Comments on: Puking For Acceptance

By: Confessions Of A Steroid Monster | THE CUBAN REVOLUTION

Confessions Of A Steroid Monster | THE CUBAN REVOLUTION — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:42:49 +0000

[...] miles a day. My weight had dropped to 165 lbs by my senior year in college throwing a three year bout with bulimia into the mix. I ran several marathons. When I finished law school and moved to Dallas in 1986 I [...]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:45:17 +0000

I suffered with anorexia/bulemia for years until my son was born and even after, struggled with body image issues. Until I studied nutrition and fitness, I never had much control over it and even after that, I have had obsessive exercise and diet regimens that branch from the disorder. I still have to be very careful in times of stress to focus on not doing that. I believe more than acceptance, victims of this condition are seeking power and control in their lives. Most victims are pleasers. We do all we can to be perfect…to meet high expectations of others in every aspect of our lives. It goes so much deeper than wanting to be accepted and to fit in. It’s a very, very dangerous way to seek self-empowerment. I appreciate your sharing this with us! I know this will be a lifelong struggle but those of us who finally found the power within ourselves before it was too late are truly blessed.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:49:37 +0000

I went through this a few years back and I always wonder if it was narcissistic or my body actually rejecting what I was eating.

It began a few years back when I had really got into training. I was working out 4-5 times a week, maybe more and sometimes even twice a day! I was sticking to a high protein diet (which was easy as Atkins was the height of fashion) and looked great.

After a while, if I ate anything that I knew was bad for me like chinese food, junk food, anything heavily carb based or even a chocolate bar, I felt the urge to throw up. It wasn’t a concious decision, it just felt like both my body and mind were rebelling against it.

It’s now about 5 years later and my gym obsession has settled, I havent thrown up in years, but sometime I honestly think it was the best thing I ever did to stay in shape. Maybe I’m linking the purging with looking in the best shape of my life and bedding some of the best looking women I’ve known, but some times I miss it.

My only advice to people who are doing it would be to make sure you brush your teeth regularly with a soft brush (I was brushing 5 times a day!), drink a protein or liquid meal shake to make sure your body is getting some food, and take plenty of vitamins as you deplete your body of them rather quickly!

By: Matt P

Matt P — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:48:22 +0000

Yeah, so my question was, and still is… what’s the mental state going into it. Once it becomes a habit, I realize you can’t just stop (I know that wasn’t directed at me, but I still want to know…) what does one think? The first time you do it or when you just stop eating… is it that you think you’re fat and people won’t accept you? Seriously.. I guess I’m the most average kind of guy I know, so I don’t understand this at all… did kids make fun of you? Did your parents have anything to do with it?

By: Melissa Z.

Melissa Z. — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:33:49 +0000

It is a sad disease. I overcame it too many years ago. Hardly anyone knows about me. That’s great for you that you decided to put it out there and hopefully inspire someone else to overcome it too.

By: Deadly Furby

Deadly Furby — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:57:06 +0000

I’ve always found it difficult to understand this condition. It’s not that I’m non-sympathetic, it’s simply a mental state of mind that I don’t understand. Unfortunately in the articles I’ve read about anorexia, none have succeeded in making someone truly understand the emotional and mental aspects of it. Generally, these articles simply give examples and tribulations yet fail to explain the mental aspects of the condition well enough from the patient’s point of view. I find the condition fascinating and one day hope to have the opportunity to be educated about it from a first person point of view. Good for you for overcoming it and being brave enough to talk about it openly!

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:49:17 +0000

@ Matt P: My comment isn’t directed at you; it just didn’t post until after yours. Many people with eating disorders suffer from an obsessive/compulsive problem as well.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:47:11 +0000

Lest anyone jump in with the “screw you if you don’t wanna eat” type comment, let me assure you–eating disorders are devastating. They have deep-rooted psychological causes, and should be taken just as seriously as any mental or emotional disorder.

Many times, when you ask someone with an eating disorder why they don’t just stop, the answer is going to be, “I don’t know; I only know I can’t.”

Congratulations on your success with this illness, Brian, and keep fighting.

By: Matt P

Matt P — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:34:26 +0000

I just realized that sounded completely mean. I didn’t mean it to. I just more or less wanted to know what goes through your head when this is happening? I believe life is habit, so it’s the initial creation of the habit that makes me wonder.

By: Matt P

Matt P — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:32:59 +0000

I have to say I never have sympathy for this. My favorite cousin suffers this and it was kind of the one thing I was never there for her for. I don’t understand it. Really I don’t. Why do you feel so needing of acceptance that you would do this to yourself? Is there a total lack of love of self? I hope I don’t sound too arrogant here, I was like pretty much every kid I thought growing up. I mean, I wanted to be cool, I wanted to be something… I guess something impressive… but at some point I just had so much going on in life I didn’t have as much time to care. Why are you different? What was going on in your head?

By: Andrew Galasetti

Andrew Galasetti — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:07:35 +0000

Remarkable story Brian. Congrats on overcoming the disease!

-Andrew