Anorexia - how do you not cross that line?

[imgoingtodisney]

Years ago it was my mother saying not to get anorexic.
Now pajammatam, coworkers, DHs friend, etc have all told me not to loose any more or I'll get anorexic.
So where is that line? when do you stop loosing?
I think hearing this is part of whats not letting me loose the remaining 2lbs (plus 5 for the cruise)

Im taking my vitamins. Using fitday.com to make sure Im getting all my nutrients, etc.

 

[catherine]

I would say if you are still in the weight range for your height and body type not to worry. If you fall below this weight range then you probably shouldn't lose anymore weight.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

thank you - that makes me feel better
fitday has a healthy weight range and I have room to loose

 

[Nancy]

being anorexic isn't just losing weight. It is a problem with how you see your body and never thinking you are thin enough. Many people that are anorexic can be skeletal but still see themselves as overweight when they look in the mirror. It is a physical and mental problem. It affects their self esteem. They may want to eat but can't force themselves to do it.
As long as you are in your range and eating enough everyday then you are fine. It's when you stop eating and have hit your goal weight, but still see yourself as heavy and can't stop that the problem will kick in.

 

[MelanieC]

I say that only you can know how you feel. Go by the charts, for height and weight and dont' worry about what people say. Now, if you hit the bottom of your range and you still think your fat and insist on loosing more weight. Then you have problems.

I actually think my WW leader is starting to have a problem. She was fine, but then this year she started loosing a lot more. She looks very thin. She constantly comments that people say things to her (Every week), and she keeps adding to how much weight she has lost. When I first started going it was 18lbs, now its 42. I swear she said 40 last week. She works out a lot, and she eats like a bird. She talks a lot about how little she eats, and she never eats anything fattening. I think she may have gone over the edge a little........but who am I to say. She even told us this week that she wore heavy shoes, ate a lot before going to her WW meeting. They usually weight them, but didn't this time. She would have been under her lowest limit! She exercises a lot, sometimes I think too much, but I don't think she adds food for this exercise. If you exercise a lot, you must eat more.


Anway, I am rambling. My point is that unless you start doing behaviors like that...........and you are above the lowest weight in the range for your height, its up to you where to stop.

Melanie

 

[bethbuchall]

I was almost to my goal when everyone started telling me to stop losing. I knew that I had more to go, but it affected me psychologically. Not only did I stop losing, I put on almost 30 pounds that I now need to get rid of again.

Do what feels right to you!

Beth

 

[KathyTX]

Melanie- I think I would talk to someone in your WW district organization regarding your concerns about your WW leader! It sounds like she's very close to the "unhealthy" edge, if she hasn't tumbled over it yet.

She probably has friends or mentors in the organization who can help her... I really think there are some personalities that have a tendency to over-obsess about the weight, and she may be one of them. From her comments about the heavy shoes, it even sounds like she sort of realizes that she's gone too far, but she doesn't want to stop the losses.

If she doesn't have a healthy outlook, it's going to be really hard for her to lead her members and coach them toward a healthy life... If you care about her, I really think it would be a good thing to share your concerns with someone in her WW organization. (Just my .02 cents. I'm not sure I would be able to do it in your place.)

To the OP- If you have any questions about your healthy weight, you should address these with your doctor. You've asked questions about your goal weight many times, and you still seem to be uncertain of the answer. Ask your doctor- your health is their business.

 

[nativetxn]

Barb, are you having difficulty eating? Are you working out constantly? Do you look at yourself and see someone who is severely overweight?

Don't allow others to sabotage your weight loss efforts. You will know when you are at the healthy weight that is right for you.

If you still have "room to lose" then just smile and thank people for the compliment when they say things like that to you.

How about just saying to them, "What a nice thing to say. You are so kind to be concerned about me." BIG SMILE and then go on with whatever you were doing and change the subject

Anorexia is not dangerous. Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder. They are not the same thing.

Anorexia simply means a lack of appetite. Nancy defined anorexia nervosa very well, thank you Nancy.

I sometimes wish for a little anorexia but I never would want to have anorexia nervosa. That is a very serious and sometimes fatal thing My heart goes out to anyone who lives with anorexia nervosa.

Katholyn

 

[joyful1nh]

As Nancy states, anorexia has both physical and mental symptoms. Warning signs of anorexia (and other eating disorders) include:
- inability to think about anything other than food/weight/appearance
- poor body image
- anxiety & depression
- 'strange' food behaviors (playing with food instead of eating it, eating only one or two foods & nothing else, compulsively measuring food)

One of my family members was suffering from anorexia last year -- it is a serious disease. I urge anyone who is on a weight loss program to schedule periodic check-ups with a Dr. or a Registered Dietician just to be on the safe side.

Good Luck & God Bless!

 

[lmhall2000]

When I lost 90+ pounds in college- I did it in 7 months and almost without trying. I was on a pedestrian campus with no vehicle and my classes ran from 7am to labs ending at 9pm- I usually had 1-2 hour breaks between classes (freshmen always get last pick! ) so I would always walk back to the dorm between classes- I promise you I probably walked 8-10 miles a day easy!! I ate oatmeal for breakfast, 3 veggies and a roll for lunch and 2 veggies and a meat for dinner- every so often I'd eat a gingerbread cookie or brownie for snack. And I remember many nights eating 1/2 of a large pizza and coke!

My body finally got to a point where it stopped losing- at around 130- now I did look very thin but I was not trying to lose weight- I was taking in atleast 2000 calories a day and not concerned at all about how I looked. Sooo many people would say they were worried about me- but I was healthy and fit, I had tons of energy and slept for a good 8-9 hours a night. I agree that you should ask your doctor his opinion- many times people around us are used to seeing us heavier and it takes some adjusting- and in my family 20-30 pounds overweight is standard- so for someone to be on the low end of acceptable weight ranges was not the norm. To be honest I never had scales at college- the only time I knew what I weighed was when I went to the OB for yearly check-ups- so I never was worried about the "number" just how I felt.

Tara

 

[zakatak]

Barb,

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious mental disorder which CAN start from a diet gone haywire. I agree with what everyone else in this thread has stated. You need to settle on a comfortable weight, continue weekly weigh in's to maintain that weight, and continue to exercise. If you go BACK to your old eating habits, the weight will come back on, that is called yo-yoing.

Diet/reach weight/return to normal eating/gain it back.

If you find yourself NOT happy with the final weight, maybe 5 more pounds would be cool, restricting your calories under starvation level, or just not being happy with your body in general and blaming it on the scale, then I would seek help. Otherwise, I would find a happy weight goal (talk to your doctor) and maintain at that.

Good Luck,

Karen