when they saw ME. She isn't/wasn't anoerexic or bulmic, and neither am I. My Dad was 5'8", 135 lbs. and wore a 29 Waist Short pants. Dad was this size his entire life too. It's just the family genetics.


Pleade be very careful painting broad brushes on these diseases for EVERYONE. It caused big time depression in my daughter when she was accused of those.

[Aerows]

64. I understand that you have a certain weight

But I'm stating mine at 79 Lbs as unhealthy.

You are healthy, and that is fantastic. I was unhealthy, and stated it clearly.

This isn't judgment - it is discussing a problem, not judging anyone.

[HockeyMom]

123. I am old enough to have learned MANY YEARS AGO

that I could not let my weight go lower than around 95 lbs., or I would get very, very sick. Basically, you have to listen to what your body is telling you. You live in your skin. Nobody else does. :)

[Aerows]

125. It sounds so easy

but it can be difficult. As I'm sure you know :D

[HockeyMom]

129. Well, I've learned to listen to my cravings

I don't like meat, especially steak, but every once in a while I get a craving to eat steak. I will eat it because I know that my body is telling me that I need something from the steak. Lasagna? Never eat that either, but when I feel like having it, I do. I probably need the carbs in that craving. Same for even BIG MACS. Once ever 3 or 4 months I get a craving for a Big Mac, fries, and soda (don't drink soda). So I do. Maybe my weight is getting too low and I just need extra calories? Don't know, but I just go with the flow.

I would be very happy being a vegetarian, but I have learned I cannot do that. When I tried many years ago, I went down to 88 lbs. and was admitted to the hospital with severe anemia. Yep, they thought I was anorexic, but I wasn't. Eating nothing but veggies when you start off at 100 lbs. will make your weight plummet. I didn't know what I was doing and needed some substitute for the protein to get enough iron and probably should have eaten a lot more breads and pasta to keep my weight up.

Anyway, as I said, you have to know your body weight limit and listen to your body when it is telling you what it needs.

Good luck and feel better.

[Divine Discontent]

62. happy you are doing so much better! that's good encouragement for all.

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[Aerows]

66. I hope so

If I do nothing but encourage others, I'm living a good life :D

[Divine Discontent]

67. love that sentiment! amen! :) keep on doing what you do.

:hug:



Get it now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Aerows]

69. I did, and thank you :D n/t

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

71. In hospital last year i was 102# at 5' 5 1/2"

My doctor seemed relieved to find I was an alcoholic and not anorexic. Anorexia is one nasty disease, reading your post makes me reflect that I'm lucky to have just my alcoholism to deal with. Both will kill you, but for some reason it's seems to me that anorexia is even more insidious to your mind, it certainly is to your body. I'm 46, sober over 1 year, and nearly 30# heavier. It really is amazing what a body can overcome when it comes against that boundary line of death. It changes your perception of the world and the way you choose to live it.
Good health I wish for you, Mind,Body,&Soul.

[Aerows]

72. Neither disease is easy, cher

Alcoholism is just as bad as anorexia.

Survival is a beautiful thing, in either case. You appreciate your existence when it may not happen.

[Aerows]

75. Congratulations on your sobriety

That's a hard hill to climb, and I'm thrilled you made it, cher.

Keep on making it, so if I need a hand to hold, yours will be there.

[Bobbie Jo]

76. Been there, Aerows....

I weighed 89 lbs at my lowest point. It's a debilitating illness that is difficult for family and friends to wrap their head around. A friend saved my life, and to this day I'll never forget what she did for me.

That was almost 20 years ago....I still have lingering body image issues, but they're manageable.

Thank you for speaking up. Secrets only contribute to the progression of this nightmare. I know this was one of the most difficult things you have ever done...I know. I can appreciate and applaud your courage. Your survival depends on it...

:hug:

[Aerows]

77. Thank you for speaking up, too

It is a shame issue, a body image issue, and it destroys you. You are right about keeping secrets.

Mine nearly killed me. It means alot for survivors to talk about it.

[lapislzi]

79. It affects men, too

My ex has an eating disorder. For a year he ate only cauliflower. He purges and abuses laxatives. It was very sad and alarming. He's older now and seems to have it more under control. And I am very glad that my daughter didn't inherit his tendencies, although she shows signs of OCD.

Interestingly, my own experience suggests a correlation between eating disorder/control/domestic violence. Guy has serious control issues.

[Aerows]

80. Oh cher

I'm so sorry.

That is classic anorexic behavior.

Is there anything I can do to help?

It's a bitch to get under control at times.

[Taverner]

82. Good on you!

I really wish you the best. Life can be tough when you are your own worst enemy...

[Aerows]

93. "You are your own worst enemy"

That sums it up, but I'm doing my level best to overcome it.

[Wheezy]

85. Good on you.

I was happy to see this article the other day. Don't Call Us Fat!: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/miley-cyrus-demi-lovat-love-their-curves_n_1092818.html

[Aerows]

92. I had 10,000 posts on HP

at one time. The day they sold out to AOL is the day I quit posting.

[Wheezy]

86. Good on you.

I was happy to see this article the other day. Don't Call Us Fat!: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/miley-cyrus-demi-lovat-love-their-curves_n_1092818.html

[Aerows]

110. Thank you. n/t

[kaiden]

88. My friend is 50, 5'8 and 90 pounds.

She's always been on the thin side, but this summer, she lost tons of weight when first her dad died, her dog died and one of her alpacas died. Just last week, she went to the doctor; the doctor made her take her clothes off and stand in front of a full-length mirror. The doctor told her if she didn't start eating, she'd die. Cardiac arrest. Massive organ failure. My friend DOES eat, but she also smokes, drinks cup after cup of coffee, Mountain Dew and energy drinks. Her husband tells us to leave her alone -- that she has as much trouble putting on weight as the rest of us do taking it off. I'm worried about her, but feel like I cannot say anything.

[Aerows]

90. It's a killer

As I tried to explain, it creeps up on you, and it is hard to get back.

I'll help any way I can, because I have been there.

[Aerows]

91. My cat died when I lost so much weight

It nearly killed me.

Your friend sounds cool, though. She raises alpacas? Count me in. One of these days I'm going to say to heck with it an go raise goats. Alpacas are awesome.

[Lorien]

122. ....

been there. :hug:

[kaiden]

143. I raise goats. I have 10 fiber goats, angoras and pygoras.

Some of my goats like a nice cabernet on Sunday afternoons.

[Old Troop]

97. I'm glad you're recovering. Do you know what caused you to act

in that manner?

[Aerows]

99. No

If I did, I wouldn't have done so.

I'm fairly polite, so I'll just ask you, what the hell kind of question was that?

[Aerows]

100. And a Red Sox fan asked me that

Good grief.

[apocalypsehow]

103. Very glad to hear you are healthy now. As the father of a young lady approaching her teen years,

this issue concerns me greatly.

Again, glad to hear that you are doing well now and thank you for the OP. Awareness on this subject is something much needed.

[Aerows]

106. Glad I could help

If you suspect your daughter is getting too thin, I hope this topic is helpful.

It's not easy to even approach the subject, but as a concerned dad, you could always make sure she knows you love her just the way she is.

[w8liftinglady]

107. Thank you for sharing

I also had my share of eating disorder woes(esp when weightlifting),and see a LOT of patients with them
a resource for those who are struggling:

http://www.something-fishy.org/


Stay strong!

[Aerows]

108. Thanks for an additional resource

I lift weights, it has been a good thing for me to build muscle mass.

[Aerows]

109. Did you have body image issues when you were lifting?

Not that it is any of my business.

Lifting has been a good thing for me, because it has helped build me back up. I don't want to get weird with it though, I've just done it because I had to in order to recover.

[w8liftinglady]

132. bodybuilders do. powerlifters have weight classes they have to meet

we competed against people in our same weight class-which led to us trying to drop weight classes to compete against "weaker" opponents.The whole focus was on unhealthy weightloss, muscle gain at any cost,etc.

Once my competition days were gone,the self-hate diminished somewhat.

[mmonk]

111. Glad to hear you are overcoming it.

My wife was hospitalized when she was young. Potassium levels way off. Heart palpitations, etc.. Her Doctor was very frustrated at her because she had ignored his warnings. But he saved her.

[Aerows]

112. It sneaks up on you

The next thing you know, you are so thin you are ready for the grave.

[GoCubsGo]

113. I have the opposite problem.

I eat when I am stressed or bored. It's probably as difficult for me not to eat as it is for you to eat. It's a tough battle either way, as you need food to survive. I'm glad to hear you are having success in your battle. I know how hard it is.

[Aerows]

114. It's two sides of the same coin

It's self abuse, and it is hard to get over. I hope you get over your issues, too.

[Aerows]

115. It isn't easy to talk about, either

Nobody wants to be looked at as though they are damaged. But we have to if we want to confront our problems.

I hate it.

[JI7]

118. may i ask at what age it started ?

i'm glad you are better now and good luck for the future.

[Aerows]

119. About 17

That's when it started. I have always worked out, but that's when I quit eating on top of working out.

[Aerows]

126. Control

I wanted control over something in my life. That's why I got where I was, because I craved control over some aspect.

[Aerows]

131. Aversion to food

I wish it was something to laugh about.

[laundry_queen]

133. I'm glad you are doing better.

It is definitely a deadly disease.

My brother's friend and teammate nearly died from anorexia when we were teens. He had always been a pudgy kid and was a decent hockey player. One season he got sick and dropped a few lbs. In the following weeks he played phenominally. His coach made the comment that maybe he should get sick every few weeks because he sure played better when he dropped a few pounds. At the time, his parents were going through a nasty divorce. Those 2 things were all it took. Soon we all noticed the weight drop and my parents, being extremely fat phobic, noticed and thought he looked 'really good'. My brother started to suspect something was up when they were eating lunch at school and his friend starting berating him for eating a cookie. "Don't you know how much fat and sugar there is in that? You need to be in top shape for the team!" My brother wondered if he had an eating disorder. Of course, my parents were like, "Oh, I'm sure he's fine. He's just really into nutrition according to his mom."

After a few more months, at the end of the season, he didn't look well at all. He even looked weak while he was playing. The coaches were concerned and had a talk with him that fats, proteins and sugar were important too and that now that the season was over maybe it was time for him to take a rest and get his strength back. (Actually, now that I think about it, they may have even pulled him off the team the last few weeks because he looked so ill.)

But he didn't. He seemed to not look as ill now that hockey was done, but we noticed as the weather warmed up, he was still wearing 3-4 layers of shirts and sweaters. One day I heard that he had passed out at school. Still, he was back the next day. When finals rolled around, I hadn't seen him for a few weeks and saw him in the gym and was shocked. Not only had he become skeletal, but his skin was gray-green. I went home and told my parents - something is WRONG with R, he looks VERY sick. My mom said his mom had talked to her and they were worried about an eating disorder and were trying to get him some therapy.

The next day he went into cardiac arrest and nearly died.

It was touch and go for a few weeks. All of his electrolytes were out of whack, along with all of his minerals in his body. We finally heard he was going to pull through and were all very relieved. His whole family went to intensive therapy to try to help him. Thankfully, he eventually recovered. I was friendly with his sister and a few years after high school I ran into her and she said he was doing great.

But to think of what could have happened. It's SO important for people to recognize the signs. And it DOES happen with BOTH sexes. In some ways, it can get recognized more easily with males, since when they get very thin everyone wonders what is wrong with them, but when girls get that thin, people say she looks great. In other ways, males have a harder time getting treatment or getting professionals to recognize what is going on because so many don't recognize that boys get it, too.

Anyway, I'm so very glad, even though it's a daily struggle, that you are keeping healthy. I'm like the other person upthread and enjoy my food a little too much, but I have gone through periods of not eating (when my husband cheated and left me w/4 kids, I hardly ate for 4 months and dropped 60 lbs) and know what it is like to be completely repulsed by the thought of food. I can't imagine having to overcome that everyday. You are a very strong person. Thank you for this thread.

[Hippo_Tron]

137. Do you think marijuana would be a potentially effective in helping treatment?

Since its been shown to be effective with cancer patients who can't hold down food, maybe it might help around meal time with those suffering from anorexia.

Not that it would solve any of the underlying problems. But maybe make changing eating habits a bit easier?

BTW, don't want to turn this into a pot thread, just curious about your thoughts on the subject.

[Odin2005]

141. Munchies???

:evilgrin:

[pink-o]

138. I spent my 20s and 30s yoyo dieting. Almost destroyed my metabolism

Unlike you, I'm 6'1" and have weighed up to 190 lbs been a size 18 and was miserable. Then I'd get to 160, Size 10 and think that everything I ever wanted would come to me. I binged. I fasted on smoothies/coffee/tequila sunrises for 3 weeks at a time. Just didn't see a light at the end of the weight control tunnel.

But here's the tip: Women should find an activity they love. There is an athlete in all of us, and once women start to love their bodies for what they can do as opposed to how decorative they can be, then everything changes. I will never be a dancer, a graceful swanlike, coodinated and poised woman. However, I am incredibly strong and enduring. I can run, I can cycle forever, I can walk from one end of the country to the other. I can hoist heavy weights and carry stuff for my elderly father. I can run for a bus that's pulling away from the stop and make it. It's taken me years to learn to love my physical self and not care about my weight and size. Ironically, now I'm a Size 6, weigh 140 and look like a freakin' praying mantis. I would have killed for these stats when I was 32, lying in bed and trying not to think about potato chips. But like you, I don't think skinny broomstick women are especially sexy. I don't wanna change anything about me, though, because I feel amazing and love being active, and I'm old (57) and don't think gaining too much weight would do me good at this stage in life.

I wish we could get all young girls interested in a sport or an activity they can truly enjoy. I used to shy away from competition, but I think we can find a way to keep it light and fun.

[Odin2005]

142. !!!!!!!

:hug:

[revolution breeze]

145. I can relate

I was 14 and my 10 year old sister weighed more than I did. This allowed rhematoid arthritis to develop (along with heredity, but it may have heightened the disease).

[ZombieHorde]

147. You slayed a dragon! (yes, I'm a nerd) Congratulations! nt