Eating Disorder Myths

I want to smack the next person who attempts to lecture on metabolism because if they knew anything about it they'd stop trying.

Yeah, your body does enter "starvation mode" when it realizes it isn't getting the nutrients it needs. Similarly, your body is smart enough to figure out when you're eating "normally" again and adjusts accordingly. We are built to adapt. Our bodies are made to deal with this sort of change. Food was not always readily available in restaurants and on grocery store shelves. There are places in the world where it still isn't. Not too long ago people ate what they could depending on the seasons because their diet was based around what they could harvest in the local area. That meant periods of little to no food at times.

The point is that your metabolism will adjust. It won't go into "starvation mode" over night and it won't snap out of it that quickly either. Most importantly: it can't get stuck there. Anyone who tells you that you're screwing your metabolism permanently is off their rocker. If you subject yourself to a restricted diet for a prolonged period of time, after a few days your body will catch on to what is happening and try to conserve its resources. If you eat a healthy amount of food over a prolonged period of time your body will also catch on and start burning fuel at a more regular pace.

Then why do fat people exist? Shouldn't their bodies realize that they have an abundance of calories and burn it off or get rid of it? Sadly it doesn't work that way. You need to be active to make your body use energy. We spent a very long time as a species that needed to worry about our environment and so our bodies were built to keep every little extra bit we could get.

On top of all this, "people who practice fasting on a regular basis, such as those adhering to caloric restricted diets, can prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue." Your body is smart. It will learn to adjust as best as it can to the lifestyle you lead. All those rumors you hear about your muscles totally wasting away leaving you a cripple? Chances are it's not going to happen unless you've decided to become a total couch potato.

Ever wonder why sweets are so popular? I'm sure you know that sugar is a quick energy boost. Give a toddler a can of soda if you don't know what I'm talking about. It was built into our brains to crave these things many years ago because they were an easy and quick energy source. Our bodies were engineered to like things that "taste good" because those food items have a lot of energy (sugar) in them. Your body will naturally want to preserve itself and go after high calorie items.

Does "starvation mode" exist? Yes, it's real and it happens. Is this going to happen to you? It probably already has. Some people refer to it as ketosis. All it means is that your body is burning alternative forms of fuel. It might be going after complex sources of energy instead of things that would normally be readily available in your stomach. It will not kill you over night. You probably won't even notice it happening.

(Check out this article. Thanks Bloody Mary Mania!)

The same goes for your hair "falling out" or getting thinner. Can it happen? Yes. Will it happen to you? Chances are slim. Even if it does it probably won't be noticeable by anyone but you. No one else washes your hair. They don't brush it. They don't sit in front of the mirror with you looking for imperfections. Chances are the majority of the people you interact with see you for less than 10% of your day.

What about lanugo? Will you become a gorilla? No. For starters, lanugo is a super fine hair that only grows on certain parts of the body. It's thinner and lighter than your regular arm or leg hair. Think of it as a really tame version of "peach fuzz." (Shaving and waxing devices are easily obtainable in any case, and most of us consider that process routine anyway!)

I have never purged and I don't plan to, but I'm tired of people getting on their soap box about teeth falling out and other disturbing images associated with vomiting. Have you ever had the flu? How about a bad case of food poisoning? Did you throw up? Are you now wearing dentures? No? Amazing! Again, your body has mechanisms to protect itself. On top of this we have modern day items to help us care for our teeth. Can you lose teeth from purging? It's rare but it has happened. Keep in mind that these are people who make it almost a daily thing. These are not people who stick a finger down their throat every so often when they binge.

I know all of these things can happen but in most cases they do not. That's just a cold, hard fact. If someone tells you 14% of people with eating disorders end up dead, tell them you're glad to be part of the 86% majority. (And that you're closer to the 5% than they'll ever be.) Remind them that things like smoking, car accidents, homicide and suicide are responsible for far more deaths than any eating disorder. People use scary medical terms and gross ideas to try and stop eating disorders. I have an eating disorder. I know people who have them, both in real life and over the internet. Is every person with an eating disorder toothless, bald, yet hairy all over, who gains 10lbs if they eat half a sandwich? No. In fact, most of them are very beautiful. That's proof enough.

Is throwing up every day healthy? No. Is taking in 0 calories yet exercising away 1,000 calories always a good idea? No. Do I honestly think these things are healthy? Would I sincerely advice a healthy person to stop eating and start throwing up for no reason? Am I going to tell a stranger that they should put down that burger and only nibble the pickles and lettuce? No. It's not "smart." I know that. I understand what I am doing and despite the consequences I choose to continue. I want results and I consider myself a little more determined that the average person to obtain them. That's all it is.

Thinspo, Comments

I finished up the ABC journal. I really wasn't that impressed with the results of the "diet." I think it's because someone who is as far along as I am has a hard time losing weight when they're trying to eat 500, 600, even 800 calories a day. That's a lot of food. That's two 6'' subway ham sandwiches, two large dill pickles, a cup of chopped pineapple and a vegan cookie. I can't expect to eat that much in a day and still lose weight. It's unreasonable.

KEMPER: I agree with you. Some people might be able to pull off a size 12 but I'm not one of them and I would never want to see that size on me again!

One day death will come to collect you: The ABC is a great way to get started. Try Googling "Ana Boot Camp" or check out the post that I have about it.

Duke: You'll get there. Just keep trying and never give up. If you're craving something ask yourself what's more important... that cookie or your hopes and dreams?

AnaBullshit: Thanks so much! (:

Skinnylove♥ and scottile: You're awesome for reading and responding to that post. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Alice: I think I will take your advice. I've read things similar to what you said elsewhere. A lot of people suggest having fruit in the morning no matter what else you do (or don't) eat because it's low in calories, easy and quick to digest, and gives you an energy boost. Plus it's healthy. Pineapple is a personal favorite because it's low calorie and delicious.

Here are some quick before and after thinspiration pictures. I got most of these from MySpace so if you want them taken down let me know and consider it done. If not, thank you for motivating tons of people! You are true proof that it is possible and looks fantastic. [:

Hate Mail

This was originally a bulletin post on my MySpace... but it got so many responses that I made it into a blog. I figured I would share the love here as well. [: Click on the image for a full size version.


It's funny because she isn't on my friends list and she never has been. (I also blocked her profile after responding.) So she went out of her way to find me and say that? Someone must have been having a bad day. Pardon me while I break this up systematically. The quality of the message isn't worth my time but I have twenty minutes to spare before I go ice-skating. It'll humor me.

"Youre a fucking retard."
Let's hope not, then there would be more of me running around soon.

"eat you damn twig!"
It's a compliment and an insult all rolled into one. But eating would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? If I ate you wouldn't have anyone to get mad at and type frustrated e-mails to. I'm doing you a favor.

"i could snap you in two."
I don't doubt that most people could. Thankfully the majority of the human race possesses something called "sanity" that keeps them from doing that.

"just cause you want to be thin doesn't guarantee beauty."
Wanting is never enough. I want to be rich and I don't have a billion dollars either. It's a work in progress. Thanks for the encouragement.

"i think youre ugly as fuck with your knobby ass knees and your bony ass witch nose."
If she got the knees idea from my default (which isn't me), then I don't know where she got the nose from. If she got the nose from pictures of me (where my face is blurred out), then I don't know where she got the knees from (since they're covered in all pictures.) wat is this i don't even.....

"eat some fucking food and stop being a scared bitch."
For the record: I do eat. My intake is just limited in comparison to the average person. Scared is what I used to be. I was scared to be in pictures, scared to wear a dress, scared to take off my baggy hoodie, scared to go to the beach, scared to flirt with a guy, scared to wink at a girl - I was scared because I knew I was always the biggest and fattest one in the group. A few months ago I would not have stood up to someone like you. I would not have had the courage to even finish reading your message. I would've taken whatever you had to say literally and to heart. Today I am not scared. Today I am proud and strong.

"youre killing yourself anyways, calories are your friend."
Calories are my friend because they give me energy to live. I just desire less of them than other people do. Statistically speaking, more people die in car accidents than from all eating disorders combined. They know the risk when they buckle themselves in. Maybe you should start e-mailing everyone who owns a car. That's productive.

"maybe your lack of nutrients made your head stupid."
To the contrary. Studies have shown that a "lack of nutrients" can heighten your sense of awareness and improve concentration. Other studies have proven that there's no difference at all. Minnesota Starvation Experiment, anyone? "The participants reported a decline in concentration, comprehension and judgment capabilities, although the standardized tests administered showed actual signs of increased capacity." In simple terms: they felt dumb but had actually become smarter. Zing.

"grow the fuck up."
I would like to be a bit taller and I haven't figured out how to stop time yet. I think "growing" is inevitable so I'll take your word on it.

"people like you prove my point as to why people are fucking dumb."
People like you prove my point as to why children should pay attention in their English courses. Using words that don't exist? Grammar, syntax? Is it all so beyond you? Burning too many calories by reaching your pinky for that shift key, are we?

"do yourself a favor and eat some chocolate cake!!"
I don't like cake but I may have some chocolate milk later. While I'm being a grammar Nazi I might as well point out that the double punctuation marks have got to stop if you expect anyone to take you seriously in the future. Please note that spaces also go between sentences in the English language. Good day to you.