Anorexia.

I don't know if I have anorexia nervosa. Right now I'm 115 pounds, about 170cm tall. I'm underweight according to my BMI.

I seem to have a lot of the symptoms - I feel cold all the time, I count calories, I feel lethargic, I'm preoccupied with food. I'm actually satisfied with my weight, but I'm really ... scared of gaining back what I've lost in the last few months. I don't want to get heavier, but I don't particularly want to get thinner, either.

Some third-party perspective would be nice.

I'm a recovering anorectic/bulimic. Anyone who thinks it's a choice, or that it's only about food/weight, is sorely wrong.
I hate seeing "pro-ana" websites that glamourize it and portray it as a "lifestyle choice" when it is a living hell. And those sites are often enough to trigger a relapse.
I hate it when people say "Go eat a cheeseburger!" as if that would make all the problems go away, the obsession over food (avoiding it, calorie-counting, disposal, secretiveness). People tend to believe that we can simply just start eating "normally" again at the flip of a switch.

It's not glamourous, it's not a lifestyle choice, it's not fun. It is a psychiatric illness, and may I again point out that it makes life a living hell.

On a side note, I'd be happy to answer any questions about this if anyone is curious.

^ I really couldn't agree with you more. It's taken over my whole life for about a year, and I'm still taking steps to gettings better.

Plus, you really don't puke up all the calories you just consumed either, by the way.

But I really don't feel like "calorie-counting" is a bad thing, it's like keeping a food journal, and that helps many people watch their weight. I keep a food journal and write out meal plans for myself everyday based on how much physical activity I get in that day. Carry Underwood and Tyra Banks do it to, well so I've read, and they are not over or under weight. Just saying.

I'm anorexic, and I was watching some Ana blogs on youtube the other day, because I feel that these people need support or whatever else they're looking for.

I've often wondered how I can do this to myself. Not only is it hurting me, but also all my family and friends.

A girl from one of the blogs perfectly summed it up for me. "When looking in the mirror is more painful than starving."

I just thought I'd share that quote with you.

underland:

I don't know if I have anorexia nervosa. Right now I'm 115 pounds, about 170cm tall. I'm underweight according to my BMI.

I seem to have a lot of the symptoms - I feel cold all the time, I count calories, I feel lethargic, I'm preoccupied with food. I'm actually satisfied with my weight, but I'm really ... scared of gaining back what I've lost in the last few months. I don't want to get heavier, but I don't particularly want to get thinner, either.

Some third-party perspective would be nice.

I don't think you have anorexia. For anorexia, the people feel the need to lose weight, to be as small as they can be (usually).

I would say that you have EDNOS. Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. This title is given to those who don't have anorexia or bulimia, but do have some type of eating disorder.

This is my perspective anyway. Hope I helped.

^ I don't want to be offensive but I think it's not only irresponsible but also really dangerous to diagnose people over the internet in that way. No doctor would be able to diagnose her using just that information, let alone any of us. I'd just be really careful with saying things like that, that's all.

Also, if someone has difficult eating and/or self-esteem/anxiety issues without anorexia or bulimia, they don't necessarily have EDNOS. It's not the only other option.

The Rumor:

^ I don't want to be offensive but I think it's not only irresponsible but also really dangerous to diagnose people over the internet in that way. No doctor would be able to diagnose her using just that information, let alone any of us. I'd just be really careful with saying things like that, that's all.

Also, if someone has difficult eating and/or self-esteem/anxiety issues without anorexia or bulimia, they don't necessarily have EDNOS. It's not the only other option.

That's very true. I should've been more careful. I'm not a doctor, and I cannot properly diagnose people. I'm still sticking with my opinion, but that's all it is; a un-educated guess based on my perspective. Sorry for the misleading information.

Kate Moss said "Nothing tastes as good a skinny feels". Sometimes I feel that way.

Thank you for your opinions - and don't worry, I wouldn't take an online diagnosis, anyway. It would just be nice to understand what's happening.

^You're 15, probably hit puberty a couple years ago, your body is still growing, and you need to eat, and you're going to gain weight. Don't be scared of gaining weight. If you want to be healthy, find a team sport to play. You'll gain weight right, and lose it right too.

If you're really worried about anorexia nervosa, go talk to a doctor or your school nurse/counsellor, when school's back in session.
-

According to my BMI, I'm overweight. And it's bothersome. I can see myself falling into anorexia quite easily, and almost did last spring (anti depressants made me eat, and feel horrible about myself.).
What's something I can do to not feel super bad about myself? Even when I'm exercising and losing weight properly I still feel like shit... everyone else is fitter than I am.

lovecraft:

According to my BMI, I'm overweight. And it's bothersome. I can see myself falling into anorexia quite easily, and almost did last spring (anti depressants made me eat, and feel horrible about myself.).
What's something I can do to not feel super bad about myself? Even when I'm exercising and losing weight properly I still feel like shit... everyone else is fitter than I am.

Teenage girls who after skipping breakfast for two days boast about being anorexic~ make it seem like it's really easy to develop an eating disorder, but if you take care of yourself the chances of getting out are pretty slim. Do lose weight in a healthy manner, but do it because you want to be healthier, not because you're life will be somehow better after you lose weight. People will probably compliment you on your new figure, but they won't change their opinion on you radically unless your weight loss was radical (and it won't be for the better anyway). I think the best things to do is to find other things to busy yourself with. Pick up a musical instrument or go to a couple art classes or, I dunno, join a bookclub or a sports team. Have something in your life that you're so passionate about that when you're doing it weight becomes irrelevant.

I feel like I've accomplished something when my stomach is hurting from not eating. Whenever I do eat something, I always think it tastes bad. I just love the feeling of hunger pains. It makes it worse because I can't sleep at night, so I go about twenty hours straight without eating anything. Sometimes I don't even eat anything. I;ll drink A LOT of beer which is even more HORRIBLE. I went a period of a year where I would drink everyday, but at least I don't do that anymore. I just feel so hopeless. I feel like not eating is my only option to keep me somehwat happy.

I believe anorexia nervosa and bulemia should be allowed and people shouldn't be looked down on just cuz they're ana or mia.It kinda sux if ur so close then everubody wants to fuck u up like them.anybody agree with me?

People aren't looked down on for having an eating disorder and it's not about them being 'allowed'. They are illnesses that are often life-threatening and sufferers need to be treated because they are seriously ill, not because everyone wants to 'fuck them up'.

Simple X:

I believe anorexia nervosa and bulemia should be allowed and people shouldn't be looked down on just cuz they're ana or mia.It kinda sux if ur so close then everubody wants to fuck u up like them.anybody agree with me?

No I don't think I do. This isn't a pro-ana/mia thread, so I really don't know why you'd post that as if you'd think that people would really agree with you. Like The Rumor said, eating disorders are life threatening and called... well, disorders because there IS something wrong. I've had anorexia for about a year and bulimia for the last two, and I wouldn't want anyone else to go through it. Why do you think that anorexia and bulimia should be allowed? What's the upside to them? Between being stick thin and being legitimately happy, I'd definitely choose the second and I really regret ever getting myself into the bullshit from these EDs.
Even though "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels", nothing obviously feels as great as being content and happy with who you are.

Back in 1999, I had a struggle with anorexia for a while. I mean, for one, I was skinny enough, but I never felt like I was. I had only weighed about 98 pounds at the time, & I felt I needed to be thinner. So I barely ate, went around & exercised a lot, & when people at school questioned my weight loss, I pretty much lied, telling them I had been sick & didn't eat much while I had a cold. It was a lie, but people believed it, especially if I was out of school for a day or two.

I still think about it here or there, because I have issues with my weight now, even though everyone says I'm not "fat", & that I am at the right weight for my height, & I look healthy. I just feel people say that, so I don't get discouraged about the way I look or feel. I'm wearing a size 11 or 13 pant, depending on the company brand, which I GUESS isn't the worst. I weight about 131 now, & I'm only 5'4" in height. I'd love to be back at 125, but I worked out for 4 months, & never lost a pound. I still try to work out, but I never seem to see results.

I always think about just starving myself or not eating like I normally do, & maybe I'd lose weight.. I just don't want to do bodily harm to myself again like before..
I feel bad for anyone that's experienced it. 'Cause it's a really horrible thing.

I've had some experience with this. I hate my body and back in October I was desperately trying to lose weight. I when around feeling depressed and barely eating anything all day but I would binge at night and feel awful. I don't know what ever stopped that phase but I'm glad it did.
I guess the reason I was so upset was, I gained 20 lbs in 2 months. I had worked 6 months just to lose 15 and then I gained it all back.
I'm just glad I finally came to my senses. I may have gotten really sick if I had let myself stay depressed and obsessed with weight loss.

I've had issues with eating regularly since I started middle school. It started off as not eating breakfast, because I didn't really have time for it anyways since there would be no more Day Care for me to eat breakfast, and then in the middle of the year I slowly stopped eating lunch. It stayed that way for a while, but I'm trying to recover from my tracks since I'm now a Sophomore and I weigh 92 pounds.

It's really difficult for me, but with these pills that I'm taking for my health, I have to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for ten days. I'm not too happy about that, because I'm just simply not hungry anymore, but my parents think it's a good thing. :P

I don't think it always has to do with body image. In a bout of depression I once had, I just stopped eating. You know, I knew I had to eat, but I couldn't. I didn't have the will to.

^ That's a symptom of depression, not actually anorexia.