Am I bulemic?

Question

I occasionally eat with the intention of throwing up afterwards. Usually it is ice cream or some other dessert. I only do it at max twice a week. Sometimes I want a treat, and can't bear the thought of keeping the calories down. The thing is, I don't feel that bad about it. I don't have a poor body image, and am a fairly functional person overall. Am I doing damage to my body and my psyche?

Answer 1

ahhhhstop throwing upif this continues at all get some helpbecause you don't want to look like those anorexic people which they usually never recover and alot of them dieyes you are bulimic you just don't want to admit it

Answer 2

Hi,

i have been Bulimic for a few years...currently doing better than the past. I know it's really har dto believe that you are Bulimic, but yes you are. It doesn't actually matter how often you do it and believe it or not most people with eating disorders are very well rounded people who others would think are very much in control of their lives. Bulimia leads you to believe you are in control until you try to stop and you realise that you can't eat and keep those foods down without at least feeling terrible and wanting to purge.
It does do damage to your body and your mind because soon enough it begins to control you. You may not feel bad about it now, but you may when the day comes that your out at a restraunt with a friend and after desert you have to excuse yourself and go to the bathroom and then go back to her pretending everythings fine....it effects your everyday life and is something you are best getting help with sooner rather than later because it is an addictive behaviour, i should know 3 years on !

i wish you all the best of luck and really hope you can find it inyourself to find helpm you sound like a great, caring, logely intellegent person

xxx

Answer 3

Yes, I have been bulimic for 18 years. Please get help for it. I have good and bad spells, but used to do it several times a day and plan out all the good things i could eat, just to get rid of it and start again straight after. Although I control it a lot better now than I did when I was younger, I know from experience that it can take over your life and be very habitual. I don't feel bad about it and quite enjoy doing it which I think is the reason that I still do it (but not so often at the moment). If you get help early on, there could be more chance of stopping this behaviour. You don't actually realise yourself how destructive it can be (mentally & physically). I consider myself to be a very intelligent 'normal' person (top of most classes at school, quite popular with male & female friends etc.), but others don't always see you that way, although you try your best to keep it hidden from people. The fact that like me you don't feel bad about it, makes me believe that you have a problem and I urge you to reconsider because if it gets hold of you it is no joke.
Best wishes for the future xxx

Answer 4

You are absolutely doing damage to your body and your mind. It is not natural to throw up after you eat. It sounds more like maybe you have an obsession with food, which makes you eat when you're not hungry. But there has to be some body image issue if you can't bear the thought of keeping calories down. That would mean you're worried about eating too many calories, and therefore gaining weight. The acid that is in your stomach to digest your food comes up with the food that you throw up, doing damage to your throat and teeth. Not to mention, your body may not get the nutrients from the food that you're throwing up. The mental issues are obvious in your question - if eating something bothers you to the point that you intentionally throw it up, there is something in your mind that needs some work. I would suggest talking to a family member, friend, or counselor of some sort.

Answer 5

Nobody here can 'diagnose' you as bulimic but it does sound to me as though you may be suffering (or well on the way to suffering) from an eating disorder. It would probably be a good idea to get help before it descends into the vicious circle that is severe bulimia. In anwer to your question about damage; yes you are causing damage both physically and emotionally. Try talking to your GP/practice nurse/a counsellor/someone you trust as a starting point for getting help.
These websites offer info on bulimia if you're interested -

www.bulimia-treatment.inuk.com
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
www.bulimiahope.com
www.bulimia.me.uk/index.html
www.ability.org.uk/bulimia.html

take care x

Answer 6

I won't go right out and say, "yes, you're bulimic!"
but I think you are showing certian symptoms of an eating disorder, and you should talk to someone soon because if you let these habits develop or worsen, you might become bulimic!
eating with the intention of purging afterwards is not a good habit. even if you don't purge, you have still walked a little further into the trap of bulimia.
please get help now, and I hope you never become bulimic!

Answer 7

Yes you will do damage both psychologically and physically and yes you are developing an abnormal response to food.
Psychologically you are starting to give yourself the message that if you feel you have been greedy or fear getting bigger, then throwing up is the way to deal with it. This message will play a bigger and bigger role in your life the more you reinforce it. You must get help and stop it!
Physically, you are damaging vital internal organs, a vital health protection response, your nutritional levels, absorption rate, metabolism, teeth and oral health.
You need to get some help to nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand. See your GP or call NHS Direct for advice, 08454647.

Answer 8

Shel.... didn't you just have a baby & are trying to lose the 'last' 5 pounds?
(apply the answer I posted to that question here also... maybe I should have added to change your diet and eat baby food instead. You might accomplish both things: lose the 5 lbs and barf after you eat.)

Now this question? - - well, you need help. The issue is not with your eating and barfing, it is in your thinking.

I'd echo what others have said, yes you are... stop doing so, etc...

http://www.mamashealth.com/bulimia.asp

Stay healthy (you'd want the same for your 5-month old baby!):
http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Right now all I can think of is: instead of a finger down your throaght, you need a kick in the a s s!

- - - all in fun, but take care of yourself.
Regards,

Answer 9

Yes i think that what you are doing is not good 4 u and that even though u say that your body image is ok you are still worried about calories.....eatung disorders can start with what seems to be harmless behavour but can turn into something that is totally out of your control.pls get some help as soon as you can as this is not a good sign

Answer 10

Yes that's bulimia. It'll just keep getting worse. Think of what you're doing to your teeth. If you don't have a poor body image, what does it matter whether you keep the calories down or not. Think about it.

Answer 11

Even if you feel you are not Bulimic please stop this now. Your body will learn that you don't need to be sick and it will become harder and harder to be sick with you eventually loosing your gag reflex which doesn't sound so bad but should you accidentally swallow something you shouldn't you wont be able to get this out. My wife used to have Bulimic tendencies and she lost her gag reflex one night she mixed up her tablet bottles and took 4 sleeping tablets instead of herbal tablets and couldn't get them out, after 4 hours in A and E she learnt her bad habits that she thought weren't a problem had caught up with her.

Stop now

Ailsa xxx