Addiction to Diet Pills-Help please

[leksey]

I have been taking diet pills for about 10 years. I started off with Metacuts to enhance my workouts, then switched to Xenadrine, Hydroxycut, Metabolife, Diet Fuel, Ripped Full among others. Just kind of would go back and forth between all of those depending on what would work for me at the time. I saw a lot of results with the hydroxycut and dropped down to below 100 pounds (i'm 5'3). I felt sick and sad all the time but I looked good. At least in my eyes. I quit taking them because I was scared of the health risks. There were times I would be sitting at my desk and my heart felt like it was going to race out of my chest. After quitting, I quickly gained about 20 pounds which made me even more sad and depressed. That was about the time ephedra was taken off the market. After that I started ordering prescription Bontril off of different internet sites by lying about my weight. I have been doing this for about 7 months now. I am at a decent weight (113) and I workout everyday because I like to. I also try to eat right and do for the most part. My problem is I can't seem to stop taking the Bontril. Anytime I go a day without taking it I feel fat or I feel like it gives me an excuse to eat bad and end up pigging out. I want to be healthy and happy without any type of pills or superficial things but I don't know how to stop. Does anyone have any suggestions? Know of any books on the subject? My friends all say that I have a distorted sense of what a perfect body should look like and that I need professional help. I don't know if that is necessary. I haven't really gone more then a month at the most without having a diet pill so I don't know if you go threw a detox period like people do with they are addicted to alcohol, etc. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Jess75]

Your weight is actually really good for your height. 5ft3, 113 pounds sounds ideal to me. What don't you like about your body? Changing your eating habits for life is the only way to go. You can't rely on pills forever, your gonna have to change sometime. You would be suprised how much better you'd feel when you start to give your body what it needs, like fruits, veggies, lean proteins, nuts, fish, etc,etc. You said you felt sad while you were on those pills....probably because you are depriving yourself from important nutrients that your body needs. Also, those pills can be very dangerous. You may need to wean yourself off them and start educating yourself about healthy living. It make take time ane PATEINCE (patience is key), but you'll notice how much energy you have after giving your body what it wants. Trust me, the more you know, the better you can manage your diet and life.

[LV40]

Originally Posted by leksey

My friends all say that I have a distorted sense of what a perfect body should look like and that I need professional help. I don't know if that is necessary.

I do.

This isn't just about weight for you, it's about body image and self-worth. And I could be wrong, but it doesn't look like you have a whole lot. You only weigh 113 pounds. But yet you think you're overweight. You were/are willing to give up good health just to be thin. You can't stop taking these pills knowing they're bad for you (or at least I HOPE you know they're bad for you). You don't think that's cause for concern?

If you don't get yourself some help, hon, you're gonna land yourself in the hospital.

[Calamity04]

I'm just going to come out and say this, no sugar coating, you are a drug addict. This is not about being overweight. A person doesn't stay on diet pills for 10 years just to lose weight. I think you need to check into drug rehab as soon as possible.

[wish]

I think this goes a little deeper then just being a drug addict. I do think you are addicted, however, I do agree with your friends about you having a distorted view of your body. 113lbs at 5'3" is thin and when you were under 100lbs you were underweight and you said you liked it and felt like you looked good. Sounds like you may need to be evaluated for an eating disorder, lots of people with eating disorders abuse diet pills I know very well that is the case. I have had dealings with eating disorders, without talking more to you I would suggest being evaluated for that first and the latter will come about. Losing weight can easily become addicting to some just like smoking, drinking, and/or overeating.
My suggestion is really to be evaluated first for an eating disorder.

I could be way off but what would it hurt?

wish