Pro-ana "lifestyle" motivation circles

DraoMhaigh
DraoMhaigh Posts: 25 Member
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
So I've been on MFP for a few months now and I am losing weight healthily and slowly (roughly averaging to 2lb loss a week) but I used to do it very very unhealthily, in fact still in recovery from an eating disorder through self medication (no pills or anything, just holistic approach.)
So I came across several members here who encourage each other to eat so little that it encourages a starvation mode, and as triggering as it is for me, I've managed to simply walk away and convince myself I don't need to do that anymore. But I worry for these girls and boys, it's like looking into a mirror and no amount of "Just try do it healthily" will change their minds, it's completely about a change of thinking, to see food as essential and nurturing, no longer evil or an enemy.
I was wondering if other MFP members here have come across these small circles of friends who are taking in around 500 or less calories a day and beat themselves up about it, and what would you all recommend we could do as a community to these sub-culture-like groups that is not patronizing or defensive and angry, but simply helpful and supportive but NOT supporting their bad diet, which we have to keep in mind, is a symptom of a deeper issue, not the whole picture.
Thank you for reading and I look forward to your replies.

Replies

  • DraoMhaigh
    DraoMhaigh Posts: 25 Member
    Bump.
    Would love to hear peoples suggestions.
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    I think its like any addiction, you have to let them hit rock bottom first. Only when their own eyes are opened to their disease will they accept any help or opinions on the matter. Just stay healthy and avoid them if its a trigger for you.
  • sz8soon
    sz8soon Posts: 816 Member
    You are obviously a very compassionate person! I have run across this a couple of times and it breaks my heart. I'm not sure what can be done here as I think an individual needs to "want" to hear the input for any thing to actually have any amount of impact. But I am definitely anxious to hear what other people have to say.
  • Meg_78
    Meg_78 Posts: 998 Member
    Never had an ED myself, but have definitely had issues with my weight and eating, (been underweight my whole life) I have several friends in recovery here on mfp, which I have no problem with, but though I have tried to be friends with people with eating issues I just can't do it, it sucks me dry trying to be supportive and encouraging when half the people on their feed still encourage awful eating behaviour. Honestly, until a person with an ED is ready to commit to change and has that mental click that they need to change it is just a lost cause. Ed's are such sad negative disorders and they are all consuming, even to the people around and I'd just rather not get involved these days.

    The best mfp can do is offer support for those ready to really accept it, they need to take the first step, ask for help and get rid of all the negative friends first.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Being a former ana myself, I can say is that it has more to do with psychological rather than the food intake itself. See as much as we care for these people, the fact is the change have to start with themselves. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do to change them. Criticizing their eating habits or their calorie intake will only make things worse. When I was still eating less than 500 calories a day, my family are very much worried but still I didn't care. All what mattered to me was getting thin because I was also overweight before & got nasty comments from these very same people who would later worry about my health. The change came right from my own mind.

    I think what we should do is to continue motivate these young women by being a good example but its up to them if they would be inspired & start changing for themselves or no.
  • DraoMhaigh
    DraoMhaigh Posts: 25 Member
    Thank you all for your replies.
    I suppose I am just very very sad to see it, and wish I could actively do something to help.
    I'll do my best to set a good example and continue to fight it as a trigger because I know I pulled myself out of it enough to do it healthily and how it worked for me was completely down to a mental change of priorities and viewing everything, no longer trying to use food as a release and giving it power by building it up to a sense that it becomes a person to us.
    Let's do our best to not let the need to lose weight take over the need to be healthy <3 Thank you all again.
  • ruksha123
    ruksha123 Posts: 42 Member
    Bump.
    I had a ED in the past, but now I am in a happy place and have been for a number of years.

    I was young and unhappy and under a lot of stress in what seemed to be all areas of my life. The ED was a way of control for me, plus all the comments on the fact I was so thin made me feel good and gave me attention.
    I am still suffering the effects of the ED and what it has done to my health so my advice is make sure you are aware of the facts and the consequences not only in the short term but also the long term - it does start to catch up with you as you get older.

    Believe ,me I have been tempted/tried to not eat and purge but something in me says no - you've come so far and doing that is not safe, or good for you and not beneficial in the long run.
    Use science and logic instead.

    Whether life is a gift from god or we are here by chance, we are here so we might as well enjoy it and live it well.
  • DraoMhaigh
    DraoMhaigh Posts: 25 Member
    Thank you ruksha.
    I have to totally agree with you, the way I cope with it now is totally to see it in a logical way only, to not let the obsessiveness and anxiousness to tell me what to do but to use science and common sense as my only guide, I hope these young girls and boys will have that mental click one day, it's like starting life all over again.
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