How to avoid anorexia?

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Replies

  • skinnybearerika
    skinnybearerika Posts: 20 Member
    I'm a bit like you in the sense that when I get really excited about losing weight and see the numbers drop, i get extremely disappointed when they stop and will do anything to make them keep going down. Its a bit of an addiction and thats how you have to look at it.

    Personally, I start relapsing if i've skipped meals. I start feeling that "empty feeling" again and try to stay that way or start craving it. I find that it REALLY helps to keep other 1 or 2 days a maintenance day. Like MWSunday "diet". Other day's hit maintenance. And make sure you're doing that at LEAST 3 days. You're letting yourself eat food again. You'll find its also more fun this way. It will be much harder to get on that starvation train when you make sure not diet half the week :)

    Hope this helps and feel free to add me for support!
  • Iknewyouweretrouble
    Iknewyouweretrouble Posts: 561 Member
    I understand what you're saying. you start to diet and you go overboard. it sounds Iike process addiction, which happens in many things not just food. if you have process addiction dieting may not be for you. moderation/ integration is going to be your hardest task and it will probably require professional help- not from a doctor but from an addictions specialist. find some people who are great at integrating without extremes- people who go to the gym moderately and eat moderately. that may help facilitate this process. and of course there are some healthier people on here (some not). good luck.
  • Iknewyouweretrouble
    Iknewyouweretrouble Posts: 561 Member
    I'm a bit like you in the sense that when I get really excited about losing weight and see the numbers drop, i get extremely disappointed when they stop and will do anything to make them keep going down. Its a bit of an addiction and thats how you have to look at it.

    Personally, I start relapsing if i've skipped meals. I start feeling that "empty feeling" again and try to stay that way or start craving it. I find that it REALLY helps to keep other 1 or 2 days a maintenance day. Like MWSunday "diet". Other day's hit maintenance. And make sure you're doing that at LEAST 3 days. You're letting yourself eat food again. You'll find its also more fun this way. It will be much harder to get on that starvation train when you make sure not diet half the week :)

    Hope this helps and feel free to add me for support!
    interesting thought! I'm glad this works for you.
  • GertrudeHorse
    GertrudeHorse Posts: 646 Member
    Thank you to everyone who replied. I think for now I'm just going to see how things turn out without getting help first, since today was only my first day of my diet, and I was about to eat about 700 calories today, which is more than I'm used to. I'll try increasing it about 100 calories a week until I can get to a normal calorie intake, and see if I can maintain it from there. If it gets any worse I will seek whatever help I can get

    Eating (netting?) 700-800 calories is against MFP guidelines... because you need more than that starting now. Call the hotline. You need help, but you are in denial.
    In no way am I going against MFP guidelines since I am not promoting anorexia. I'm seeking help for it. Nor am I in denial about anything since I am aware I have a problem, and I am aware that I need help, which is why I said I would call the hotline if I cannot fix myself on my own...

    In the first post you established that you're not able to fix this on your own. You need to seek professional help today. And you need to see someone who specialises in eating disorders. You should not be dieting at all. Please, please ring the helpline. For your own future self's benefit. One day you will wish you didn't leave it so late. You deserve to live your life and not be a slave to anorexia. Go safe xx
  • teeya1984
    teeya1984 Posts: 33 Member
    I do the exact same thing...I have no idea what all the other replies said so I'm sorry if this echoes previous posts.

    I surround myself with healthy minded people...do not seek out other ppl with eating disorders, don't compare your journal to others, don't google tips and tricks...nothing.

    Write down your goals and why you wanna live a healthy lifestyle and post it wherever you will see it the most.

    Remind yourself often that a healthy lifestyle change can be forever....anorexia cannot. You either die or fall back into bad eating habits.

    Don't be extreme. Make little changes - not huge ones like going from 2000 calories a day to 200. That way your weight won't plummet and you won't be tempted by restricting.

    Remember the ugly side of an eating disorder. Being thin due to starvation is fun for such a small period of time...then you get to deal with a messed up metabolism, thin brittle hair and nails, lethargy, depression etc etc. AND you don't get to enjoy food.

    I hope I could help a bit. Good luck. I know it's hard, but I hope some things that work for me, work for you ox
  • teeya1984
    teeya1984 Posts: 33 Member
    Aw I just read some of the previous posts. I understand you aren't promoting an eating disorder and TONS of people end up where you end up. I hope you work it out and find a lifestyle you can be happy and healthy with!

    ox
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Thank you to everyone who replied. I think for now I'm just going to see how things turn out without getting help first, since today was only my first day of my diet, and I was about to eat about 700 calories today, which is more than I'm used to. I'll try increasing it about 100 calories a week until I can get to a normal calorie intake, and see if I can maintain it from there. If it gets any worse I will seek whatever help I can get
    Good. Just be honest with yourself if you do get stuck, and call the number.

    Best of luck to you <3
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Simple answer to a simple question

    how to avoid anorexia?

    eat food. eat enough food to meet your daily needs.

    period.

    if you have an unhealthy relationship with food and are incapable of doing this- you need to seek help. Plain and simple- there is no more discussion past this.
  • DeeVanderbles
    DeeVanderbles Posts: 589 Member
    My family doesnt have the money to go see a doctor or eating disorder specialist or anything like that :cry:
    They may offer some kind of reduced fee if you meet certain criteria or a payment plan. That's something you can at least look into while you try doing it without the professional help.
  • ChrysalisCove
    ChrysalisCove Posts: 975 Member
    Print out what you posted here.
    Call your doctor. Have a frank talk with them, and show them what you wrote here. It does NOT sound like you should be dieting. It sounds like you have an active eating disorder and need professional help. Not internet message board advice, PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE to manage your health and your body image.
    Please do that.

    Well I'm 5'6'' tall and I weigh 160 lbs. My doctor told me at my last physical I need to lose a little weight, but every time I try, my body decides to reject food. I dont want to burden my family financially by having to go see a doctor though

    Would you rather burden them financially w/ bills from a doctor / nutritionist helping you to be HEALTHY & live well, or burden them with funeral costs? I do not say this to be cruel, just frank. I am a recovering Type II Bulimic (restrictive/over-exertive). If you continue to do this to your body, you WILL kill yourself.

    At 5'6" & 160lbs you are only about 6lbs outside of a normal BMI. You should not need to restrict very much at all to drop such a small amount, & should only be looking to drop .5lbs/week or less. But, & this is VERY important - you need to do so under the careful monitoring of a therapist & doctor / nutritionist. You are not currently in a mindset to do this safely on your own, & I think you know that. You will need to work on your body image & your relationship with food before you can even consider attempting weightloss.

    This will be hard, but it can save your life.

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