Just my thoughts...

#60!!!

this is my 60th post! wow, what an exciting thing! yeah, so i was thinking about stuff today, and I was thinking about eating disorders and how they totally mess up people's lives. Like, if you've read Chicken soup for the Teen's soul there are many many stories about how girls (mostly) have thought oh, man i need to get rid of my baby fat. or gosh, look at that fat! i found some info onthe net.... here's what it says:

Definition
Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories. A binge is different for all individuals. For one person a binge may range from 1000 to 10000 calories, for another, one cookie may be considered a binge. Purging methods usually involve vomiting and laxative abuse. Other forms of purging can involve excessive exercise, fasting, use of diuretics, diet pills and enemas.
Bulimics are usually people that do not feel secure about their own self worth. They usually strive for the approval of others. They tend to do whatever they can to please others, while hiding their own feelings. Food becomes their only source of comfort. Bulimia also serves as a function for blocking or letting out feelings. Unlike anorexics, bulimics do realize they have a problem and are more likely to seek help.
Signs and Symptoms:
Binge eating
Secretive eating (food missing)
Bathroom visits after eating
Vomiting
Laxative, diet pill or diuretic abuse
Weight fluctuations (usually with 10-15 lb range)
Swollen glands
Broken blood vessels
Harsh exercise regimes
Fasting
Mood swings
Depression
Severe self-criticism
Self-worth determined by weight
Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
Self-deprecating thoughts following eating
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Tooth decay
Irregular heartbeats
Avoidance of restaurants, planned meals or social events
Complains of sore throat
Need for approval from others
Substance abuse
Ipecac abuse

Physical/Medical Complications
Fatigue and lack of energy
Dizziness
Headaches
Dehydration
Constipation and diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeats
Depression
Tears of esophagus
Hair loss
Stomach pain and bloating
Erosion of teeth enamel
Chronic sore throat
Kidney and liver damage
Parotid gland enlargement
Electrolyte imbalances
Cathartic colon (caused from laxative abuse)
Edema (swelling of hands and feet)
Low blood pressure
Chest pains
Development of peptic ulcers and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Gastric dilation and rupture
Abrasions on back of hands and knuckles
Anemias
Cardiac arrest and death

Definition
Anorexia is characterized by a significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. Most women and an increasing number of men are motivated by the strong desire to be thin and a fear of becoming obese. Anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their actual weight is. Often anorexics do not recognize they are underweight and may still "feel fat" at 80 lbs. Anorexics close to death will show you on their bodies where they feel they need to lose weight. In their attempts to become even thinner, the anorexic will avoid food and taking in calories at all costs, which can result in death. An estimated 10 to 20% will eventually die from complications related to it.
Anorexics usually strive for perfection. They set very high standards for themselves and feel they always have to prove their competence. They usually always put the needs of others ahead of their own needs. A person with anorexia may also feel the only control they have in their lives is in the area of food and weight. If they can't control what is happening around them, they can control their weight. Each morning the number on the scale will determine whether or not they have succeeded or failed in their goal for thinness. They feel powerful and in control when they can make themselves lose weight. Sometimes focusing on calories and losing weight is their way of blocking out feelings and emotions. For them, it's easier to diet then it is to deal with their problems directly. Anorexics usually have low self-esteem and sometimes feel they don't deserve to eat. The anorexics usually deny that anything is wrong. Hunger is strongly denied. They usually resist any attempts to help them because the idea of therapy is seen only as a way to force them to eat. Once they admit they have a problem and are willing to seek help, they can be treated effectively through a combination of psychological, nutritional and medical care.

Signs and Symptoms
Noticeable weight loss
Becoming withdrawn
Excessive exercise
Fatigue
Always being cold
Muscle weakness
Obsession with food, calories, recipes
Excuses for not eating meals (ie. ate earlier, not feeling well)
Unusual eating habits (ie. cutting food into tiny pieces, picking at food)
Noticeable discomfort around food
Complaining of being "too fat", even when thin
Cooking for others, but not eating themselves
Restricting food choices to only diet foods
Guilt or shame about eating
Depression, irritability, mood swings
Evidence of vomiting, laxative abuse, diet pills or diuretics to control weight
Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss
Frequently checking weight on scale
Fainting spells and dizziness
Difficulty eating in public
Very secretive about eating patterns
Pale complexion (almost a pasty look)
Headaches
Perfectionistic attitude
Feelings of self worth determined by what is or is not eaten
No known physical illness that would explain weight loss

Physical/Medical Complications
Fatigue and lack of energy
Skin problems
Dizziness and headaches
Dehydration
Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeats
Cold hands and feet
Bloating
Constipation
Hair loss
Stomach pains
Decreased metabolic rate
Edema (water retention)
Lanugo(fine downy hair)
Loss of bone mass
Kidney and liver damage
Electrolyte imbalances
Osteoporosis
Insomnia
Anemias
Depression
Cathartic colon(caused from laxative abuse)
Low potassium (most common cause of nocturnal cardiac arrest)
Cardiac arrest and death

see all this stuff? that's not good. If you are looking in the mirror and thinking I look so fat! get a second opinion! Ask a friend that you trust to give you an honest answer. BUt! if they say yes, don't go stopping eating or binging. talk to your doctor about going on a diet and exercise plan! That's a much better solution. Trust me.

Labels: anorexia, bulimia, diet, eating disorders, exercise

posted by chocogirl39 @ 2:13 PM Comments: 2