Eating Disorders

[Tattoogirl4]

Does anyone battle an eating disorder or have a inspirational recovery story? I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on competitive Bodybuilding or Figure. Do you think it helps or hurts people with a history of disordered eating. Bulimia in particular.

[WannaGetLean]

Originally Posted by Tattoogirl4

Does anyone battle an eating disorder or have a inspirational recovery story? I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on competitive Bodybuilding or Figure. Do you think it helps or hurts people with a history of disordered eating. Bulimia in particular.

If you have an eating disorder and are trying to compete.. that is going to be tough. You NEED every morsel of food for your body, and if you are going to throw it up your not going to be getting great results. Your body needs food. I hear you on the ED. I went through both and after about 2 years of starving myself on lettuce/coffe/salsa.. etc.. I said enough was enough and i quit one day cold turkey and have never looked back!

I think the person who is wanting to compete needs to settle their issues w/ the ED first before competing.. thats just my opinion though.

[trace621]

I suffered from ED in highschool and a bit through college. It was tough in the beginning but it got better after awhile and the hardest part that I had to deal with is the body image. My eyes saw one thing while my brain told me another. I've always had low self esteem, all that jazz and NEVER liked how I looked. I tried working out over the years but once again didn't think I was good enough or my body could never look like the girls I saw in the magazines....just couldn't happen for me. Through prayer I slowly started realizing who I was and started to love myself. I met this amazing guy who thinks I am beautiful. He taught me that I could have a healthy body and still look great. Eventually I realized inorder for me to like myself on the inside, I need to make a change on the outside, I am the only one that can make myself feel better (in and out). So I started reading success stories on BB.com and got inspired. I joined the site and in the process of beginning to really focus and believe in myself that I can finally feel good and look in a mirror and smile....gonna be one long long journey.

IMO, someone with ED has more of a mental disease if you will about their body image than health. Granted yes, being healthy and eating clean plays a huge role but unless someone suffering from ED can learn to love themselves AS IS with no makeup, no surgery, no lifting, nothing...getting involved in training is gonna be one hell of a battle and will hurt alot (emotionally) b/c once they see a change, they'll diet more, lift more, over do it completely, etc etc cause they will see one thing while their mind tells them another. If they do train and finally see the beauty they posses and get healthy and achieve their goals then thats the best thing that could of happened to them and honestly saved their life!! Cause it not only gets them healthy but heals their mind and finally FINALLY gives them some peace. I should know...its happening for me

I hope that made sense, lol

[Tulsa28]

I used to suffer from bulimia! I conquered it myself by getting into working out and reading everything I could find on nutrition. It was short lived, maybe 1-1 1/2 years. I was having alot of stress/ stomach issues at the time so it was easy to hide and no one knew about it.I would binge in private on stuff I wouldn't normally let myself have(icecream,cake,processed stuff, which I would drink lots of water with so it was easier to get it up))I never went to counseling or anything. I consider myself lucky b/c I know for most people its not that simple. Looking back I can't believe I fell into it.Especilly since know I'm so concerned on losing LBM. So in my case this lifestyle and the knowledge I acquired saved me from this disorder.

[heidismommy]

I struggled with anorexia from the age of 14 until very recently, both with the restrictive type as well as binge/purge types of the disorder (remained clinically anorexic throughout due to my very low body weight). I've written a bit about my struggles in my journal here, so feel free to look through it. I've recovered, but don't know if I'll ever be recovered enough to compete. From a physical standpoint I know I could do it, but I think it may be a huge trigger for me, at least that is how it seems now. I've finally let go of letting numbers control me and with competing I'd have to become somewhat rigid with them yet again. I don't think that would be a true recovery if I did that. Maybe at some point, but not yet.

I think it's possible for someone with a history of eating disorders to compete and be okay. There are actually quite a few people on this site that have battled them and have chosen to compete (and have done well). But it's important that the eating disorder is really under control, otherwise there is a risk for relapse. All the numbers (body fat, macros, etc) can start to mess with a person's head if they're not careful.

[twinnett]

I struggled with anorexia/ exercise bulimia for years. I have gained about 30# and am now working on getting lean and fit without being obsessive and unhealthy!!!

I used to be pretty overweight and I started using lifting and eating clean as just another form of disordered eating. I really want to compete in the future, but I will put on the brakes if I find myself resorting to old patterns!

[perf_ckt]

i had an eating disorder from about age 13 which came to its worst around ages 16-17 and is subsiding now (age 20).

twinnet, heidismommy and a wealth of others on the board are all inspirational to me in helping me to stop obsessing about weight, calories, macros etc and just trying to be healthy and fit.



i do think that bodybuilding can become a new ed obsession on its own. but thats why there is such a great female community of support.

[trainwithrae]

I don't think anyone with a history of eating disorders should be competing. It's an arena that can trigger behaviour again and also foster eating disorder like eating habits.

[WannaGetLean]

Originally Posted by trainwithrae

I don't think anyone with a history of eating disorders should be competing. It's an arena that can trigger behaviour again and also foster eating disorder like eating habits.

Hmm.. I disagree w/ the first sentence but understand where you are coming from. I think it all depends on the person. I've had an eating disorder and it's behind me and yes I will compete, in figure

[Ballet Teacher]

I think it probably isn't a good idea, unless the ED is will behind you.

I began recovering from anorexia/ bulimia in 2004. By 2006 I was doing much better but looking back I was definitely not recovered. I had to leave BB.com and stop focusing on what I was eating and what I looked like. I was using fitness as a way to continue on with the ED is a "healthy: way. When I started trying to get pregnant, that really pushed me into full recovery mode. Now, I finally feel ready to come back here again, although even now I don't think competing would be the right thing for me.

[Mumof2]

I think it depends on what your motivation truly is and what state of recovery or not you are in. I think some people may turn their attention to BB/figure as another facet of their ED. I think also that BB etc could be very triggering for a person - the whole numbers obsession, guilt over not eating cleanly, not making it to the gym, measure/weighing too often etc. For several years I avoided the gym as I couldn't go without being obsessional and unhealthy in my goals. Now that I am in a much stronger place and have my ED more under control, I feel that focusing on building muscle etc is a good thing for me. Personally I don't know if I could ever handle competing, but I do believe that a person with an ED history can turn their focus on their body and what they eat into a healthy and positive thing. It is always a bit of a battle for me, but for the first time in my life I'm actually trying to gain weight and I'm most days I'm ok with it. Yesterday I discovered my biceps had grown 3 cm in a month. Now usually a body part getting bigger would totally distress me, but I was so stoked! I couldn't wait to tell my trainer. IT was a real break through for me to feel like that. I didn't care that my arms looked bigger, in fact I love it!

[imperfectly_lou]

Originally Posted by trainwithrae

I don't think anyone with a history of eating disorders should be competing. It's an arena that can trigger behaviour again and also foster eating disorder like eating habits.

I have to agree with this in 99% of cases. There are a few select people I know who have recovered and have absolutely no issue with going down the competition road, but in general, I think it is best avoided. I have been 99% recovered for quite a number of years now. I will never compete because I don't think it is something that is healthy in the mind or body for someone with a history of an ED. I even have stopped counting calories in the past for fear of becoming too obsessive.

[WannaGetLean]

To each their own.. If you have a dream follow it.

[cleanfreak]

I have an eating disorder (binge eating) and am in therapy for it. I've never really considered myself in recovery; it is something I deal with on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. For me, working out and being anal about my food is therapeutic for me because it is a distraction and also a way to stay focused on the results of healthy behaviors. For a long time I was working like an olympian in the gym but never seeing the results because of bingeing. Now I am starting to see the results because of my hard work in the gym and on my eating patterns, and I want to keep that up.

EDs are hard; they suck the life out of you. But everyone is different. If you feel that you can compete while keeping an eye out for bad patterns, go for it. We are all motivated in different ways. Just stay aware of your behaviors and be honest with yourself about what they mean.

[SophieM]

I think it depends on a lot of factors. For example:

Has the cause of the ED been dealt with? If so, maybe the counting won't bother you as the reason for the ED no longer exists.

How serious are you? I've competed but more for the fun of it than anything else. I didn't radically change anything, didn't count calories, etc. Did I win? No, but I had fun and that's what mattered to me.

What kind of contest? I wuld think BB'ing would be safer than fitness or figure because of the expectation of lots of muscle. You can't/won't have that if you're restricting, b/p'ing, or tearing yourself down by overexercise.

As has been said, it depends on the person.

[WannaGetLean]

Bodybuilding would be much harder than figure, you have to get even LEANER than you would for figure, figure is a little softer, still work though. If you have the right nutrtionist and trainer you won't need to over do cardio. Also you have to come up w/ a posing routine w/ music as to figure you walk out hit a few poses and that's really about it.

But yes all depends on the person, I just dno't think anyone should say no you shouldn't do sometihng if it's something you want to do

[Maria316]

I developed an ED based on control issues. I really didn't care what my body looked like, thats why when people started commenting on my body it didn't phase me, thats not where I got my high from, it was the control. I dropped down to 62lbs and the doctors gave me 10 days to live 14 max. I lost nerve function, started getting blurred vision, never slept because I just knew I wouldn't wake up. To make a long story short I pulled through but it did take some time and major life changes.

[WannaGetLean]

Originally Posted by Maria316

I developed an ED based on control issues. I really didn't care what my body looked like, thats why when people started commenting on my body it didn't phase me, thats not where I got my high from, it was the control. I dropped down to 62lbs and the doctors gave me 10 days to live 14 max. I lost nerve function, started getting blurred vision, never slept because I just knew I wouldn't wake up. To make a long story short I pulled through but it did take some time and major life changes.

Congrats girl!! Amazing story and way to come out of it! Most ED's are all about control.

[Maria316]

So true. I wish more health officials, Dr.'s etc..... realized that. One of the main reasons it took me so long to recover was because people kept trying to treat me for anorexia or bulemia when that wasn't the case at all. I would get so aggrevated by peoples ignorance, for lack of better word, that I would just shut myself off completely to anyone's advice or help, even those who might of actually had some insight as to what was going on. I had to get right with myself and God because at the end of the day those are the only definate things I have.

[WannaGetLean]

Originally Posted by Maria316

So true. I wish more health officials, Dr.'s etc..... realized that. One of the main reasons it took me so long to recover was because people kept trying to treat me for anorexia or bulemia when that wasn't the case at all. I would get so aggrevated by peoples ignorance, for lack of better word, that I would just shut myself off completely to anyone's advice or help, even those who might of actually had some insight as to what was going on. I had to get right with myself and God because at the end of the day those are the only definate things I have.

Sometimes we have to learn things the hard way.. but in the end it's a great lesson learned and character builder, congrats again girl and I hear you completely! I luckily didnt have to get professional help, I got it in my mind one day that this all had to stop..and it did, cold turkey! I had been ana for about 2 years..and the bulimia part was occasional usually when I was really stressed.. but I knew i couldn't continue life like that..and so I stopped(April 2006)..and here I am today.

[trainwithrae]

ED's are never behind you, it's something you will have to manage likely the rest of your life. With therapy though I think SOME can compete. Would I recommend it if I were the therapist? NO. Anything like competing in figure/bb that can easily trigger an ED again would be a big no no.
And to someone who said figure is less in terms of difficulty/strictness than bb think again. Take a look at the pro level figure and you'll see other than size that conditioning in many cases is very similar.

[SophieM]

I don't agree that ED's are never behind you. I do think one can recover and recover FULLY. We'll agree to disagree on that.

As for the bb'ing vs. figure/fitness comment, that was me. It was based off of sitting and eating with competitors from the Arnold Classic and hearing/seeing the difference in how they ate. I've never heard a BB say they couldn't make it through their routine because their cals were too low but I've heard more than one fitness competitor say that.

While conditioning might be simliar, the BB is going to need to eat a lot more than the fitness/figure competitor to maintain their size/muscle. Watching competitors binge after the show making comments like "I can finally eat again" has all but turned me off to competing in fitness and figure.

Just my observations.

[Maria316]

I definately agree that people can overcome anything, you can be healed. To think that you will always have some monkey on your back can sometimes cause you to just give up, throw your hands in the air and say "Whats the use, it'll never go away anyways". Not true. My best friend gave me the best piece of advice once " Everytime you feel like you want to be in control....realize at a deep level you have no control over anything, and never have.( God does) Relax into the big ocean and let it guide you where you need to be. I gaurantee if you do this, you will almost see the angels surrounding you through your life. The more you surrender your life, the more help you will recieve along the way."

[Mumof2]

I've always liked to think that one can totally recover from an ED,but more often I feel that it is like being an addict - you are always in a state of recovery, you are always an alcoholic etc. I find the hardest part is that unlike alcohol or drugs, which to recover you stop using, with an ED you still have to eat....and you should also be exercising for good health. Of course Eds aren't really about food at all....or how much you weigh....
Just my thoughts on the subject

[cleanfreak]

I don't think you ever really recover from an ED (although we are all different, and recovery has a different meaning for each of us). For me, I see it as any other addiction, like alcohol or drugs, which you always have to be on guard for. I've been in phases where I thought I was "cured" only to find out that nope, not even close.

But as someone else already said, the hard part is that people with EDs have to face the enemy every day. You can live without alcohol or drugs, but not food.

I see an ED as something you manage, not escape.

[user904904904904]

I've always had an eating disorder. The type has changed depending on my body image, self control, and emotional state at the time.. but I've been a binge eater, I've been an anorexic, and I've been bulemic (I threw up a tuna pita a few days ago, actually) .. I have SUCH a sensitive digestive now from all the bad things I've done to it over the years..
Bodybuilding seems to be the only thing that keeps my eating habits healthy and stable.
Now I HAVE to eat to fuel my body. My eating has a purpose. I know that if I eat that chicken salad, I'm going to look better than if I didn't and ate ice cream later and then threw it up.. you know?

When you get that strong strong urge to eat eat eat and then throw up.. drink some water and workout. I find it gets my mind off of it.

Anyone with disordered eating history or present, who'd like a friend to share moral support with, PM me your msn

[Maria316]

To me it, like almost everything else in life, it boils down to faith. Even during the times of struggle just having faith that God is there, he knows whats going on. I did not have a spiritual life, relationship, during the time of my ED. But it got to the point where I just threw my hands up and said " Ok I don't know what else to do, this isn't working for me, you take over" and wow, things started to happen! I stand firmly in my faith, YOU CAN BE HEALED.

[WannaGetLean]

Originally Posted by Maria316

I stand firmly in my faith, YOU CAN BE HEALED.

I agree 100%.. Hence why I will compete and not worry about ED Stuff because it's not apart of my life anymore.. Luckily I've been able to cure myself and move on from that!

You'll see that quite a few ppl in the industry have had eating disorders, beaten them and have had successful careers in the industry

[Maria316]

Originally Posted by WannaGetLean

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I agree 100%.. Hence why I will compete and not worry about ED Stuff because it's not apart of my life anymore.. Luckily I've been able to cure myself and move on from that!

You'll see that quite a few ppl in the industry have had eating disorders, beaten them and have had successful careers in the industry

I think that competition is a great way to say to yourself " I am healed, and there is no tempation great enough that can override my faith....as a matter of fact bring it on, it will only make me stronger!"

[WannaGetLean]

Originally Posted by Maria316

I think that competition is a great way to say to yourself " I am healed, and there is no tempation great enough that can override my faith....as a matter of fact bring it on, it will only make me stronger!"

Exactly girl i just dont think anyone shoudl say you shouldn't do something if it's something that you want to do. I think the fitness lifestyle is a healthy one and i'm happy that i've found it and have some amazing friends who are so passionate about it as well