False body images from magazines, tv, etc. We don't let our daughters view porn or violence, but we let them emerse in media that can cause illness that is potentially fatal!!

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And this very statement has me thinking. I have 2 daughters (5 and 3 1/2). At what age do I start educating them on 'reality' vs 'perception' when it comes to the media?

I've fallen victim to it; or have allowed myself to be. I want to help them see themselves as the beautiful creation they were designed to be and they are perfectly made AS IS. But honestly I feel like I'm going to be fighting an uphill battle and have no idea where to even start (or when) with them.

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Life is Short...Run Long

this site has some resources for younger girls:

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/

and has links that may net you some reading material.

good luck - cheers!

-mistress k

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ill advised racing inc.

You are smart to start now!

Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents

95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25

50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight

80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight

A good article: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/...y-image-preteen.html

Good luck!!

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I've been wondering the same thing. I've been struggling with ED's for 11 years now. It bounces around from anorexia to bulimia to exercise bulimia. Right now. I only saw a therapist for most of 2009 and that seemed to really help with the bulimia. However, I've noticed that I've really only been able to get a grip on the physical part of the eating disorder (i.e. the binging and purging), but mentally, I struggle daily. Especially now that I'm recently engaged I'm so stressed about getting skinny for my wedding. It's very difficult just to get by day to day because the thoughts really do consume every minute of every day it seems like. Tonight, for instance, was my off day from training and I won't go out with my fiance because I can't stand the idea of putting on jeans or anything fitted on a day when I didn't work out. I kind of feel like it's something that may never go away.

I spoke with a friend last night - a woman who had an eating disorder, recovered from it, and is now a physician who treats women with eating disorders. She said if you still have an eating disorder, you haven't done the work in therapy to deal with the underlying causes of it, period. IOW full recovery IS a true thing if you commit yourself to treatment.

Today will make 2 weeks without bingeing/purging for me. I am undereating a little bit (little meaning maybe 200-300 calories). But already a lot of the thoughts have gone... I immediately think of healthy coping skills... and if this is happening after only two weeks, I trust her that if you really honestly and truly deal with the underlying causes and learn other coping methods, you will fully recover.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

I have struggled with an eating disorder/body dysmorphia for 18 years. I have been in therapy since I was 19 (am now 32), have tried in-patient for 3 months, and have done intensive OP. Like others on here, I frequented the something-fishy site for many years.

I'm still not recovered (to many others' frustration), and still struggling with whether or not I really want to be. I fear that it is a life-long illness - whether it is in active form or latent. Eating disorders in adults is an especially taboo subject, and I have found it difficult to find people around me that might understand my illness (that I never discuss). However, I found that the book Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women by Trisha Gura is an insightful, helpful book to read. She looks at the idea of recovery from a realistic perspective - not only having considered herself recovered (yet still subsisting on salad meals), but also observing the stories of many other real women who have struggled (some who still struggle) with anorexia and/or bulimia. Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders by Aimee Liu is also an interesting book. Both focus on people with histories of EDs and where they are now, in their adult years.

I don't think that there is an answer to "how long will it take to recover?" It's all relative to our unique selves, how we see the world, how we want to see the world, how we want to fit into it.... The books I mentioned both offer hopeful, empowering outlooks to reconsider our lives and our lifestyles.

...It would be interesting to know the prevalence of ED histories (or active EDs) in triathletes. I find that the exercise component "excuses" some of my behaviors so that they look normal to some; I imagine that others are in similar boats with me. If only we could be as open face-to-face as we are on-line. I'm almost positive you would each discover that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

This is my 18th day without bingeing or purging.

However,
-rather than restrict, I ate enough yesterday and am on track eating enough today. My ED is berating me for this, saying "you're not gaining weight but you are keeping the weight and puppy fat you have" which is of course unacceptable.
-I have been thinking/obsessing over food ALL FREAKING DAY. It is so annoying.

can someone just make it go away... please...

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Good for you tigerchik - I'm rooting for you. As someone who struggles with weight on the other end of the spectrum, I know what it is like to think about food all the time. You are doing something really hard and should be proud that you are being honest with yourself.

Good for you tigerchick - that is awesome!

Just remember, those thoughts are just thoughts, not actions. You do not need to act on them, and they will pass. Just make it to bedtime and you have another day under your belt towards recovery. I know its really hard to eat 'normally', it feels like so much. I have been doing the same, and also have limited weighing myself to only once a week, which is hard to do.

Just know that you are not alone and the thoughts will lessen. Just tell your ED to get lost, and don't let it have power over you.

Thank you both for the support.

So I have a calendar with stickers on it; I put a sticker on for every day without bingeing/purging. I did wind up doing that last night :-( so no sticker for yesterday. My first thought was "back to day one" but it's not really... I have seventeen stickers in a row; the majority of this month is already covered in stickers :D I can get back on track today, look at the blank day yesterday and think about what I learned.


Easier said than done of course but I really like the idea. "Get lost!" I will so use that.

thanks.
xoxo
tc

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

I'm sorry you have issues with food too :-(

My latest recovery idea is to try some art therapy. I have been in therapy for a reaallllly long time so I am good at talking; I am good with words; I am phenomenal with writing. Lately I am tired of words - tired of all the words spinning through my head - I like the idea of creating a picture and not having to speak. My mom is an art teacher (or was before I was born!) so we have tons of art supplies in my house. Maybe I'll move my room around and have a wall I can make a mural out of (I could cover it in paper) and then stick stuff up as I do it. Tired of feeling. Tired of thinking. Tired of processing. The idea of art, creation, something "spontaneously" happening seems wonderful. So that is my goal for today: try some art. Like Frida Kahlo.

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

I think art sounds like a real good way to get stuff out, and a chance to explore your creative side other than by writing. Very cool! Would love to hear how you found out.

I know how hard it is for you - today will be my third day without binging, and even though my weight loss is going well b/c my workouts are (thank goodness for computrainers), I'm still dealing with other things through food rather than confronting them. So I am very proud how good you've been doing - you rock! 17 days is amazing, and you are right, you have all of that to build on, even if you slipped yesterday.

Good for you girls! 3 days w/o bingeing is a great accomplishment - I find that since I have stopped using food/exercise to numb things, I have to start dealing with them - the scary part!

Tigerchik - I said "bug off" cuz I did not want to say "F off" online LOL! Anytime I feel the urge to turn to food, or restrict, I just tell myself that it will not "fix" or change whatever is bothering me. Usually I am not even aware that something is bothering me = that is what I am working on now, is figuring out what prompts these episodes in the first place.

Something that has also been helping me is committing to NOT thinking hurtful thoughts about myself (and my body, my food intake etc) and be KIND to myself.

I have recently started 'fresh' after making it 33 days, and 29 days before that. One day at a time - I have told a friend to start counting for me and tell me once I have made it to a month! The mounting pressure of "x" days is too much for my competitive, ED mind.

I am glad we are sharing on this. I think I might have to try some art therapy as well.

I had a good day yesterday.

Today I purged.

One step forward one step back. I need to do the journaling or art or talking or whatever (it's usually journaling that works) and dig into what's causing all this... why am I not doing that? Because sitting with the feelings and sorting through them sucks. I am not sure why my brain hasn't made the connection that purging is way more un-fun than writing about all the feelings.

I had a really good morning, too. I had a calc exam and wrote some absolutely brilliant answers. I walked out of it absolutely grinning. I have some idea of what is causing all this but I've talked about it, I've written about it, and I thought I was done dealing with it.

Please lock me in a psych ward with a treadmill, a math book, and some nice canvas and paint ;-)

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

Tomorrow is a new day; look at your stickers and be encouraged. You have made some serious ground!

It's all about forward momentum; setbacks are normal, just keep pressing on like you are doing. I think you have some amazing fight in you.

~an equally jacked up food freak; just in a different way~

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Life is Short...Run Long