Hey everyone. I have been on the low-end of the normal range for awhile, but I cannot help feeling like I need to lose weight. I compare myself to others frequently, wishing I could be that skinny, even if the person is about the same size as me. I know I have a completely distorted body image, but I do not know how to correct it.

Just last weekend, I visited my family, and one of my cousins said, "Wow, you have gained weight!" I felt so huge and I did not want to eat anything. I know she meant it in a good way, considering I am recovering from anorexia and used to be only 89lbs! However, I cannot get these ED thoughts out of my head.

I have felt overweight ever since I grew out of size 0 jeans! I wish I could view myself more positively, but I may need some support. I have spent a lot of time lately looking up dieting tips, hoping to lose this "extra weight" that I think I have but do not.

Any advice?

hi k2005, well 1st of all if i were you i would politely tell my family members not to mention my appearance, just say it nice and say it hampers your recovery, even if meant in a nice way, to us with ed it is like saying, god have you let yourself go and are piling on pounds, when in reality were not and they only mean it in a nice, positive way. 2nd i assume if you are a recovering anorexic you have been in therapy?? i think you need to visit him or her again, to me it sounds like you are slipping into old patterns of being hung up on being too skinny, and you don't want that to happen !! good luck case

Hey Case! Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have been in therapy, but I discontinued it in January when I returned to college (I had to withdraw from college in September 2005 to seek inpatient treatment for my eating disorder) Following treatment, I began doing really well, but Ed started coming back recently when I finally reached the normal weight range.

As far as my family: yes, I should have said something. I am tired of people commenting about my weight. It seems like, no matter what, someone says something. When I was really thin, people commented about my eating disorder. A customer at work offered me a sandwich, asking me if I eat! Just the other day, my roommate said, "Hey, Kelley, there's a girl in my history class that is even thinner than you! I think she is anorexic!" What is THAT supposed to mean???

In contrast, when I do eat, people still comment. My dad called me a pig when he saw me eating TWO WEEKS AFTER BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL! I set my plate aside and did not want another bite.

Oh my gosh...it's like you took the words right out of my mouth! I feel the exact same way. I feel so big as it is...and the comments from others are not helping. I hate it when people say, "Wow you are looking so healthy now." It's almost as if I want to be labled as "sickly thin." Why do I think this?? I know deep down that it is good to be healthy. But then I look in the mirror and I don't like what I see.

I am now in my target weight range and I am already wanting to lose weight again. I am starting to obsess about my food intake and how to burn off all the calories...etc. It's like a never-ending cycle. I can't win!
How can I get over this and live my life? I'm sorry, I know I am not helping...I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone.

I hope that everyone is doing well! :)

guys, we are all in this together. people always comment to me too, gosh is that all you're having on break, you have no butt in those jeans, heh skinny, and you know that when people keep saying stuff it is because we don't look good, well, healthy to "normal" people and i think they are concerned but they don't realize we think we are fat and it hurts us, their comments. i don't know how to make them stop, i try to ignore them, but it still hurts, it sounds like we all need more therapy, our self image is still very distorted, we can beat ed, and to h**L with "them", they should keep their comments to themselves!!

k 2005

Keep your attitude positive and trying to do all you can to gain towards a healthy weight. Steer clear of all those nasty comments and remember that they are coming from people with a) low self esteem b) ignorance c) lack of respect towards themselves or d) all of the above. ;) You should not have to sacrifice your gains for their stupidity and lack of respect. It is obvious that no matter where one goes in life, one will run into that kind of atmosphere, so be prepared.

How to be prepared? Have strategy. Keep your mind ready, and gain confidence in who you are as a person. That is the key to it all. Or at least, act like you have confidence and fool those idiots who say the stupid comments. Then, 'they' will feel like complete jerks because you won't have a reaction. By reacting, it gives them a satisfaction, if you do not react, or just walk away and smile or change the subject, then it is saying to them- "I don't care about your comments"- and I like who I am! :)

I've been in treatment before, years ago, been in therapy for 16 years or longer, and have been hurt so many times due to the ED. I too weighed at a low weight for a long time, and I wonder what I did to my body. When I began to gain the weight, my SIL, MIL, and mom made numerous comments about the weight gain. It was horrible.

Hang in there. You will get through this. There are many out there who can relate to what you are going through. Keep your head held high and know you have a lot to be proud of. Continue to try to do your best each day.

Coffeegirl

Hey, I totally agree. I do not know how to respond to the comments, and I wish people would keep to themselves. I have had SO many comment--both from being too skinny and from eating. It makes me feel like all people are doing is judging my weight, which only fuels the eating disorder thoughts.

I went through a stage in my recovery where I felt hungry all the time, and when my roommate said, "Gosh, Kelley, You're hungry again?!" I simply reminded her that I am a recovering anorexic and need to eat. She backed off after I explained the situation, but I still felt a little self-conscious. However, explaining the situation is very, very difficult when it is someone I do not know. I went in for a job interview once, and the first thing the employer said was "Wow, you're skinny!" What should I have said then??? I did not take the job.

Wow, this could be a whole separate thread all about the comments people make!

Seriously...it's enough that we get triggered by what we see in magazines, movies, and the 'diet-this' or 'diet-that' crap...but the comments from others just send me over the edge! What can we do to not let these comments bring us down???

Sometimes I feel like I'm in my own little world, because no one understands. Normal people don't constantly think about food and exercise...so they look at me like I am this weird freak person. My family has been way supportive, but even they don't understand all the facets of anorexia. That's why I'm glad that this recovery board is here...it's a little reminder that there are others going through the same stuff as me.

Anyways, I know this may sound a little cheesy (haha) but I'm ganna challenge myself not to listen to the comments that others make. My therapist and my nutrionist always give me assigments or challenges to do each week...So this one I'm ganna try on my own. Wahoo!