Wow...what an amazing story!! Thank you for sharing your story and for wanting to start a support group here on EmpowHer. It is so important to have people who can validate how you're feeling and help support you. It's one day at a time and in most cases, it's one minute at a time.
I know many women who have battled anorexia, but not for the reason that you've just stated. I would never have thought about a young girl not having enough to eat and so at a young age, you learn to go without. So fascinating. The sheer fact you've recognized why you have anorexia, and how aware you are of your eating habits is a wonderful first step. The second big step is coming to EmpowHer to start a support group. You rock!!
I was never diagnosed with anorexia but probably battled it about 10 years ago. I decided to become a vegetarian, so I did. For me, there is no middle ground. When I do something, I do it full speed ahead. So, I cut everything out of my diet, including the good fats my body needed. It was all about control for me. I felt so out of control and had been controlled by many around me that I felt this was one area where NO ONE could tell me what to do or how to do it. As one of my friends explained it to me, it's like forgetting to put oil in the engine. Eventually, the engine freezes up. That's what happened to me. I thought I looked good and I thought I was healthy. Well, guess what, I was the only one who thought I looked good and I was SO NOT healthy!! One of my friends finally called me one day as I was having so many health issues by the way and said, you look like S--t. I was mortified. So, I called another dear friend and she said the same thing. Well, that got me thinking...could it be my strict vegetarian diet had been causing me more harm then good?? Sure enough, that is exactly what was happening to me.
After reading a great book by Dr. Diane Schwarzbein called the Schwarzbein Principle, I finally understood what I had been doing to my body both internally and externally. It was then when I started to slowly reintroduce meat and fats into my diet. It took me a while but I started to feel soooo much better after a few short weeks.
Interestingly enough, my periods had stopped and I developed high cholesterol from not having all the food groups in my diet. I never put two and two together though. Remember, I thought I was looking good and feeling good..HA! Not to mention my dry skin and hair etc, etc. There are many more side effects than one realizes when we don't have enough good fat in their diet. We are a skinny society. We need to become a healthy society. Skinny is not all it's cracked up to be...just ask me. I learned it first hand.
Have you gone through any type of treatment?? What can we do to support you? I'm glad you stopped posting your story to go eat something:) We need to get you to the point where all aspects of your health are not being neglected. I can tell by your post that you are a very special person. I'd love nothing more then to support you. If I have to remind you every day to eat and get enough of what your body needs....it would be my pleasure. Anything I can do or we can do as a company, we will. Just let us know what you need from us and let's see how we can support you, as well as supporting others who have overcome or are still fighting the anorexia battle.
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Wow...what an amazing story!! Thank you for sharing your story and for wanting to start a support group here on EmpowHer. It is so important to have people who can validate how you're feeling and help support you. It's one day at a time and in most cases, it's one minute at a time.
I know many women who have battled anorexia, but not for the reason that you've just stated. I would never have thought about a young girl not having enough to eat and so at a young age, you learn to go without. So fascinating. The sheer fact you've recognized why you have anorexia, and how aware you are of your eating habits is a wonderful first step. The second big step is coming to EmpowHer to start a support group. You rock!!
I was never diagnosed with anorexia but probably battled it about 10 years ago. I decided to become a vegetarian, so I did. For me, there is no middle ground. When I do something, I do it full speed ahead. So, I cut everything out of my diet, including the good fats my body needed. It was all about control for me. I felt so out of control and had been controlled by many around me that I felt this was one area where NO ONE could tell me what to do or how to do it. As one of my friends explained it to me, it's like forgetting to put oil in the engine. Eventually, the engine freezes up. That's what happened to me. I thought I looked good and I thought I was healthy. Well, guess what, I was the only one who thought I looked good and I was SO NOT healthy!! One of my friends finally called me one day as I was having so many health issues by the way and said, you look like S--t. I was mortified. So, I called another dear friend and she said the same thing. Well, that got me thinking...could it be my strict vegetarian diet had been causing me more harm then good?? Sure enough, that is exactly what was happening to me.
After reading a great book by Dr. Diane Schwarzbein called the Schwarzbein Principle, I finally understood what I had been doing to my body both internally and externally. It was then when I started to slowly reintroduce meat and fats into my diet. It took me a while but I started to feel soooo much better after a few short weeks.
Interestingly enough, my periods had stopped and I developed high cholesterol from not having all the food groups in my diet. I never put two and two together though. Remember, I thought I was looking good and feeling good..HA! Not to mention my dry skin and hair etc, etc. There are many more side effects than one realizes when we don't have enough good fat in their diet. We are a skinny society. We need to become a healthy society. Skinny is not all it's cracked up to be...just ask me. I learned it first hand.
Have you gone through any type of treatment?? What can we do to support you? I'm glad you stopped posting your story to go eat something:) We need to get you to the point where all aspects of your health are not being neglected. I can tell by your post that you are a very special person. I'd love nothing more then to support you. If I have to remind you every day to eat and get enough of what your body needs....it would be my pleasure. Anything I can do or we can do as a company, we will. Just let us know what you need from us and let's see how we can support you, as well as supporting others who have overcome or are still fighting the anorexia battle.
Best in health,
May 3, 2009 - 3:14pmMichelle
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