enough is enough....can i have some people's advice?

Question

i'm 16, 5'2" and weigh 137 pounds. for the last two years, all i have been doing is dieting, fasting, vomiting, obsessing over calories and fat, staring at pictures of models wishing i could be that thin. its gotten so bad that every time i THINK i have eaten too much i throw up, so i normally throw up several times a day and i am really tired of it. i lie to all my friends
& family. i even thought up of ways i can get out of eating at Christmas cause there's always so much food around.... my weight and height has not changed in the last two years. i just dont want to do this anymore nothing has changed and nothing will ever change if i continue this way.....what can i do to "heal" my body and become healthy? eating how much and what would be considered healthy? how much exercise should i do? any advice on what i can do would be great!!!

(P.S: i will not tell my family or a counseler.....i just wont so plz no lectures on it. only a friend knows about all this)

Answer 1

Good for you for deciding to take control of your life!

Try eating more fruits and veggies in place of other fatty meals, like junk food, cookies, or high calorie meals. Like most people (I'm guilty sometimes!), you've probably brainwashed yourself into thinking that fast food tastes better than healthy food, but that's not entirely true! Try eating more grapes, clemintines, apples chunks in vanilla yogurt (good for sweet cravings!), blueberries, hummus (it sounds gross but it's really not, especially with Wheat Thins or Food Should Taste Good brand whole grain chips! I personally like garden vegetable or tomato flavored), granola, low-fat yogurt, low-fat string cheese, LITE whole wheat bread, 100 - calorie popcorn / kettle corn bags, steamed broccoli with a buttery garlic sauce etc. I also snack on South Beach Diet oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, they're good AND pretty healthy! And eat SLOWLY. Take one bite at a time, chew completely, then take another bite. If you eat slower, you'll become fuller quicker, and you won't overeat.

Incorporate more exercise into your daily life. Take the dog for a 20 minute walk, do jumping jacks while watching TV, do laps around the block, or the house for that matter. Don't let yourself sit down for too long. If you can, get a gym membership. I use an elliptical for 30 minutes 5-6 times a week and it works great for me.

And don't eat out of boredom! It's a nasty habit to break, TRUST ME. Whenever you feel like eating, watch a movie with no commercial breaks so you don't have time to get up, call a friend, read a book or magazine, or get out of the house, away from the food.

And don't "DIET". Because the moment you go off your "diet", you'll regain the all the weight you lost quickly, believe me. Instead, make "healthy living choices."

I recently lost weight, about 20 lbs, and what really helped for me was planning my meals. I planned when and what I was going to eat, and made sure the calorie count was 1400. It may be different depending on your needs, but never go under 1200! Whatver you do, don't let yourself stray from your plan. Write it all down or type it out and leave it up on your computer so you don't forget, that's what I do.

You'll never get to your "ideal" body by eating crap food and sitting around, no matter how much you want it to happen. It takes dedication to get the body you want! Make it like a game. How much weight can I lose? Prove it to yourself you DO have the willpower to get what you want.

But allow yourself a cheat day every now and then. Life is too short! If you restrict your body of all the "good foods", you will one day EXPLODE and eat everything in sight. Trust me!

One more thing: Once you do become thinner, DON'T think you can eat whatever you want now! You'll regain all the weight back, which is absolutely mortifying, especially after all the hard work to lose it.

Good luck! Hope that helps (:

Answer 2

obviously what you are doning isn't working, you know that so stop fasting and definately stop throwing up.

Please do tell a counselor! I know you said not to do this but no one here can give you advice or help you 1/100 as much as they can.

If you insist on doing is on your own then heres some tips:

You know what you have to do, you know whats good to eat and whats bad and you know if you eat it and don't burn it it turns into fat (although weightloss isn't a simple calories in = calories out equation like people think)

you need at least 1500 calories per day to keep your body out of hybernation and lose weight. I would shoot for 2000 and if it's all good stuff that should be plenty of food.

No pain no gain, losing weight is about burning calories, not controlling the amount that goes in ... to some extent. you know about running and cardio, you know what you have to do so go do it!

seriously, get some help, trainer, nutritionist... something! this will be an uphill battle you will more than likely lose on your own. I'm not trying to be mean please trust me.

Answer 3

the daily reccomended amount is 3 30 minute cardio workouts a week to maintain health and weight..as long as you consume 1200-2000 calories a day and drink water and excersize 30 min 3 day a week you will not have to woory about your weight, and if u think you can ever maintain this "Lifestyle" of vomiting and starving urself, and whatever, your sadly mistaken, have known a few in my day..1 dead..2 extremely overweight...get some help, or you will only be depressed , do u really want to obsess over ur weight forever?..there are so many other things to think about? ..how old are you?,,a teen im sure..some day youll have more important things to woory about

Answer 4

well ..knowing that you have a problem is the first step..and you trying to change it is the second....so you are already doing great... hang in there. it will be hard..you are 5''2'' and ur weights of 137, is not that bad at all. especially if you are a curvy women..ok..looking at pic. of skinny models and wishing to be them wont make it any good..so instead of looking at them...look at healthy women magazines..remember that every womens body is different. your body has not changed, because you havent been loosing the weight properly..and after time..it probably just got use to it..and thats really bad..you having to break this cycle..is some what the same as stopping the use of drugs. my tip for you is..to get a healthy pyramit food table, and plan out your meals. Try a granola bar with a glass of orange juice, some french touse, or even some pancakes with good old hunny. Eating a healthy breakfast, is starting your day rightr already. for lunch think sandwich, soups, chicken, carne asada, etc..eat a small but satisfieng lunch..and for dinner try in the lines of salads with a bite of dressings, a fish tale baked in the oven etc..be creative. Its your body, and what you put it, is verry important. As of two-three weeks of good nutrion. Start thinking of what exercises are best for you. some women go for: running in the mornings, weight lifting, etc..others go for yoga and pilates, and others go for dance. I would recommend to think good in what types of exercises you will be exposed to, and try to start with something relaxing. and build from there. Well, be carefull, eat right, exercise your brain and your mind, and love yourself as you are, trust me...

Answer 5

Before anything...before exercising and becoming "healthy", you must love your body. You must be able to look at yourself in the mirror and accept the way you look. Right now, I think mental exercises are of far greater importance than physical exercise. Work on saying positive affirmations to yourself daily, even if you don't believe them...say them and soon the way you feel about yourself will change. When you exercise (30 min-1 hour daily or 3x a week) say to yourself that you are not doing this for your weight, but for your health and happiness. And eat healthy foods...take multi-vitamins daily...indulge once in a while (in moderation)...have fun exercising...smile! =) Best wishes to you.

Answer 6

You are really brave to write this on yahoo. I applaud you for cooming forward. This lets me know that you realize you have a problem, and you want help. You can beat this. You are a lot stronger than you think. I know you said you can't tell your parents or a counselor, but there are other people you can tell that can help you. Do you have a favorite Aunt or Uncle, or is one of your friends parents really cool? You're going to have tell some adult so you can get the help you need. You want to be healthy right? Then do the right thing. You already know what you should do you just need to do it. You really don't need my advice you just need to listen to your heart and your body. You're body is tired and so are you. You said you want to look like the models in the magazine. The funny thing is they want to look like that too. So much of what is in the magazines is airbrushed. You would be surprised to see what some of these models really look like in person. You have to start appreciating your own unique beauty. When I was younger I wanted to look differently than I did and I didn't like myself. I mistreated my body and know I'm working to be a healthier person too. I understand your struggle, but I'm only making it through because I got help! You will be in my prayers

Answer 7

Start with your mind, that is where the bulk of your pain is. It isn't your body. You are beautiful. It is your mind that tells you the exact opposite. The exact opposite of what is truth. First get that fixed and you will begin to look beautiful in your eyes.

If not, something is going to happen and you will begin to regret those missed times of enjoying food with your family.If I understand your question correctly, you have weighed the same 137 lbs for the past 2 years.. Yet, all that purging has not helped you to lose weight, but it is weakening your heart, depleting your bones, stressing your kidneys. You must be very healthy considering that your organs are keeping you alive despite your efforts to harm them. But eventually you won't be able to rely on them...then how important will it be to look like those emaciated models.

So first, heal your mind, begin to love yourself so that you can continue to grow in your own beauty.

Answer 8

excerise more and start eating but not too much. Eat healthier food, drink water, not so much junk food. The exercise will help but you have to eat along with it. No eating and exercise will only make things worse, not in weight but in like passing out and stuff.

Answer 9

Poor thing!

Your body is not the problem, hon. Your thinking is.

If you are serious about changing things, one of the first things you are going to have to do is clean house. Stop looking at the models on TV or in magazines. Or anywhere else for that matter.

Get your focus on a real person--you. Don't you have any physical qualities that you like? Something not weight-related? Your hair your eyes, your hands? Anything? Focus on the things you like best about you, and

Now, as for your size. You are an excellent weight for your height. Size and wieght charts don't always take into consideration frame size, so I don't pay a lot of attention to those.

My daughter, who happens to be 16, is 5'0" and weighs 135 pounds. She looks good in everything she puts on (she wears a size 5, in some things a 7), and she knows it. Not as in she is conceited, but she has a healthy body image and healthy self-perception. And I taught her years ago, that what Hollywood and the modelling community portray as the ideal female figure is not really. Recognize that those images are not of 'real' people. My daughters and I will get magnifying glasses and search for the airbrushing and photoediting. Makes us feel better. ;D

Also, celebrities' apparel is more often than not, tailored to make them look their better.

You are supposed to enjoy your life, enjoy your food, eat sensibly, and get some sort of exercise daily.

On the subject of 'losing' the few pounds you might want to let go, don't stop eating. Modify what you eat. Having a burger? How about a salad and a piece of fruit? Want fries? How about half a burger and the salad and fruit? Want a shake? Try a smoothie. Or, share half the shake and have half a smoothie or another piece of fruit.

Instead of vomiting, how about expending that energy in some physical activity? Exercise to a video, or enroll in some dance or exercise classes.Or both. How about a sport? And continue to eat healthy meals.

If cost is an issue, check out your local park district. They often offer classes for free or for a greatly reduced rate.

Stay away from scales and tape measures, too. Let the fit of your clothing be your guide.

Play up all of your best features, and find clothing (as much as you are able) that fit well. Another thing I taught my girls (and my sons) is that not everything that is popular in clothing will look good on YOU. You may need to mix a few classic pieces and something trendy to get the look you want, that makes you look fabulous.

Try these things out, and see if they help:

Find the traits that are your best features, and play those up.

Eat healthy, but don't deny yourself all of the fun stuff. Moderation is key.

Avoid ever looking at those models and actresses. If you find yourself glancing at photos, etc., learn to spot the tricks that make them look the way they do.

Avoid scales and tape measures. Learn to be happy with being you, with being just the way you are.

Get involved in some physical activity. Not to lose weight, but to get healthier.

Enjoy Christmas dinner! If you want some of everything, go for it, just don't eat it all at once. Moderation is the key. Pace yourself, or if you want it all at once, have smaller portions, and get equally small seconds later.

Be sure to tell yourself, that you are beautiful. You look great, and how happy you are to look like you. You have to put the positive in to get positivity out.

Remember the words, 'I'm gorgeous!', and 'I love the way I look'.

If you have to write the words as lines (like punishment in grade school?) to remember them, do so. In fact, if you feel yourself wanting to throw up, or to peek at a model photo, write some lines. Say them as you write them. Set the words to music so that you never forget them.

Your opinion of you is one of the most important. learn to think very highly of yourself. But not that you are better than someone else.

And when you finally beat this thing--and you will--remember to be kind and sensitive to those who are going through what you went through, and to those who truly have weight challenges.

Finally, absolutely make this the last day you throw up without being ill. Then do so. Not one more time. That's it.
Fini.

If you need any support or encouragement, or you want to get in touch with my 16 year old for her perspective, feel free to email me anytime.

Hope I helped, hon. You are going to be fine. I wish you every success.

God bless you. †

And Merry Christmas!

Answer 10

Get Kevin Trudeau's book "the weight loss cure they don't want you to know about" It really works