Nat'l Eating Disorders Awareness Week!

[newswoman13]

Hi everyone -- I'm a huge advocate for listening to your body, so
look out for events late February for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: February 26 - March 4, 2006.

I think people often shy away from eating disorders aspect, especially if they're not familiar with clinical disorders, but EDs range a huge gamut from obsessive dieting to overexercising, to full-blown anorexia, bulimia, etc. America could "trim" down the obesity epidemic if we focused less on dieting and more on tuning into our true body signals! Different and takes practice, but definitely possible.

So, let's keep enjoying the exhilarating effects of "feel-good" exercise/activity and healthy nutrition while taking care of ourselves and setting solid examples for young ones!

P.S. If anyone's in the Atlanta area, reply, and I'll let you know of a host of events late February for Listen to Your Body Week: Workshops, plays, poetry readings, a walk, etc. etc. etc.

Cheers!

 

[lesliemarie]

I don't really want to disapoint you, but eating disorders Has NOTHING to do with feeling good!!!! I am anorexic and I am that NOT because I want to be thin and feel good and be beautiful! I am that way for emotional reason, and I know some girls that are exercise bulemics and again they do for NOT to feel good, I really do not want to start a flame here but I found it very insulting to read the part that you think it is because we want to FEEL GOOD, I only wish that was the case. I pray that is the case then I can beat this demon.

 

[newswoman13]

No, there's a misunderstanding. I meant: Exercise and eat wisely in order to feel good and balanced -- not to try to control or accentuate feeling bad about ourselves; trying to be something we are not.

That's what I meant about listening to our bodies -- Doing just that will lead us to make smart and nurturing decisions.

I hope that clears up the misunderstanding, and best to you in your recovery.

 

[lesliemarie]

no again it has nothing to try to be something we are not, yes there are some girls that started that way, but for the majority of use didn't start that way, for me for example started my eating disorder when I was very young, I used starvation as a coping mechanism when I was being beaten, raped, molested, it was my escaped from the nightmare I lived in daily, and the same goes for many, many girls, I just wish it was because I wanted look like Lindsey Lohan or Mary-Kate or something, to be honest I can careless for them or how they look they are that way because Hollywood created that!! I am this way because I needed that escape, a way to cope, and no I didn't decided to do it, it just crept up on me, I was never honest about what I did because I didn't see what I was doing, And to this day it is all I know to cope when things seem uncontrollable, I resort back to my eating disorder.

 

[sparrow]

My opinion is that disordered eating starts for a variety of reasons. I started down that path not because of any trauma in the home (thankfully) but because someone at school called me fat. I was about ten pounds overweight at the most but that one comment was enough to send my spiraling into a lifetime of food battles. Certainly, there are emotional issues tied up in it (lack of self-worth etc.) but for me it *did* have a lot to do with wanting to fit the media images I saw around me. I thought if I looked like those girls/women I would be happy. Of course that wasn't the case. (Happily I have moved past that stage, though old habits die hard!) Eating disorders are eating disorders; I don't think it's necessary to distinguish between how mine started vs. how Betty's down the street started, except for in matters of treatment. We've all suffered in our own way.

Sparrow


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage

 

[nastsm0m]

Newswoman,

I for one underdtand what you mesnt to say and I appreciate your passing this information on to us. I would be willing to bet there is a lot of us on this forum that has had a eating/exercise disorder at some point in their lives.

Lesliemarie_ I wish you a speedy recovery and a life without all the pain.
Sparrow-Well said and good for you! I hope you continue to do great.

Terri

 

[Little Angel]

This topic is so important! I have an 18year old daughter who, I fear, has recently developed anorexia or bullimia or both. She went away to college last fall quite slender but returned at break weighing well under 100 pounds (she's 5'3"). She hasn't had a period since August -- probably due to her low weight. I'm so scared for her!

I was quite obese for a good portion of her childhood. My all-time high was 305; until she was 8 or 9 I weighed in the 250 range. Today I am around 115 and have maintained that for several years. She watched me count calories, eat tiny portions, work out, and she more or less followed my example. Until recently I was proud that I had set her a good example. I know I obsess over my own weight -- anybody would who weighed what I did! But now I'm just so concerned that instead of setting a good example for her, I taught her to obsess over her weight as well!

I don't know what to do. I can't drag her to the doctor, or tackle her and put a feeding tube into her. I'm keeping a close eye on her. I have talked to her -- she doesn't think she has a problem. I'm monitoring her for possible bullimia.

Well, I'm not adding any wisdom here. For those who battle this horror, you have my best wishes. Please, anybody who reads this, think some good thoughts for my baby, and if anyone has any advice, I'd be glad to read it.

 

[Miss Lee]

Hi Little Angel,

I was really touched by your post and I will keep your daughter in my thoughts and prayers. I have no idea what's going on with your daughter but I did want to give you another possible scenario for your her weight loss.

When I was in nursing school my best friend there lost a good deal of weight. I don't know how much or what she weighed, but she was VERY thin. She did not have an eating disorder. She was someone who responded to stress (and nursing school blew the top off my stress meter) with a loss of appetite. It didn't have anything to do with emotional trauma or poor self-image, or a belief that she needed to lose weight. She simply couldn't eat when she was stressed out. We have remained best friends for 26 years and she is still the same way. Now she stresses about her kids!

I tell you this just to point out that it could be a temporary response to the stress of school and all the changes that happen in your life when you go off to college. I think you should just continue to keep an eye on her and look for other signs. And don't be to hard on yourself. You really needed to lose weight to be healthy and strong and able to take care of your family. You should be proud of yourself! I can understand why you might feel like your past "obsession" may have had a negative impact on your daughter, but the possibility exists that the 2 are not related at all. Just do the best you can for now and don't look back--you can't move forward when you're looking behind you.

Michele

 

[Little Angel]

Thank you, Michele! I appreciate your kind words, and I really needed them. I'll continue to watch and pray -- that's a mom's number one job, after all!

 

[newswoman13]

Little Angel - I Think the most important thing is for you to let her know you care -- Ask about her feelings, don't push, but remember: It's not about food. Something else is going on...

Please don't take it lightly. After experiencing my own struggles, I've found a great therapist and volunteer with a local organization EDIN. www.edin-ga.org EDIN's got great info, but I also suggest reading about EDs and maybe if your daughter doesn't talk, maybe you can find a therapist who specializes in EDs to give you direction/guidance with your daughter.

I only say this b/c I've seen wayyy too many people suffer...and, often, it's thought to be a woman's shameful secret instead of a disease that truly needs medical and psychological care. Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about! It needs care and attention. Check out the EDIN site (events in February like Merrick's Walk help to bring awareness to these things), Google other resources like NEDA www.nationaleatingdisorders.org...

Best to you, and I hope you all can find peace in the situation.