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Note: We have received many inquiries, stories, and notes from young women in various stages of anorexia. If you are one of these young women, please write to us. We will help you inform your parents or a significant adult in your life so that they can help you. We can explain your situation, provide the education necessary for them to understand your condition, and help pave the way so that you can begin your recovery without guilt, anxiety, or fear. If you have anorexia, or if you suspect that you do, let us help. Send us a note by clicking here.
If you or someone you love has battled anorexia, send us your story and tell us how the condition was resolved. Be sure to include your initials, city, and state so that we can include it with your story. If you are under 14 years of age, we will require a statement from your parent or guardian authorizing use of your story before we can use it.
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On 16 June 2004, we received the following story from L. in Bossier City, Louisiana. Please contact us immediately with your questions or comments.
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"I just got over being anorexic. It all started in April 2003. I was 5'6' and 148 pounds, I thought I was really fat, also I felt if I was skinny I would be more popular and have boyfriends. So I decided to go on a diet.
It started out normal--you know eating smaller portions and exercising, I completely stopped eating sweets and junk food. People were complimenting me on my weight loss and kept saying that I looked really good.
In June of that year I was 126 and looked good, but I decided it wasn't good enough so I went to fat free foods and extremely low fat foods. I thought since people were telling me I looked great, I thought to myself, I wonder what people would say if I lost more weight.
So I exercised even more, I ran like 2 miles a day and HAD to work out forever. Then in August of that year had dropped to 90 pounds my lowest weight ever, I thought--wow 300 calories a day is way too much so I had about 200 a day.
My friends were starting to figure out that something was wrong, and I kept telling them nothing was wrong with me. I also said that with my parents at first. I looked in the mirror and saw fat when there wasn't even any. I didn't look skinny to me.
A typical day of eating would be an apple for breakfast and a slice of bread for dinner that's it. Then about a week later I thought I could get fat from eating an apple or drinking water. At school my friends got really concerned about me because I looked dead, my bones were sticking out of my body and I had dark circles under my eyes and my chest bones were sticking out and I didn't have a butt at all. I had a 3- inch gap between my butt cheeks. I felt cold all the time. Even when it was 80 degrees outside I still was freezing. I stayed away from eating groups and picnics and parties that involved food. I tricked my parents that I was eating because I would have a plate full of dinner then I ate it in my bedroom and put it in a little container and brought the plate out and it looked like I ate. I did that with everything I supposedly ate.
My parents asked me again, do you need some help and I finally said yes. So my mom took me to a therapist and I got treatment. When she brought out saltine crackers I cried becuase she wanted me to eat them. I went there twice a week. She explained to me things and I didn't want to look dead, so I decided to eat and want to gain weight but I was afraid that I was going to be fat again.
My parents and friends were there for me all the way. It took many months to get healthy again. I didn't have my period for 7 months! The hardest thing to do was to start eating. It was so hard I cried a lot but I knew I had to.
So now I am 5'6' and I weigh 116 and I look healthy. I am still skinny, but a healthy skinny. I eat normally and exercise. I thank God every night that I battled my anorexia but I am still a little bit trying to battle it. I think I'm too fat, but I'm not at all. I think I with have to deal with discovery for the rest of my life.
I just want to say for the people reading this--please don't go on a diet when you're young and don't say if you do go on a diet that you won't become anorexic. I said the same thing, but look where I ended up. No matter what size you are, you are beautiful, and if people aren't your friends because you are fat or overweight who cares?! Jesus doesn't judge you. He loves you just the way you are. Love yourself. Don't have self doubt. Thank you and God bless."
Editor's Comment: We thank this young woman for sharing her heartfelt story with our readers.
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