Thoughts on 'Vanity Weight'

PRMinx

kelly_e_montana wrote: »

Big_Bob_Lob wrote: »

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

mollymarionet wrote: »

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

You are NOT recovered. Anorexics are never recovered. Once you are anorexic, you are anorexic for life. Just like an alcoholic. You are in recovery for the remaining years of your life.

Not exactly the best way to put things and not fully accurate either, if eating disorders are cought in young childhood they can recover and never have another problem. Anorexia isn't terminal cancer and negativity is never the way to go.

Every single psychologist/psychiatrist I've worked with who specializes in ED's has said they would never refer to a client as "recovered" because someone with an ED can relapse at any given time. Therefore, they are in recovery. Recovery from anorexia or bulimia or EDNOS is an ongoing, lifelong process.

As a former addict and alcoholic, I disagree with that particular opinion. I've always found it interesting how easily that idea was accepted. Granted, I've never worked with a psychologist, and I have no clinical background that gives my opinion much weight, I just find it convenient that by convincing people of that, they are basically ensuring that they are never out of work. It certainly benefits them if they can convince me that I can never get well.

If moderation can't be learned by those who have established compulsive patterns of abuse and over indulgence...why are any of us even here?

I'm with you Bob. I'm a recovered meth user, gambling addict, blah blah blah, and am in recovery for ED. I say in recovery for ED because I absolutely know I would never ever under any circumstances be addicted to gambling or meth again but am still new in my recovery for ED. I think it's a bunch of BS and a limitation/option we don't have to give ourselves.

Just in to say....and you know I respect both of you...but I do believe that ED recovery is a life-long process. But, of course, it depends on the underlying reasons for ED in the first place. There is also an enormous difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder....

I haven't exercised my eating disorder since I was 20. But, when I'm very stressed or depressed (feeling like my life is out of control), I think about it. I've had moments, for sure. I've learned to talk myself down from them. I also know my triggers - for example, I tried the Whole Life Challenge and got really wonked out because of the competition aspect of it. I immediately quit the game.

I think the important things to remember is that everyone deals with recovery differently - and some people might even have a different definition for recovery. I would never want to limit someone by saying that you can never recovery from ED. That's not good. But, it is also important to recognize that the reasons behind the disease must be addressed and coping skills taught in order to remain healthy. Because ED is not about "being thin" at its core.

The OP is newly "recovered" and she is worried about vanity weight. She's very slim. In this case, I would be cautious with saying she is "recovered." Whether it's ED or BDD. something is still going on.

And, for the record, I never agree with FatFreeFrolicking but it is absolutely true that eating disorder patients are encouraged to eat 3,000+ calories a day until the body is healed. But, we don't know where the OP is in terms of health, so it's not appropriate for anyone here to give her calorie advice. I will say, however, that counting calories is a dangerous gamble at this stage.

FatFreeFrolicking

PRMinx wrote: »

kelly_e_montana wrote: »

Big_Bob_Lob wrote: »

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

mollymarionet wrote: »

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

You are NOT recovered. Anorexics are never recovered. Once you are anorexic, you are anorexic for life. Just like an alcoholic. You are in recovery for the remaining years of your life.

Not exactly the best way to put things and not fully accurate either, if eating disorders are cought in young childhood they can recover and never have another problem. Anorexia isn't terminal cancer and negativity is never the way to go.

Every single psychologist/psychiatrist I've worked with who specializes in ED's has said they would never refer to a client as "recovered" because someone with an ED can relapse at any given time. Therefore, they are in recovery. Recovery from anorexia or bulimia or EDNOS is an ongoing, lifelong process.

As a former addict and alcoholic, I disagree with that particular opinion. I've always found it interesting how easily that idea was accepted. Granted, I've never worked with a psychologist, and I have no clinical background that gives my opinion much weight, I just find it convenient that by convincing people of that, they are basically ensuring that they are never out of work. It certainly benefits them if they can convince me that I can never get well.

If moderation can't be learned by those who have established compulsive patterns of abuse and over indulgence...why are any of us even here?

I'm with you Bob. I'm a recovered meth user, gambling addict, blah blah blah, and am in recovery for ED. I say in recovery for ED because I absolutely know I would never ever under any circumstances be addicted to gambling or meth again but am still new in my recovery for ED. I think it's a bunch of BS and a limitation/option we don't have to give ourselves.

Just in to say....and you know I respect both of you...but I do believe that ED recovery is a life-long process. But, of course, it depends on the underlying reasons for ED in the first place. There is also an enormous difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder....

I haven't exercised my eating disorder since I was 20. But, when I'm very stressed or depressed (feeling like my life is out of control), I think about it. I've had moments, for sure. I've learned to talk myself down from them. I also know my triggers - for example, I tried the Whole Life Challenge and got really wonked out because of the competition aspect of it. I immediately quit the game.

I think the important things to remember is that everyone deals with recovery differently - and some people might even have a different definition for recovery. I would never want to limit someone by saying that you can never recovery from ED. That's not good. But, it is also important to recognize that the reasons behind the disease must be addressed and coping skills taught in order to remain healthy. Because ED is not about "being thin" at its core.

The OP is newly "recovered" and she is worried about vanity weight. She's very slim. In this case, I would be cautious with saying she is "recovered." Whether it's ED or BDD. something is still going on.

And, for the record, I never agree with FatFreeFrolicking but it is absolutely true that eating disorder patients are encouraged to eat 3,000+ calories a day until the body is healed. But, we don't know where the OP is in terms of health, so it's not appropriate for anyone here to give her calorie advice. I will say, however, that counting calories is a dangerous gamble at this stage.

This is exactly why I said that ED's are a life-long process and that full recovery is elusive. When life isn't going smoothly, it's very easy for patients to slip back into old habits or as you said, think about them. Whether one acts on it or not, the thoughts are still there. I personally believe full recovery is difficult to achieve because I don't think the mind can fully recover. An anorexic may be able to maintain a healthy weight but most still have anorexic thoughts.

I certainly never said what I did to be insulting or because I don't believe someone with an ED has the ability to recover; I believe anyone can accomplish what they put their mind to but facts are facts. The truth is that statistics are against full recovery, from anorexia at least. Bulimia has a higher rate of full recovery.

At the end of the day, recovery is whatever the individual with an ED chooses it to be.

Unknown

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Elise4270

I think you could consult your docs opinion. And I agree with one poster, you don't recover from addictive behaviors/disorders. It is something that will need to be managed your entire life. Life is full of triggers. Good luck. You do look to be a fine weight. Toning/adding muscle might be your next step.

SergeantSausage

It's as if an ex smoker, in celebration of 1 full year of smobriety decided she was gonna celebrate the occasion by ... ... ... [wait for it] ... ... ... smoking a cigarette.

smh