Orthorexia: when healthy eating turns against you

[bears]

Thanks so much for taking the time to explain the differences and share lolaburns.

[lexxasaurus]

Dig Ophelia I feel similar, in that my OCD/ED were linked.

My anorexia nervosa was very rooted in my OCD. I wanted to be thin, of course. But I wanted to count calories. I wanted the number on the scale to be "good". I needed the sizes I wore to be certain numbers. I realize now I didn't see how small I was. I actually keep a picture on my phone, so when I start getting obsessive with gym and eating, I can remind myself that obsessions and "perfection" is where that leads me and I was so, so sick.

I remember when it was all lumped into EDNOS, though I've known this term for a while. I'm glad it's getting out there a bit because it's so real, and it's sad to watch. Hopefully people will be able to recognize and find balance before it consumes them.

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Jan 25, 2016 9:07:05 GMT -5 ellipsis said:

Thanks for sharing. I always thought orthorexia had more to do with being gym/workout obsessed (rather than "healthy obsessed"). Is there another term for that?

Gym and exercise obsession, I think, is considered a form of bulimia, in that it's a purge.

[laurack]

Jan 26, 2016 10:17:29 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Jan 25, 2016 9:07:05 GMT -5 ellipsis said:

Thanks for sharing. I always thought orthorexia had more to do with being gym/workout obsessed (rather than "healthy obsessed"). Is there another term for that?

Gym and exercise obsession, I think, is considered a form of bulimia, in that it's a purge.

I used to go to the gym and get on the elliptical and whatever it said I burned was the amount of calories I allowed myself to eat that whole day

so depressing to think back to those days. I wish there was a way to save my daughter from ever feeling bad about her body/falling into eating disorder territory.

[laurack]

lolaburns I'm sorry about your struggles. I agree that when I had disordered eating issues back in my teens and early 20s I didn't care a bit about being healthy. I mean I was happy to eat a burger king kids meal then nothing else that whole day because it was 700 or 800 calories or whatever and that was what I was "allowed".

I merely wanted to finally be fully happy with my appearance in the mirror. Which obviously never happened. Seeing a lower scale number gave me a definite thrill but I was constantly disappointed because I thought "I was SO sure at X weight I'd look perfect" and I never did.

[redwino]

I have a friend who experienced something like this a few years ago. She focused on "clean" eating and dropped a lot of weight quickly. Unlike the people I know who have struggled with anorexia, she was very aware that she had become very thin and was ashamed of it. She said that she didn't like her husband seeing her undressed because her hip bones were protruding. It was like she hated the results of her diet but couldn't stop restricting because it was the only way to be healthy. She has gone to therapy over the last year and is back to a healthy weight, however I know she still struggles with food.