How can you become anorexic?

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Answer

Anorexia is not something you can be one day then be normal the next. It stays with you for life, I've thought about it before but some UTube videos changed my mind all together. I thought, 'wow it would be great to be THAT skinny' but then I'd have REALLY bad health. If you want to be anorexic you have to start cutting down gradually. You cant just take one big step and stop eating, you have to cut your food down like skip snack foods and dinner, then miss out your tea, then stop eating breakfast. Make sure you drink lots otherwise your not exactly going to survive very long. Starving yourself is wrong, the best thing to do is eat less and exercise more. Get off your butt and go for a jog, or go swimming or bike riding. Have a try of that BEFORE you decide anorexia is the right thing to do.

If you are reading this in hopes of actually becoming anorexic and not just out of pure curiosity, you are SICK and should seek help!!!

Do you know how psychologically messed up anorexic girls AND GUYS are? Too messed up to purposely inflict it upon themselves. It is something they are usually born with, something that is often genetic or caused by extreme emotional damage. Why the hell would you want to be like that????

You clearly don't understand what it is actually like to have an eating disorder- it is so much more than about being skinny- it's about extreme control and self-esteem issues, and it is an extremely painful thing to go through. Anorexic girls AND GUYS don't enjoy being skinny- they know deep down they are too thin, they know everyone is talking about them, and they pray every day that they had the power to make themselves eat.

It is hard to explain but it's like being an alcoholic. alcoholics hate drinking, but they cannot stop, and it is something that just happens to them (no one TRIES to be alcoholic) and it usually is genetic. Likewise, anorexia is an addiction to the control one feels from their strict eating habits and self-will- NOT to being skinny. A desire to be thin is ONLY the trigger- it's not what keeps them going. Just like partying or the feeling of being carefree is the trigger to alcoholism- not the fuel for the disease.

Becoming Anorexic

Anorexia nervosa is a severe and dangerous eating disorder. It is a form (some say symptom) of a deeper mental illness. You can't just decide to be sick.

Here is more input and advice:

• You can't "become" anorexic -- its something that happens. its the difference between a diet an a obsession. its something you DONT want. if you think life, people, whatever tell you what to do now, you don't want a dictator in your head telling you to eat so little that you come close to death or die.

• It's about control, not will power. Anorexics need to control something when they fell out of control, so they control their bodies. It IS a mental illness. Not eating is unacceptable. Everyone must eat. Beauty is lost when youth is gone, that's a fact. You don't see everyone over 40 miserable and complaining- all the 40+ year olds I know are all fat, funny and party their butts off.

• Anorexia is a form of self-abuse. Whatever is wrong in your life, it can't be that bad that you should treat yourself like that.

• Being anorexic or bulimic is deadly. There's someone out there who cares about you or looks up to you. If you chose to do suicide, how do you think they would feel? It's the same thing. Just remember, there are always people and things to live for. you're here for a reason. DON'T let depression or looks get you down. You're probably a beautiful person on the inside, and you're probably smarter than many people. If you want to lose weight that badly, try the Dr. Phil diet. it works like a charm!

• All you girls AND GUYS who think being anorexic is cool are wrong! Its selfish! More than 80% of guys would prefer curvy chicks, and besides your damaging your life and everyone who is in it, whether you think they care or not, you affect everyone with your stupid mistakes.

• Keep this in mind: anorexics get like cave men as their body struggles to keep warm after losing essential body fat.

• Earlier this year my friend's older sister died from anorexia at age 17. She never made it to a proper woman. To all you girls AND GUYS out there, don't try and be anorexic, you will put all your friends and family through hell, even if you think they don't love or care about you, and worst of all, you will put yourself through hell and could die.

• My name is Esther and I have recently been subjected to my older sister having the disease anorexia, as I look at her sickly thin body it makes me feel disgusted and sick. I am only 13 years old and her making me go though this has been the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my teenage years. What makes me the most scared is that ever since she has had it, it makes me feel further and further away from her. I hardly know my sister any more. She isn't my beautiful loving sister anymore.

• It's true, you do only live once, so don't live it badly by being too skinny. I was anorexic when I was 13. I thought I was fat when I wasn't, and my friends hated me for putting them and myself in a bad situation. I was lucky enough to get help before it was too late. Please, other girls AND GUYS, not only is it mentally painful, but its physically painful as well. I'm 16 and loving it. Don't take your life for granted.

• The people who are against anorexia are not the fat people; they are the smart people. I was diagnosed with anorexia three years ago and I know what it was like to think of yourself as disgusting and horrible looking. Girls AND GUYS I know what it feels like BUT DON'T PUT YOURSELF THROUGH WHAT I HAVE BEEN THOUGH. When I was only 16 I had anorexia. My dad once said something that made me want to sink into the couch I was sitting on and never return. He said that I was shaking on a summer day as I was laying with four wool blankets over my non-existent body. He said I looked frail and white and almost dead. He said that he was so worried about me he needed to put his cheek to my mouth just to check that I was still alive. That week I was put into hospital for eight months. Those eight months were the hardest of my life but I made a almost full recovery. The doctor told me I will never be able to have a baby. Girls AND GUYS, I'm telling you not to do this to yourself.

• Girls AND GUYS, I also had anorexia when I was 15. I had it for 6 years. They were the worst years of my life. I also, was told I couldn't have a baby, and my period was way overdue, then one day it came rushing out like there was no tomorrow, with no signs. I told my doctor about it, he said most girls who have had anorexia get their periods overdue, and they come out big, sometimes with no warning. So girls AND GUYS, you don't want to have the embarrassment and sadness like me and that other girl who just wrote.

• Anorexia is hell honey, believe me you do not want it. If for health reasons or to improve how you feel about yourself you wish to be a bit slimmer eat healthy and exercise a few times a week. Anorexia is not a choice even if it starts like that. It gives an illusion of control to someone who has a low self esteem and lack of control or confidence in other areas of their life. It can kill you or leave you incredibly messed up physically and emotionally.

• Do you want to cry in the dark of the kitchen and lay awake at night battling with insomnia or nightmares when you finally sleep? Do you want to faint in the music store or nearly black out whenever you get out of bed in the morning? Do you want your beautiful hair to become thin and fall out? Do you want to be scared to eat a piece of fruit for fear of the calories and sugar in it? Do you want messed up organs, kidney, liver, heart damaged? Do you want to take away possibility of having a child in future It sounds shocking but its the truth and it gets much worse ... please don't do this to yourself. You can't control it, it takes over your life.
• GIRL AND GUYs- when i was in 5th grade i was way underweight, my friend told my parents that i wasnt eating at lunch and i got so bad at her thats a sign of anerexica. i went to the docter i was 5'4 in 5th grade suppose to weight like 95 or 98, i weighed 85 poundes. on a hot summer day all my friend had tang top on and i had a sweatshirt on they were like arent you hot and im like noo im freezing. being anerexic your cold all the time. now im 5'8 suppose to weigh 130 something this summer i lost 25 pounds in 8th grade weighing in at 102, thats scary. girls and guy it even harder when i have diabetes, type 1. not teh type of being obese. my docter got so worried about me she had to tell me to eat. and knowing me that didnt happen. make a good decison and dont become anerexic.

Answer

Although I agree with some of this, parts of it aren't right.

First, I know quite a few 40+ anorexics, women who are even more anorexic than young girls AND GUYS because they feel their beauty has faded. Demi Moore syndrome, anyone?

Secondly, if I had had anyone who cared about me, I wouldn't have become anorexic. I wanted to be a model (which I did) and I wanted people to pay attention to me. Because at home, nobody did except to yell at me or beat me up. Nobody even noticed I was starving myself (I lost 75 pounds in 6 months) and when I went to my doctor hoping to be diagnosed, hoping someone would help me out of this nightmare, she said there was no way I was anorexic because I was too fat. I lost 10 pounds that week.

When I went to modeling agencies, they told me all I had to do was lose a few pounds, and I'd be perfect. I was a size three, but they told me I had to be a two or less for runway. I was passing out all the time, and I couldn't go any lower in weight.

As for men's opinion . . . have you seen their magazines? Stuff? Maxim? These are the magazines that caused me to want to lose weight when I was a teenager. All the boys used to look at them, and I remember thinking if I could be skinny enough, boys would like me, too. That's how it started, with men. As they say, if it weren't for men, the world would be full of fat, happy women.

Anorexia is a disease, but you can "catch" it. You catch it from a society that is over-obsessed with being repulsively thin. When Angelina Jolie is no bigger than Brad Pitts bicep but she's the hottest lead actress in the world other than Keira Knightley, who is even thinner.

Short of walking around with their eyes shut, how are young girls supposed to escape the unattainable, airbrushed, plastic surgery laden ideal we are forcing upon them?

THIN IS OUT .... FULL FIGURED GALS ARE IN!

The above poster hit it right on, but if you had been paying close attention the actors that are very thin (such as the Olsen twins and many others) are coming out of the closet and refusing to lose weight for certain roles. If you noticed in the movies you'll see chats on actors that have had to lose weight for the role they are playing (some look like they've been starved for years) to putting on 50 lbs. or more. Nicholas Cage had to spend a year of heavy weight training for his role in "Ghost Rider" and I heard him talk about it on a program. So it's no wonder actors (especially females) have a weight problem.

Not one girl I know of has ever asked young guys what they think of too thin girls because I have heard several young men talk and say it annoys them at how thin they are and it really irritates them when they take the girl out and she picks at a salad. Most guys prefer a girl with a little meat on their bones, paying attention to him and not how they look as they pass a window or mirror. It makes the girl appear vain.

Get those thoughts out of your head about losing weight and realize you are better than that. Get involved in extra classes to better yourself, a hobby or try volunteering and get your mind off yourself! It's what is inside a person that is more important than their bodies.

Answer

I applaud of above for coming out and being honest about anorexia and good for those that did something about it. I know only too well how hard it is to change bad habits and grow self esteem and realize there are other ways to control one's life besides not eating.

Anorexia KILLS!!!! A young woman will stop her periods (bad sign) when she is Anorexic. Then the brain starts to starve from the lack of oxygen, the heart labors (can have a stroke or heart attack), kidneys, bladder, etc., start to give in and YOU DIE!

I know the above is true because my 17 year old Goddaughter is going through this and I've talked to her doctor (with her mother's consent.) My Goddaughter knows what she is doing isn't right and doesn't want me to know so I don't say a word but keep in good touch with her mother and also help her mother out with any information that may help her. The bottom line is, the PERSON WITH ANOREXIA HAS TO WANT TO HELP THEMSELVES! My Goddaughter just started putting on a few pounds and I began to sigh with a little relief (didn't let my guard down), but it was obvious she has not convinced herself to keep eating or that she can die if she doesn't because she refuses to have a mini fridge (like the other students) in her room. All she does is pick at a salad and a few vegetables, no meat, nothing! She is now drinking way too much water. Her mother and I are at the end of our rope, but, we pray, we hope that her peers may get through to her because no one else is. I want to talk to her so bad, but will not because I'm afraid it will send her over the edge if she knows that my husband and I know about her. When she's around us I never let her see me watch what she is eating, but I am onto all the tricks of hiding food or making less look like more. All that's left is praying hard and hoping that either doctors can get through to her or her peers starting telling her like it is.

Answer

'First of all-anorexia is NOT something you are born with or is genetic. Anorexia is a mental disorder, classified as an abnormal psychological behaviour. Although it has been known to occur mostly in females, but not entirely, and is more common now then ever before due to pressure in our society to be thin. Anorexia, in a world of no control, obsessive tendencies, and a self-distortion is a way girls(mostly) will try to cope and find some sense of control when everything else seems to be spiraling out of control. The two things an anorexic can have control of is their weight and what they eat.

Answer

In response to some of the answers above, some times there is nothing wrong with skipping a few meals. Especialy if you are overweight. Food is not as important as we've been taught to believe it is. Big corporations have taught us that bigger portions and more food more often is healthy when in fact overeating (as most of us do without really realizing it) is just as dangerous as eating nothing at all.

And all of those side effects do not occur instanty. Organ failure and loss of your period are side effects that occur when your body has no source of energy. If you are overweight your body actually can sustain itself for about two weeks with absolutely no soild food before you start to become malnourished. when you don't eat all you are really missing out on is vitamins.

And if you think that I'm wrong take a look at Bariatric Surgery. Gastric Bypass, a widely accepted medical procedure, basically makes the person anorexic. You can eat very little and have to drink a lot of water and endlessly take vitamins. It makes the patient temporarily anorexic to where thay can barely eat anything but within the next few years the stomach will stretch back out to a more regular size and the patients do not become as bony as many anorexics.

I know and understand the diet of a Gastric Bypass patient because my mother just had it and I have to give her her medicine and her food.

Food is not as essential as we've been led to believe. Back in the day it was normal for people to go a day or two without eating. And when you did get to eat it was nowhere near the gargantuan portions we serve up today. And it turns out all the people of that time are much healthier than those of later years. The people who are living into their Eighties are those who were born in the late 20's early 30's. But those who were born in the 70's can barely make it past their Fifties. and even in the 70's the portions were smaller than they are today.

I do accept anorexia and I feel it is the person's own choice to become anorexic. Nothing you can say or do will ever change that peroson. You have to wait until they have hit their own personal low. Once a person hits rock bottom than they are open to alternatives. but until the then the person is closed off. esecially in anorexia where it's all about control.

To those of you wanting to become anorexic I implore that you listen to your own heart above all else. If this is the path that you think is the best for you then go ahead. But please consider the outcomes and ask your self, "Is it worth it?"

Remember, the road to anorexia is a long a treacherous one and unfortunately, there is no turning back.

I know sometimes you feel fat or big thighs or big arms cause your looking in the magazines and see the skinny armed, leged girls. There supposed to have that look! Everyone is totally different in their skin. Love the skin your in dont destroy it. You are beautiful and I know it sounds like total bull but you are dont let some stupid image destroy you. Your more then that.

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Wow well im a bit shocked to be honnest as iv been wannting to be annorexic for ages im 14 and as i just wanted more attention and would of loved to be a model as every body always says i should be a model because im tall and skinny so iv been wanting to become annorexic. and also to prove to my mum that i could do it as every time i say id like to be a model she kind of laughs to show that im to ugly or something.

but when i saw that bit that said if you want to become annorexic you are sick that just stabbed write into me i am shocked to be honest as i was so caught up just thinking about my self, i must be soo soo selfish. who ever wrote this you are an insperation and should be proud of yourself as you have probobly saved peoples lives. xxx

(literally)

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Anorexia is a classified mental illness with an entry in the DSM IV, which is the psychiatric manual used to diagnose mental illnesses.

I have had anorexia and I have struggled with this eating disorder for 25 years. It doesn't just magically go away when you get thin. I've been hospitalized 4 times. Each time I thought I would never struggle wioth anorexia again, but still the struggle continues. I am now 41. I don't want to look anorexic. I don't want to be fat. I am uncomfortable with my body at a time in my life when I should be living it up and having fun. Anorexia has interfered with my relationships, my education, my career, and my health. I've lost best friends over this disorder. People can't handle it when they try to help you and you want to stay the skinny way you are. I am lucky I have survived this long. I don't plan on becoming anorexia again, but many of the traits of anorexia are still with me because they are inborn. I want to enjoy eating. I want close relationships. My eating disorder -- yes, even though I am not skinny I still have the eating disorder -- keeps me from these things. My response to these disappointments in life is to want to lose weight. I have also wanted to die. When I lose enough weight to be anorexia, I am not happy. I am depressed, anxious, and suicidal. Don't let airbrushed images fool you. Models who are so thin that are at anorexic weights are cold all the time. They are damaging their body (osteoperosis) and in a few decades they are going to be paying for it with bodily ailments they cannot cure.

Anorexia is the wrong choice. I've lived it and I regret it. I've lost much more than just weight. I have no career because I was in and out of hospitals. I've lost friends and I don't have any close relationships. I've never had a romantic partner. I am lonely and depressed. This is a result of having an eating disorder. Go to NEDA's website to learn more. (National Eating Disorder Association) I think it is www.neda.org

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I am 12 years old, and am on the brink of becoming anorexic. I'm 5' 5" 1\2", and I weigh in at 100 to 102. That's around 15lbs underweight. When I had my last check-up, the nurse told me I didn't need to lose anymore weight. I didn't believe her, so I continued being depressed and eating less and less each week. I went to camp last summer and lost about 5lbs (that was when I was 120 on average). Then, a week before Thanskgiving 2008, I got sick with the stomach flu and lost 7lbs that day. And I'm to were I am now. I will not allow myself to lose any more weight. It takes a lot of self control, dicipline, and most importantly: LOGIC!

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First answer by Optimistichild92. Last edit by Ripplewind. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 93 [recommend question]