I think my mom may have a problem. She began weight watchers 2-3 years ago and lost 50-60 pounds in less than a year. She's kept it off since but I don't think she eats near enough and she is so worried about her weight and freaks out if she gains a pound or two and thinks it's the end of the world! We went out for lunch yesterday and she ordered a hot turkey sandy. It didn't even look like she ate any of it she took several bites probably. Last night she told me she had half of a sliced chicken breast sandwich and half of a banana. We love mcdonald's vanilla ice cream cones (they are even low fat!) but when we go get one she always orders a "child's size" cone because she says the regular size ones are just too big, which they're not at all. And I'm trying to recover from an ED myself and being around her is really hard on me because I feel like such a pig whenever I eat around her. I think for her age, 54, she's too thin. She doesn't look good and is way too obsessed about her weight. She denies having a problem and says she eats what she wants and is satisfied but I truly think she's lying. I know she has a problem but just doesn't want to admit it. I've told her she needs to eat more and all she says is..."I know". She tries lecturing me on gaining weight and eating more but why should I listen to anything she says when she obviously has a problem herself?? The other day she told me she felt so fat because she had gained 2 pounds and she thought she should just stop eating until it goes away. I just thought to myself...."you don't eat anyway....". I'm really worried about her but when she denies having a problem it just irritates me!! Do you all think she has a problem? What do I do?

I feel for you. I don't know what u can do about it but if any1 else has an answer I'd love to hear it too.

My mom's been anorexic for years - I never realized it until I developed my own stupid ED. Her problems have set the stage for mine - I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive her for the warped problems she's had and has given me throughout my childhood.

Just recently she had gained weight for a while and was looking good and cooking meals and eating normally - and now she's beginning to look too thin to me again. I just want away from her because I know I can't change her, as mean as that sounds. The worst part is - she's trying to make sure my little sister stays thin so that she won't develop curves early on like I did (hence more rediculous body image issues on my part and everyone elses than there ever would have been if I hadn't grown boobs for a few more years. oh well - they're just about gone now). Anyway - while my sister is a dancer and a somewhat lower body weight is ideal for a ballerina, my mom just doesn't realize waht she's doing to my sister's future. That child is going to end up even worse than me and there is nothing that breaks my heart more. If i could take that little girl away to college with me when I leave, I would.

I think someone's gonna have to get seriously ill before my mother wakes up and smells the coffee - someone like me. :( This subject matter is so sad. Our parents turn us into who we are with more than just their discipline - their unspoken actions say so much more and this is what my mother has "Said" to me for years and now I realize the damage. I hate her for it :(