Anorexia

    I am so glad that I am not anorexic!  The other day, I was waiting for a table at a restaurant and this anorexic woman walks in.  She's wearing high heels and a dress that shows off her bones and flabby skin.   It's terrible.  It's so sad how she thinks that is attractive or the least bit healthy.  She's oblivious to the fact that she is as thin as a stick and not fat in the least.  People do not stare at her because she is pretty, they stare at her because she is only skin and bones.  It's that obvious.  What is she doing at a restaurant anyway?  She's not going to order anything except maybe water...it's too bad. 
   
    I don't understand how people can deprive themselves of food.  I love food too much to forget about it completely.  It's so sad that people would sacrifice this basic necessity in order to become one of the many "beautiful" models in Cosmo magazine. 

    Watching her, I was very proud of myself because I appreciate my body and the luxury of food.  While she is out putting on make-up, I am filling up on a meal that is beneficial to my body. 

Oh...what a sight it was.  eek.  I will never do that to myself. 

What were you so proud of yourself for??? You sat there and judged someone who never crossed your path or said one word to you. On top of that, you have no idea of her physicial condition. Good for you megpie. You passed scrutiny on a stranger! You are absolutely ridiculous.

You really need to work on your perception of people, or at least how you relay you opinions. This one came across as crude and self-righteous.

I think that a post on the dangers of anorexia in general would be more benefical to our community, or maybe a story of someone you actually know. So in a sense I agree with shill, but megpie I understand how seeing someone like that, who you assumed has an eating disorder, would make you proud that you chose to do this the healthy way. Congrats on being healthy.

As a former anorexic, I really think your post was, sorry to be blunt, shallow.  What was going on that woman's mind (if she was in fact anorexic) was a lot of pain, turmoil, self-criticism, denial, obsession...I could go on and on.  She judges herself every second of every day.  She doesn't need it from you as well.

Believe me, I love food too--but I also hate it.  Anorexia is a complex disease, and it shouldn't be written off in such a way.

and... are you sure she's anorexic?  believe it or not, you can get that thin from eating 1200-1500 cals a day and exercising... creepy, no?

she could also be bulimic, who knows?

did you actually just see her put on makeup instead of eat?  who are you to assume she's shallow?  she's probably filling a very deep void in her life (one of the most common reasons for anorexia is abuse, physical or sexual) by fasting, just like a lot of people fill it with food.  the only difference is, you can survive BED and may not survive anorexia.

anyhow, yeah, not to attack you, but we jump all over people who rag on "fatties" here, we're going to get in your face for ragging on "skinnies" too.  eating disorders... yeah, everyone who doesn't have one and has never had one, do by all means be glad you don't.  but please don't judge the people who do. 

other hand, yeah, sometimes i'm walking down the street thinking "hey, glad I'm not a drunk street kid" which doesn't so much pass judgement on them as point out the good things in my life.

Not to jump on the bandwagon (but I will)? I agree with the consensus so far that you should not be judging her like that.  If she is anorexic, it is a disease.  It is to the point where she cannot control it. 

Being healthier than her and not looking as thin and bony does not make you better than her. 

The start of eating disorders is typically seen around thoughts of acceptance and the person believes others think of her.  They get it stuck in their heads that everyone sees them as fat, then they think they are fat.  They believe they are judged.  By passing such judgement on her, you are simply part of the problem, not the solution.

Do you also treat people with other diseases in the same way?  Oh look, that guy has aids.  Look how horrible he looks, look how thin and sickly he is.  Thank god I am not like that, I?m sure people are judging me better than him.

Well I only have one thing to say.  ASSUME.

ASSUMING MAKES AN:     Ass u me

oh man, here we go again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chill out and stop it before another one get's out of hand.

I agree.  Discussion closed.

Okay, I was way harsh. It is just a touchy subject. I have the feeling the original post wasn't intended to sound the way I took it. Everyone has the right to be proud of being here, they just need to remember at one point they too were probably out of control in some way. Alright, now I feel better. I hate to have started the attack.  

Unfortunately this post has really sadden me... It's great that you apperciate what you have... but you know what if she truly does have an eating disorder you know what she was probably thinking? The same thing as you, but switched up, or maybe she was thinking the same thing as you... either she was thinking, "I'm so glad I have the will power not to look like that" (to anyone of a healthy weight or more), or maybe she was thinking "I wish I could eat, and not worry about anything, just once just eat" how do you know inside she wasn't dying...

or even yet, maybe she just has an incredible metabolism... I have friends that eat anything and everything and they still look like a stick... and trust me, they don't have an eating disorder...

I wish people could just be comfortable with themselves without having to feel better than someone else... agh...

Take Care

I thought I might also mention that a lot of other waisting diseases causes people to be really thin - sometimes cancer, AIDS, severe TB. It is so important we don't "diagnosis."

I don't think people who are anorexic think they look good. In fact, they are generally miserable and are are in need of great compassion.  Most people I know who have gotten anorexia are the sweetest, most thoughtful people around.  

I think saroful said exactly what was on my mind and  I said I wasnt going to post on this but I just want to say.  my best friend is 5'10" and weighs 108lbs.  she is not anorexic or bulimic.  She is the best person in the absolute world and an awesome cook! She does look like she has an ED but if you saw her mom and sisters you would  see its all genetics.  she has a  high metabolism and just cant gain as bad as she would want to. she has 2 kids too!

None of us like to be judged or looked down on by strangers or friends.  Next time anyone wants to talk about someone being too thin or too fat, take a look at yourself.  How did you get the way you are??? Everyone needs to close their mouths and open their eyes.    ALL OF US.  Megpie- you may have not meant that to come out the way it did and probably thought it would be a good post but thats what happens sometimes.  Sometimes what we think is a good idea isnt.

c-ya guys

I love you, slappy!  We also have a girl here at work who is in and out of the hospital b/c her body will NOT metabolize nutrients for some reason.  She's skinny as a rail and she hates it, and she's weak all teh time and really unhappy.  I think our lesson for today is just to be happy with what we have and be the best and healthiest us we can be (which was the point of meg's post, i think, it was just maybe nopt worded teh way she would have said it if she'd been thinking).

shill, thanks, i love your second post (i liked the first one, too, but i recognize that i'm a little defensive occasionally!)

eating disorders are NOT a choice.

No one chooses to deprive themselves of food, people take the priveldege of being able to eat anything at all for graunted.

Im sorry but im not very happy about that post, i felt like it offended me

:(

I completely agree with each and every post but to everyone reading and posting here lets be a little more understanding of megpie800, i do not think that this person meant to be taken the way their post has.

maybe what they are trying to say is that they just do not understand anorxia (i think that is clear).  I think  it is hard for people who are not anorexic to understand, especially if you are an overeater or binger.  I think that we should also commend the person in the post for feeling good about themselves.   I would have to say that when i started on this site i had many questions about how people gained so much weight because I am not one of those people - I have different reasons for being here.  But I asked and learned maybe of your stories and things became much more clear to me.

I checked out megapie800's profile and it does not appear that they have been on the site very long to really understand all the different fasets of this community and how each person has a story.  who knows what this person story is. 

Lets change the tone of this forum and make it about educating megapie (i think many of you are doing that) as opposed to pushing them away.  clearly there is a learning curve here.

very well said dc.  I  was thinking that too.  We dont know what she was trying to get across.  I know United always has some good info on ED. 

we all know about our words getting screwed up during our post

IM off to the farmers market now....49 min wait- check my diet log to understand.

I'm very sorry...I didn't mean to offend anyone.  I judged  a  complete stranger and assumed the worst.  I shouldn't have said the things I
did.  I apologize.

megpie, thank you.  That was incredibly sweet and mature of you!  so often we get in these weird little forum catfights and it ends with everyone being defensive... thank you for understanding.  And yes, you're right, you should be glad you're not anorexic :)

LOL tough crowd

megpie, you are a good person. it takes a bit of courage, even when it is "faceless", to acknowledge, admit to, and apologize for things that offend others. thank you.