Hey! This is my first post...and I'm just curious as 2 what the warning signs of anorexia are? Is it completly not eating? Going for weeks, months without food. Or could it be just eating one small meal a day? My friend seems to be losing weight rapidly...at least 20 pounds over the past 2 months. I do see her eat, but usually only once a day. If you are anorexic or have beaten it. What did your days and weeks look like?
Any info would be of great help.

Hey!
I think u will get a better knowledge of warning signs etc if u search for it on Yahoo! or something like that..there's tonnes of sites to give u this info http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gifx

Yes, thanks...I have looked on the net. But I really wanted to know from someone who's been there. Expereinced it all.
Thanks again

Hi terrible_ static.

Does your friend go to the bathroom after they eat. If so He/she could be froceing them selfs to throwing up what they just ate.When i was anorexic i would eat just one meal a day but then i would force my self to get sick or i would take laxatives 1 hour before i ate that way what ever i ate would just go right though me. you might wan't to keep an eye on your friend to see if she is taking any pills before they eat. And if they are then you have your answer as to why they are looseing so much weight.Being anorexic is a very hard road to go down. What ever you do don't tell your friend that she looks like she as gained weight. That will throw her in a painc stage. She then will try and loose more weight. When i was anorexic the more people toald me i looked like i was gaining weight the more i thought i had to loose. I still to this day think that i am fat i only weigh 130.I would like to get down to 99 pounds i am 5'2 i still have a fear of geting fat. so maybe your freind thinks the same way . Girls and women always wan't to be skinny. After all that is what this world is pushing movie stars to be like.And so other girls see that and that is the way they think they must look like.
I hope i have helped out Let me know how things work out.

Josephine http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

[This message has been edited by Josephine (edited 09-14-2003).]

unless she was really overweight before, I would be concerned about someone loosing weight taht quickly. One meal a day is too little.

Thanks Josephine and Mochi...It's awful the things woman do to feel good about themselves! I've been monitoring my friend very closely...because I'm so worried. She eats a little meal ( small piece of chicken and a salad without dressing) and that is all I ever see her eat. She doesn't go to the bathroom afterwards but she is shrinking before my eyes. I don't talk about it, because I don't want her to keep even more to herself. She probably weighed about 140 a couple months ago...now I'd say she's less than 120! Just Guess-timating! She does eat this meal everday, but that is all I ever see her eat! Once in a while she'll drink those specialty coffee's from Starbucks...non-fat caramel maccheto? and that is it! Obviously this is not a lot of calories, but is this full blown anorexia? Or just a far 2 strict diet?

Hey,
I like your friend started eating only one meal a day, it is only for breakfast in the morning. I know it is unhealthy but I didn't see another way. I excercise nonstop and I was always a healthy eater. i never really drank soda or had candy and I learned so much about diets and food that i think i could be a nutritionist. That makes it all the more reason why I shouldn't be doing this but I can't seem to help it. It seems like weight and body has takin over my mind.
I understand totally what your friend is going through. I agree that if someone were to tell me that I'm gaining weight (like some people do) that it just makes me feel terrible. I'm trying to get help for myself and what I would suggest for you, is that maybe you should start talking more about people that aren't necessarily fat but aren't "supermodel" thin, when you talk to her. Sometimes its just seeing a picture of a surper skinny Christina Agulera that will get me upset. but, when I hear about people with curves and how pretty it is to NOT be bone skinny, then I start to feal better. What ever you do don't yell at her or do something like shove food in her face and make her eat. That will only cause her to get even more depressed what she is going through.

Maybe that would help.

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"I'm tryin"
Urbanity

i dont think anyone realizes the dangers of not eating..it may get you skinny for awhile, but once you start eating again, the weight comes back 3 times as fast...eating normal seems like a good idea! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Anorexia is a mental disease that soon becomes physical. It is a distorted body image, thinking you're fat when you're not, and low self esteem. Seeing the weight fall off just makes it worse on the "sick" person.
Please talk to your friend. Don't be alarmed if she gets irritated and hateful. Denial sucks. She will soon realize (hopefully) that you only had her best interest at heart. Good luck.

It's so nice to hear of a friend that cares!! You're handling this in the perfect way by coming to a board etc. Read the book WASTED by: MARYA HORNBACHER It's a great read for anyone I promise. Read this and then tell your friend its a great book your doctor told you to read it or something (not implying anything) and maybe she will-it's a real comfort. you can go to something-fishy.org......thanx its nice to know theres still ppl like you out there ;( http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

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...In my field of paper flowers, and candied clouds of long ago, I lie inside myself for hours,and watch my purple sky fly over me....