Anorexia...?

[Franken]

Hm, so my lifes been goin amazingly well the past while all 'cept for one thing. This last month I started out weighing 138 right, and now... I'm at 130, I'm losing weight, but I don't mean to. My eating habits have decreased quite a bit. I never eat breakfast, used to eat lunch at school, but now only after school then sometimes I forget, and dinner I'm usually pretty good about, but the other day, all I had to eat was a couple bites of Pasta and that's it, but I felt like that's all I was hungry for. It's been getting worse and worse, where I just sometimes feel like eating is more of a task, and then other times that I just forget about it. So I don't want this to get any worse and all you know, and I absolutely don't want to be Anorexic, but that seems to be what it's turning into. I know I can't turn Anorexic though, I've been through health class, and people with eating disorders only want control of their lives, and I know that I have control of mine already. I dunno what to do, with all the homework I've been getting too. I know I should eat more, but sometimes I just can't stomach it...

[DisRuptive1]

Are you male or female? How tall are you?

You've told us you've lost 8 pounds. It's pretty safe to lose about 2 pounds a week plus or minus up to 5 pounds for water.

More questions. I'll be able to give better advice if I get the whole picture.

Do you ever NOT eat when you are hungry? Do you even know what hunger feels like? Are your periods abnormal (assuming you're a girl)? Are you concerned about your looks, about looking fat? What types of physical activities do you do and to what degree? Are other people concerned about your weight? Do you actually NEED more food than you are eating or do you only eat when you have hunger pangs and stop when they go away? Is your energy level down or is it the same as before? Is schoolwork harder because of the lack of food?

When you weigh yourself, do you do it at the same time each day (because if not water gain and loss can cause your weight to fluctuate, rhymes)? Do you ever vomit at all? Do you take any type of pills, besides basic supplements (i.e. vitamins)? Are you cold (physically)? Do you think about your shape and weight a lot? Do you snack on anything during the day (brownies, cookies, candy bars and soda can keep you going for awhile you know)?

Another thing: just because you don't eat doesn't mean you're annorexic. You should only eat when you actually WANT and NEED to eat. Listen to your stomach. If it's growling for a Big Mac than put some food in it. If you don't feel anything down there then it's working on that pizza you just ate and hasn't finished. When your stomach empties it will signal to you that you need to put in more food. But answer my questions and we'll be able to give a whole lot more comprehensive and appropriate information.

[Franken]

Ok, Yeah I'm a guy. I'm 6 feet tall.

Do you ever NOT eat when you are hungry?

Yeah, I eat when I'm hungry.

Do you even know what hunger feels like?

Yeah, it hurts my stomach.

Are you concerned about your looks, about looking fat?

Not too much, right now I'm only getting concerned about turning into skin and bones...

What types of physical activities do you do and to what degree?

Well... I have a job, but it isn't too strenuos, I don't have too much time for activities with as much school and work as I'm doing.

Are other people concerned about your weight?

Who knows, I could care less if they were concerned. Although, I think the only one who might be concerned are my parents who've kinda noticed that I'm losing weight.

Do you actually NEED more food than you are eating or do you only eat when you have hunger pangs and stop when they go away?

I know that I need more food than I eat, it's just, I don't really get hungry all that much. When I don't get hungry I don't really think about eating, and therefore it totally slips my mind.

Is your energy level down or is it the same as before?

Nah, my energy lvl is pretty good for the most part anyways, I dunno right now though with as much school and work as I've been getting, it's really stressful.

When you weigh yourself, do you do it at the same time each day (because if not water gain and loss can cause your weight to fluctuate, rhymes)?

There never really seems to be any set time that I do, it's just kinda whenever, but the last few times that I have, it's been almost exactly the same.

Do you ever vomit at all?

Nah, I'd kill myself before I became a bullemic if anything, that's just nasty, I couldn't live with myself if I was like that.

Do you take any type of pills, besides basic supplements (i.e. vitamins)?

Not at the moment, but starting this monday I'm going to be taking Accutane.

Are you cold (physically)?

Just in the mornings before school, but that's only because it's 5:30 in the morning and it's supposed to be cold :)

Do you think about your shape and weight a lot?

If anything about my shape, I'm just getting worried that I might keep losing weight, and I don't want to. Right now, you can basically see my rib cage, it's very sad.

Do you snack on anything during the day (brownies, cookies, candy bars and soda can keep you going for awhile you know)?

Every once in awhile I'll grab something if I'm like going upstairs to do homework or something.

Mountain Dew tends to be a favorite

Another thing: just because you don't eat doesn't mean you're annorexic. You should only eat when you actually WANT and NEED to eat. Listen to your stomach. If it's growling for a Big Mac than put some food in it. If you don't feel anything down there then it's working on that pizza you just ate and hasn't finished. When your stomach empties it will signal to you that you need to put in more food. But answer my questions and we'll be able to give a whole lot more comprehensive and appropriate information.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm not Anorexic, I just wanna catch this before it gets any worse, and stop myself from becoming Anorexic if that's possible. Cause I really really don't want Anorexia, it's a mood disorder, and even with treatment is never cured. Some more information about all this. I've been so busy lately, and now I'm becoming even more busy. When I'm not doing homework I'm working, when I'm not working I'm at school, it's like sometimes I never really get around to eating. Other times I'm just never hungry, like the other day, I hadn't eaten anything and then when I got home, my parents saved some dinner for me, so I tried eating some, but after a few bites, I couldn't stomach anymore, I was just full and couldn't eat anymore. Last bit of info for ya, I don't eat Breakfast (Can't stand it) I don't eat lunch at school, most of the time I wait till I get home, and then sometimes I totally forget cause I've got so much homework. Anyways... I think that answers all of your questions... well thx for the help.

[DisRuptive1]

Ok, I don't think you got anorexia. You don't have the signs for it. You aren't feeling unnaturally cold, and you aren't losing energy. I'm thinking that you might not be AS active in your life. Things that you did earlier, such as sports or having growth spurts, just aren't happening anymore and your body doesn't need as much food.

Chances are you're probably just eating right and losing weight that would come off naturally. Have you been eating a lot of protein? When you eat protein, your liver produces a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that travels through your blood (I think) and tells your body's fat deposits to release some fat because it isn't needed, since you just ate protein and you'll not be hungry for quite awhile. Both of these in turn can cause some signifigant weight loss. You probably put yourself on the Atkins diet without even realizing it maybe.

As to your rib cage showing, just go to the gym and start a workout regiment. If you maintain proper form in all exercises you'll soon be gaining weight like crazy (in the form of muscles) and it should help your bony look.

As long as you're eating when you NEED to eat, and you're not starving yourself (hunger pangs show up when you do), then you should be ok. Oh and since you're a guy, forget the part about missed periods, that doesn't apply to you.

[Matt]

It happened to me when I was about 18. Couldn't be bothered to eat. Hated eating, sometimes, too.

But I forced myself to eat, as I knew it was important.

I got over it. However, if you don't, there is professional help. Take care, yes? Oh. And also take food drink stuff. Diet drinks can help, so long as you do not diet and eat, too.

[Guest cactusgirl]

You just discribed my husband. He's 6'2", and now finally weighs about 165. When we got married, he weighed 145. He just doesn't eat somedays, because he doesn't feel like it. He can sometimes go 2-3 days without eating when he's busy, or has something on his mind.

You just have a terrific metabolisim! The more you worry about it, the less hungry you'll be - so try not to worry!

[Franken]

Originally posted by cactusgirl@Sep 3 2004, 07:45 PM

You just discribed my husband. He's 6'2", and now finally weighs about 165. When we got married, he weighed 145. He just doesn't eat somedays, because he doesn't feel like it. He can sometimes go 2-3 days without eating when he's busy, or has something on his mind.

You just have a terrific metabolisim! The more you worry about it, the less hungry you'll be - so try not to worry!

Haha, well thx, that's a nice way to put it.

[DisRuptive1]

But if you really think you have a problem go to a nutrionist or a psychologist. Don't go to a psychiatrist, because s/he knows that he can make a fortune off your worries by telling you that there is something wrong with you. Although be careful about the psychologist also: they are only half-educated.

[nickleboyblue]

I don't know about you, but I can't LIVE without breakfast. If the traditional foods make you feel sick to your stomach, try eating things that are less dessert-like, like regular old sandwiches. American breakfasts are WAY to packed with sugar and carbs to be all that healthy.

[Seanette]

Personally, my stomach makes it very clear it doesn't like solid input too soon after I get up. Give me half an hour to an hour, and we're good. I've been known to get absorbed enough in something I'm doing that I suddenly realize I've been up for anywhere up to eight hours without having eaten. OTOH, I'm not exactly underweight (sigh).

[shining_stars]

I don't know about you, but I can't LIVE without breakfast. If the traditional foods make you feel sick to your stomach, try eating things that are less dessert-like, like regular old sandwiches. American breakfasts are WAY to packed with sugar and carbs to be all that healthy.

why are u bringing up old threads?

[beefche]

Thread is old. Closing.