eating disorders?

[Pickles]

Hey everybody,

I am wondering if anybody around here has any eating disorder and is trying a low-carb diet?

I have both anorexia and bulimia and am trying to get control over what I'm eating/not-eating with the CAD. I REALLY NEED SUPPORT!

Anybody want to buddy-up, or just share some ideas, or just TALK?

Let me know, please! :(

[satihap]

i'm not sure if i have an eating disorder but its been hard for me to stop losing more weight. i guess i just don't know where to draw the line...... i'd love to buddy up with you- let me know if you just wanna bounce stuff off of me...

********

Moderator note:
Post edited to remove email address.

[Ballerina]

Hey! I just wanted to let you know, I know what you're going through. I battled bulimia and anorexia for about 5 years, before realizing that I had a problem and needed some help. I am on the Atkins diet as a healthy alternative to what I was doing before. I am a dancer, so staying slim is very important to me, but not so much as to sacrifice my health. I've maintained my weight very successfully doing Atkins and I'd recommend it to anyone, especially those of us with eating disorders! Good luck!

[Seto Kaiba]

Hi Pickles,

There are quite a few people here with eating disorders (Myself, bulimic since 11 yrs old (I'm 25 now...), was "cured", gained and then began a cycle of starving/purging for months.)

LC has really helped me start gaining control of food. (3 months "clean" so far.....)

If you want to talk or just need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you too. :)

[crystal12]

i decided to go on atkins about a month ago because i realized what i was doing to my body was just too hurtful and wrong. but i have yet to win the fight against my eating disorder because every day that i dont see the scale budge, or feel that my pants are too tight, i just want to go back to my old habits of severe calorie restriction and then binging and purging. sometimes, i just don't know what's better.

[kristyn01]

I wouldn't say i have an eating disorder...just "disorderly eating". I've struggled with eating since I was 10..now i'm 20. I was semi-anorexic in junior high and througout high school went up and down 10 lbs in not so healthy ways (restrictive eating, excessive exercise, binging, purging, etc). Now, I am in my second year of college and am on the binge-eating path of my 'disorderly eating'. I am new to atkins and hoping it will help me get a handle on my eating habits and more control. I can tell it works...but I am having a hard time because i'm stuck in a dorm and food choices are limited. But, in a month I will be home for the summer and even next year I get a kitchen in my dorm...so hopefully I will be able to stick to the program better by cooking my own meals.
I am sick and tired of obsessing over my weight (esp now that I am the heaviest i've ever been). Hopefully, this will work for me and all of you suffereing with eating disorders. So goodluck to you all, and hopefully I can stick with it too.
The power of food is amazing.

[Cindy007]

Hi all. I am a trying to recover bulimic. I managed to stop purging a little over 2 months ago, but the sugary binges were almost impossible for me to control. I started Atkins 11 days ago and haven't binged or wanted to since. Carbs are a trigger for me. I feel ok eating this fatty food since I am seeing results in the mirror. I am not trying to get unhealthily thin...I put on about 10 pounds once I stopped purging and continued binging. I'd like to lose that and possibly 10 more to get back to the weight I was through most of college (I'm 24 now). I think Atkins is a blessing to me b/c I believe I can overcome my addiction to carbs and stop the cycle of abuse to my body by following this WOL. Best of luck to you!

--Cindy

[Nerbie]

Hi :wave:

I've been bulimic since like age 12. Maybe before. I'm 19 now and trying to stop. I've had anorexic episodes, where I wouldn't eat much for 3 weeks at a time.

Anyway I started atkins Monday and have already lost about 7 pounds. Crazy! Last night though I ended up eating half an Italian Ice and then some other high carb foods and then coming home and purging. :(

That WILL be the last time that happens.

Anyway good luck everyone.

[Rahoomee]

hey

ya ive been suffering from EDs for 9 yrs
im 20 now

i started off a compulsive overeater
then bulimia
then anorexia

im just really getting tired of it
i dont know what to do anymore
im so unhappy that i wanna die just to end it all

i guess thats why i started atkins a week ago ( june 1st)
even though im eating more and im a little happier
it scares me so much and i hate myself for even thinking of recovering
im still having second thoughts though

well have to see what happens i guess

[kari5]

hI GUYS,

i HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS BULEMIC BUT SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT I KNOW. I WANT TO HELP HER BUT I DO NOT WANT TO DEFEND HER. I JUST DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO HER AND THEN HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING. DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS HOW I COULD BRING IT UP TO HER WITHOUT OFFENDING HER.

THANKS

[stephy]

i think there are plenty of girls who have ed's that switched to low carb diets (myself included) and i think it's great! it's a much better way to lose weight. i'm actually thinking about my health for once! good luck to you all :wave:

[Battousai]

Ladies good luck with your diets. Whatever happens know that we are all here for you and wish you the best. As a male I know how much strain men put on women and their sizes. I just wish women were judged by the size of their hearts instead of the size of their dresses. Good luck and god bless


Battousai
one guy who looks at the heart

[Mimosa]

I'm 24 and have been struggling with bulimia now since I was 13. I just made a big life move and see it progressively getting worse- it is really scaring me. I was getting really sick of the lifestyle and to stop purging started atkins. I was really worried that if I ate, since my body wasn't metabolizing the majority of what I consumed, I would gain weight. I ended up losing about 15 pounds but since my move I havent been on atkins and have began the binge/purge cycle again. Only, now it stronger than ever. I guess Im looking to chat with someone who knows where Im coming from. Thanks for listening!

[SandraDee]

Oh my gosh!!! Where did you come from? You are going to heavan. You are so right...everyone should be judged on the size of their hearts and not their size. If there were more men like you, women would never have problems!
Love you,
SandraDee

[gatsbyjas]

Hey,
I have landed in the LCworld as a result of ten years of ED's. However, I have found that instead of obsessing every calorie, im obsessing every carb. it still feels like it takes over my every waking moment. I dont want to give up though, because thats how I gained all this weight anyways! I got "cured" from ED's for a year and managed to go from a sz 0/2 to a 7/9. I am trying atkins as a way to damage control the gains, i guess. Just wondering if anyone else still feels a little obsessed.

[JessaLynn]

Hello!
I've been anorexic for about 3 years now, and sadly buimic for 1. I regret the day I became bulimic, it has been a horrible experience... which is why i started Low carbing about 3 weeks ago. I was just wondering if anyone who is underweight to begin with, and is low carbing, has GAINED any weight from the experience, I was about 118 when I started low carbing, and I'm down to 111, :cheer: but I just want to make sure I will now gain any... or else it's gonna be back to the old habbits, and I know that is much more unhealthy. If anyone wants to talk, I would LOVE a buddy!

:rheart: Jessica

[cathie]

hey guys,

I'm 30 so I hope you don't think I'm too old to participate in your discussion.

I have been struggling for years with my weight issues, but probably started exercising to lose weight for the last 5 yrs. that was my purging! and not eating enough. I was overseas for a year last year and put on about 20lbs and now am struggling to even stick with atkins. I never seeked helped with this and now feel like I really need to see my doc about it. I am having depression episodes and cry all the time. it's a binge cycle with exercise as the purging...I can't lose weight though, my mind isn't capable and my body is soo messed up it won't let go of the extra fat.

I just want you girls to know that you don't necessarily need to be a teenager to have an ED and the longer you suffer in silence, the harder it is on the body.

another thing, most of the time it's not boys that make us feel bad about ourselves, females are more critical on other females than males are.

I'm glad you started this thread, it allows others to read others experiences and share their own. we're not alone, alot of us on this forum are great caring people who love to share and help others who are going through something as painful as an ED.

love to hear from you all, together we can help each other,
BIG :bhug: sss
:rheart: cathie

[keh001]

I was anorexic my freshmen year in college and got down to 100 pounds.....I am 5'4. I was also gym junkie, averaging 3 hours a day working out. Anyway, to make an extremely long story short, don't starve yourself! My body went into starvation mode and my metabolism slowed to only 400 calories per day. Needless to say, I gained 50 pounds once I started eating again, even though I wasn't eating that much. I have now been trying to lose and get down to a healthy weight again. I don't have much to lose, about 20 pounds, but I am hoping that I can do that in a relatively short period of time so that I will look good when I go back to school on August 25th. If anyone has had a similar experience let me know, I would love to hear from others. Also, how long will it take me to lose that much weight with my current stats??? I am new to Atkins and need lots of support to get myself to goal.

[JessaLynn]

WoW! I have no idea how you could have worked out for 3 hrs. each day! that is crazy! Yeah, I've been wondering if this atkins will work for me, seeing as though i'm already underweight for my height... i'm at about 111-114 (cus of TOM) and have heard that for people who reach their normal weight, their weight loss slows, so maybe i should be counting my cals also as so i'm sure to lose... i don't know, if anyone has any suggestions for me rather than i should GAIN weight (i've been getting that alot lately), i would greatly appreciate it. I want to be around 102... hopefully this atkins will help.

Jessica

[gatsbyjas]

hmmm, if i were you i would find a weight and a lifestyle you could live with. eating nothing and weighing 110 is not something you will be able to do when you have things like a family, kids, busy job etc... you will fall apart physically. i know this, i've been there, i've done that, its taking me forever to finish college because of it. once you let go, its easy to balloon up (like i did) and then you just feel like shit because you know longer can fit into anything... blahblah blah, now i am just aiming to be a HEALTHY and MAINTAINABLE wait. unfortunately, I screwed up MY OWN metabolism by refusing to be anything but a size 0 for years and years. now, my body has a fear of being starved, and holds onto every drop of fat, and in the worst places. please please get some control of yourself.

just be careful, its not worth. i had an engagement end because i wouldnt stop bulemia, and i wouldnt admit i had a problem.

just take care, and try and keep some perspective. try and determine if you can maintain where you are without being obsessed, counting every little cal, and weighing 9 times a day.

sorry to preach at ya

[Alexxa]

i was a compulsive overeater bulimic anorexic, i know what your going through. i'm such a yo yo dieter. it wasn't until a month ago when my x boyfriend said i was killing myself that i realsied that i was killing myself. i'm back on atkins and i'm facing the same problems, some times i feel incredible guilty for eating a small can of tuna and most times i binge on tuna (which has a horrible after afect) if anyone wants me as a buddy or just to get some stuff off your chest email me at ******

[rose7]

hey guys, I'm 27 but I hope you don't mind my joining in. I've suffered from bulimia for 8 yrs and this is the first time in my life that I've ever discussed it. I see low carbing as good solution to stop binges, but once in a while, I'll go on 'Atkins accepted food binge' so I'm still battling.

I don't know when I'll ever be happy with my weight. I always feel 'too fat'. My weight now fluctuates from 114-118, mainly around 115.

I hope one day I'll stop obssessing over weight. It's still what I think about ALL the time. I'm glad to have read that there are people out there battling the same problem as me. Good luck to you all, ;)

btw, I'd love a buddy as well.

:rose:

[fsc]

Hey all,

I just joined this board - I'm 21 and have had "disordered eating" and yo-yo dieting for the past 7 years, plus one long bout of serious anorexia and a short relapse. Basically, those periods of starvation have completely screwed my metabolism (I gained 70 pounds in a flash during 'recovery') and I'm still trying to set my body and my hormones back in some kind of balance.

I've been doing Atkins' Induction for the last 2 weeks - today was day 15 - and I gained both inches and fat weight! I can't believe it. I'm so demoralized and depressed that I really decided for a while that I just had to stop eating. But considering how much I've already screwed with my system, that's really not going to do me any favors. Plus, I'm a college senior right in the middle of midterms, and anyone who's fasted knows how much that's likely to mess me up too...

High-carb foods are generally a big binge trigger for me, so I was staying away from them before I started Atkins, but I was hoping this plan would help me lose instead of just maintaining my weight as I was before (I'm 155 and looking to lose 25-30 pounds). I was eating a very low-calorie diet before and exercising a lot just to kind of "break even" with my metabolism and from what I've read of Atkins it seemed like it might work in a little bit of a different way.

Eating this much fat, few veggies, and no fruit is a big change for me - Induction doesn't go on forever, but I really have gained. I don't know how sensible it is to keep going on with this, since I really can't afford to gain more weight, but I also think that Atkins would be great if I could just get into ketosis and start losing.

I may end up doing the Fat Fast (for the metabolically resistant) - but I hate egg yolks and mayo! Has anyone here done it? Can you share your experiences?

Glad to have found this board - you all seem like a great group.

- Chrissy

[keh001]

Hi Chrissy!
Your story sounds very similar to mine. I am 20 and am still trying to lose weight that I gained (50 pounds) from my eating disorder. I ruined my metabolism and it has taken almost two years to get back on track. I also gained weight on the first two weeks of Atkins and it was so discouraging. I find that I feel better and lose better when I eat more carbs- around 100 a day. I make sure that the carbs that I do consume are full of fiber and are low fat. I am not a big fan of meat, cheese, eggs, etc., so I decided to change the Atkins diet and do what I felt was right for my body. I haven't stepped on a scale in 2 months, but I can measure my success by the way my clothes fit and how I feel.

Some of the things I eat: all vegetables, apples, low-carb wheat bread, popcorn, All-Bran cereal, cottage cheese, low-carb protein bars, turkey, fish, and veggie burgers. I watch my calories, but do not count carbs. I also do cardio at least 4 days a week, and strength train at least 3 days a week.

I was on the Lean for Life diet for two months and lost 20 pounds. You might be interested in that. It is a low-carb, low-fat, low-calorie plan. You can still eat fruit and some grains. I did the on-line program, which was very interactive and supportive. I got bored and didn't want to spend more money, so I stopped. You can check out their website: www.lindora.com

If you have any questions let me know....I know how hard this can be. Like I said, we have had a very similar experience and I wish you the best.

~Keh001

[fsc]

Wow - you're like my body/food twin.

I decided that since I gained on Atkins induction and was still having a really hard time eating so much fat and restricting my vegetables, it really wasn't hte best plan for me. If I could have gotten into ketosis I would have been fine in the later stages of the program, but I just don't feel 'good' eating so much fat, especially saturated fat. Plus I hate the taste of mayo, egg yolks, and cream cheese, which didn't give me a ton of food options.
So I went grocery shopping and re-stocked up on all the foods I used to eat - lots of fruits and veggies, lots of lean protein, egg whites, yogurt, low-fat popcorn. I've always been one to take more protein over more carbs, so I naturally end up on a pretty high-protein diet.

I actually went to a health club near me where they can calculate your actual resting metabolic rate (RMR) and compare it to what it should be based on your body composition. MY RMR is only 2/3 of what it should be, which means that I definitely have screwed myself over from a metabolic standpoint. I've read studies where semi-starvation diets can reduce metabolism as much as 40% - who knows how much more when it's prolonged fasting?

I never really ate refined flour or sugar before Atkins, so that might be one reason I didn't start off losing as much as some people, but for me I think it really is much more a matter of 'calories in calories out' than what kind of calories they are.

I'm definitely going to check out the Lean for Life diet - it sounds like a much more reasonable plan for someone who's got a very slow metabolism. Congratulations on your 20 pound loss - that's awesome! If you've got any more info about your experience with it I'd love to know, if you've got time.

Thanks for the reply. I feel a whole lot better and not so much of a failure.

- Chrissy

[keh001]

Chrissy-
I wish I could send you a personal message, but unfortunately you have to have 20 (I think) posts before they enable that feature.

Lean for Life is pretty restrictive, but I never felt hungry on it. Once you are in ketosis it is pretty smooth sailing. I think structure is good, but I like doing my own thing. That is why I stopped. I think it is so important to not only be in control of what you are eating, but to be able to choose (in moderation) what you are eating.

I don't know if you saw some of my previous posts, but there is a lot of info in this thread about what I have been through with my eating disorder. I saw a nutritionist for almost a year and had my metabolic rate tested once a month. They hooked me up to a machine that I had to breathe in for 15 minutes. When I first started treatment, my metabolism was down to 400 calories a day. Then I began eating again, and bingeing, and gained 50 pounds in two months. It was horrible. It took a very long time for my metabolism to correct itself. They also did a bioelectrical impedence test, which measured my fat, muscle, and water percentages by hooking electrodes to my foot and arm. My body was basically eating away at my muscle- I stopped having my period, and was at risk for early osteoperosis.

Unlike most anorexics, I never starved myself, but I severely limited my calories. I averaged around 1300 calories a day, but spent 3 hours every single day at the gym. At my lowest I weighed 99 pounds (I am 5'4) and wore a size 0/girls 14/16. I looked horrible, but at the time I still thought I was huge. What was your lowest weight? Did you go to a treatment center? I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I definitely came out of my experience a stronger and better person. Thanks for sharing your story- hope to hear from you again.

[fsc]

I checked out the Lean for Life website - it looks like a pretty good program, so maybe when my midterms are over and things calm down a little I'll get to the bookstore and find the actual books. But as you said, I really like having the flexibility of doing my own thing too. Once I find out what works for me, I'm usually pretty good at sticking with it.

Right now I really think my biggest problem is that my metabolism is just super-slow. A few months ago I did the same respiration/bioelectrical impedence test you described and my BMR is 1060 calories, which isn't very helpful in terms of actually being satisfied and nutritionally balanced while trying to lose weight. I need to keep calories low and still feel full - my appetite is still out of whack, along with my hormones and metabolism. I exercise frequently and I'm very muscular - my expected BMR based on my body composition is 1750, and I'm 5'3".

I yo-yo dieted all through high school, but my real anorexia was about 4 years ago (and my body is STILL this messed up). I've had all sorts of hormone problems, bone problems (3 stress fractures in my shins that almost landed me in a wheelchair because they wouldn't heal), and definitely weight problems. At my lowest I was 96 pounds, which was only for about a day since I passed out and got taken to the ER. It was then that I either had to gain weight on my own or go into a treatment center and miss my senior year of high school. I chose to gain on my own, but my body was so starved (literally, I would go days without eating) that the weight just piled on at a staggering rate. I gained 60 pounds in the following year even after I tried cutting back my food intake - you probably know exactly what I mean!

So now, here I am, desperately trying to get my metabolism back into halfway decent shape. Sometimes I get so demoralized that I just think I should stop eating again, but at least now I know that's not going to help at all in the long run. I've taken diet pills, done all sorts of crazy "metabolism boosting" tricks that don't work - even my weightlifting doesn't seem to make a difference. If I'm not dilligent about counting calories, I gain. It's that simple.

Even at 96 pounds, I could never fit into anything smaller than a 4/5 because my hipbones are that wide. I've got a big frame and I've always been curvy, so I think I have realistic expectations about what a healthy and reasonable weight for me is. I want to lose 25 or 30 pounds, which is a pretty large amount for anyone and seems virtually impossible for someone with a metabolism like mine. But in a weird way, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one facing a challenge like this.

Thank you so much for your advice and support - it's made a huge difference in the way I feel, especially after coming off such a miserable "failure" of Atkins induction. I'm still not sure how well I can lose weight, but at least I can try...

[satihap]

good luck to all! an eating disorder is such a hard thing. often times, i think i have a form of one too. my weight is pretty low- i should be gaining but i'm deathly afraid of seeing the scale go up. i am not eating very much but this is because i choose to do a free day once a week. anyhow- i just wanted to support you all! hang in there =)

[keh001]

I just wanted to say hi and see how you are doing. Do you think you will change your course of action??

I think one of my biggest challenges has been fixing the damage I did to my body. It was so miserable to gain 50 pounds in a matter of months after starving myself for a year. And like you said, once your metabolism is screwed up it takes months to make any improvement at all. It is kind of ironic, all you want is to be skinny, and you end up gaining weight in the long run. This is a personal question, but how has this affected your mentrual cycle? I didn't have my period for 12 months, had it once a month for a little over a year, and have now missed it the past 3 months. I am concerned that I will never be able to have kids, I know that happens to some people.

When you were really sick, were you also exercising, or just limiting your food intake? I was an obsessive/compulsive exerciser, but I have gotten that under control. I don't hate myself or freak out if I miss a day, and I enjoy being active.

Anyway, I guess that is all for now....hope to hear from you again :)

[fsc]

Hi there! Good to hear from you again.

With the stress of midterms and my frustration with my Atkins gain, I ended up doing a complete 180 for about a week and a half. I first ate low cal, moderately low fat, fairly low carb, then somehow I ended up just wanting to eat junk (of course, this fell right around Halloween!!!). Last week I ate a cookie, a few pieces of candy, and bread (whole grain, but still...) and felt even worse. Right now I just hate my body for the weight gain. The fact that I haven't had time to work out or sleep much hasn't helped either.

This week I've got one more midterm and a 35-page research paper due; then things should calm down. But I realized that I needed to get off the carb rollercoaster because it wasn't making things any better. So I've been going to the gym, even for half an hour, and doing my own healthy cooking again - I'd rather pull a couple all-nighters than gain any more weight! I used to be very strict about exercising - I wouldn't say I was quite compulsive, but if I didn't do at least an hour of cardio a day I would probably not eat anything, or at least be very restrictive to "make up" for it.

Funny you should ask about my periods, I was just wondering today if some of the recent weight gain isn't due to PMS bloating. The fact is, I never really know when I'm going to get it. I lost my period for about a year when I was anorexic, then it came back very sporadically. Now, I often get two a month, along with unbelievably bad bloating, fatigue, and cramps. My hormones are definitely out of whack, but my gyno (who specializes in infertility) says that it probably won't keep me from having kids (although I really don't think I want to!). I've been on the Pill for 3 months at a time on two separate occasions, kind of trying to "kick start" my body into regulating itself. So far, it hasn't worked.

I'm going to stick with my current plan for a while: high protein, moderately low carb/low fat. I'll still have some fruit occasionally, but definitely no processed carbs of any kind. Once I have time to start going back to the gym consistently next week, that should stop me from gaining. At least I think so...

Hope you're doing well and feeling good.

-Chrissy

[misery1001]

I m in the same boat as you.... just lot less severe..... but after I started atkins I still want to binge, although not yet, but any moment now..... But I know it is not good for myself, and I know I will get kick out of Ketonsis, that's why I didn't do it...... Can anyone please help me with my craving?

[keh001]

Hi!
I hope you are feeling less stressed by now. I have the last of three exams tonight, this week has been horrible. Where do you go to school? What year are you? I am originally from Ithaca, NY but I go to school at Florida State University in Tallahassee. I love it here and will never go back to the wonderful weather of the north! I am a junior and my major is hospitality administration. I can't believe how fast this semester has gone by.....only 5 weeks left!

It is funny, when I was on Atkins and Lean for Life if I started eating carbs I couldn't stop. Now that I have added them back in I feel like my appetite is under control. Obviously there has to be a mental connection there. I was really worried about adding the carbs in the beginning, but it hasn't hurt my progress at all, and I enjoy eating a larger variety of food. I keep track of my calorie count in my head throughout the day, and usually at night I can have a snack of 200-300 calories. I aim for around 1600 a day, but often times it is lower than that. 1600 calories is really a lot of food if you are watching the fat intake and not eating too many carbohydrates. Do you have any favorite meals? I usually just throw a veggie burger or piece of chicken on my Foreman, and heat up some frozen veggies in the microwave. It is all about being quick.

Anyway, I need to get some last minute studying in. Have a great weekend

~Kyle

[fsc]

3 midterms in a week? Wow. I imagine that by now you're done, so congrats on making it through the week!

I'm not less stressed yet yet, but by tomorrow I will be. Right now it's 2:19 am here and I'm still working on that 35-page paper due tomorrow. All-nighters just kill me, energy- and food-wise. I sometimes find that I eat to help keep myself awake (and keep the caffeine from giving me a wicked stomachache and headache) so I'm trying to be good here.

I'm a senior studying public health at the University of Pennsylvania (in Philadelphia). I'm so jealous of your Florida weather! I've lived in the northeast my whole life and yet every year I hate winter more and more. I'll have to go wherever I can end up getting a job next year, but ultimately I want to move somewhere warm. I look, feel, and eat much better when I'm in a warm climate; it just suits me much better for some reason.

I love cooking, so I'm always trying out new stuff, but like you, I definitely don't have a lot of time. The Foreman is such a lifesaver! I would say I make a lot of stir-fries: strips of meat, frozen veggies sauteed in a little olive oil with spices and soy sauce or something like that. I make big batches and then freeze leftovers so I always have something healthy that fits into my plan.

The hardest thing for me is that twice a week I have class straight from 10-3 with NO breaks whatsoever. I try to cook in advance so I have low carb low calorie stuff to pack, but during the week it gets hard. Like today, I ended up having a quick breakfast and then nothing else till I came home after 3, completely starving. That's the kind of situation that sets me up for trouble. Do you have any suggestions about packable stuff that fits into a low carb low calorie diet? I've tried bringing cut veggies and grilled meat to class, but it's hard to eat and kind of distracting. I don't want to resort to bars or other food substitutes if I can avoid it.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your weekend. You've definitely earned it! (I, however, need to get back to work...)

- Chrissy

[keh001]

Sorry I haven't responded in awhile! I am so happy now, I can finally breathe again! At least until December, and then it is final exam time. How is school going for you?

The last couple of days I have been feeling pretty down. I guess more than anything I am just frustrated. I try so hard- eating well, exercising, etc.- and it seems like losing weight should be easier than it has been. I have come a long way, but I still feel like I am not living the full life that I want to be living. I have boxes and boxes of beautiful clothes that don't fit, and I haven't really bought anything nice for myself since I gained so much weight. I really feel like things aren't fair....I have struggled enough, and I just want it to be over!!

I guess flipping through 3 Victoria's Secret catalogs doesn't help much either. It just makes me sick to see those models, who are nothing but skin and bone, selling clothes to real people who will never look like that. At one point I looked like that, but I am paying for it now and probably will for the rest of my life. And the crazy thing is that I still thought I was fat!!!

I am going on a trip in 16 weeks to Philadelphia and want to be wearing my favorite clothes by then. I know that is a long time, but at the rate I am going I really doubt I will even be at my desired weight by then. If I want to enjoy life to the fullest, I have to lose this extra weight. I don't want to limit myself anymore. Do you know of any challenges/programs that are 16 weeks long?

Well I guess I feel a little better. Sometimes I just feel so desperate. I know that I brought all of this upon myself, but it feels so unfair at times. I am afraid that I am letting some of the best days of my life pass me by, just because I am not happy with my appearance.

Talk to you soon
~Kyle

[kat168]

heya!
i have had bullimia and anoreixia etc for years aswell, but i want to go on atkins, to lose the weight i have gained and maintian it...is the atkins a better option than just mostly fruit and veg (which is wot i do now)? i feel sick thinking about all that fat that i will be eating, or shall i just do a low fat, high protein thing? thank u !

[26inch]

Im recently trying to get over my bulimic lifestyle because it does nothing good to you at all.....ive been this way since i was 15 and im not 18 and i am determined to quit! LC should be a way for me to introduce food back into my body the right way

[26inch]

i became bulimic at 14 and im going to turn 18 in a month, but i have stopped purging since yesterday and i plan to maintain and lose weight the healthy way...a way that i am not destroying myself

[LadyArya]

:wave: Hi everyone. I'm a little older than studen/teen, but I also have an eating disorder. I've been dianosed with Binge Eating Disorder and have had it since about age 10... maybe 11. My doctor put me on prozac (for binge eating as well as anxiety/depression... and yes I agree it's not the best choice for everyone, but it worked for me) and started Low Carb.... again.

Since I've been on the medication I haven't binged once and some days have trouble making it to the 1700 calories I should be taking in. For me, it was a life saver.

I'm sure many can overcome their ED's with atkins alone, but for me it was not so simple. I'm on my what, 7th restart at this point? I stopped counting after a while. Before I started meds I'd either binge on legal foods or secretly plan a run to McDonalds when no one was home so they didn't catch me stuffing myself.

But now that I've been officially diagnosed, started meds, restarted atkins and am going to therapy, I'm down 10lbs and haven't binged once - 3 weeks and counting. Sounds like a small period of time I'm sure, but I could never go 3 days, let alone 3 weeks before!

I delt with this for 14 years. I know what it's like. I know the havoc it can reek on your mind and body. I also know, you can get past it!

[gracej]

hi

im new here and its my first post

im 19 now and when i got into my teens id either eat loads for weeks thinking im going to diet tomorrow then its like well might as well start a fresh week on monday now its friday etc

then i started being anorexic and bullemic but with being bullemic i didnt ever binge id just eat a small amount-ish os 'healthy' things just incase i didnt get it all up (sounds gross i know - sorry)

now im low carbing but i dont eat anything with carbs in and only once a day - except maybe sometimes eggs which have like a carb in or something. and sometimes i dont eat everyday.

(sorry about my english if its not that good im not very good at it - i just came from another forum where they were very critical about everything and about how i was dieting but here there seems to be a lot more empathy because of the amount of people in the same boat)

[JessMess]

Hi everyone,

I'm 17 yrs old, 157cm and weigh 36kg. At the beginning of the year I was 45kg (the largest i'd ever been) and felt i needed to lose some weight. I read in a magazine somewhere about Atkins and decided to try it but i never actually bought a book or found out the specifics of the diet. Unawares i avoided ALL foods that contained carbs and fat (even the 'healthy fats') and lost alot of weight and became quite sick. I went to the doctor who told me i was displaying symptoms of anorexia and put me on a plan of weight gain (1kg a month). Now i still follow a low-carb diet but include foods such as cheese and nuts etc. I just want to say to all those who suffer eating disorders that your life is just too precious to waste, follow a low-carb diet by all means but PLEASE make sure you stop before you lose too much weight. Now i follow Atkins to maintain a healthy weight and enjoy the benefits of eating more fruit and vegies.

Everyone of you is special, be healthy but don't risk your life!

[kat168]

hey, i hope your okay now, and that your a healthy weight! 45kg is already so little! Can i Just ask what kinda foods u ate? like just vegetables or seomthing? or did eating meat and stuff help too? im really confused cos i've tried atkins but im not sure if i'm doing it rite!!

[SadLady]

It is so sad to see so many girls with anorexia and bulimia. If they only knew that eating Low Carb they can eat a lot of really good food and control their weight and look just marvelous, but no, we have to trash Atkins, because that way we have more patients. Psiquiatrist, general MDs, and nutritionits then would not have patients and good heaven, we can not allow that, right.

I am glad that you are recovering, remember that you can eat olive oil and butter and meat and many good things without the fear of gaining weight. Just control your carbs and you will be beautiful all your life. Congratulations for believing in this way of life.

[SadLady]

kat168, fat is good and will not make you fat if you don't eat more than 30 or 40 gr of carbs a day. I eat 90 % fat and I am losing weight, so remember that. You should eat, meat (chicken, fish, etc.), vegetables, salads with olive oil, eggs, etc. without a total fear of gaining weight. What we have been told that fat is bad is a total lie. Read Atkins, read, read, read, it will empower yourself with knowledge and will allow you to disregard those stupid things like fat is bad and you should only eat fruit and vegetables. Eat your meat, it is important for you health.

[SadLady]

Misry1001, what are you craving and how long have you been in ketosis?

[kat168]

is it better than eeating just fruit and veg? i used to eat only fruit and stuff myself with it, but then i wasn't sure if it was making me fat or not..how about things like beans and stuff? i get really confused!!! thank you so much for replying u guys are so nice!

[SadLady]

Yes, it is better than eating just fruit and veg. Actually meat is a great source of protein a vitamins and it is excellent. If you have 8 oz of meat, chicken, etc., a serving of vegetables and a salad with olive oil, you will never gain weight and you will feel great. Now, no sweets, pasta, rice, pizza, etc. You can have low carb cheesecake which are excellent and you would not know the difference. Eating low carb is delicious. I think you are very young, but if you learn how to cook, you can make some very delicious meals that will not put an oz of fat in your body. Fat is stored as fat in the body only in the presence of carbs.

[kat168]

thank u so much ur such an amazing peerson to help me, i get so confused about what to eat and everything...thing is, is that i know i could be verging on the underweight side, but i want to maintain my weight or maybe just lose 1 or 2 more pounds, i dont know if atkins will work for me? because i heard it doesnt work if you dnont want to lose a drastic amount of weight...sorry if i seem annoying and alwyas askings!

[SadLady]

No, Atkins is a healthy way of eating. I has 4 steps. You should not be doing the weight loss step but the maintenance step and you will be fine. It is a way of controlling overweight in people who can not process carbs well, not everyone has that problem, but if you follow the fourth step, you will do fine. Here is the link to Atkins lifetime maintenance http://atkins.com/howto/phase4.html

[JessMess]

to Kat168

I live in a boarding house that serves only really fatty and high carb foods so when i was losing all that weight, for brekkie I ate about 150g Just right cold cereal with low fat milk, carrot, corn, lettuce, tomato for lunch and maybe 50g of vegie for dinner. I think why I lost so much weight is because I did a low fat/Atkins and ate no meat or fat. Yes I lost heaps of weight but I wouldn't suggest doing it this way at all, i was really lacking in vital nutrients (like calcium) i was pale and had weak hair/nails. The book really tells you how to do it properly.

[kat168]

thank you for all your advice- how are u getting along nowadays? hope your better now and atkins is helping you!

are you still doing a low fat version of the atkins, like without the mayo? hope your all okay, and thank you sadlady for all ur help, u have done so well so far!!- i was just looking at ur stats! well done!

[chicksalad]

wow! i am so glad i found this post. i just posted in daily low carb support about my eating disorder. i've been bulimic for about a year, and i am now using low carb as an alternative to purging. i really need a support group, i think we should start one :)

[Blair]

I'm in recovery from anorexia/bulimia and trying to lose my rebound weight - I agree LC has helped me lose me fear of eating regularly and I feel in control again. It's wonderful not to be hungry all the time. I don;t think i coudl ger underweight LC-ing either so i feel safe allowing myself to be on a diet again without getting sick. (I was hospitalised for anorexia at about 35kgs). let me know if you want my e-mail/msn for support chats etc

Blair

[ChaChaGirl]

I have binge eating disorder.

You know...about 5000-6000 calories a day and not sleeping because my stomach hurts. Insomniac as a result. Did this for a month. Went from 110 to 125 lbs.

And I'm failing in school because eating has taken over my life. I just want to stop myself before I put on another 100 lbs.

It's not too late, it's not too late.

[Blair]

It isn't too late. Sometimes with binge eating we feel so guilty about the binge we try not to eat then get really hungry and another binge happens - Atkins helps that because you eat regularly and become less hungry. As for the emotional side keeping a diary of what you are feeling pre a binge helps identify your triggers so you can learn to make choices as to how you resond to them and learn alternative ways of meeting your emotional needs. Again if you want to chat get in touch as I have been through a lot of this in therapy - used to binge eat during my college days.

Love Blair

[kat168]

omg cha cha girl i am exaclty the same as u, i just keep on eating and eating and because i eat so much i give up and think, i might aswell keep on eating today, and start the diet again tomorrow or osemthing...
#
i eat so much my stomach feels like its going to b urst and i can't breathe, is that how u feel? how do other people manage to stick to the diet, and also to tell thsemlves enough is enough...?

also blair, is it okay if i have ur msn? i used to be just like u, and it would be amazing to talk thank u!

[Blair]

Blair-GirlZombie~hotmail.co.uk (Blair-GirlZombie~hotmail.co.uk)

I don't use it as e-mail but I'm on MSN

[ChaChaGirl]

kat168,

like, SERIOUSLY, I eat until I can't breathe. During EVERYONE of my classes, I'll eat a huge scone or muffin, then have fast food, and a BIG dinner. And I don't even do it when I'm with my friends. I eat like a normal "big-eater" with them, but once I'm at home, I'll finish a whole brand new pack of oreos before bedtime...then I can't sleep cuz I think I'm going burst or die of high levels of sugar. I know it hurts...I just don't understand how people do it as well. When I was in highschool, I got to 98 lbs before...that was my lightest.

Blair,

Thanks for your support. What kind of therapy did you get? I'm in college, and I tried to talk to a counselor, but she just sent me to the hospital on campus, had me talk to a specialist, who diagnosed me with depression. That was a shattering day.

Maybe I should download MSN...heheh it might affect my studying though...

[Blair]

I've seen counsellors which didn't do much for me. What helped was CBT. It's a very practical problem solving sort of therapy. You break down your problem and address it through stages of small managable goals.
I've eaten till I can't breath before. What helps is to find what triggers the binge, maybe by keeping a diary of your mood and whats going on before hand, then you can look at dealing with the triggers in alternative ways.

[meteorflow]

omg, I am so glad I found this thread! I've been bulimic for years and I'm finally ready to quit...soooo we'll see how this shebang goes. Keep up the good work everyone!

[Blair]

How is everyone doing?
After starving for so long I can't believe I can eat this much and lose. I have to laugh at the irony of what I put myself through for no reason at all.

Hope you are all good.

Blair

[kat168]

i've gone back to throwin up, but its bad cos i find it hard to throw up now, i can't actually do it, so i end up getting fatter!!
about this low carb thing, anything i put into my mouth i feel guilty and i still can't do it, cos the thing is, i've heard it ionly works for overwieght people? o god! help!

[Slim&Thin]

Since I also used to have the anorexia symptoms before, I truly understand how u are feeling. But I was not bulimia because I've never vomitted or taken the laxative pills. The thing is that I tried most of ways to get out of the eating disorder, such as counselling with psychologist, self-control, talking with parents and so on. I tried to overcome it really hard but I could not eat because I was so afraid of gaining weight. And one day I just happened to wanna try the atkins diet, and I ate lots lots of meats including fatty red meats, eggs, butter, oil, mayo, cheese, all kinds of fatty foods. I was surprised because I did not gain weight, even though I ate those high calorie fatty oily foods all day long (up to 5000kcal/day), and I just kept doing that way for about 1 week. As a result, I gained some weight. I don't blame the atkins diet because I know that I didn't perfectly follow the rule of the atkins diet. Therefore, I gained about 7-10lbs and now I am trying to cut it back again.
What I learned from that experience is that even if you eat more foods than now, you're gonna be fine. Struggling with eating everyday made me so negative, pessimistic and aggressive. I found that I was too skinny and guys do not like skinny girls, they prefer curvy or even chubby girls.
The inside is more important than the appearance. I believe that you already know that young boys really care about the looking, but as they get older and older the standard will change.
And if you're not eating it's like you don't know how it's delightful to enjoy having something that's really delicious. I think it's one of the ways to enjoy the life.
Anyways, I know how u r feeling now, and it is not that easy to get over. But it's really harmful for your health since it could even threaten your life. I hope you'll escape from the invisible prison as soon as possible, just like I did. You have to control the appetite, the appetite cannot control you.
I'd recommend that u see a doctor or counsellor to talk about ur eating disorder problem since you have the bulimia symptoms, too, it could be more dangerous.
Lastly, I'd like to add that u r already looking fine. Do not get afraid to eat, it will never ever hurt you. If u r trying to get attention from someone, losing weight isn't everyting to be attractive. There must be something else. Why don't you look for it? Good Luck!

I just tried to help you, I hope it didn't make u feel bad.

[saratea]

we all feel obsessed. Same boat as you all. My problem is when I restrict or feel out of control or that I overconsumed I fall back into bad habits. In any case Atkins is great for sugar blood control but I'm starting to be less strict as to what I consume and more careful as to how Much I'm consuming. I did WW a while back and I like the flexibility of choices if need be. However my food choices will be atkins (not necessarily Induction). This way, b/c I can consume large amounts of food, I will be able to reduce the latter by controlling my portions and control my cravings and eliminate my binges/purges by controlling my blood-sugar.

[elzbtchb]

For several years in high school and in my first year of college I struggled with anorexia. When my weight drop to 110 lbs (I'm 5'9) I realized that I was killing myself, so I began eating again, thinking I could cure myself. However, I failed to address the emotional reasons as to why I had/have an eatting disorder. As a result I went from being anorexic to being bulemic or rather I starting binging, the purging came later. Now that I'm about 129 lbs, I've started to feel unhappy with my weight and I'm slipping into my old anorexic habits--I know I should get help but I'm scared to.

I do have to warn you all though this whole experience with ED's has been while I've been on Atkins, I have never intentionally strayed from the plan.

I wish I wasn't so obsessed with food and that it didn't matter, there are so many more important things in my life...sigh...It really is a vicious cycle that stems from so many things. For me personally its want of control and poor self esteem. This is the first time I've ever admitted to having a problem with food....

[anna_28048]

i struggled with anorexia and self destructive behaviour all the way through high school. it has screwed up my body / mind / soul to this day.

i found the low carb way a few years ago and it has been the best eating plan for me. it has changed my life and my relationship with food. i now feel in control but i am healthy and getting all the nutrients and fat and protein that my body needs to try and be strong and beautiful.

i still battle terrible self image every day, but as long as i stick to this woe, my eating disorder seems to stay under control.

i have to be so careful though.

good luck
xo

[Mallory08]

i guess i will welcome myself here... i cannot tell you how great the Atkins WOL and WOE is and how much it has changed my life... i was depressed and just didnt eat when i moved away from college after 3 yrs attending b/c my parents moved to mississippi and i came along to graduate from a D-1 school and i already knew "something" was wrong i just couldnt figure it out... one day my parents finally approached me and after a tearfully long episode i went and got help.. at this point i was about 105( i am 5'8)... i hated the help and i hated the meds... it wasn't me i am a very determined a stubborn individual... i cheered for 15 years and tumbled for 6... after quitting all that b/c im 21 now and need to move on with life i got depressed and started getting concerned about my body... while i never listened to counselor etc... i got down to 93 lbs... that was the scariest morning of my life and i knew i had to change... since then i started atkins and i wont lie i gained weight i am now 115 lbs and happy with myself... i can exercise again and can see my muscles coming back... i think the thing for me was deciding for myself i needed to change... i dont want food to run my life or even be a thought in my life... i have a job and it is way more important than food... yes sometimes in bed i think omg did i really fry 3 eggs in butter or add a heaping spoon of mayo to my tuna and yes i did .... i enjoyed it... food is good... it taste good... it has no purpose in life but to keep me alive and i am letting it do that! i am much happier... if anyone wants to chat feel free to get ahold of me but theres my story!