Eat Disorders

[RLC12345678]

I was watching Boston Legal last night and one of the cases was about a daughter who had an eating disorder. Her point of view was very interesting and she referred to herself and people like her as "Pro Ana," which stands for pro-anorexia. Does anyone here suffer from an eating disorder or do any of your children have eating disorders? I know my very best friend in the whole world used to suffer from anorexia. It was a hard battle for her to overcome.

[Lindsey]

I have not had to deal with it, but I've definitely been accused of it! I'm very very skinny, my chest is kind of boney, but that's just how I've always been. I eat 3, sometimes even 4 meals a day, plus I snack all day in between. My boyfriend says I have "spaghetti arms". In high school I used to get really hurt when I heard that my best friends were telling people I was anorexic. I even just found out from my little cousins two years ago that my grandma told the whole family that I was anorexic!

[DianaB]

I've never been around anyone with an eating disorder, but my daughter (14 yrs) worries about a few girls at school. They don't eat hardly anything for lunch, but they're not losing weight. I think that maybe it's for attention. I ask her about them from time to time and if she thinks that there's a problem I'll call the parents.

[blowry]

I am 49 yrs "young"...I went through a divorce about 10 yrs ago...before my divorce I went to Diet Workshop...I lost 67 lbs and started excersing....EVERYDAY! I joined a gym which, helped me with the stress of the divorce (I had been married for nearly 20 yrs and I have to wonderful daughters). I started aerobics, running, and lifting weights...I was looking pretty ripped...if I don't say so my self! LOL....However...people were asking me if I was sick...I didn't think I looked that thin at all...matter of fact I would see myself in a mirror and thought I still looked heavy...When I was younger and in high school I was never a big person..the weight only came on (and stayed) once I started having children...so that being said...I think people were so used to seeing me overweight that once I lost weight they thought I looked too thin...I had to quit the gym because I just couldn't afford to go anymore once I was single but, continued to exercise..I would totally FREAK if I gained a pound...I don't know why but, I started to purge myself...I would eat something (even if it wasn't fattening) and then I would get rid of it...My oldest daughter was outside the bathroom one day and heard me.(I didn't know she was in the house..tried to keep this away from EVERYBODY). This went on for a couple of months when I watched a program on TV about bulimia (I knew what it was but ...I would NEVER be like that!! WRONG! I was like that...I talked to my Mom about this and with my families help got through it...Kinda drove me insane though...God forbid if I had to go to the bathroom after eating...you could have heard a pin drop! They were listening...Thank God for them....God only knows what would have happened if I had continued...I NEVER talk about this to ANYONE. This happened 10 yrs ago and this is the first time I have ever told anybody...other than my Mom.

[Janet]

I've never known anyone with a eating disorder that I know of. The only disorder I have is OVER EATING. Not sure whether it is actually me, I do know I eat to feel good sometimes, or if it is also partly the thyroid. I'll know more when I find out the results of my test on Thursday morning.

[Marilyn]

Wow, Brenda, and you told us. So wonderful that you recovered and are here with us to share your story.

I don't know anyone personally with an eating disorder. I was really thin for a while a few years ago, and had even a couple of doctors ask me if I was anorexic. I wasn't, just went through a low weight phase. Age took care of that problem. Now instead of working to keep weight on, I work to keep it off.