eating-disorders

Common Eating Disorders

2008-11-07T03:40:00.000-08:00

Several children with the onset of puberty become particularly conscious about their physical appearance. For numerous adolescents it becomes a fixation which is a chief reason behind certain eating maladies. These disorders might result in severe conditions of anorexia or bulimia which cause speedy changes in weight and consequently might hinder the normal day to day activities and harm the internal mechanism.

This ailment is more specifically prevalent amongst the members of the fairer sex, but boys are not exclusive to it either. In the United States according to research two out of every hundred kids might be at a risk. It may be several years before their family may suspect it as it is effectively concealed by the youngsters suffering from it. The chief causes are undefined and are mainly attributed to hereditary and mental issues.

There are mainly two major categories of this ailment. One is the group who is affected by anorexia whereas the other suffers from bulimia. People of the former category might be skinny but still suffer from a fright of becoming obese. Consequently they limit the intake of their diet and opt for strenuous workouts to stay thin. In contrast the sufferer's of the later category could have usual body weight or in certain cases might even be overweight. It involves the routine indulgence of eating and its riddance.

Its treatment revolves around the development of a positive behavior and approach towards food. This might be done with aid of a medical expert or a nutritionist and a regular analysis. The teenagers who are suffering from malnutrition might even be hospitalized until his or her condition becomes constant. The more early this condition is detected the better and quicker the chances of cure and the smaller the time span of the treatment/therapy will be.

Sarfaraz was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, surrounded by traffic and technology. He writes mostly about diseases, the storybooks, futuristic columns, mysteries, as he likes to call it. He enjoys writing for web.

He wrote his first book (The Black Bodyguard of Stone-Pyramid) in 2003 and since then has provided the picture for 1 more title. His book was honored as a BEST SELLER.

Sarfaraz currently lives with his wife in Karachi near Seashore, about fifteen miles from the house where he was born.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarfaraz_Ali

Body Image, the She Devil As We See Her

2008-11-07T03:39:00.000-08:00

Well, no. There are so many people for whom their body image is the one thing holding them back from the ability to be the person they want to be, dream to be and that absolute belief that they are not as good as anyone else in that room, being judged by others and have a total and clear picture of the person they think the others are seeing.

Body image not only stretches from what we see in the mirror ourselves, it's a 3 angle view.
Body image revolves around the 3 aspects of our "self".
1. The person you see in the mirror
2. The person you think your family and friends and those whom you feel comfortable with see
3. The person you think others see who have never met you before.

If one or 1 or all 3 of those parts of you is negative then this can in fact filter through to your self esteem, self belief, ability to interact with others, the way you read situations and how you believe others are responding to you.

Body image goes far past the skin depth - it goes into the very core of our belief systems and if you interfere with those then your perception of the world can change dramatically.

The way body image is dealt with in main stream medical intervention is often with direct psychiatric treatment, some of which can be effective but for others it is dealt with in the manner of a "disorder" on its own.

Frequently there is a misconception that this is the presenting problem - the distorted view of one's self which then leads to paranoia and depression, eating disorders etc. However, in order to deal with body image issues you need to look at the root cause of the problem, the one aspect of which, if you deal with that then the entire system and pattern of negative imagery and thoughts will collapse.

For a number of clients over the years, the initial problem started as a minor doubt. The same thing that most of us encounter at some time in that when we are in a specific state of mind, then our own internal image of ourselves will reflect the way we are feeling at that time. We then project that when interacting with others and in turn we get a less favorable response which then convinces us that our sudden negative view of ourselves must be correct.

From that one occurrence, an entirely new behavior is born. A filter of self doubt based on a image we held in our mind for a fleeting moment of time which is then confirmed by the reaction of others to us.

If I give you a simple example.

A teenager wakes up in a low frame of mind. The day before had been awful for her, her friends didn't have time for her, her boyfriend seemed to be more interested in someone else and her parents have other worries going on so no one seems interested in her. At that age, this is enough to be the world falling apart.

Her own self doubts begin to formulate putting her into a negative frame of mind. When she looks in the mirror, those insecurities change the perceived view of herself and she sees a less than perfect image. She concentrates on the parts of her she does not like which is in fact what she has been thinking about for the last hour anyway about her own personality.

When she concentrates on the negative aspects this then magnifies them and she focuses on what she doesn't want and doesn't like about her entire self.
She could feel unsure about many aspects and elements of herself and then also has a negative internal image. IE the picture she holds in her mind of herself which may be different from the one she saw in the mirror.

She then gets ready to go out - nothing looks right, nothing feels right so she then covers up to hide the imperfections she believes she has. When she does meet her friends, the image she believes they are seeing then cause her to be more withdrawn than usual.
Due to her change in her behavior and the way the girl is conducting herself with others, the reactions she gets from her friends is different, possibly distant or reserved.

So, she then has it confirmed to her that the negative image she believes they are seeing must be right due to the change in their attitude towards her and the spiral goes on.
There are so many ways this can go - eating disorders, social anxiety, aggressive behavior, low self esteem resulting in never achieving goals and so on.

So what has to change and what is the answer.

Well for each individual it is different. Frequently body dysmorphic disorder is not from a major traumatic event as so often stated. Normally there is no known "first event" and the client will state that it just started. Even with techniques designed to find the first event, there is nothing significant.

Also, each person has their own specific times and way that it occurs and almost always there will be situations where in fact it does not occur at all. It is purely individual and there is no fast and hard rule of thumb on how to treat body image issues except that it is the root cause, the self esteem issue which has to be addressed before any real effect can be made of the perception of the self.

If more time was spent on the evolution of therapy and work with the individual rather than various "authorities" looking to disprove the theories and treatment of others maybe more would and could be done in the main stream of body dysmorphia and related eating disorder patients in the UK and throughout the rest of the world.

We seem to forget about the individual and looking for the root cause, which when disconnected and dealt with will enable the rest of the chain to resolve, instead of following or disproving strict methods of others.

Only when the various main stream treatments become more flexible client orientated will our battle with the growing number of patients and clients begin to slow down. The amount of clients approaching me, having been through the normal medical system without success is rising. In the USA they have enlisted the assistance of other therapists from varying disciplines for input and treatment and we, in the UK are still stuck in the negative framework which in fact are moving us no further forward.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emma_James

Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

2008-11-03T23:35:00.001-08:00

The treatment for anorexia nervosa is often difficult and can take a long time. Some patients improve much slower then others do with many relapses during the recovery process. The treatment can be subdivided into immediate or long term anorexia treatment.

The immediate concerns of most people who present with anorexia nervosa is always low weight, nutrition balance and complications (like organs failure) due to long term starvation. All these have to be addressed first before long term psychological treatment can begin.

Some people who are a danger to themselves because they refuse to eat have to be hospitalized until they gain enough body weight to maintain their life. Many of these patients will need to have intravenous injections of highly nutritious products to replace their nutritional losses. If attempts to feed them fail they may need a tube inserted into their stomach to improve their nutritious status. The lengths of these treatments can vary depending on how the patients progress.

Long time psychological treatment should start while in the hospital. A team of professionals are normally involved including psychologists, counselors, social workers, nutritionists and medical doctors.

The team has to be very supportive and cooperative in their attempts to persuade the sufferer to take the treatment seriously and understand the importance of it. Many patients have to be forced into treatment against their desires (like emergency and life saving situations due to starvation and organs failure). This can hamper the sufferer's willingness for treatment in the first instance; but by building a trusting and supportive relationship with a patient over time can help to breakdown this barrier.

Psychotherapy starts when a trusting relationship with the patient has been established. A number of issues have to be addressed: body image, anxiety, depression, fears, eating habits and other concerns. The most difficult one is the body image issue because the person is absolutely obsessed with being thin and staying thin. Putting on weight which is crucial for recovery can become a major fear for the sufferer that is difficult to overcome.

Personality issues, coping strategies, relationship problems - all have to be looked at in the therapy sessions with the patient.

Lots of people improve by the time of their discharge from the hospital but the treatment for anorexia nervosa should not finish there. Relapses at home after hospitalization is extremely common, over 95% of all sufferers have some kind of problem. Actually much more people do relapse than those who do not, a scary statistic for the sufferer.

And here is where research has shown that family therapy and home treatments should be the first choice of help after leaving the hospital or clinic. Research has shown now that if a person does not have good home support and family involvement in their treatment, the person has a very slim chance for recovery.

Many parents and family members have no idea what it is they are supposed to do to help: what they should say to the sufferer and what they should not. Most uninformed family members still think that all the sufferer has to do is eat, and everything will be okay: but of course this is totally wrong.

Also family members do not know what kind of atmosphere in the house they should create to support the sufferer and make her/him understand that recovery is possible. It is here that most sufferers relapse because they are normally left to their own devices, simply because no one else has the slightest idea of what to do.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

How to Stop Overeating - Self Hypnosis to Overcome Over Eating Problems

2008-11-03T23:35:00.000-08:00

Overeating is defined as eating when not hungry or past the point of satiety. Most people don't realize they are eating more than they need to until they become obese and suffer health problems. The majority of people overeat from time to time but it becomes a problem when it happens regularly. Excessive eating causes a person to take in significantly more calories than are needed for daily functioning. These extra calories are stored as fat, increasing a persons overall body mass index (the measurement most commonly used to determine obesity).

Overeating Problems

Eating too much can lead to many health problems. Occasional overeating can lead to indigestion, stomach distension and bowel disturbance. The more serious problems associated with it come from regular overeating or compulsive eating. Compulsive eating can lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and many other problems. A compulsive eater is at risk for these conditions even if they are not yet obese.

Overeating and Obesity

When there are too many calories being consumed, as happens with some eating disorders, these calories are stored as extra fat. When a person is 20 per cent above the normal weight or has a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher, they are considered obese. One of the easiest ways to prevent obesity is to stop overeating.

Overeating Causes

In order to stop overeating, most people need to understand why they eat too much in the first place. Stop and ask yourself, "What is at the root of my eating problem?" In many cases, it has just become a habit. To stop overeating, you need to break the habit. Another cause of excessive eating is psychological in nature. Using food as a comfort, people use food to deal with stress, depression and anxiety. Although it is a temporary fix to those problems, it is often followed by feelings of guilt, shame and disgust.

Tips to Stop Overeating

Attempting to stop overeating can be a daunting task. Slowing down while eating, chewing each bite many times, helps to decrease the overall amount of food that is taken in at one sitting. Many people eat past the full stage because they are eating faster than their bodies can signal that they are full. Cut back on snacking between meals. Only eat when the food previously eaten has been completely digested. Change the food items that you eat; healthier food choices usually have lower calories and keep you feeling full longer.

Treatments For Overeating

There are many treatments available to help people to stop overeating. Getting to the root of the reason behind the overeating can sometimes be the first step. Some people find help by talking to their doctors, therapists or through self-hypnosis.

Self Hypnosis For Overeating

One of the advantages of self hypnosis is that it is the sort of self help that you can access in your own time. Indeed, most self hypnosis recordings are designed to be listened to at bedtime as you drift to sleep. A combination of techniques is usually used, from suggestion through to metaphor, and the good self hypnosis recordings will always offer you a money back guarantee. The reason that the guarantee can so readily be offered is that these recordings are generally quite effective, though to be fair they often do require repeated listening.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_C_Roberts

Binge Eating Disorder - Do You Have It?

2008-10-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

What exactly is binge eating disorder? It is defined as consuming large quantities of food within a very short period of time until the person feels uncomfortably full and/or sick. It is similar to bulimia except there is no form of purging involved following a binge episode.

Those who suffer from binge eating disorder usually feel out of control during an episode followed by guilt and shame afterwards. Most people who experience these binges use food as a way to numb themselves in order to deal with emotions that they are unwilling or unable to deal with.

Because we live in such a hurried, stress-laden society, binge eating has become more and more common. It is a way to cope with excess frustration, anger, anxiety, or grief. The majority of people who have binge eating disorder may suffer from chronic depression and other serious emotional problems.

Do you have binge eating disorder? There are certain symptoms that signify you may have the disorder if they occur more than occasionally.

-Eating too much food too quickly.

-Eating very large amounts of food whether you are hungry or not.

-Eating until you are sick or miserable.

-Feel excessive shame, guilt, disgust, anger and/or depression after bingeing.

-Know that your eating is raging out of control and feel helpless to do anything about it.

If you do suspect you have binge eating disorder, you are not alone. In the United States, it is the most common eating disorder. Most people who suffer from the disorder are severely obese but it can affect anyone. It is more common in women than in men.

Do you think you are a binge eater? If so, what can you do? The first words of advice are to avoid unhealthy diet practices like skipping meals, eating only certain foods, drastically limiting calories and/or cutting out foods that you love to eat.

These practices are unhealthy and dangerous and should never be used if you are trying to lose weight. The only path to effective and permanent weight loss is to follow a healthy diet and exercise program.

If you are challenged by a healthy weight loss regimen and suffer from depression, anxiety or other emotional issues, it is wise to seek professional advice from someone who specializes in the eating disorder field. They can help you find the right path to wellness.

There are many dangers associated with eating disorders, binge eating disorder, being no different. Binge eaters suffer from frequent illnesses due to the large volume of sugars and fats that they consume. These types of foods do not provide any nutrient value for the body, causing the body to break down.

This, in turn, increases the risk for many chronic diseases and conditions. The more you indulge in binge eating and the more overweight you are, the more you increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

If you suffer from binge eating disorder and feel helpless, remember, there IS help for you. Never be afraid to ask for it. There are professionals who are trained specifically in the area of eating disorders who are dedicated to helping you overcome the disease. Most people who seek professional treatment do very well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debra_Gropp

Don't Wait to Stop Binge Eating

2008-10-31T05:18:00.001-07:00

Throughout life, we can be easily motivated to do something when it is fun and exciting. When other tasks seem to be more fearful, we aren't so motivated to jump on it. Instead, we take our time and look to the other things that need to be taken care of immediately. In other words, we procrastinate.

Take a look at your life and see what things you have repeatedly procrastinated on accomplishing and think about what you are waiting for to stop binge eating disorder.

Does ending binge eating disorder just seem too hard?
Do you feel too overwhelmed and don't even know where to start since you've binged for so long?
Do you feel like you don't have what it takes to be successful at overcoming the urges to binge eat?
Are you scared because you don't feel strong enough to end binge eating disorder?
Do you wonder what your life will be like when you don't binge? What will you do instead of binge eating?

Procrastination on some things is fine. When it comes to other, more important things, like binge eating, it's not so fine. It's your health we are talking about. It's being able to play with your children. It's giving yourself completely to your husband or wife because you feel good enough inside. It's loving yourself. It's being able to travel. It's going to dinner with friends. It's SO much more than an eating disorder... and it's taking away your whole life.

Do the following things to help yourself be proactive against binge eating disorder:

Make a list of everything you want to do or wish you would do but don't because of binge eating disorder. Write down the small things that really don't matter, and be sure to capture the bigger ones that do. You know, the ones that are making you sit back and not have control over your own life.

When you are done, take a long, hard look at your list and see how your life is 100% affected by binge eating disorder.

Now, make another list.

On this list, let's pretend that you don't have binge eating disorder. Let's say that you have a week off from work and you can do whatever it is that you want. You don't have to worry about making sure your kids did their homework. You don't have to worry about paying bills. You don't even have to worry about having dinner on the table. Your biggest "worry" is how you will spend the next 7-days.

What will you do? How will you spend these days?

Now, for the biggest question there is... Why are you letting binge eating disorder hold you back?

I understand that there are many factors that can get in our way and cause stress and frustration. I get that it's not as easy as being on a vacation for a week... but, don't you think that you should allow yourself the freedom to do the activities you want to do? Don't you think it's time to stop letting binge eating disorder control you? Don't you want to enjoy life?

When you come to realize and accept that binge eating disorder is not going to control you anymore, you will start branching out more. You will find yourself saying "yes" to invitations. When you start to do new things, you will develop a new confidence. You will start pushing binge eating disorder to the back of your mind, instead of always being at the forefront. You will realize that you have the courage to stop this ongoing and exhausting battle with binge eating disorder.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Gerstley

Independence Day From Food

2008-10-31T05:18:00.000-07:00

As we celebrate our country's independence, celebrate your own. From changing our lifestyle and our habits, we have changed our relationship with food. Rather than living as a slave and victim to food, we are now free and independent of the limitations of emotional eating. You are free! You are independent!

Reflect back on the times that you've binged and emotionally eaten, did you feel free? Did you feel like you were under the control of the food choices? Stop and think about it - under the influence of a cookie? Now, that's a dreadful thought. Be under the influence and control of your own influence and control. Don't allow a Twinkie to rule your life.

The constraints of emotional eating go beyond weight. Emotional eating results in excess weight. Excess weight and a large body size deteriorates our self-worth, self-esteem, create a feeling of being a victim, and we settle for less than what we deserve. Breaking free from the bonds of food is similar to giving yourself a second birth. It feels as though you've been reborn. We have become reborn to live the life we've always been meant to life which is full and meaningful, rich and rewarding.

The next time you are at a fork in the emotional eating road, give yourself a moment of pause. How do you feel when you give in to the food temptations and overeat, kicking in the cycle of eating emotionally? Do you want to follow the path of exercising your muscle of controlling your food choices and truly your life? Yes, sometimes it is difficult to stop the cycle of emotionally eating. It is comforting and can allow us to escape an uncomfortable situation. If we do it often enough, it creates a stronger muscle of resistance in succumbing to unhealthy food choices that make us independent of food.

You become more independent and your own person when you move away from emotionally eating. No longer do you need to live to eat but eat to live. You live your life complete with a variety of thoughts, feelings, emotions and you have the coping strategies to overcome the challenges you previously ate over. That is true independence.

I look forward to celebrating Independence Day, our liberties, our freedom, and what it means to me personally. I also look forward to celebrating my own personal Independence Day, my liberty from being a slave to food, my freedom from emotional eating, and what my life today means to me. I encourage you to do the same. You can have your own personal Independence Day every single day. You aren't limited to one day per year - celebrate your independence every single day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_L_Wilson

Train Yourself to Stop Emotional Eating For Good

2008-10-21T05:36:00.001-07:00

Our moods have a lot to do with our eating habits. Emotional problems, such as unemployment, divorce, or health problems can either decrease our appetite or encourage emotional eating. Even a simple change in our daily routine can sabotage our weight loss efforts. When we feel stressed or emotionally unstable we often look towards junk food for comfort. It has been well known that food serves as an excellent distraction from daily troubles. So what steps can you take to reduce your dependence upon emotional eating?

One way to stop emotional eating is to recognize true hunger. Often times when we are stressed, our hunger is only emotional. We are not really hungry but we still turn to food for comfort. This is why it is important to be aware whether your hunger is physical or emotional. For example, if you ate a couple hours ago and your stomach is not rumbling, then you are probably not hungry. Try to keep track of your meal times and judge for yourself whether you are in fact hungry.

Another way to reduce your emotional eating habits is to be aware of what triggers your hunger. Simply write down what you ate, how much you ate, when you ate, how hungry you were, and what emotional state were you in. By keeping track of these things you might be able to figure out some sort of an eating pattern. And lastly, try to look elsewhere for comfort. There are many different things which can just as easily occupy your mind. Try going for a walk, to a movie, or simply talk with a friend. So if you ever feel like emotional hunger has taken over your life, try to plan some enjoyable events for yourself in order to relieve some of the tension.

Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition.

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Anorexia - A Serious Problem Affecting Many People Nationwide

2008-10-21T05:36:00.000-07:00

Anorexia is one of the most serious problem people face in the country. People struck with such disorders are affected both physically and mentally. Anorexia can come from variety of issues, from worries to stress. If left untreated, anorexia can be life-threatening.

Anorexia is basically one's will to starve, believing that it will sustain their needs. As stated before, this harmful disorder arises from any concerns regarding with emotions. If the person leaves it untreated, the worst case scenario that could occur is death.

So how do you tell if someone has anorexia? There are several signs that could easily be picken up to see if that person suffers from anorexia. One sign is that if he/she is underweight and tends to exercise vigorously. Of course, this sign does not necessarily tell you that anorexia is there, but it is still plausible nonetheless, because there are other signs to follow. Another sign of such distortion is that if the person feels fat, even though he/she is not fat. Albeit the person might be abnormally thin, if he/she still thinks he's/she's overweight, chances are that thatt person is suffering from anorexia. The third sign, which is the most important to deal with and that it is in women, is that if she stops menstruating.

Anorexia is a serious problem that has to be dealt with. If the person you know has any of the three signs mentioned above, then chances are that person might be suffering from anorexia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Naeem_Patel

Eating Disorders and the Media

2008-10-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

It is proven now that media can influence the beginning of eating disorders in some people. This is evident especially in children and teens who can easily be lulled into the wrong image of what the human body is supposed to look like.

A very serious concern is that tiny little children as young as 8 year old are now contracting anorexia and the media are to blame. The images of thinness and unreal sexual images in the media do influence children's minds which in turn lead them into an eating disorder.

Early exposure to sexualized images encourage young women to see themselves as objects and value themselves for how they look rather then a whole person. Their values shift to the side where being beautiful and sexually attractive substitutes for being an individual with a strong sense of self. These inevitably lead young women to pursue thinness and artificial beauty that they see on the covers of magazines on TV and in the newspapers.

Very often girls have no understanding that what they're pursuing is only an unattainable image provided by the media to entertain their readers, attract buyers and sell the products they advertise or to send some other frivolous messages to the public.

So the beginnings of an eating disorder in young women can very often be connected to body dissatisfaction which is brought on by comparing their own body to the body images in the media.

For example, a recent survey revealed that 25% of Australian teenage girls would consider plastic surgery if they could and 2% already have had plastic surgery to change the way they look.

The other research was done on 4000 teenager girls' aged from 11 to 18 and found that more than 85% of them were unhappy with their body and would like to do or are already doing something about it.

The recent Botox survey revealed that women as young as 17 years old do Botox injection in order to prevent wrinkles. Breast implants have been done for women as young as 17-20 years old.

All the examples above shows that very many women nowadays think that fake women are much better than the real thing, based on the images that are portrayed in the media as being the norm.

To conclude, the media contributes a lot to developing body dissatisfaction and consequently eating disorders, by promoting fake unattainable images of women's bodies. To fight eating disorders it is important to educate the masses on the truth of how the media works to sell its advertising clients products.

Young women should be taught about balance and the truth of what is perceived to be beautiful and what real women are suppose to look like.

Even women like Marilyn Monroe who only a short time ago was considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world, would now be classified as a Big Girl by the media.

Is it any wonder so many young women are falling victims to eating disorders?

To learn how other people have manage to defeat their eating disorder as a consequence of dissatisfaction with their own body and about eating disorders and media go to http://www.mom-please-help.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

Eating Disorders Studies - What Has Been Found So Far?

2008-10-17T03:51:00.000-07:00

Researching eating disorders is a relatively new field of medicine. Scientists still don't have a lot of data on a long-term recovery process from eating disorders. But many things about who is susceptible to the disease, how it starts and how it develops is known and that is what we will look at here.

According to the latest numbers there are very many people who meet the criteria for disordered eating - about 10%-15% of women. These include all eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and others. The most dangerous of all anorexia nervosa takes about 1%-1.5%. Bulimia nervosa takes about 5%-6% and the rest goes to binge eating, extreme dieting, obsession with body image etc.

More than half the women who have been anorexic will develop bulimia in the process of the disease. And nearly 80% of bulimics show anorexic behaviors also. To say in other words they swing between non-eating to compulsive overeating and purging all the time during the disease.

And the only dividing line between anorexia and bulimia is their weight. People with extremely low weight are considered to be anorexic. And people with normal weight or slightly overweight considered to be bulimics.

Recent studies have also found that women are prone to the disease much more then men are. Genetic predisposition to develop an eating disorder is also confirmed by many researches.

It was said that people inherit a special gene which is responsible for developing addictive (obsessive) behaviors.

It was also shown that people with certain personality traits are also more prone to eating disorders. These personality traits include perfectionism, avoidance of harm and impulsivity (or difficulty in impulse control).

The drive to thinness is broadly influence by the media. When women with certain personality traits and genetic make up are constantly exposed to images of waif-like models, slim actresses and stunning beauty icons they inevitably want to be like them.

When all the factors above converge in one person, she/he can develop an eating disorder.

To conclude, eating disorders are multiple -factor disorders. It takes a special genetic make up, special social influences and personality to develop the disease.

These complexities make the disease very difficult to treat and manage. Nevertheless, there are many cases of recovery from eating disorders and generally the disease is considered to be treatable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

The Appetite Hormone

2008-10-17T03:48:00.000-07:00

A recent image study of the human brain actually shows that a hormone that is known for its ability to trigger appetite can stimulate parts of the brain to make food appear more appealing.

Ghrelin, the name of the appetite hormone, has a pleasure effect on the human sense and creates a happiness associated with food similar to those who suffer from drug addictions. Ghrelin encourages people to continue eating after the nutritional reasoning is finished and the stomach is already full.

"For hundreds of years, people used to think that you eat only because you're hungry," says study author Dr. Alain Dagher, an associate professor with the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University in Canada. "But we found that the actual system involves a drive for food that is not at all related to hunger."

"The reason for this," he adds, "is that almost every animal, including us, until very recently was living in a world where there wasn't enough food, so that the big risk is starving to death. This creates a real pressure to eat. And obtaining food is risky. It requires effort and putting yourself at the mercy of predators. So you need something to get you out of your cave, and the only way that's going to happen is if the food is attractive enough to get you to overcome those costs and risks. And we've found a hormone that does this by acting on the pleasure and reward centers of the brain and making food you see seem more appealing and more desirable."

Dagher and his colleagues reported their insights in the May issue of Cell Metabolism. They analyzed MRIs of activity in the brains of 20 healthy men while they observed pictures of food and drink. This was done 3 hours after they had eaten breakfast so that they weren't necessarily full nor hungry; all men viewed an initial series of 45 images during which they answered questions about their mood and appetite.

Immediately after the first viewing, 12 of the men received two injections of ghrelin, while the other eight men did not. The men then viewed a second set of 45 images after their blood was taken to observe the levels of the hormone in their bodies. It was concluded that more of the men who received grehlin injectionsreported hunger after looking at the second set of images than those who did not.

The increased hunger response correlated with an increase in brain activity in a broad range of brain regions associated with reward when viewing images of food and non-food "pleasure-related" items. The men who did not receive the ghrelin expressed no change in hunger over the course of the two viewing sessions and were less likely to remember the food imagery they saw following the viewings.

The researchers suggested that the findings could ultimately lead to treatments for obesity based on a disruption of the ghrelin hormonal effect.

"The problem today is that we have this evolutionary imperative to eat, but we now live in an environment where you don't have to spend any energy to get food," he noted. "Which means that it makes sense to think of appetite as a kind of addiction. So, if we want to address the fact that obesity is now the number one killer in the world, we're going to have to tackle the problem in the same way that we tackle cigarette smoking."

But Dr. Barbara B. Kahn, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, also spread caution that relating ghrelin-fueled overeating with drug addiction may be a disservice to the public.

"This study provides us with new information about additional ways in which this particular hormone may work," she said, "And overeating and drug addiction may converge on some of the same neurons. But other pathways are also involved. And from a biochemical point of view, the two are not the same thing. Drug addictions are much stronger. So to suggest that they are the same makes people feel that they can't do anything about overeating. That it's out of their control. So, I don't really buy that the parallel," added Kahn, "There may be aspects of overeating that may be related to aspects of addiction. But overeating is not just another addiction."

In the future, it may be valuable to have your grehlin levels checked or altered, but for now we'll just have to live with good old self-discipline and awareness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Huizinga

Anorexia Side Effects

2008-10-14T04:23:00.000-07:00

Anorexia is not just about weight loss and refusing to eat. Anorexia has major side effects on the mental, physical and emotional state of a person.

Contracting anorexia means getting a new life style, new coping strategies, new relationships, new thought pattern and a whole new way of living and none of it is good.

You can say that a new sufferer becomes like a completely new person, different from what she/he used to be.

One of the very distinctive side effects of anorexia is a distorted perception about themselves. It is related to their own body image, their self being and also how they perceive other people as well.

The main measurement of all becomes how skinny they are. Anorexics perceive that their worth is directly related to their weight. They feel and think the same way about other people also.

For example a 19 year old anorexic girl I was talking to said once:" I know that the more weight I lose the better and stronger person I become. I understand that all overweight people are lazy, fat and no good".

But the meaning of being overweight for her is far away from reality. She perceives even normal weight people as overweight, including herself. She was already only 49 kg (height 164cm) but she still saw herself like a fat and overweight person.

She sees this picture because of the other major side effect of anorexia called "broken eye syndrome". And because anorexics see a wrong picture of themselves and others they want to loose more and more weight and can't stop starving themselves and over exercising.

Their relationships with other people change a lot since they contracted their anorexia because they need to spend all their time counting calories, exercising and thinking over a new strategy to lose more weight. Plus anorexics become very judgmental and picky and loose interest in others and everything they did before. All these prevent them from having a normal relationship with others.

And the other side effect of anorexia is their changing respond to everyday stress. This encompasses everything that happens to them, anorexics respond by increasing their exercising time, cutting down on calories and withdrawing further away from other people.

To conclude, anorexia has many side effects on a person. And to stop these negative side effects it is important to change the sufferer's perception back to what it was before the anorexia.
If their perception is returned back to normal a person will be able to lead a good and healthy life again.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

Acid Reflux - What is Silent Reflux?

2008-10-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

It is a known fact that people sometimes do not realize that acid reflux is really a problem for them. This condition is known as silent acid reflux. It is not different from the common existing one. The diagnosis is quite difficult at time.

Usually, people believe that heartburn is not associated to this condition. However, in case of silent acid reflux, heartburn is not considered to be a symptom. You may find it very strange but an antacid or any other medication prescribed to reduce or prevent abdominal pain is also widely prescribed for silent acid reflux. This is actually caused by the same acid in the stomach that's responsible for causing heartburn.

Sphincter muscles are actually categorized in to two different sets that usually allow food and drink to get inside the stomach and function to prevent back up of stomach acid in to the esophagus.

However, there are times when the lower set of muscles do not perform the task and stomach acid tend to pass back up inside the lower part of the esophagus only. It is also true that the lower part of esophagus is not much sensitive to the acid inside the stomach as compared to the upper part of esophagus.

This is the reason that heartburn symptoms or those associated to acid reflux are absent. A whole set of varied symptoms is what actually leads people to seek medical attention and the medical practitioner prescribes a remedy for the disease.

Here are some common symptoms:

a) Hoarseness of voice

b) Trouble in speech especially in the morning

c) Difficulty in swallowing

d) Excess mucus in the throat

e) Drainage from the sinuses

f) Frequent feeling to clean up the throat

g) Frequent coughing

All the above mentioned symptoms are observed in patients with this condition because the stomach acid reaches and irritate the voice box and due to excess amount of acid inside the stomach.

According to a recent study that was duly published by the American College of Gastroenterology in the year 2005, it has been suggested that silent acid reflux may be the actual cause of sleep related problems in many people.

It also resulted in frequent wakefulness and symptoms close to a condition known as sleep apnea. Chronic snoring may also be a result of this condition.

Some of the remedies recommended for treating the disease include the following

a) Raising the head of the bed

b) Avoiding alcohol in the evening

c) Avoiding tobacco products completely

d) Eating the last meal of the day at least three hours prior to the bed time

Silent acid reflux has also been found in children. Under this condition, the child usually refluxes the contents inside the stomach and then swallows them back. This indicates that the stomach acid can easily damage or irritate esophagus lining. Consult your doctor on an immediate basis if you doubt the presence of this condition in your child.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bertil_Hjert

How to Completely Overcome Stress Eating in Just Ten Minutes

2008-10-14T04:21:00.000-07:00

A simple way to overcome stress or stress eating... this easy process can be used at any time of the day. It is particularly effective when you are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety or when you come home after a particularly stressful day. As with any de-stressing technique, the more your practice the easier it will become.

Some people find it easy to deal with stress while others find it very difficult. This article is aimed at those who find themselves anxious or stressed and then turn to food as a way to get lost in eating and escape the tightness of stress. This process is excellent to use if you find it hard to switch off from the stresses of life.

Grab a pad of paper, a pen, and sit yourself down somewhere comfortable and quiet, where you are unlikely to be disturbed for a few minutes. Then sit down, and follow this simple six-step process to a more relaxed and self-empowered you.

Step 1. Breathe

Take a deep breath and hold it for a couple of seconds, then release it slowly and steadily. Then repeat this two or three more times.

Step 2. Acceptance

Notice your body and become aware of where you hold your tension, stress, and anxiety. Instead of trying to fix anything, let your current state of tension be entirely acceptable. It is what it is. Faced with uncertainty of what will happen next, it is normal to feel sad, frustrated, or overwhelmed. But whatever you are feeling, the first step is to accept things as they are. This is tricky business I admit, but let go of fighting, fixing, or running away from what you are feeling. Accept reality as it is right now.

Step 3. Pure Expression

Take out your pad of paper and pen, and for the next couple of minutes describe your current situation. How does your body feel? What is tight, tense, or constricted? What thoughts are going through your mind? What emotions are associated with your thoughts? This is not an occasion to analyze why things are the way they are, or how you are going to fix things, rather this is an opportunity of pure expression. Writing allows the adrenaline filled stress energy to begin moving out of your body.

Step 4. Offer Reassurance

Stress is a painful experience in which you believe that you lack the resources, time, or capacity to lead yourself through a situation. By losing yourself in food when you are feeling stress, you surrender your ability to act with personal power and effectiveness. To counter this belief and habitual response, let yourself know that you are safe no matter what is happening. Once you are done writing, reassure yourself that even if you don't yet know exactly how you are going to get through this stressful situation, you are capable of making wise decisions.

Step 5. Invite Positive Insights

Once again, take several deep, conscious breaths. Much of what you are feeling is an outpouring of adrenaline that puts you into a state of panic and reaction. Adrenaline makes the situation seem like an emergency, and it limits your choices to fight, flight, or becoming frozen in inaction. Remind yourself that no matter how it feels right now, it is not true that whatever is happening is an emergency. Decide that you will not make reactionary, limited, or fearful choices while in a pumped up adrenaline state.

One of the best ways to move beyond the adrenaline rush is to breathe. Breathing moves stress energy and brings you back into center. When you are feeling calmer, ask yourself, "If I were wise and loving, what step would I take to create a positive outcome for myself." Listen to what insights or intuitive hunches come. If you don't have any insights in the moment, that's okay. Assure yourself that you will know what to do when the time is right.

Step 6. The Process of Change

Take another deep breath and stand up. If you still feel the need to stress eat, then go ahead and do so. Engaging in this process is an experience. You participate not to put harsh pressure on yourself, but to show yourself that you can relieve stress in new ways, and that you can trust yourself to get through any situation. If you were not able to overcome the need to reach for stress eating the first time, or even the first fifty times, that's okay. You are still benefiting from the process. Letting go of self-doubt, or the stress that occurs with the expectation of failure, hurt, and disappoint doesn't happen overnight. Give yourself credit for trying something new.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annette_Colby

Eating Health - Does Extremely Healthy Eating Lead to Eating Disorders?

2008-10-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

According to new research the promotion of healthy eating to fight obesity can drive some teenagers into eating disorders.

Also many adult women and men admit that the extremes of trying to eat healthy lead them into abnormal eating behaviors and later to a fully developed eating disorder.

So the question is how healthy for you is a "healthy eating plan" and diet?

From one point of view, it is good to make a healthy choice when you eat and it does help to fight obesity. But on the other hand there are people who get so obsessed with their eating habits that it becomes abnormal and absolutely out of control.

Most eating disorder sufferers say that their disorder started from a simple diet and trying to eat healthy. They also say that they became very emotional about their diet, weight and food.

For example here is a testimonial from a 24 year old woman who has been suffering from bulimia for the last 10 years: "It was very painful for me to hear people called me fatty and I began dieting. When I lost some weight people started complimenting me for the way I looked and it felt so rewarding that I only wanted to continue dieting and loosing more and more weight ... I really associated loosing weight with a reward and big personal achievements, so I thought the more I do it the better I will become. And I pushed myself into an extremely restrictive regiment of diet and exercise.

Every week I reduced my calorie intake and increased the exercise time. Sometimes I was very hungry and felt jealous towards people who could eat whatever they wanted. I started dreaming about food - of what I would eat if I could.

Once I cheated and ate much more food then I planned to do. I felt disgusted with myself. Then I went to the toilet and made myself sick. This gave me an instant relief to my strained feelings.

On the next day I repeated it again, and again it made me feel better. I thought I discovered a new way to eat whatever I want and at the same time stay slim. I thought it was my own invention but it wasn't and that was how my bulimia was born..."

This is a typical story of the beginnings of anorexia-bulimia. So the question is would these people have developed an eating disorder without initially going on a "healthy" diet and an extreme exercise regiment? Probably not!

In conclusion it is fair to say that eating healthy still should be a major part of overall health education in schools and in public education.

But teaching about balance regarding peoples eating habits is probably much more important than just healthy eating at all costs. Teaching balance is crucial for any health program if it wants to stop the spread of eating disorders.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster

Eating Late Will Make You Fat - A Very Deep-Rooted Fallacy

2008-10-12T04:38:00.000-07:00

Eating late at night does necessarily lead to gaining weight as long as you do not gain more calories than you can burn. Eating late can only you make fat when you take high-calorie, low-nutrient foods like snacks, burgers and chips. It is a very wrong idea that taking dinner in the night can make you obese. Therefore, most Americans try to skip their dinners in the night after they are late from work. But, you can take your dinner at whatever time you want in the night keeping an eye on the amount of your calories intake.
You should try to take healthy dinner less on fats and more on carbohydrates.

* Try to avoid potato chips and fries that usually accompany late night TV.

* Try to cut on the post-dinner desserts also.

Well, in any case the amount of calories that you consume has to be controlled when you eat during the day also. This deep-rooted idea that eating late can make you fact has emerged from the logic that a person definitely burns lesser calories than he consumes during his sleep due to inactivity. But, it is a less known fact that during slumber, a person' body produces a hormone called HGH (Human growth hormone) which aids in burning of fats and expedite the metabolism.

The fact of the matter is that the body is able to do better digestion in the night and has a higher metabolism than in the day time when a person is stressed due to work. Therefore, if the right quality of foods is taken in the night it can lead to maximum growth. Finally, the HGH factor makes sure that you cannot put on weight by eating late in the night. However, the HGH can also not prevent you from gaining pounds once you start taking more fatty foods in the night.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vineet_Chawla

The Top 10 Steps For a Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

2008-10-07T06:23:00.001-07:00

Anyone who has suffered from an eating disorder knows that it is difficult to overcome this condition. Binge eating disorder treatment may involve the individual attending a treatment center in order to solve the problem. Binge eating consists of over eating large amounts of food. It is difficult to stop this sort of destructive behavior. One issue encountered with this problem is that we all need to eat, so food is always going to be in the picture. This is why it can be difficult to treat this condition.

What steps are involved with binge eating disorder treatment? Well, to start with, here is a list of things that he or she should do to solve this serious eating problem:

1. Tell someone you have a problem
2. Get treatment or therapy
3. Limit the amount of food you have at home
4. Take part in relaxing endeavors
5. Do not beat yourself up emotionally
6. Start an exercise routine
7. Try to determine what causes your binge eating - record your findings in a journal
8. Do not skip breakfast
9. Do not go on a diet
10. Accept you for who you are and not for your appearance

Most people that suffer from this eating disorder will not be able to treat it without some form of binge eating disorder treatment. Plenty of clinics treat these issues. Talk to your family doctor, as they should be able to refer you to a clinic or getting you into therapy. Here is a list of some of the things a clinic will focus on for the individual that suffers from these disorders:

* Reduce the amount of eating binges
* Develop healthy eating habits
* Help the patient deal with guilt and shame associated with an eating disorder
* Develop a healthy outlook on yourself
* Treat the conditions that may be causing the eating problem such as depression or anxiety.

So, go ahead and make that first step in getting help if you have a problem with eating. Binge eating disorder treatment starts with telling someone. If someone, you know, may suffer from this condition, then talk to them and try to convince them to see a doctor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Karlson

Overeating - Why You Might Be Overeating

2008-10-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

If you're currently trying to lose weight, identifying whether or not there is some overeating at play becomes critically important.

Overeating is a big problem because weight loss will basically boil down to how many calories you've consumed versus how many calories you've burned.

If you aren't burning more than you are consuming, you aren't losing weight.

So, it doesn't really matter how great of a diet you are following, if you have a tendency to overeat and when do so, put yourself over your caloric balance, you will then gain weight.

There are many reasons why overeating can take place so determining what is at the root of the issue will really be a step in the right direction for overcoming this issue.

Here are three common reasons you may find this becoming an issue.

Oversized Dishes

If the food is there - you may just eat it. It's amazing how many people tend to lose track of how much food they are consuming when it's sitting there on their plate.

Far too many of us have the 'clean your plate' mindset, which basically means that if you are dishing up more food, you're therefore taking more in.

To quickly recover from this problem, buy smaller plates. It really can be that easy in some instances.

Eating Triggers

The next thing you should be doing is identifying the emotional triggers that will cause you to eat. This could be anything from stress, to being in a good mood, to feeling tired (when you really just need sleep), to whatever is applicable to you.

While identifying it definitely will not stop it from happening, but bringing it out in the open you can then address it much more easily.

Too Much Working Out

Finally, this last one may shock some people. If you work out with too much intensity, too often, this can actually serve to work against you.

You see, while you definitely do want to be getting good exercise sessions in, when these sessions become overly intense and you're not recovering from them, the body will tend to increase its appetite, trying to get you to eat more so that you supply more than enough reserves to recover.

The issue is that while you definitely do need fuel to recover, you don't need 'more than enough'. Plus, more often than not, more time is actually what you really need, rather than more food.

So, in order to keep hunger in check, workout with intensity, but also be sure you aren't overdoing it.
Keep these three factors in mind and then think of others that could be at play with you.

Overeating is a hard thing to stop once started, but step by step it is possible.

Learn more about successful dieting techniques and end to your battle with weight loss permanently.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Clark

Eating Disorders In Teens

2008-10-04T02:56:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders have long been a serious problem among people of all ages. However, this disease usually begins somewhere in the pre-teen stages of life, and although many adolescent boys suffer with this disorder, it usually affects and is much more severe in young girls.

People who do suffer from an eating disorder like to place blame on factors such as television and family life-styles. Although these situations do influence eating disorders, the basis for this disease lies within the person whom it is affecting.

Most girls and boys who suffer from an eating disorder usually are unhappy with themselves and their own performance in life. With girls, eating disorders may arise if they do not succeed in activities such as cheerleading or gymnastics, or if they do not seem to attract the attention of boys. Many girls believe that they cannot be beautiful unless they are thin, sometimes due to naturally thin girls that surround them both in real life and in fashion. For boys, causes may also result from sports that are weight orientated like wrestling.

There are two types of eating disorders called anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. The person who is anorexic will place herself on what she considers to be a “strict diet.” This diet usually involves cutting down calorie intake to an absurd level. The average person should consume around 1500 calories a day. An anorexic person will gauge her daily intake anywhere between a few hundred to less than 100 calories.

The bulimic person will usually try to restrict her diet. However, if she feels that she has eaten too much, she will induce vomiting or over-consume laxatives. Frequently, this sets off a pattern of binge eating and purging.

What Parents can do

There is a way of preventing your teenager being susceptible to these diseases. Allow your teenager to be on a diet, but monitor the diet plan with her.

If you notice that your teenager is concerned with his weight, do not brush it off as a phase. Instead, sit down with him and work out a dietary and exercise plan together. Help by purchasing healthy foods such as fruit, raw vegetables and salads. Show your teenager that it is OK to eat - it is just the types of foods he consumes that he must be careful about.

Understand that this is a mental disease, and grounding or punishing your teenager for having these disorders will only make things worse. If you believe your child may be suffering from an eating disorder seek professional help immediately. As the parent in situations like these, you may feel undermined or helpless, but understand that this disease greatly affects your teenager’s health and must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Eating Disorders - Causes, Treatment

2008-10-04T02:55:00.001-07:00

People with an eating disorder eat in such a manner that compromises their physical health. The manner of eating may vary in ways: it may be excessive or very limited, or eating all the wrong foods. Among the known eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating rise as the most adamant cases particularly in western countries. Research sums up that over a span of one lifetime there are at least 50, 000 people who will die because of eating disorders.

Eating disorders do not discriminate on the basis of age, either. While eating disorders seem to be more common in young females, the fact is eating disorders can affect those in their elderly years, as well. More treatment centers are beginning to see women in the fifties and beyond and the unfortunate issue with eating disorders in the elderly is they become more deadly. Ten years ago a study done by the University of British Columbia concluded that 78 percent of deaths related to anorexia nervosa were that of older people. These eating orders also do not discriminate against race, either.

Anerexia - Deadly Eating Disorder - Anorexia

2008-10-04T02:55:00.000-07:00

The vicious eating disorder known to all as anorexia is one of the most deadly out there. More common in females than males, it's estimated that 1% of all teenage girls have this disorder, and that out of that 1%, up to 10% may die from it.
The individual with this disorder believes they are obese or overweight and have a very poor self-image of themself. In an attempt to quickly lose weight by whatever means necessary, people with anorexia have been known to starve themselves, take laxatives in order to expell food from the body, and it many cases extreme amounts of exercise. Any of these three are
enough to take a terrible toll on the body.

Don't confuse anorexia with bulimia. Anorexia is when a person refuses to eat (or eats very little). Bulimia is when a person consumes large amounts of food (binging) and then force themself to vomit in back up (purging). Both stem from an incredibly poor image of self and the person thinking or feeling extremely overweight, but they are very different diseases.

4 Binge Eating Help Tips

2008-09-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

Does thinking about food so much ultimately turn into a binge eating session for you? Does this sound like you?

You are sitting at home and you can't stop thinking about food. You get up look in the pantry, close the door, and look in the refrigerator. You don't know what you are looking for, but you feel obsessed with food, like you need to eat it because you are at home. You try not to eat it, because you know what will happen. It's the same cycle as always: A little bite of something will turn into a binge eating session.

This happens to many people. Harmless snacking initially turns into a massive binge eating moment and they feel like they just cannot stop. It's true that most of the time people do turn to food for comfort and because of some kind of emotional issue that happened to them in the past, but what about the people that can't relate to that? The people who really can't trace their binge eating to anything in their past? These kinds of people just know that they really enjoy food and feel like they can't stop eating, which always turns into a binge for them.

So when you want to learn how to stop binge eating and curb any cravings, what do you do?

Here are some tips that used to help me stay away from the pantry and focus on things other than food and binge eating:

1. Chew gum.
Many times we are bored and eating sounds like just the thing to do to pass time. Instead of leading to a potential binge with a trigger food, try chewing gum. The constant chewing of gum will trick your mind and you won't find that you are drifting off to snacking. You will find satisfaction with picking a gum that has a long-lasting flavor.

2. Do something.
Working from home I find myself in the kitchen just because it's convenient. It's the same thing with people who work at an office. The community candy bowl or the kitchen seem to just be convenient, and before you know it, you've consumed food that you weren't even hungry for. Instead of falling victim to convenience, why not remove yourself from the situation. If you are at home and the kitchen keeps calling your name, leave the house. Making the kitchen invisible to you will really help you to not snack as much and will definitely curb future binges.

3. Find motivation.
What motivates you to stay on track? Is there a blog that you visit regularly or a website? Do you have a friend that will keep you on track? Think about your motivation towards not binging and do it. Not only will you become motivated to not binge and snack, but it (hopefully) won't even be on your mind anymore.

4. Find the alternative.
This tip really worked well for me. If you start to crave a food, don't deprive yourself of it necessarily; just find a healthier version of it. If you are craving tacos, make them at home because they will be healthier. If you can't get sweets out of your mind, instead of reaching for the bag of chocolate, try an apple or another sweet fruit. Many times you will feel satisfaction because you are still fulfilling your sweet tooth... just in another way.

The next time you can't seem to stop obsessing over food, or if a craving just seems like it is too much, try some of the tips. They worked for me when I was thinking how to stop binge eating for myself and hopefully you will have success with them as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Gerstley

Reduce Eating Disorders in Children

2008-09-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you could tell me at least one story about your mother, father or siblings doing or saying something that contributed to your poor relationship with food and your body. My mother used to buy food that only she could eat. For example, she bought green, seedless grapes for herself only. My siblings and I could only eat the red, seed filled grapes from the backyard. My brother used to tell me I was fat and "why don't you exercise" (he was not asking a question). Although I don't blame my mother or my brother for my issues with food, their behaviors did contribute.

The truth is, our parents have a huge impact on how we see ourselves today: good or bad, fat or thin, pretty or ugly, etc. They certainly don't intend to hurt us but sometimes they do.

If you are a parent, I'm sure you try hard not to make the same mistakes as your parents and try to be aware of what you say and do. Below are some suggestions on how you can help your child have a healthy relationship with food and his/her body.

Teach your children to eat when they are hungry

Create a structure around food. Feed your children three meals a day with a couple of snacks. Try to keep meals at about the same time everyday and don't fight about how much your child has had to eat. Allow your child to have snacks in between well-balanced meals, but not so much that they aren't hungry at meal time. In addition, let them have desserts and other things they love. Children are much more in touch with their body's signals than many adults. Trust them to know what they need, to balance it with what they want, and to stop eating when they are full.

Avoid using food as reward, punishment, or to cover up feelings

Teach children that food is about fueling the body, rather than a way to feed emotions or as a reward for "being good." Most of my clients have these beliefs. When I talk to groups about food issues, I often playfully mimic a mother saying, "here, have a cookie, you'll feel better" to demonstrate this.

Don't Diet

One of the leading causes of eating disorders is dieting. The ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders) Newsletter, Summer 2001pointed out that "three of the most powerful risk factors for the development of an eating disorder are (1) a mother who diets, (2) a sister who diets, and (3) friends who diet. In addition, girls and women who diet severely [restricting food to excess] are eighteen times more likely to develop an eating disorder than non-dieters."

Discourage children from talking about other people's weight

Teach your children to see beyond how a person looks. Teach them to focus on a person's talents, abilities, hopes, values and goals. The days of judging someone based on the color of their skin or by their religion is over (or, at least we think it is). Yet, fat discrimination persists.

Don't comment on your own weight in a negative way

Nothing teaches "hate your body" more than hearing your mother or father do it. Your children's image of themselves is greatly influenced by you, the parent.. If you think you are fat (even if you are not), and see it as a bad thing, your child may eventually see themselves this way too.

Never comment negatively about your child's (or anyone else's) weight

Some parents think they are being helpful by telling their child to lose weight or no one will like them. I understand the desire to do this... after all, in our society this seems to be true. However, doing so can not only lead your child to feel deep shame about themselves but can continue to send the message that there is something wrong with fat people.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Cuthbert

Recovery program for eating disorders

2008-09-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

Food Addicts Recovery Anonymous is a free 12-step program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating and bulimia. Weekly meetings are held 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Hillside Covenant Church, 2060 Magnolia Way, Walnut Creek. Call 925-683-0079 or visit http://www.foodaddicts.org.

Eden Medical Center

A preconception planning class titled "Starting Off Right" will be presented by Michael McGlynn, M.D. past chief of Eden's Department of OB/GYN 7-9 p.m. today. The free class is part of Eden's monthly pregnancy forums. At 20103 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley. Register by calling 510-889-5078 or visit http:// www.edenmedcenter.org/events.

Stroke and osteoporosis screenings

Life Line Screening will offer stroke and osteoporosis screenings Wednesday. The screenings are fast, painless and affordable. Register for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm for $159. All five screenings are 60-90 minutes. Appointments begin at 9 a.m. Pre- registration is required. Call 888-754-1464 or visit http:// www.lifelinescreening.com

Yoga workshop

Lifestretch Yoga in Fremont host an "Introduction to Yoga Workshop" on Mondays throughout February starting today. Classes are from 10:15-11:15 a.m. All fitness levels are welcome. Cost is $40 for all classes. At 37353 Fremont Blvd. Call 510-796-YOGA or visit http://www.lifestretchyoga.com.

Hospice by the Bay

Gay Men's Grief Group continues through March 29, meeting from 10- 11:30 a.m. every Saturday (excluding Feb. 16.)

The eight week support group helps gay men cope with feelings of grief after the loss of a partner. Free for members, $160 nonmembers. Reservations required.

At 1902 Van Ness Ave., 2nd Floor, San Francisco. Call 415-487- 4313.

Elephant Pharm

Learn about the healthy nutrition and benefits of omega-3 supplements from Christopher Speed, from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Physician and nutrition specialist Melina Jampolis speaks about the seven steps to successful and permanent weight loss from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Samara Freeman, PhD speaks on how to understand your gut and the importance of probiotics from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 17.

All classes are free. At 1607 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. Call 510- 549=9200 or visit http://www.elephantpharm.com.

-Stop by Elephant Pharm locations for a flu shot. Proceeds benefit Sutter Hospice Program. Preservative-free shots for pregnant women or nursing mothers are in limited supply for $30. All other shots are $25. Located in Berkeley: 1607 Shattuck Ave., 510-549- 9200. Walnut Creek: 1388 South California St., 925-658-5300.

1,000 MOMS Campaign

The group hosts its monthly meeting from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 8. Sponsored by the Cancer Prevention Coalition Bay Area office, the meeting aims to support and educate moms about vital health information. Free.

At the Centerville Presbyterian Church Dining Hall, 4360 Central Ave., Fremont. Call 510-589-3962.

Hats off America

The 10th annual Hats Off America Red T-shirt 10K Run/5K walk starts at 10 a.m. Saturday. Danville Mayor Candace Andersen will be the starter for the event. Entry fee is $35.

At 2101 Holbrook Drive, Danville. Call 925-855-1950 or visit http://www.hatsoffamerica.us.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

The program is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are no dues, weigh-ins or fees. The group meets 8:30 to 10 a.m. Sundays; 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Sponsored by the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay. The program is free, but pre-registration is required. At the Summit Campus, Merritt Pavillion, Cafeteria Annex C, 350 Hawthorne, Oakland. Call 510-523-4361.

Free tai chi classes

Through the Fremont Adult School, instructor Sifu May Chen offers ongoing tai chi classes for adults of all skill levels.

Great Outdoor Tai Chi classes are from 8 to 10:45 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Senior Center, 40086 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont. 510-790-6602.

Other classes at 4700 Calaveras Ave., Fremont:

-Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Routine No. 24, 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

-Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan No. 42, 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. Mondays.

-Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

Call 510-793-6465.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

The weight-loss surgery support group "New beginnings" will be having meetings for people who have had or are considering weight- loss surgery. Pre-operative patients will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Post-operative patients will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Family and friends are welcome. Admission is free.

At 3100 Summit St., Suite 2600, Oakland. Call 510-869-8972.

-The Latina Breast Health Program hosts a free breast cancer support group for Spanish speaking women from 2 to 4 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month. Registration required.

At the Alta Bates Medical Center Summit Campus, Peralta Pavilion, Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center 430 30th St., Room 2810, Oakland. Call 510-219-3532.

The creative therapies and eating disorders

2008-09-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

The creative therapies and eating disorders.

Ed. by by Stephanie L. Brooke.

C.C. Thomas

2008

292 pages

$64.95

Hardcover

RC552

As a cross-cultural survey indicates, eating disorders do not only afflict Western teenage girls. Brooke (sociology and psychology, U. of Phoenix) introduces 16 case studies employing the creative arts as individual and group treatment options for anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and related self-injurious behavior linked to psychological, developmental, biological, and cultural factors. Contributors treat adults, adolescents, and children with body image disturbances, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies through modalities including art therapy, play therapy, music therapy, poetry, psychodrama, dance/movement therapy, the Sesame Approach blending movement and storytelling, and spirituality. The book includes definitions of terms, approach application tips, and examples of patient art.

Eating disorder

2008-09-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

Q I am a mother of a 10-year-old girl who is obsessed with weight loss. She is very thin for her age. She refuses to eat breakfast or dinner because she is afraid she will gain too much weight. I often find her in her bedroom looking in the mirror to see if her clothes are getting any smaller. I also find food hidden in her bedroom that I had given her to eat for dinner. Can you give me suggestions on how to end this obsession? Signed, "A Concerned Mom"

A Your concern for your daughter is clear and I'm glad you wrote. An eating disorder is an obsession with food and weight that harms a person's well being. Although we all worry about our weight sometimes, people with eating disorders go to extremes. People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin and do not want to eat. People with bulimia eat a lot of food at once and then throw up or use laxatives to remove the food from the body. Possible causes of eating disorders include feeling stressed out or upset about something in your life, or feeling the need to be "in control." If there are many stressors in someone's life, often what she eats is the only control she feels she has. Society and the media also put a lot of pressure on people to be thin, especially young, school-age girls.

Sit down with your daughter. Find out what's going on in her life. See if there is anything that's been bothering her. She may not open up to you right away, but just listen. Also, stay aware of the way your daughter looks. Is she so thin that she looks sick? Does her weight fluctuate a lot? Do you notice any of the warning signs of eating disorders, such as:

* Unnatural concern about body weight

* Obsession with calories, fat grams and food

* Use of medicines to keep from gaining weight

* Throwing up after meals

* Refusing to eat or lying about how much was eaten

* Fainting

* Over-exercising

* Not having periods

Realizing that your daughter may have a problem is a big step, and you should be commended for caring so much. Since eating disorders are a very complex and serious matter, it would be impossible to cover it fully in this column. What I'd like you to do is to seek professional help. Start with your family doctor, who can then recommend further help such as an eating disorder specialist or a psychologist. Good luck to you and your family.

5 Ways You Can Help Yourself Heal Binge Eating Disorder

2008-09-26T03:45:00.000-07:00

Binge eating disorder is described as having recurrent or frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period of time with a feeling of being unable to control it.

Research in the field of eating disorders has come a long way in the past 25- 30 years. Professionals now know that stress, major life changes such as divorce, marriage, moving to college or getting a new job can all be factors that lead to binge eating disorder. It is how a person interprets situations and how they deal with stress that helps to avoid binging.

You don't have to be a victim forever with this disorder. You can take action and change your life. Here are 5 tips to start you on the path to recovery.

Healing Tip #1 - Reduce Stress

Stress is the number one reason we continue to binge. It is however, not usually the root cause of the disorder. Some kind of trauma usually sets the stage for an eating disorder and stress contributes to it. By reducing the negative stress in your life you can lessen the binge episodes while you work on the healing the root cause of your disorder. Here are some quick ways to reduce negative stress.

1. Try not to over-schedule your time. If you are saying "yes" to everyone who needs you to do a project because you can't say "no" then you have overscheduled yourself. You must learn to say "no". Consider outsourcing, having meetings to discuss plans and stating your opinions. Learn assertiveness training.

2. Avoid being a perfectionist. People don't expect you to be perfect and you shouldn't expect them to be either. Be flexible in your expectations of others.

3. Focus on what you want, not on what you don't want.

4. Exercise. Even if you walk around your block at a pace comfortable for you, this will increase your good hormones that make you relaxed and happy. You can clear your mind in just 10 or 15 minutes of exercise.

5. Treat yourself with appropriate rewards when you solve problems before they become bigger. By not procrastinating you can avoid stressful situations.

6. Use a breathing technique to lower your heart rate so you can think clearly. A quick lesson that you can use now is to put your right hand on your abdomen, right at the waistline, and put your left hand on your chest, right in the center. Without trying to change your breathing, simply notice how you are breathing. Which hand rises the most as you inhale? If your abdomen expands, you are breathing from your abdomen or diaphragm. If your belly doesn't move or moves less than your chest you are breathing from your chest. The trick to shifting from chest to abdominal breathing is to make one or two full exhalations that push out the air from the bottom of your lungs. This will create a vacuum that will pull in a deep, diaphragmatic breath on your next inhalation.

Healing Tip #2 - Stop Criticizing

You criticize yourself because you feel you are not good enough in some or many areas. Not being good enough, not having self-worth is 99 out of 100 times the root problem. It has nothing to do with food, control, money or relationships. If you don't feel good enough about yourself everything else falls short of your desired outcome. Think of how terrible that sounds when you say "I'm not good enough".

Write a list of what you think about yourself. Think of every negative thing you wrote on your list. You are essentially saying you aren't good enough. It's the bottom line; there's the problem. When you feel you aren't good enough that is exactly what you'll get. When you tell yourself enough times, over and over that you just don't measure up then you will eventually begin to truly believe that statement. Your subconscious will adopt that belief and pretty soon you will begin acting and thinking and saying things the way you are convincing yourself to be. This belief system needs to be challenged and changed.

Healing Tip #3 - Question your beliefs

Belief systems or the beliefs and values you carry are formed from other people's beliefs such as those from your parents, peers, mentors, religious leaders, teachers and society in general. Belief is the psychological state in which an individual is convinced of the truth of a proposition. Sometimes we just accept other people's beliefs without questioning whether we think they are right or wrong.

We grow up with beliefs that come from many different sources. They become very limiting and even though they may have served you well in the past, some of them do not serve you well any more and it's time to question them and clean house. Look at some of these limiting beliefs and ask why. Do they still hold true for you?

"My parents said it isn't proper"

"It's too hard"

"I don't have the time"

"I can't do that"

"My grandmother wouldn't allow that"

"I don't believe in that"

"I should never go against authority"

"Clean your plate at dinner"

"I don't have the skills"

Whatever we choose to believe becomes our reality. We think it is the truth. If you believe that you are too weak to overcome binge eating then that has become your truth or reality. But the belief is just a thought pattern dictating your current circumstances. You can choose whatever thoughts you want. You can choose to say "I live a healthy and abundant life." No matter what difficult situations you are facing it is only the result of an inner thought and you can choose what thoughts you want to have.

So how do you know that your current beliefs or belief systems are the truth and really what you believe in? You question them. You can take every single belief you have and write it on a piece of paper and next to it write the word why? What evidence do you have to make that belief true?

Healing Tip #4 - Learn meditation and visualization

Meditating is the practice of uncritically attempting to focus your attention on one thing at a time. Exactly what that thing is, is relatively unimportant and varies from one tradition to the next. Often the meditator repeats, either aloud or silently, a syllable, word or group of words. This is known as mantra meditation. Focusing on a fixed object such as the leaves of a tree or flower can also anchor the attention. Many people find that a convenient and relaxing point of focus is the rising and falling of their own breath. You can use anything as an object of meditation.

It is important to understand that the heart of meditation lies not simply in focusing on one object to the exclusion of all other thought, but rather in the attempt to achieve this type of focus. The nature of the mind is such that it does not want to stay focused or concentrated. You'll notice that a host of thoughts will appear and seemingly interfere with meditation. That's normal. Just push those thoughts away and bring your focus back. Remember, what we resist persists. The mind is going to try to do what you are telling it not to do...you might say to yourself "I won't think of anything except for this flower" but your mind hears "think of everything "! It doesn't recognize a negative word such as won't or don't. Instead, you could say to yourself "I choose to think of this flower". Give it a try.

You can have great success with meditating using positive affirmations. A wonderful mantra is "I am young, healthy and wonderful" Get into your relaxation mode by doing slow deep breathing and then take it to the next level by using your mantra and focusing on that one particular thought. Say it over and over again with each deep breath you take. Try this for 10 minutes a day and when you are finished you'll feel like a million bucks. You will then truly believe that you are young, healthy and wonderful. Your mind believes it so it becomes your reality.

You can use whatever mantra you like. It can be a sound like OM or a word such as ONE, or a phrase such as "I am one with the Universe." Or you could repeat something special to yourself like the name of your favorite animal.

At first, your time will be spent on relaxation and not as much on meditation. Try to begin with five or ten minutes a day and work your way up as you are comfortable.

Let's begin.

1. Select a position that is comfortable for you; either sitting in a chair with your legs uncrossed, in a yoga style position sitting on the floor with "full lotus" style, or just sitting cross-legged on a cushion on the floor.

2. Try to sit with your back straight but comfortable and let the weight of your head fall directly down upon your spinal column. You can do this by pulling your chin in slightly. Allow the small of your back to arch if you are sitting on the floor.

3. Close your mouth and breathe through your nose. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth.

4. Close your eyes and focus on the place where your body touches the cushion or the chair. What are the sensations there? Next, notice the places where your body touches itself. Are your hands crossed? Are your legs crossed? Pay attention to the sensation at these places of contact. Finally, focus on the way your body takes up space. Does it take up a lot of space? A small amount? Can you feel the boundary between your body and space?

5. With your eyes still closed, take several deep breaths and notice the quality of your breathing. Is it fast or slow? Shallow or deep? Notice where your breath rests in your body. Is it up high in your chest? Is it in the midsection around your stomach? Down low in your belly? Try moving your breath from one area to the other. Breathe into your upper chest, then into your stomach, then drop your breath into your lower belly. Feel your abdomen expand and contract as the air goes in and out. Notice how the upper chest and stomach are almost still. This "dropped breath" is the most relaxing stance to meditate from. However, if you have trouble taking deep belly breaths, don't worry. Your breath will drop of its own accord as you become more practiced in meditation.

6. Begin saying your mantra silently to yourself. Say the word or syllables over and over within your mind. When your thought strays, note it and bring your attention back to your mantra. If you notice any feelings within your body, note them and return to the repetition of your own special word/s. You don't need to force it. Let your mantra find its own rhythm as you repeat it over and over again. If you have the opportunity you can begin to chant or say aloud your mantra. Let the sound of your own voice fill you as you relax.

Note: If using a mantra is not for you, you can also try using your breath as a focal point.

Healing Tip #5 - Use positive affirmations

Positive affirmations are wonderful! They are what keep you going when you are feeling sorry for yourself or if those tiny voices that you hear are trying to sabotage your best efforts. You know them - "I can't do it. I'm not strong enough. I'm afraid".

You can use positive affirmations combined with a real feel of enthusiasm to achieve in your mind what you truly want. In a way it is similar to using the law of attraction or just positive thinking. By using these affirmations and repeating them over and over to yourself, you then begin to believe and feel that they are true. Don't allow any room for those pesky voices that say otherwise.

You can write out your own positive affirmations to go along with your goals. Write them 10 or 20 times on a piece of paper and say them out loud with enthusiasm and joy that they bring you. Do this for a few days and then pick another affirmation you'd like to use. When you say your affirmations out loud you believe what you are saying to be true. Affirmations that are used consistently become part of your belief system and always produce results. Remember, what the mind believes, man can achieve.

Quietly saying your affirmations to yourself isn't going to be very effective. You want to engage your subconscious mind. It is a fact that your subconscious mind will believe what it is told through repetition and reinforcement. By adding some excitement or enthusiasm and speaking out loud you are using more than one of your senses; therefore you intensify the impression.

"I now accept a wonderful new job."

"I approve of myself"

"I love myself just the way I am"

"I am totally healthy"

"I have a wonderful and new relationship"

"I am at peace and at ease with myself"

"I have all the clients I need"

"I have everything I need within me"

"I have a happy slender figure"

"I experience love wherever I go"

"I am in the process of positive changes"

"I deserve abundance of life"

"I deserve to have or be _____ "(fill in whatever you wish here)

"I am open to more good and more experiences than ever before"

"I am totally open to experience great relationships"

"I am grateful for my good health"

"I always work for great people"

"I am at peace with food"

"I am open to new streams of income"

"I am open to and deserving of compliments"

"I succeed at whatever I put my mind to"

"I am healthy, whole and complete"

"All is well in my world"

"There are plenty of customers who want my services"

"Abundance is for everyone, including me"

"Money comes easily and readily to me"

You might notice that some of the affirmations are difficult for you to say. That is where your resistance is. Question WHY you are resisting.

A Daughter Skating On Thin Ice

2008-09-26T03:44:00.001-07:00

I am the proud father of a beautiful teenage daughter. My daughter is a 17year-old teenager who achieves top grades, has qualified for the National Honor Society, has ice-skated competitively for almost 7 years, is active in sports, volunteer activities, school clubs, and is a model for her younger brothers(3: ages 2, 6, 12) and sisters(3: ages 4, 7, 14). She is a leader and example for her small, though close, group of wonderful friends. There is once exception: my daughter struggles with Anorexia Nervosa. Her life has completely been devastated the past 2 years by this ugly psychological and emotional and physical syndrome.

My daughter was competitively ice skating and competing in amateur tournaments and skills competitions since the age of 11. She loved the sport and the training and the atmosphere and competition. She was loved by her trainers and coaches for her work ethic and passion and by the age of 14 had her eyes on qualifying tournaments in the next two years for Olympic placement. Her eyes were wide, though realistic, and she wanted the chance to make this dream a possibility.

At one competition she placed far below her expectations and when speaking with another skater who shared the same coach she was introduced to the idea that in two years her hips would widen, her calves and ankles would get thicker, and her nimble, athletic lightness and flexibility could be lost to puberty. This skater explained that almost all competitive skaters were using laxatives to control weight issues. As my wife and I learned later, this was the beginning of our daughter's demise in becoming diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.

The struggle since has been a torment. My daughter has lost over thirty percent of her body weight. During her peak competition scheduling she weighed approximately 120 pounds and was competing at a master performance level. Her weight today is barely 75 pounds. She is struggling immensely with the understanding that if she does not eat, the consequences are potentially dire. As parents we have searched for every option, therapist, doctor, or source to help us. Aside from the expert medical professionals, one on-line source was particularly helpful. Here my wife and I found a wealth of information and guidance on the appropriate questions to ask, background information on Anorexia Nervosa and related disorders, and up-to-date research about the latest innovations in caring for, and seeking to help a child with Anorexia.

The road ahead seems long and difficult. Our daughter still has not regained the weight she so badly needs to become healthy and the longer she continues to deprive her body of necessary resources the greater the possibility of permanent or irreversible damage. The symptoms have been far reaching including: loss of menstruation, continual distorted self-image, erosion of tooth enamel, and bowel and digestion problems. and numerous other complications. We found statistics hat showed that twenty percent of those diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa will remain chronically ill! We hope our daughter has the strength and we can help her to find the sanctity and peace she needs to recover.

Emotional Eating

2008-09-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

It is a fact that positive emotions create experience of Well-being. Pessimistic emotions, on the other hand, could induce a great psychological and physiological harm.

An outcome of negative emotions that has been in the news for a while now is emotional eating. It is not uncommon to see people consuming more than what they ordinarily would once they are under a lot of emotional suffering. This distress may have been caused by trauma, anxiousness, unhappiness, anger, loneliness, human relationship problems, or depression. In reality, an eating disorder is among the most visible symptoms of emotional disorders like clinical depression.

Emotional eating comes about when your emotions influence your eating habits instead of your stomach. Once you indulge in emotional eating, it is likely to add to your worries and your weight.

Emotional eating essentially means that you finish up eating without experiencing hunger. Individuals indulge in such behavior to attempt to comfort themselves, and turn over to food since it is readily accessible. Attempting to achieve freedom from such impulse it is like attempting to break free from a drug dependency - you have to draw a lot of effort to abandon the substance abuse.

Among the first steps that you must take to get over emotional eating is to try and distinguish between eating while hungry and eating for comfort. Learn to distinguish your hunger and recognize whether you are eating based on the demand of your head or your stomach. Eat only if you experience hunger.

Do not use eating to stamp down boredom and don't make snacking and sweets a habit, either. Remember, you are expected to 'eat to live' and not 'live to eat'. If boredom is something you are battling, employ different means of opposing the situation. Go out walking, visit a friend, or plainly pick up the tools and start a garden.

When next experience the urge to eat between meals, pick up an apple or a carrot. If you don't recourse to favorable comfort foods for a while, you will make a breakthrough in diminishing your urge for such foods with time.

Going to the gym will make you a lot more aware of your body and physical exercise boosts emotional health. While you might feel like eating afterwards you should assure that you select healthy foods.

Lack of sleep could head to lessened levels of leptin, the endocrine hormone credited for regulation of appetite by signaling fullness. Ensure that you receive decent relaxation each day.

If none of these work and you are ineffective to keep up your efforts, there could be a need to better your emotional health. Visit a counselor or psychologist to seek to unearth the reason of your binge eating, and research for leading natural remedies that are available with the reputation to provide help.

Learn How To Stop Binge Eating With Challenges

2008-09-24T22:44:00.001-07:00

Life can be tough, and as we all know, it's even more complicated when trying to stop binge eating disorder. We are thrown obstacles and our drive can sometimes seem obscured. Even in these struggles, your goal needs to stay at the forefront of your mind so that you learn how to stop binge eating.

For me, in order to not give up when times got hard, I remain focused on what it is I truly want by setting up little "challenges" for myself. This really helps me because I know that if I can fulfill the challenge, I am strong and I can go on to really achieving anything that I want.

1. Challenge yourself to find something that makes you happy and do it.

What makes you the happiest?

Writing, reading, being with friends, talking on the phone, putting on an outfit that makes you feel fabulous, exercising, listening to music, singing, buying new makeup, getting your nails and toes done, scrapbooking, cleaning, organizing, sending a card to someone, looking at old pictures, playing with your pet, etc.

2. Challenge yourself to learn or do something new.

Is there a class that you've always wanted to take?

What about something that you've always wanted to know more about?

Do you want to make more friends in your area?

Do you want a new hobby?

3. Challenge yourself to focus on your future instead of your past.

When I struggled to first stop bingeing, it was so hard for me. I constantly thought of the past and my struggles and the fact that I was scared since I had binged for so long. I found that focusing on the good I would gain from overcoming binge eating disorder really helped me.

After a couple of successes of overcoming a binge, I slipped and found myself turning to food. I binged. After the binge, I couldn't stop thinking about how much of a failure I was. How was I ever going to beat a whole disorder when I couldn't even resist one temptation?

This is the hardest part because you will feel like you let yourself down. You've worked so hard and beat a handful of binges and then you fall down. Yes, it sucks, but you have to look to the future, pick yourself back up, and stop dwelling on the binge.

4. Challenge yourself to make a list of everything you want to do in your life.

It's really fun to create this wish list and very rewarding when you get to cross off items. Write down everything you want to do and accomplish throughout your life. Try to do these things when you beat a binge, as a reward if that will help. If not, try to cross items off monthly, annually, or just whenever you can complete the activity on your list.

5. Challenge yourself to vent out any stress, frustration, or anxiety.

While this is not true for everyone, the majority of binge eaters binge due to negative emotions. Bingeing is comforting to us so that we don't have to think about our stressful jobs and frustration with friends, family, and even ourselves. It's hard to change your habits of bingeing to something else. BUT, I challenge you to do so by having a plan. Having a plan in place is the key because you already know that you are going to do xyz when you are tempted to binge.

The next time you feel a binge coming on, pull out your plan and do it! If you need to go into your bathroom and take a bubble bath, do it! If your plan is to write in your journal about your feelings, do it!

Emotional Eating - What's Your Excuse?

2008-09-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

One of my children (who shall be nameless to protect the guilty) has tried everything to get out of handing in homework. Actually, they've all gone through that phase, so much for my brilliant parenting. And as a lecturer I know that I've heard all the excuses before!

Over the past few weeks I have heard all sorts of excuses from my clients:

I was celebrating and it had to be chocolate.

It snowed and I couldn't exercise (some allowance here - the weather has been weird. But the snow melts very quickly and what do you do the rest of the week?)

It snowed and I didn't feel like it. (Strange logic here - snow = winter = comfort food)

I forgot (forgot to diet? Forgot that when you have one bit of the cake you eat the lot? Forgot you have 60lbs to lose?)

I've been busy. Look, you'll always be busy. And you're going to eat the rest of your life. So eat sensible stuff. Otherwise you'll be too ill or too dead to be busy)

I was away with the family. (Family get togethers are difficult - it's so easy to overeat. But if you stick to the right food groups and the right quantities you can do it. Have one celebratory meal; don't over eat the whole way through the weekend.)

A sensible eating plan isn't technically difficult. Lean meat or fish, veg and salads, a little fruit. Any food that looks as if it grew on a tree or in the ground or grazed in a field or stream. You don't have to count calories or fat grams, weigh or measure foods and it does allow the odd celebratory meal or comfort fest.

But you do have to be disciplined and apply some common sense to your eating habits on a day to day basis. It is the consistent behaviour in your diet that makes the difference. Consistently eating well, you'll get away with the odd lapse. Consistently loosening your waistband, slumping on the sofa and troughing out when you don't need to will end in misery.

It's also important to identify why you are eating the food. Is it to meet your physical needs (hunger) or are you using it to deal with your emotions? You'll be trying to feed your emotional hunger if you eat when you are sad, lonely, frustrated or simply bored. You may even feel your emotions in your stomach and mistake that for physical hunger!

So ask the question before you eat - "If I eat now, what am I feeding, my body or my emotions?" If you don't deal with these feelings you'll have to use incredible willpower to stay on a diet. Look at your emotional eating patterns, decide now to be consistent in your eating habits, take one day at a time and consistently shed the pounds!

The Horrors Of Eating Disorders

2008-09-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

You can't seem to make up your mind, you eat and eat and then you hide a purge or you starve yourself for weeks until you are at the lowest weight that you have ever been in your life. Anorexia and bulimia used to be considered the health problems of some confused young girls with troubled lives real or perceived. Lately doctors have found that more and more women are being diagnosed with an eating disorder of some kind. Other misconceptions about eating disorders are that people think that they are psychological problems that can be treated with medication easily and then the person is cured for life. Neither is true. In fact, this disorder is not easily treated and the person is left to deal with it affects throughout their lives. Doctor's believe that hormonal variations occurring near the menopause of a woman may be the reason the eating disorder developed such late in life.

These women see themselves as being overweight despite the fact that they are extremely thin. These women developing strange eating rituals or eat and regurgitating over and over again. Body dissatisfaction is the main focus of these women. For unknown reasons they can't seem to become comfortable in their own skin. They often believe that their behaviors are secret and no one notices or cares enough to pay attention. The idea that middle-aged women are having this problem is troubling to physicians as they work hard to try and prevent the disorder in young women. However, doctors can't be sure if the middle aged women that are receiving treatment are new to the disorder. The thought is that they had these problems when they were very young and as they got older realized that they should seek treatment. Complicating things is that these women are finding it difficult to locate proper treatment because for so long the focus was put on the younger woman. The women that are suffering from anorexia and/or bulimia many times suffer from perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety. Substance abuse issues also many times play a role in many cases of both younger and older women. The most memorable and recent case occurred with a South American woman, a 24 year old teacher weighting only 77 pounds at 5 foot 2 inch tall when she passed away.

You or someone close to you might be suffering from this condition. It is a very harmful thing to suffer from, and if you suspect that someone is having trouble with an eating disorder then you should immediately take action to intervene. Do it in a graceful way so that the victim knows that you are looking out for her best interests. But don't let it go on for any longer than it has to. Therapists are the most common way to deal with eating disorders, but there are also entire camps and seminars devoted to getting the victims back to regular eating habits.

The treatments include therapy, medication, and counseling and more counseling. Some others treatments tried are yoga. Studies have tried to link the two yoga and anorexia but studies were inconclusive and did not produce any significant changes in behavior or eating habits. Dissonance -based therapy which works as therapy and counseling aimed at the person's competing ideas. There are group meetings and other more intensive therapies for those with severely dangerous cases of anorexia and/or bulimia. Many women have been able to make positive life changes to battle their self inflicted disorder and go on to live healthier lives. It has been reported that these women will have to battle the urges and cravings to purge or starve themselves for the rest of their lives. Since no cures exist for this disorder it is the hope of therapist and people suffering anorexia and/or bulimia, that some kind of definitive preventive measures can be developed or found.

The Appetite Hormone

2008-09-22T22:53:00.001-07:00

Train Yourself to Stop Emotional Eating For Good

2008-09-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Finding Help From Center For Eating Disorders

2008-09-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

Personnel suffering from eating disorders have more than a few options in seeking treatment, once they identify and admit they have a disease. According to the Center for Eating Disorders and Psychotherapy in Worthington, the best selection is family and friends.

Even as many females suffer at from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating in any case one during their lifetime, what manifests the intermittent bouts with one of these disorders into a full-blown disease is still the subject of much debate.

Many hospitals provide a service where people can take part in treatment ranging beginning meetings with professionals to inpatient treatment. Depending on the intensity of the disease and the readiness of the patient to participate, determines which treatment option is utilized.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the considered to be the biggest non-profit organization in the United States and works to put a stop to eating problem as also to provide referrals to patients suffering from anorexia, bulimia as well as binge eating disorders and, as well people who are taken up with body image and issues pertaining to weight.

The ultimate goal of the association is to eliminate eating disorders and to achieve this, the association has committed itself to expanding the public understanding of this disease as well as enchanting preventive measures and promoting way in to quality treatment for those who have been afflicted with eating problem as well as giving support to families through education, advocacy and in research.

The association tries to provide the needs of the national community in the course of programs that it provides, as well as products and services that are of superior quality in sustaining the elimination of eating problem. In order to make the mission become more fruitful and productive it has developed prevention programs for a large many different audiences, and has published and circulated educational materials in addition to operating the country's first toll-free helpline for eating disorders information as well as referral.

Help Must be Sought After in Order for it to Work

One of the toughest parts of having someone seek out help at a Center for Eating Disorders is their capability to recognize that they are suffering from a serious illness. Anorexia nervosa sufferers generally don't see anything wrong with how they look. Their fear of gaining weight is more often than not unfounded, that may not be the image they see when they look into a mirror.

There are many times when an intervention with family and friends may be essential before a person with anorexia or bulimia be converted into willing to accept that a problem exists and seek treatment. Nevertheless, an intervention should not be staged without the benefit of advice from a professional.

How and Where can I Contact an Eating Disorder Association?

One of the best way to find an association that is near to you is by using the Internet, since the speed and efficiency of the Internet will allow you to be able to quickly and easily find accurately what you are looking for, and thus will narrow down your search dramatically.

Keep in mind not to get frustrated in your search, and remember that seeking help is significant and that you should not feel ashamed or disappointed in yourself for doing so. You should understand that there are many people out there who are suffering just as you are, and so you should by no means feel alone. Recovery is a serious and decisive step in you getting better.

How to Completely Overcome Stress Eating in Just Ten Minutes

2008-09-20T02:57:00.001-07:00

Treatment Determined by Various Type of Eating Disorder

2008-09-20T02:57:00.000-07:00

The earlier a person with a meticulous type of eating disorder is diagnosed and treatment is begun, the sooner their weight can be restored to a normal level for their age and height.

What causes a particular type of eating disorder to manifest itself from the occasional suffering realized by a good number of the population into a serious illness is a subject still unlock to debate among professionals. One true fact that is agreed upon, however, is that regardless of what type of disorder is being suffered, they are all dangerous.

Two of the common disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have been classified as illnesses, whereas the third type of eating disorder, binge eating, falls into the group of dangerous and possibly uncontrollable, but has not been classified as an illness.

The special effects of anorexia nervosa are obvious as the person loses so much weight they may perhaps appear to have paper-thin skin stretched over their bones. People suffering this type of eating disorder strongly believe that they are still overweight no matter how little they weigh and strive only to lose more weight.

Some consider binge eating may be a predecessor to bulimia nervosa and should also be classified as a type of eating disorder illness, as people will tend to eat even when they don't feel hungry. They feel the necessary to ingest food to the point that no more could possibly fit. They may then feel sickened with themselves and eat more to comfort themselves.

Bulimia nervosa sufferers will as well eat large portions of food, but with this type of eating disorder they will eliminate themselves following binge eating episodes. By means of diuretic or abusing laxatives helps them get relieve of the food they just ate, as does intentional vomiting, making the effects of this type less noticeable.

Since they get rid of the overindulgence food, their weight usually does not usually show as with a person who does not purge, their loss of indispensable vitamins and minerals that can make this a dangerous type of eating disorder just the same as anorexia nervosa.

What is Known As The Nighttime Eating Disorder?

There are numerous different types of eating disorders, and one of these especially is that of the nighttime eating disorder. It is a condition which is characterized by a lack of appetite in the morning and then a problem of overeating at night.

It is dissimilar from other disorders such as binge-eating and bulimia; individuals with such disorder devour relatively small snacks at night but far more often whereas individuals who suffer from binge-eating or bulimia have very large and infrequent binges.

There are handling methods that can be used in regards to this disorder, and this treatment would involve such things as counseling and making sure to pay attention to your own detailed medical and nutritional needs. As well, consider that the treatment should be tailored to the individual and will be different according to both the severity of the disorder and in regards to the patient's particular problems, needs, and strengths.

What is a Pica Eating Disorder?

A pica eating disorder is characteristically defined as the constant eating of nonnutritive substances for a period of at least one month at an age in which this type of behavior is developmentally improper, for instance a toddler. Fundamentally it is sporadically broadened in order to include the mouthing of nonnutritive substances as well.

Besides, a pica eating disorder can include the ingesting of many unusual substances, such as: clay, dirt, sand, stones, pebbles, hair, feces, lead, laundry starch, pencil erasers, ice, fingernails, paper, paint chips, coal, wood, plaster, light bulbs, needles, and string for example.

This disorder is considered as being a severe behavioral problem, in that it can result in significant medical squeal. It has also revealed to be a truly predisposing factor in regards to accidental ingestion of stuff such as poisons, for the most part in reference to lead poisoning, for instance.

Eating Late Will Make You Fat - A Very Deep-Rooted Fallacy

2008-09-20T02:56:00.000-07:00

Treating Eating Disorders is Not Easy

2008-09-18T01:00:00.001-07:00

Treating eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating can overlap one another because the causes can be quite similar for any eating problem. These disorders are growing across the country.

Anorexia and bulimia are psychological problems that are manifested by the numerous social influences pushed on women that require them to be thin like a supermodel. Binge eating can sometimes be attributed to issues of not being able to cope with stress or life changes.

There are many ways of treating eating disorders. However, it can be quite difficult to overcome a disorder if this type. In most cases, the sufferer cannot overcome the problem on their own. The most important step is that the individual must talk to someone and seek some form of treatment. The treatment may involve admission to a clinic, taking part in support groups and consultation with a psychotherapist or psychologist.

When treating eating disorders, many experts recommend that both the psychological and physical issues be treated at the same time. Experts also recommend that sufferers of anorexia or bulimia start eating small amounts of fruits and vegetables along with adding a small amount of protein to their diet. Food that is high in zinc is also a good idea as it can help to stimulate the individual's appetite.

When treating eating disorders, experts usually find out that the problem was attributed to such things as low self-esteem, sexual abuse, peer pressure, lonely, inferiority complex or other forms of abuse. Some experts also believe that a lack of zinc in the diet can lead to an eating disorder.

Treating eating disorders is very important because often these problems start out as psychological problems but will quickly advance into a serious medical condition from either over eating or not eating enough at all.

In conclusion, treating eating disorders is a process that usually involves being treated for a psychological condition. It is not easily treatable but it can be treated successfully over time.

Acid Reflux - What is Silent Reflux?

2008-09-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Emotional Overeating - Snow White and Other Fairy Tales

2008-09-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

So how emotional are you over food? People who are VERY food unaware can easily make poor food choices because they are just not paying attention to what they eat. They won't overeat, but nor will they choose good quality nosh. They wait till they are hungry and could almost choose food randomly. Other people regard food just as a source of fuel. They skip meals because they literally forget to eat and it will only be that gnawing hunger in their stomach that drives them to food. Read on to discover how you can feed your emotions with more than just food.

I'm assuming, if you're reading this article, that overeating might be something you do. It could be for the sheer love of food (let's not knock it; one of the great pleasures in life is eating). And we all do that occasionally - we need our family celebrations and feast days. But if you find that you eat so much that it affects your weight and your health, then emotional eating is the problem.

People who overeat because they've simply got into bad habits can usually correct that fairly quickly and once they start paying attention to their food they will shed the pounds quite easily. They have got into the habit of eating poor foods, but given new dietary suggestions they can change their eating habits quite easily. For them, their bad habits are simply a result of inattention and once they focus on their food they can easily eat well.

Bur perhaps for you, food is more than just a source of fuel and nutrients. Do you find yourself choosing a food because you "deserve a treat"? And do you need that treat every day? If you find this happening to you and if you have difficulty dieting or maintaining your weight at the end of a diet, you are an emotional eater.

You, too, wait till you are hungry before your eat. Trouble is, this is not true physical hunger. You may well feel hungry because you are getting physical signals from your body and your brain interprets these signals as hunger. But your need to eat may have little to do with calories or nutrition. So, obviously, after eating when you get that "full" signal from your tummy you may ignore it. Perhaps you have ignored it for so long that you no longer get the "full" signal. And then you can just keep on eating because your emotional hunger can go on forever.

Where does Snow White fit into this?

Well, do you eat when you are Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, Dopey or needing a Doc(tor)?

It is so easy to use food to feed the emotions when what you might need is a hug, a chat with a friend, a walk in the sunshine, a refreshing cup of tea (the British cure for a crisis), or some type of physical activity! Or perhaps you need some sleep, a good laugh, or a rest.

So... when you feel like overeating, what are you really feeling? And how else can you deal with that emotion?

Take action...and decide what you can do instead of eating. You can feed your emotions with so much more than food. And you can really enjoy your food and not feel guilty when you eat!

The 6 Keys To Happiness That Reduce Comfort Eating

2008-09-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

Comfort eating has little to do with our need for food and everything to do with our need for love and happiness. The happier we are, in life, the less we reach out for food inappropriately. The more we love ourselves the greater our emotional stability. The more emotionally balanced we feel, the less we need to use food as a substitute for comfort and happiness.

Of course, happiness for most people is not a permanent state of being. However we can make a choice, in our lives, to fill each day with as much happiness as possible.

We also have a choice about how we handle the things that make us unhappy. The fact is that unhappiness is a state of mind that generates uncomfortable, stressful emotions, which many of us then try to bury with food. What we are missing out on is the lesson those emotions are there to tell us. They are actually the needle of our internal barometer, indicating to us when we are off course.

· Stress in our daily lives is indicating that our life is out of balance and needs us to give ourselves some 'Me Time' or family and friends time

· Stress caused by difficult relationships with friends, family or work colleagues indicate that we have something to learn about ourselves that the other person is mirroring back at us

· Stressful situations that cannot be changed by anything we say or do and that only wind us up more and more as we experience or think about them. Let go of your battle with 'What is' where it is outside your influence to change it

To get back on track or stay on a course for happiness and reduced comfort eating, there are 6 Key things we can do...

1. Make the choice to seek and focus on happiness every day

2. Acknowledge the things that are outside our influence to change and let go of them or they will continue to cause stress, pain and upset

3. Practice noticing your thoughts as they focus on negative past events and remembrances. These are gone and cannot be changed but they will cause unhappiness if you allow them to. Let them go by bringing all your attention to the here-and-now.

4. Practice labelling your thoughts into categories such as judgmental, fearful, depressive, guilty, helpless, worried, lonely, jealous, sad or anxious. Let them go by creating and taking actions to overcome them. It is in the inaction that unhappiness lies.

5. Practice noticing when you are focussed on fears and worries of the future. Acknowledge that these things have not occurred as yet and may never do so. Let go and stop wasting the happiness of the moment on things that may never be, or take action to prevent your fears materialising.

6. Practice Mindfulness, living in the moment as much as possible, without past or future thoughts. See the joy, beauty and happiness in whatever you are doing, no matter how mundane.

Happiness is your birthright, isn't it time you claimed it for yourself and reduced your comfort eating in the process?

When Eating Well Turns to Eating Hell

2008-09-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

Whilst it is not yet to be found in any diagnostic manual, Dr. Steve Bratman coined it Orthorexia-- meaning 'righteous appetite' -in 1997. These are people who are focussed, but obsessively so, on apparent eating well. They inspect food labels and read obsessively about nutrition. The health of what they eat takes up inordinate amounts of time.

Their social circle may shrink as their eating well health habits become progressively narrower. Friends often become bored with hearing about the nutritional value of food, fasting and ways of cleansing the body. And they're often tired of the moralising and lecturing that sometimes accompanies the eating well attitudes of orthorexics.

Sufferers can't go out with the same freedom they once used to because they aren't able to control the quality of the food they order. Organics are in and pesticides are out. Fats, sugars and processed foods are out. So is eating well a bad thing now? Is it bad to not want to put pesticides and other unhealthy elements into your body?

Of course not, but there is a line where even 'healthy' eating becomes 'unhealthy.' There's a line between wanting to eat well and being obsessed.

How does the eating well dilemma start?

For some it starts as innocent food therapy e.g. no longer having dairy products because of a postnasal drip and then when that works, it may progress to cutting out other foodstuffs.

For others it may start for spiritual reasons and a steady slide leads to progressively more foods being struck off the list as they strive for purity. It can even take on a type of kitchen spirituality.

Orthorexia causes confusion and frustration

For many health professionals it can be confusing: they may be presented with a gaunt person with serious food issues, yet they'll insist they are not striving for thinness - how they look isn't the be-all and end-all to them.

For the Orthorexic it can be frustrating: why does this health professional think they are anorexic, they aren't worried about calories, or about how much they weigh, all they want is to eat well and be healthy. They don't avoid food because it's fattening, they avoid it because it's too fatty! They feel mis-understood: they're only on a mission to make the world a healthier place.

What Anoreixa and Orthorexia have in common

o Both can look emaciated and at their most extreme both can die from starvation.
o They often start their slippery slide and as their attempt to eat well and become more healthy.
o Both Orthorexics and anorexics develop fine black body hair and struggle to keep warm
o For women sufferers their menstrual cycle ceases.
o Both become more and more isolated as their eating well food rules become more stringent
o Both groups feel self-righteous and better than other people who don't eat as well and who in their view are weak-willed.
o Both groups maintain and iron-clad willpower only to break down (usually in secret) and binge on all the very foods they would normally not be caught dead eating followed by enormous guilt and self-disgust.

Although the physical affects of both orthorexia and anorexia look the same, and although they have a lot in common -what lies behind the extreme gauntness differs. Anorexics want to 'be thin', Orthorexics want to 'eat well.'

Bulimia - How to Take Action Fast to Cure Your Bulimia Now - Nurse's Tips

2008-09-15T05:08:00.000-07:00

If you suspect you may have bulimia or another eating disorder or been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, there are some steps you can take to get headed in the right direction and these are some of my best tips to help you recover. You can control your eating habits and prevent your emotions from controlling your life. Think of bulimia (and/or anorexia) as addictions or habits that you can take into your own hands.

Continuing on in any overeating, gorging, binging, purging, vomiting, taking laxatives, taking diuretics, fasting or compulsive eating can severely affect your health and cause permanent health problems that can't be reversed. Stop any damage now!

Health problems or bulimia symptoms or side effects can include sore throat, eroded tooth enamel, swollen lymph glands in the neck and under the jaw, sensitive teeth, acid reflux issues, colon problems from laxatives, kidney problems from diuretics and dehydration.

The first step is to admit to yourself that you have a problem whether you're a teen or adult, male or female. Do not keep it secret. See your doctor as soon a possible for a complete physical so you can determine what you current state of health is. You need to find out if you have any health conditions that need to be attended to. Avoid taking drugs or medications, if possible, and try to pursue your road back to health naturally. Let your family members know and your closest friends too, if possible, to enlist their support.

It's important to get counseling from experts in bulimia nervosa to get to the cause of your bulimia and how to treat your bulimia. Your doctor may have some referrals. If not, seek out local health organizations for support groups. Attend a bulimia support group to find out what health professionals other bulimics are seeing and what their experiences and stories are. These will be people who will understand what you're going through and you can get some good insight into what steps you can take that will help you.

Check with your HMO or health insurance provider to see if you're covered under your current policy. If not, find out from the support groups what other options you can get locally or in your community. You may be able to get free bulimia counseling.

Make a list of all your problems, stresses and worries. Try to determine which problems are causing you to be bulimic. Also make a list of all the blessings or good things in your life. Remember that everyone has problems and you can change how you view them.

Try to find ways to laugh more and incerase your supply of endorphins. Are you depressed? If so make a list of what is depressing you. Try to handle depression naturally without any drugs. Look at ways to solve the problems that are of the most concern to you and ways to solve them.

Don't be afraid to let go of your bulimia eating pattern. Try to get a handle on your eating and think about adopting a living food diet. A raw food diet of fruits and vegetables will help turn your health around fast and help you focus on living a healthy lifestyle. You want to avoid permanent digestive problems.

The best bulimia treatment is what the best treatment is for you. The treatment should involve psychological counseling and treatment from health professionals who are skilled in eating disorders. You are not alone. Get help from your doctor, eating disorder treatment doctor, eating disorder or bulimia counselors, support groups and consider going to an eating disorder treatment center or clinic where you can get to the core of the problems that are causing your bulimia.

You don't want to try to solve this by yourself. Read the newest books on bulimia to find out the latest therapies. Changes in bulimia treatment are made all the time. Statistics show you can get help and completely recover from bulimia and regain your 'self' if you act now. Do it before you suffer from lifelong physical health problems. You are not alone. You can recover. You can cure yourself. You can do it! Many others have. Take action now!

What Are Anorexia and Bulimia Eating Disorders?

2008-09-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

The anorexia and bulimia eating disorder are two dissimilar things. Anorexia is about an eating disorder in which the sufferer simply does not eat any food, and more often than not is a result of stress or unhappiness, and is normally the person's way of dealing with these emotions. Bulimia, on the other hand, is an eating disorder in which the sufferer eats a big amount of food in a relatively short period of time and then purges it back up.

An anorexia and bulimia eating disorder do have certain things in familiar, such as in the regards to what causes them, which is for the most part emotions. For example, often times how these eating disorders start is that the person is usually unhappy or depressed about something and subsequently they don't mean to but these emotions impinge on the way they eat, and then before they know it, they have an eating disorder.

Some people do not even recognize that they have a problem until it is too late. Many times an eating disorder will sort of sneak into a person's life, in that them and often times everyone else also will not even notice a difference, or notice that there is something wrong, until it is belatedly and too far gone.

This is why it is so significant to truly watch yourself, more than ever if you are going through a time of extreme stress or confusion, as these are the times when you are more likely to begin suffering from something such as an eating disorder. In addition know that eating disorders are an unbelievably serious thing, and that you should never pretend or think otherwise.

It is incredibly vital to obtain help as soon as you notice that there is a problem, and do not feel embarrassed to reach out for help. Bear in mind that you do have friends and family, and that even though they are not there for you there are people accessible out there that are more than able and willing to help you out and to stick by you every step of the way in your recovery.

The Dangers of Anorexia Eating Disorder

Statistics show that purportedly more than five million Americans get afflicted by severe as well as life-threatening eating disorders and these include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive eating and obesity and pica. If these aberrations are not treated, the emotional, psychological in addition to physical penalties would get unbelievably out of hand and sometimes may even result in fatalities.

An anorexia eating disorder is sometimes known as anorexia nervosa and is very risky and could also be threatening to a person's life and results in the patient deliberately depriving them of food. This may even take the intense form of starving in an attempt to attain the much sought after thinness.

Anorexia eating disorder means that the person tries to have extreme weight loss as well as refusing to maintain the body weight that ought to be normal for people of that age and height. Yet when they are extremely thin, the person suffering anorexia eating disorder will still consider him or herself to be fat. Anorexia eating disorder lowers a person's self-esteem and this disorder is directly associated to the shape of their bodies as well as body weights.

In addition, anorexia eating disorder also mostly affects girls as well as young women and is more than a problem with food. Anorexia eating disorder is a way of using food or starving the self to suffer that the person is more in control of his or her life and also while trying to ease tension, anger and anxiety; it is known to play a major role.

There may be a number of contributing factors for a person to suffer from an anorexia eating disorder, as well as biology, culture, personal feelings, stressful events or life changes, and finally, families. A person suffering anorexia eating disorder won't feel energetic and therefore acts slowly.

What is a Bulimia Eating Disorder?

A bulimia eating disorder is a kind of eating disorder in which a person eats a large amount of food in a comparatively short period of time, and then purges it back up later on. Purging can be made in several ways, including: making oneself throw up; and taking laxatives, pills, or liquids that add to how fast food moves through your body and leads to a bowel movement.

There are quite a few factors that are considered as playing a part in a bulimia eating disorder, such as: biology, because there are studies that have been done that look at how genes and hormones influence the onset of a disease such as this; culture, as certain cultures tend to feel more of a need to be thin; personal feelings, as someone with bulimia may think badly about themselves, and hate the way that they look; and stressful events or life changes, in that certain stressful or harmful events can direct to a disease such as bulimia.

There are certain things that a person who is trouble from bulimia may tend to do, which if you observe should be a sign to you that you should get them help right away, which includes: uses diet pills, or takes pills to urinate or to have a bowel movement; goes to the bathroom constantly after they eat; or if they exercise a lot.

Even though these things do not essentially mean that the person has a problem, you should talk to them once you can to figure out what is wrong if anything, and if something is wrong, than you should assist them to find a method of treatment as soon as you possibly can. Eating disorders are often times life-threatening, and can get very out of control in a short period of time.

How to Recognize Adolescent Eating Disorders

2008-09-12T05:31:00.001-07:00

Eating disorders are found in all age groups nevertheless the highest number is registered in adolescents. Many of those who discover that they have an eating disorder later in life become conscious that it all started in their adolescence.

What Really Causes Eating Disorders

There are in fact many causes to eating disorders such as: self-esteem, wanting to incorporate a group or team, stress, to want to stand out in a way or the other and so on. Eating disorders are both when you over eat or when you starving yourself; either way you are putting your health and sometimes even your life in danger.

Adolescent eating disorders are formed sometimes without even realizing you are doing so, for instance, your girlfriends wear two sizes smaller clothes than you do and you want to look and shop like they do, subconsciously you begin starving yourself so you can lose weight faster.

Overeating can begin the same way but this time round you only get relief from a stressful situation when you eat something you be fond of; the cravings can be both for sweet items or salty but you have to eat them right away even if you have just had your meal.

Dealing With An Adolescent Eating Disorders

It is significant that you observe the eating habits of your children carefully as you will truly by no means know when they may slip into an eating disorder and you should be able to identify it before it is too late. Talk to your children about adolescent eating disorders, make them conscious of the risks involved and they will understand when you give explanation that it can even be their life at stake should they keep up the poor eating habits.

Adolescence is an extremely confusing age throughout which we all have been and as a result you must be very clear when explaining the risks involved with eating disorders. An adolescent with an eating disorder may very well disagree with that he/she has or ever will have such a problem and consequently you must always show support and love without losing your temper. Work with your child consecutively to make him/her admit the existence of such a problem as only then any action can be taken.

Adolescent eating disorders can only be treated if and when the person will admit the same and agree to any help and/or support. Adolescent eating disorders are common and it is moreover common that he/she may not wish to give up this practice yet; as a result, working with your child is very vital in order to convince him/her to agree to help and support.

There are sites accessible which will help you deal and find out how to approach adolescent eating disorders in order to get the best reaction from your child as well as get him/her back into normal healthy eating habits.

Children's Eating Disorder: This Can Occur at Different Ages

Children aged between fourteen to fifteen begin to suffer children's eating disorder and this may hit the highest point at the age of eighteen. Girls in their adolescent years discover themselves suffering from children's eating disorder and the incidence among boys too seems to be on the rise.

While genetics are thought to play an important role in an eating disorder in children self-esteem is rapidly gaining similar status. Furthermore, children who are the subject of abuse, physical mental and sexual are also said to be more susceptible to developing an eating disorder.

More and more younger children have contact to magazines and television programs that seem to glorify that except they are super-skinny, they are fat. This can also effect an eating disorder in children as they strive for acceptance by their peers and adults. Nearly all children are simply trying to please their parents or other influential adults in their life, their look, or the perception they have of their appearance, plays a most important part. These thoughts of how they look can manifest themselves into an eating disorder in children.

To cure the children's eating disorder, one ought to get the child seen by a physician with no further delay in case there are symptoms that point to the child having eating disorders. The doctor may possibly perform a nutritional assessment as also evaluate the child for depression signs.

The doctor should be capable to rule out other possible causes of weight loss prior to proceeding further and may not consider psychiatric disorders, drug abuse, and inflammatory bowel disease as being symptomatic of children's eating disorder. An illness such as anorexia may cause the child to faint from low blood pressure or have electrolyte disorders or even be incapable to tolerate cold, constipation and show signs of depleted energy levels.

Can Eating Disorders Happen to Men?

2008-09-12T05:31:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders are liable to be considered "women's disorders." In our society, men are not allowable to show the weakness of having mental health disorders, much less suffer from eating disorders. In view of the fact that men and eating disorders is a problem, they virtually always keep this a painful secret. According to the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders, men comprise about one million Americans who are ill with from eating disorders.

When the problem of men and eating disorders comes up, and the men do see their doctors for help, physicians will take a detailed medical history. They more often than not discover that the disorder began to appear as teen-agers. An adolescent peer group can be incredibly emotionally harsh; "fat boys" are made fun of and isolated from others. The social pressure to be thin is overwhelming in the midst of today's teens.

Men and eating disorders describe both anorexic and bulimic behavior as adolescents. On top to starving themselves, they play sports and exercise greatly just as teen-age girls and grown women do. "Boys don't get fat" unenlightened pediatricians tell mothers. "He's just got some baby fat that will get away on its own." But it doesn't, and trouble eating isn't supposed to happen in men.

Do Men and Eating Disorders Boast the Same Symptoms as Women?

Yes, but with one exceptionally important difference. People of either gender can develop an eating disorder, and they remain their eating behavior secret. Men and eating disorders is a topic which sort of ties that knot of secrecy even tighter. As adults, they are nearly always morbidly obese. They don't socialize with others, in particular women. They hardly ever date or get married.

Eating disorders, in the midst of either gender, aren't a matter of conceit; wanting to fit into a smaller pair of jeans. In truth, eating disorders don't really have anything to do with food! What drives men with eating disorders is a must to be in control of something, anything. They don't do well expressing emotions, are perfectionists, and don't tolerate themselves to be less than perfect and have an extremely seated self-loathing. The one thing men can at all times control is the amount of food they permit themselves to eat. The bathroom scale becomes their worldly enemy.

More Possible Causes

Some researchers have lately found that genetic factors may be the reason why a probable more than half of the population may develop the risk of contracting anorexic nervosa and more studies on the genetics of bulimia in addition to binge eating are ongoing.

Another cause of eating disorder may be personality of the person which is at least partially genetically determined and there are a number of personality types like the obsessive-compulsive or sensitive-avoidant who are additionally at risk of having an eating disorder, than are other people.

There is also one more point worth considering when judgment about the cause of eating disorder and that is that hormones that are produced when a person is stressed aid to form fat cells. In particular, in Western civilizations where life is competitive, quick paced as well as challenging and full of stress there may be a connection between this type of modern lifestyle and the increased instances of overeating.

A lot of people join an eating disorder and the media for the way those suffering are portrayed in the press. With the fashion industry apparently pushing for smaller and skinnier models and the press portraying them as something out of the ordinary, there is plenty of responsibility for an eating disorder and the media can be partially responsible.

In Spain, the country recently placed a bare minimum weight on models, recognizing that serious health problems can increase from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Spain's legislators claimed many of the models were torment from an eating disorder and the media was helping push that unhealthy trend.

Whether other countries will go after Spain's lead will depend on how the fashion industry reacts to charges of pushing the satisfactoriness of an eating disorder and the media's reaction to the latest stand. The largest problem, however, is the models suffering a disease denial to admit they have a problem.

An Eating Disorder Clinic Will Help With Your Eating Disorder

2008-09-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

If you are experiencing a serious issue relating to not eating or to eating too much, you should seriously consider checking yourself into an eating disorder clinic. Seeking treatment for any type of disorder or addiction is often the hardest step to take. Once you have taken that perilous first step you are on your way to getting better.

An eating disorder clinic will treat people with a number of different eating problems. The most common ones are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Women are the usual patients when it comes to purging illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia. While men make up the majority of the patients suffering from binge eating. Regardless of the specific type of disorder, the first step in getting it resolved is to tell someone. Then you can begin the process of getting some help.

What causes a person to develop a problem with food? Well, there are a number of reasons how a person would develop this type of problem, an eating disorder clinic will help the sufferer identify the causes and then work towards a resolution. Some of the possible causes of a disorder could be linked to the stress caused by such things as constant dieting, put-downs from family or friends, sexual or emotional abuse, relationship problems, lack of affection or even a psychological disorder.

It can be very difficult to overcome an eating problem on your own; this is why it is important to seek the professional help at an eating disorder clinic. While suffering from an eating problem, people feel that it is controlling their life, which is why it is important to seek treatment. Sometimes, the therapy or treatment will involve family members so that they can learn how to deal with the problems associated with the disorder and to help them understand what is happening.

In conclusion, we have briefly discussed the reasons for people to seek help at an eating disorder clinic. If you suspect that you or someone close to you may have an eating problem of some kind, then it is important to speak to a physician who can then recommend a course of action, which may include a visit to a clinic.

The Top 10 Steps For a Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

2008-09-10T06:09:00.001-07:00

Overeating - Why You Might Be Overeating

2008-09-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

Eating Disorder & Pregnancy - Will Anorexia Kill the Baby?

2008-09-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

How does pregnancy and eating disorder work together? A friend of mine was twenty four when she was pregnant for the fist time in her life. That was great news. But I knew from her that she was suffering from a severe eating disorder. Would the baby be able to survive? Would she even put her own life at risk?

Karen was battling anorexia for almost ten years when she found out that she was pregnant. She was in the third month already before she knew it. Because of her eating disorder her period did come and come irregularly, often not at all. She also was vomiting several times a day. It was normal to her. That is why she discovered her pregnancy very late.

Women that suffer from anorexia nervosa or any other eating disorder do not really like to go to the physician. They are scared that their disease is discovered. It was the same with Karen but now she had to do something. She was worried that the baby would die, starve to death because she was not eating much at all. She knew she had a problem.

In the Internet she read different stories about anorexic women that were pregnant. Some said that their baby died, others said that even their own life was at risk because the baby took the calories it needed from the mother to survive. Karen was shocked. Could her baby kill her? The panic drove her to the physician.

An anorexic person suffers from a deadly disease. They starve themselves to death. It is amazing that a body in this condition can become pregnant. But when it happens, both, the mother and the baby, are fighting for their lives.

Even the physicians have different opinions. Some say that the baby would die, others say pregnancy is not a problem because the baby would take what it needs. However, the key is that a woman who has an eating disorder looks for professional help during her pregnancy. She even might be hospitalized to get enough vitamins, minerals and calories during her pregnancy. Without help it easily ends in a disaster. With help the pregnancy is no problem and the woman can have a healthy baby.

A Binge Eating Disorder Is Treatable

2008-09-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

If you overeat on a regular basis in order to cope with stress or negative feelings then it is quite possible that you suffer from a binge eating disorder. In addition, the over eater feels even worse after they have finished their binge. An important point to note is that this condition is treatable. Therefore, please consult a physician as soon as possible if you suffer from this condition.

A binge eating disorder is seen as compulsive overeating where the person eats a large amount of food without being able to stop eating or control their eating. These episodes can last for a couple of hours at a time. In some cases, the individual will eat off and on all day long. They will eat when they are not hungry and will not stop eating even when they are completely full. Another symptom is that they could eat so fast that they do not even register what they have just eaten.

As you can see, a binge eating disorder can be extremely harmful. It leaves the person with feelings of guilt and feeling depressed. These negative feelings just add to the problem of over-eating. This eating disorder affects both men and women. Whereas, other eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia affect mainly women. For most people, the only way out of it is professional help. The first step to get out of this downward spiral is to tell someone that you have a problem.

Another tip to help overcome a binge eating disorder is not being so hard on yourself. Do not beat yourself up. Learn from your mistakes and move on. In addition, do not keep so much food at home. Try to figure out what causes you to overeat. What are the triggers that cause the overeating? Of course the most important step is to seek professional help, you cannot do it all on your own.

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. However, it does not receive as much attention as the purging disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia. These conditions are likened to substance abuse. They all involve obsessive thoughts and an overwhelming compulsion to over consume. The individual feeling overwhelmed by different feelings such as guilt and shame usually follows this.

Only recently have researchers and scientists discovered a number of brain messengers that are involved in the hunger, eating and satiation. This will allow doctors to develop better methods for treating people with a binge eating disorder. When a person with this form of addiction seeks help, the goal is for them to be able to eat when they are hungry, and not when there is something in their life that is causing stress. Treatment will also teach the individual when to stop eating when they are full. Changes in eating habits will not happen overnight. It is important to stay positive and trust your doctor or therapist. If you do not have the trust in the person treating you then it is highly advisable to change therapists. Trust is important in treating any form of eating disorder.

In conclusion, a binge eating disorder is treatable. However, anyone suffering from any kind of eating disorder should consult with a therapist or a physician to help solve the eating problem.

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment - Three Binge Eating Disorder Treatments That Work

2008-09-08T03:04:00.000-07:00

Binge eating disorder treatment is essential for binge eaters to control this disease. We all over eat something we love from time to time, but if you are unable to control how much you eat and food is all you can think of all day long, you might be suffering from binge eating disorder. Although we cannot put away food for the rest of our lives, binge eating disorder treatment teaches you how to develop a healthy relationship with food. In turn, it helps you to control you binge eating disorder.

Many binge eaters are over-weight or obese. Is dieting a good binge eating disorder treatment? Many experts do not recommend dieting to their patients. Many diet programs require patients to stop eating certain types of food, such as sugar, carbohydrates, and fat. The more they restrict themselves from eating certain types of food, the more they want them. Once they cannot control their cravings, they tend to overeat and binge on even more food. Effective binge eating disorder treatments focus on managing emotion, dealing with stress, and overcoming depression. They have to find out the root cause of their binge eating disorder, then tackle the causes. Once they are able to deal with the causes of overeating, then getting on a weight loss program will be more likely to success.

How do people develop binge eating disorder? According to National Institutes of Health, almost half of the people who suffer from binge eating disorder also suffer from depression, or they were depressed in the past. Most people also have trouble managing emotions. They turn to food when you are angry, bored, worried, stressed, or sad. Many binge eating disorder treatments help their patients to resolve emotional issues and help them to establish a healthy relationship with food. With the right binge eating disorder treatment, food is no longer something that they turn to every time they go through emotional turmoil.

The three common binge eating disorder treatments are:

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy help their patients to deal with difficult situations. It also helps them to feel more comfortable with their body image and weight.

If you are using this therapy, creating a food journal is an effective tool to analyze your binge eating habits. Keep track of the following in your journal:

- What and how much did you eat and drink?

- When did you eat?

- Are you stressed when you eat? How do you feel before you eat?

- How do you feel after bingeing?

With this information, your doctor can help you to discover the causes of your binge eating and your binge eating patterns.

2. Interpersonal psychotherapy

Many people binge because they do not have good relationship with their friends and family. When an argument arise, they are stressed and they turn to food. If you are one of them, this therapy help you to improve your interpersonal relationship with the people around them.

3. Drug

Many health care professional also use anti-depressant to help their patients.

You can find facilities that provide inpatient binge eating disorder treatment. They have a group of professionals that help each patient to meet their special needs. You can ask your doctors to find information about this type of facilities in your area.

Many people feel alone and helpless because none of their friends understand them. If you are suffering from binge eating disorder, it is important to know that you are not alone. It is difficult to control it on your own. Emotional support is extremely important. You can join overeater's anonymous groups you to help you get more emotional support. People in these groups have the same problems as you, and you can relate to them. With emotional support from people who understand you, you are more likely to be successful in dealing with this problem.

Getting binge eating disorder treatment is critical in overcoming this disease. Do not feel alone and helpless, and don't try to fight it on your own! If you know you have a problem, getting physical and emotional help from various binge eating disorder treatments can help you to get healthy, feel better, and regain control of your life again.

My Personal Struggle And Victory Over Binge Eating Disorder

2008-09-08T03:03:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Nadine and I am not a compulsive overeater. In fact, I don't even think about food anymore. But for over 20 years food was the main focus of my life. Food was my savior, my comfort factor, my friend and worst enemy. Or so I thought.

Why do I want to write my story and share my personal details with the world? Because I have something important to say and I have learned that without speaking about healing binge eating disorder others who suffer from it might stay that way forever when they truly don't need to.

My experience with eating disorders started with anorexia when I was 16 years old. Growing up I had always been self-conscious about my body even though I was of normal height and weight. But being "normal" doesn't make a hill of beans if you don't feel it on the inside. That's just the outside. My grandmother used to tell me I would be fat if I ate those "bad" foods and those thoughts were the start of an unhealthy view of food. I adopted her belief that I would become fat so I feared food and I feared becoming fat.

As I got older I kept an unhealthy relationship with food at an arms length. I married at 22 and had my first baby at 25. At 27, I left my husband. I chose not to live a life filled with deception and corruption which is what my husband had gotten into. He was embezzling money from the police department he worked for and was blaming me for it. I couldn't believe this man that said he loved me would do something so wrong and blame me for it. Did he ever really love me?

Even though I was 3 months pregnant with my second baby, I took my 2 year old and left with a broken heart. He didn't care about me, my 2 year old or my unborn child and my self-esteem hit rock bottom. In the three weeks that followed, I lost my job, I lost my grandfather, I lost my marriage and I lost my unborn child. My life would never be the same.

At first I used food as consolation. I had lost just about everything in my life that was important to me and food seemed to soothe my soul. I was depressed, angry, sad, hurt, and desolate. A few months had passed and I started to put myself back together for the sake of my daughter. I started exercising and dieting because in my twisted mind I thought that no man would want me unless I looked like a skinny model from a magazine. I was 27 years old, getting divorced and had a 2 year old. Who wants to get involved with that?

I started starving myself and compulsive exercising and the weight just melted off my body. Of course so did my muscles and immune system. But I didn't care because my body was responding to the control I wanted to have over it. I couldn't control what was going on in my life but I sure could control my own body.

My family was close to doing an intervention as I pushed my body beyond healthy limits. I was smoking cigarettes so I wouldn't eat and still compulsive exercising. My lungs were screaming at me but I kept pushing. My knees finally gave out from overuse and it was then that I was forced to stop exercising compulsively. My body was trying to regain control over my brain and it was using methods to get me to stop. It finally worked. It amazes me now when I think about how brilliant the human body is and how it sends messages when the brain isn't listening!

In the meantime, I began dating again and found that I was still attractive to men even with a child in tow. My self-esteem seemed to get a little better but food was still an issue. I hardly ate and still smoked. I had not dealt with the underlying issues of abandonment from my marriage so there was still emptiness in my heart.

A few years later I met my current husband. I was ready. I had waited 7 years after my divorce to meet him, had let go of the pain I felt inside, and he was like a fairy tale prince. My life had finally turned around and I fell in love with him. We were planning our wedding and building a house at the same time so my stress level was enormous but I was on cloud nine.

Here is the interesting thing about eating disorders though. Even though you may feel euphorically happy, you can still have inner struggles that bring out those dormant eating disorder feelings. Because I didn't deal with the issues, I began to binge eat. I used food to combat my stress. And of course as I became a full time binger I had to hide what I was doing. How ashamed and embarrassed I was that I had become this hideous person that hid cakes in the bottom of the refrigerator and stuffed myself so full that I could barely move after. And to top it all off, I started to gain weight.

After three years of hiding my binging, I "came out of the closet". Binge eaters typically hide their pain and food intake from everyone so coming out is scary but liberating. Another thing that happened when I finally decided to stop hiding is that I wanted to heal my eating disorder as fast as I could. I wanted help and was going to find it.

I attended Overeaters Anonymous meetings for some time but they were of no help to me whatsoever. My experience with OA was that a hand full of people got together at my local church and sat around complaining about how stressed they were. No one knew how to deal with binge eating. No one knew how to heal it. In fact, every time I went to a meeting I had to state my name and that I was a compulsive overeater. I didn't want to keep saying that. I wanted to say that I was cured. I also got tired of listening to other people complain. My next attempt was to contact my primary care physician.

My PCP had no idea what binge eating disorder was. She suggested I join a structured eating program like Weight Watchers. She also thought I should try an anti-depressant. She sent me home with a prescription for pills and a huge dose of frustration. Didn't anyone know how to heal this? What kind of options did I have? It turned out, not many.

That's when I decided to study holistic health and nutrition. I realized that I had been sent on my path of eating disorders for a purpose and that was to help other people find options to heal their disorder when they finally reach the point of "coming out".

Finding the help I needed was miraculous. My healing included: stress management, challenging my old belief systems, getting to the root cause of my disorder, learning meditation, visualization, and assertiveness training and coping skills. It all came down to me and no one else. All of my actions and decisions up until the time I began healing my disorder where focused on everyone else except me. It came down to realizing that I have a great deal of value and self-worth and I can participate in life by being true to myself.

I learned that anyone can have an eating disorder no matter what their background is or income is or color is. I learned that stress can literally put you over the edge and cause you to binge eat and not knowing how to deal with stress correctly is part of the problem.

I also know that with healing comes an obligation for me to speak out so that other wonderful individuals don't go home with a prescription for something that only masks the problem and not solves it. I urge people to learn about the disorder, to find online or offline methods available for help and stick it out. Healing binge eating disorder is possible. I am living proof of it.

"My name is Nadine and I am a healthy, happy, beautiful person."

Bulimia Nervosa - A How-To Guide To Defeating Bulimia

2008-09-05T05:01:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders are surprisingly common in the western world. It is usually females who are affected, but not exclusively- around 5% of cases occur in men. Eating disorders affect women of any age, but are especially prevalent amongst girls in their teens and twenties. At this age, many young women are influenced by 'peer pressure' and images of glamorous (and extremely thin) celebrities. They aspire to be thin just like these role models, and embark on a drastic diet. The danger is that dieting can become extremely addictive, and this is when an eating disorder can pose a threat.

In common with anorexics, bulimia sufferers have a real fear of becoming fat. To control this, bulimics indulge in binge-eating sessions, often in secret, followed by a sense of self-loathing. This is followed by purging - self-induced vomiting and/or using laxatives or diuretics to help them maintain what they see as an 'acceptable' weight. The main difference between anorexia and bulimia is that bulimia sufferers often remain in the normal weight range for their height.

If you are worried you may have developed bulimia, or you are concerned about someone you know, it is important that you seek medical help - over the long term, bulimia can cause serious health problems such as heart damage and infertility.

Fighting bulimia takes courage and perseverance, and is never easy. Treatments are varied, according to the individual and their circumstances. What is known is that these certain personality traits are common in sufferers:

- Low self-esteem
- Depression and mood swings
- Obsessive behavior

For sufferers, admitting they have a problem is the first (and hardest) step in regaining control and fighting back against the bulimia. The first point of contact for seeking treatment should be your family doctor; they will give you a physical exam and decide on the appropriate course of treatment.

The earlier a person seeks help, the easier it is to successfully treat them. For these bulimics, treatment may consist of a self-help manual with occasional help from a therapist. Other treatments include:

Eating a healthy diet - keeping a diary of everything they eat and learning about healthy eating and sensible weight control may benefit some people.

Prescribed short-term antidepressants such as Prozac. Antidepressants have been proven to reduce binging and purging, probably due to the fact that a sufferer's mood is lifted.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is known to be an effective treatment for bulimia sufferers, as it allows them to work through their feelings and confront any issues which may have caused them to develop an eating disorder. CBT may also teach sufferers to adopt a healthier attitude to food.

On rare occasions, a sufferer may be admitted to hospital if serious health problems occur or there is a risk of them self-harming or committing suicide

Self-help groups may also be beneficial in aiding recovery. Sufferers can meet people who have been through the same experiences as themselves.

Fighting bulimia is largely down to the sufferer, but friends and family can do a lot to help. Try not to criticize or put pressure on the person in question and instead offer them unconditional support. Recovery can be long and difficult, but with commitment and patience, it can be achieved.

Don't Be Scared To Stop Binge Eating Disorder

2008-09-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

So many people have expressed to me that they are scared to stop binge eating disorder. It's not that they don't want to live a binge-free life; instead, they just aren't sure how their life will be without binge eating.

It's true: To let go of binge eating is a very scary thought. It's been something that is comfortable for you for a long time. I remember feeling the same way. In fact, when I told my husband that I had an unhealthy relationship with food, I instantaneously wished I could take back the words that I just spoke to him. My "secret" was no longer a secret anymore and that didn't feel too good.

There are a million and one reasons why people are afraid to stop binge eating. One reason is that binge eating on junk food makes people think that they are living just a little because they aren't following a strict diet.

It's the same mentality that most of us follow while on vacation. You think to yourself, "I don't have to stick to my diet this week, I'm going to live a little and indulge. After all, I'm on vacation and that's what it is all about". It is freeing to undo all the food restrictions you might have every other time of the year.

Do people equate not binging to a boring and very bland life? (You have to admit, there is something exciting about planning a binge...)

But, let's talk about really "living just a little" without binge eating.

Think of all the newfound confidence you will have, and think about how it will show to others.

Think about how much better you will feel.

Think about how much more energy you will have.

Think about all the extra money and time you will have.

Think about how much more you will enjoy your life!

With everything in life, there are obstacles and binge eating disorder is no different. The initial climb to stopping a binge is difficult, but when you focus on the good that will come out of stopping binge eating disorder, it will get easier. It will remind you of why you need to go in that direction.

You will think twice of binge eating when you do not want to deal with a certain emotion or feeling in your life. You have to let yourself know that your life will be so much better when binge eating disorder is not a part of it! You cannot dwell on the negatives of binge eating; focus on the positives and how your life will change for the better. When you learn to stop binge eating, you will notice how your life improves in all areas. You will feel better about yourself and you will love yourself. It will be the best decision you could have ever made!

Ways To Stop Binge Eating - 8 Ways To Stop Binge Eating And Help You Regain Control Of Your Life

2008-09-05T04:59:00.000-07:00

Stopping binge eating disorder is not easy, but if you put your mind into it, you can do it.

Binge eating is also called emotional eating or compulsive eating. People who suffer from binge eating lose self control over food. All they can think about is food, all day long. They tend to binge a large amount of food throughout the day. Consuming 5000 calories a day is not uncommon at all. People who suffer from this disease usually are socially withdrawn because they do not want their friends to know about their problems. They feel self conscious. They tend to become lack of energy due to over eating. Many sufferers complain that they do not know if they are hungry any more, they just eat and eat until they feel sick. The worse part is that they hate themselves for not being able to control themselves. The depression cause them to eat even more. It become a bad vicious cycle. They also suffer from low self-esteem. Very often, they know they have a problem, but they cannot find people to share their problems with, and they feel alone and hopeless.

If any of these symptoms sound like you, read on. This article will help you to find ways to stop binge eating disorder.

1. To stop binge eating, you have to develop a commitment to overcome this problem. I know it sounds cliché, but it is what it really needs to take. Binge eating disorder is food addiction, like any other addiction, you need to commit yourself to overcome it. Do it one day at a time. Feel proud of yourself each and every day that you do not binge. Make a plan to limit your food intake each day, write it down, and stick to it. I know it is easier said than done. But when you actually see the result, see yourself getting healthier, it will get easier because you start to realize you can stop binge eating and you are in control.

2. Throw away all the food that you binge on.

This is one of the tactics to prevent you from bingeing. Many people binge on junk food, such as cookies, candies, and high sugar cereal. Throw all the junk food away. If they are not in your house, you cannot binge on them.

3. Before you go grocery shopping, make sure to make a shopping list and stick to it. Do not go grocery shopping when you are hungry. This is critical. When you are hungry, everything looks great to you and you will buy food that you do not need. Simply go in, get the food that you need, then leave. Stay away from the temptation isles. It will be even better if you can find someone else to do grocery for you.

4. Share your problems with your love ones. Emotional support is very important. If you live with your family, explain to them your problem. Have someone by your side to give you support and encourage can make it a lot easier to overcome binge eating disorder.

5. When you have the crave to binge, stop yourself for a moment and ask yourself :

"Do I really need this cookie?"

"Do I want to gain more weight?"

"Does this really make me feel better"

"Am I really hungry?"

Take a deep breath and drink a glass of water. When you give yourself a minute to think, you are less likely to binge.

6. Start an eating journal. This is a tool that many sufferers use to overcome binge eating disorder. When you are eating, you do not think of how much you have actually eaten. Start a journal to write down what you eat and drink, when you eat, how you feel before you eat, and how you feel after you eat. With more detail, you will notice what your eating habit is and find out why you binge. Do you always to binge before an exam? Do you binge when you stressed? Do you binge when you are happy or sad? Once you find the cause of your binge eating disorder, you can tackle the root cause.

7. Find a substitute. When you have the crave to binge, do something you enjoy instead. When you are doing something that you enjoy, you will not feel that you are deprived of something make you feel good. When you are doing something that you enjoy, you would be distracted and forget about bingeing as well. For instance, watch your favorite TV shows, take a walk to your favorite mall, walk your dog, or call a friend to watch a movie, or play on the Wii (good exercise and fun).

8. Seek professional help. If nothing help, there are always professional who can help you. You are not alone, and should not feel that way. Look for support groups online or offline will help you gain emotional support to help you to stop binge eating.

I hope these 8 ways to stop binge eating can give you some ideas to how to control and overcome binge eating disorder. You might feel alone and helpless, but you are not. Many people have the same problem and they are able to find ways to stop binge eating. If you commit yourself to stop binge eating, with support from your love ones, you can stop binge eating and get your life back easier than you think!

Eating Disorders - Are You At Risk Of Developing One?

2008-09-01T03:59:00.001-07:00

There must be some reason why some girls are never happy with the way their bodies look while other girls are always comfortable in their own skins. Why is this? There are many factors, and self esteem issues are only one of the possibilities.

Gender is an issue. Eating disorders are more common in women than in men, but there has been a dramatic increase in the number of boys and young men who have developed the same eating disorders that their female peers experience; both anorexia and bulimia are seen.

Age does matter: while eating disorders have been known to either occur or recur as late as middle age, the bulk of eating disorder sufferers are younger, in their teens or early twenties.

Another factor is having someone who is close to you who has an eating disorder. For instance, if a family member or a close friend suffers from an eating disorder, your risk rises. This is counterintuitive but has been shown by studies to be the case.

Persons with compulsive behavior such as an OCD are also far more likely than the general public to develop these disorders. These people have a tendency to develop eating disorders as another way of maintaining control over their environment. Women who suffer from anxiety disorders or depression are also at increased risk.

Those who are intensely competitive in athletics or compulsive exercisers are also candidates for developing eating disorders. These individuals sometimes believe that the disorder will help them become better athletes.

Of course, peer and family pressure is a big factor in the development of eating disorders. Our peers have a deep effect on the way we see ourselves. Criticism from the people around us related to our bodies can actually cause the development of eating disorders, even if in jest.

If you happen to fall into any of the above categories, you should take steps to ensure that you won't fall victim to an eating disorder - or if you already suffer from one, prevent the condition from worsening. Ask your doctor what a healthy weight is for your body type and how best to maintain it.

Work on building your self esteem and confidence and try to avoid people who criticize you all of the time. Don't listen to these bad influences that are driving you to an eating disorder.

Also, don't fall into the mindset that there is something wrong with you if you don't look exactly like the models on the covers of magazines. Remember two things: First, most people do NOT look like this and many of these models do not look like this in real life! Second, even these same models will tell you that they are grateful for digital photo technology for making it possible for their own imperfections to be covered up for these photos.

Eating Disorders Like Anorexia Or Bulimia Affect All Ages

2008-09-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa affect all age groups. The people who are most commonly affected are those who are in their college student years (teenagers to early twenties).

Statistics published by The Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association relating to eating disorders in college students believe that 40% of female college students and 15% of women suffer from eating disorders and that it is increasing in male college students.

Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment increases the chances of recovery. Still, countless college students only seek help after the illness is advanced. Experts suggest that college students endeavor to hide their disorder, that they and their friends may be in denial or are just unaware of the warning signs of anorexia or bulimia.

Anorexia or bulimia can cause damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, skin, bones and teeth (just about every body system or organ if left untreated). These eating disorders may cause heart, kidney and liver failure, osteoporosis, ulcers and death.

Anorexia drives college students to extreme measures so as not to eat and many exercise fanatically (well past optimal health requirements), weigh themselves constantly, frequently restrict social or pleasurable activities and have few friends. Notwithstanding this, most are well aware of nutrition and calorie requirements for people in their age group.

Signs of anorexia include broken nails, thinning hair, denial of hunger feelings, fear of becoming fat, avoidance of situations involving food consumption or preparation, increased depression, irritability or anxiety.

Bulimia is a 'binge and purge' procedure (when a person consumes large amounts of food in a short time followed by forced vomiting) although it can also be a condition of only binge eating and no purging. Some students attempt to compensate the binging through excessive exercise and laxatives.

Students may actually maintain normal body weight, however they severely restrict calorie intake between binges. Physical signs include degeneration of the teeth from regular contact with stomach acid, certain types of hand calluses from forcing vomiting, broken blood vessels around the eyes, swollen glands and stomach pain. Anorexic or bulimic women often stop menstruating. Further signs are hiding food, use of diuretics, excessive rigid exercise schedule, frequently smelling of vomit and evidence of large numbers of food wrappers and containers.

If this is familiar to any person reading this or someone they know, then take action without delay - the longer any eating disorder goes untreated the more advanced and critical the illness becomes. Full recovery may not be possible and anorexia or bulimia in college students (and other people) can mean death and is not to be fooled around with. Get professional help!

People With Eating Disorders - In What Ways Do They Suffer And Why?

2008-09-01T03:58:00.000-07:00

People with eating disorders suffer in many ways: physically, mentally and emotionally. Let's look at each way of suffering separately.

Mentally they experience feelings of fear, inadequacy, and reduced ability to concentrate. All these affect the sufferer's studies, work and relationships. In severe cases sufferers even leave their jobs or studies because of their inability to cope with every day stress. Their coping strategies are limited to food. They have to binge or starve themselves to cope even with a little stress.

So you can see that the mental part of suffering significantly diminishes the quality of the anorexics-bulimics life.

Emotionally all of them feel down normally although anorexics sometimes feel high in the beginning of the disorder. The only satisfaction and false happiness they have comes from food (or should I say from food abuse: binging, purging or starving themselves.)

People with the eating disorder bulimia are dreaming about food while asleep or awake. They dream of what they would like to eat, what they will prepare for their next binge. They then spend the whole of the next day preparing for a binge.

You may ask: "How do they feel if they don't go through with their regular food abuse?" The answer is:" They feel like an alcoholic who has nothing to drink or like a drug addict who does not have access to any drugs. They feel shaky and nauseous, they feel they must binge and purge whatever the cost; they can't concentrate on anything else except for food."

Anorexics on the other hand fear food and perceive food as evil and dangerous. They believe that one single bite of food will make them put on an enormous amount of weight. And if they do have a little bit of food they are compelled to work it all out by over exercising, enemas, laxatives or vomiting.

People with eating disorders are normally withdrawn and hide their feelings. Instead of identifying, acknowledging and dealing with their emotions they blame themselves, feel guilty and anxious. They often compare themselves with others and always find themselves inferior to those people. They always think that other people are doing better then them.

These thoughts produce even more guilt and shame in their souls which then makes them turn to food abuse again and again.

Binging and purging appears to be cathartic as it stimulates special reward centers in the brain. These cause a false and temporary relief to their state of mind. Very soon they get addicted to these false feelings of relief and like alcoholics or drug addicts get hooked on the feelings binging gives them.

Anorexics get similar feelings but in relation to starving themselves. They get weird feelings of satisfaction by starvation.

The physical suffering includes constipation, increased sensitivity to infections, stomach aches, headaches, nausea, anemia, kidney damage, very low pulse rates, cardiovascular disorders and fragile bones due to low skeletal calcium.

Continued vomiting can cause erosion of the dental enamel and the teeth become corroded and chipped. The throat normally gets very sore and salivary glands can increase in size making the sufferers face puffy and swollen.

The most serious consequence from having an eating disorder is cardiac complications, as this can cause sudden death even when a person's asleep. This happens because of the extremely low levels of minerals (especially potassium) due to vomiting or starvation.

The heart must have potassium and other minerals to work correctly and to remain strong. If there is an extreme shortage of potassium the human heart simply stops working.

To conclude, it is important to understand that vomiting and starvation is only a way to add more problems to your existing ones. It is not a release for your day to day problems but a sure fired way for increasing them.

People With Bulimia - Why Don't They Get Satisfied When They Have Eaten Enough Food?

2008-08-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

People with bulimia don't experience a proper sense of satisfaction when they eat. They can eat food then more food and the feelings of hunger or cravings can still be present: this then makes them eat more and more. When they go on a binge it seems there isn't enough food for them to stop and feel satisfied. Bulimics eat until they get so full they must purge it all up.

Why can normal people stop easily when they full and bulimics can't?

For people without bulimia the intake of food is perfectly regulated so that they will be satisfied when they have eaten enough. And at that point eating more does not feel desirable, they feel happy and content.

Satisfaction with food is a feeling that the brain creates from different signals from different parts of the body. For example, rising blood sugar levels during eating signals to the brain that the body is satisfied. When the stomach gets full it signals to the brain that it is time to stop eating. And of course, the knowledge about how much you have eaten can send a message to the brain that you have finished your meal time.

There are special enzymes like enterostatin that are produced when fat is digested in the intestines. Enterostatin sends impulses to the receptors saying "I am full". These impulses go to the reward centers in the brain which then tells the brain and body "I am satisfied and I don't want any more food".

So, for normal people the brain puts together all these factors to decide that they are full. For people with bulimia or other eating disorders these factors do not work anymore or work only partially. Some people do have feelings of satisfaction but ignore it (don't listen to their body).

The reasons why people with bulimia and other eating disorders lose their feelings of satisfaction are:

1. A person who has been dieting recently gets messages from the body saying: "Eat more, this is a famine. Eat when the food is available. You don't know when you will get food again." This makes them loose sense of satisfaction from eating.

2. A person who has vomited recently has similar signals from the body about the body is starving and needs food for nourishment.

3. The food a bulimic normally eats (like biscuits, chips, candy, sweets, white bread etc.) does not give proper satisfaction impulses. You have to eat food like root vegetables, meat, fish, porridge, eggs etc. to make your body satisfied with the eating.

4. When people eat rapidly (compulsively like people with bulimia) the satisfaction processes fail to work. The slower you eat, the longer you chew the greater satisfaction you get.

5. Anxiety can be a reason for losing sense of satisfaction. A person who is anxious and agitated eats to reduce these feelings because food reduces anxiety. Managing anxiety with different strategies (like meditation, relaxation etc.) will help to obtain proper satisfaction from eating.

6. Some bulimic people are not aware of their hunger and satisfaction feelings. They may just need to learn it again. Learn to differentiate hunger from anxiety, from fear or tiredness. They need to learn to name their feelings, acknowledge them and cope with them by other means (not with food).

To conclude, people with bulimia need to work on their subconscious first of all to return their sense of food satisfaction back to normal. Feelings of satisfaction are an important component for bulimia recovery. You can return you feelings of satisfaction back by removing subconscious blockages from your mind. This will then in turn, allow the proper feelings to return and normalize once again http://www.bulimia-cure.com

Emotional Eating

2008-08-30T00:29:00.001-07:00

5 Ways You Can Help Yourself Heal Binge Eating Disorder

2008-08-30T00:29:00.000-07:00

The Horrors Of Eating Disorders

2008-08-29T03:42:00.001-07:00

Emotional Eating - What's Your Excuse?

2008-08-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

Learn How To Stop Binge Eating With Challenges

2008-08-29T03:41:00.000-07:00

Eating Disorders in Teens

2008-08-27T00:06:00.001-07:00

Eating disorders can be blackmail to your own life. It can asphyxiate the action of bodies abnormally at the date of teens. This date can be absolutely bad in case concrete change. It brings a change, which can ruin the life.

Most of the adolescence is blind of the ill furnishings of bistro disorders, which accompany them to a date of asleep such as stress, depression, blubber and hypertension at aboriginal age. Teenagers get abashed afterwards accepting trapped into these kinds of problems. They alpha action inferior to their accompany and family, which after-effects in abasement and stress.

So, parents should actively participate by allowance out their accouchement to get rid of problems in life. They should seek to anniversary and every action performed by their child. They should accept their adolescent and acquisition the acumen abaft such problems. An adolescent should be fabricated able so that he or she does not feel abandoned in their life. This would appear by admiring and compassionate your child. At this stage, an adolescent should not be scolded. Even you can advice him or her in academics because accouchements that are bent in the allurement of problems are not able to concentrate. And if there is no advance in your child, you should anon seek advice from a professional. Sit with your child; acquaint him or her to chase a comestible plan or to exercise to abate the plumpness.

Girls charge added absorption as they usually go mad back they alpha putting weight which can be apparent now days. Girls chase standards and trends of beauty. They are beneath an angle that by starving, they won't put on weight and this will enhance their beauty. But it is an amiss notion. Skipping commons will actualize diseases like anemia, hypertension and in-fertility. The girls are afflicted from TV commercials, magazines and posters of the celebrities. So, it is all-important to chase a counterbalanced and adapted diet to abate blubber and to abide fit, advantageous and strong.

A Daughter Skating On Thin Ice

2008-08-27T00:06:00.000-07:00

Bulimia Nervosa And The Bar Cycle

2008-08-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

If you suffer from bulimia nervosa, you're experiencing an unnecessarily frightening, demeaning and painful existence. It's unnecessary to live under a compulsion to overeat and then eliminate that food. There are no many treatments that can control the emotions and anxieties behind the behavior. To gradually reduce the need for treatments, you can follow a process called the BAR cycle to eliminate those harmful emotions by eliminating the root causes.

What Is Bulimia Nervosa? Bulimia is an eating disorder similar to anorexia, where we develop an irrational body image, and establish a dysfunctional solution to deal with this image. Anorexics can literally starve themselves to death. Bulimics, however, are also emotionally compelled to engage in binge eating, then to purge the food, either by forced vomiting or by laxatives, or both. Bulimia sufferers often experience malnutrition and damage to teethe, esophagus, colon and rectum...sometimes leading to severe anorexia.

What Compels Me To Binge And Purge? Fear and self-loathing are the main motivations to bulimia. The fear of starvation drives the binge and the fear of gaining weight drives the purge. Self-loathing is at the root of it, because bulimics believe they have to be the perfect weight or no one will love them. Some even resort to measuring everything that goes in and comes out of their bodies, to make sure it's the same amount. If you're beginning to think this sounds a lot like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you win the prize.

What Treatments Are Available? The similarity between OCD and bulimia nervosa gives us a key as to what treatments can be effective. Often, the doctor will prescribe anxiety medicine in combination with psychological counseling to deal with the fears involved and gain control of the emotions and self-loathing. Like most psychological disorders, treatments are often long-term, with a gradual recovery. Recovery is often dependent upon how enthusiastically the bulimic embraces recovery. Unfortunately, as with any illness, many of us expect the doctor to give us a pill to make it go away with little or no effort on our part. Unless you take action, you're likely to be bulimic and dependent on medicine the rest of your life.

How Can The BAR Cycle Help? The BAR Cycle helps us control our actions by controlling our beliefs and motivations. By taking the actions on Belief in this BAR Cycle article, we begin to change our self-loathing and body-image, taking it from negative and destructive, to positive and constructive. Over time, by building up the belief in ourselves, we can eliminate the root causes of bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Even on a more short-term basis, we can see faster improvement in our treatment and a reduced need for drug therapy.

Bulimia is a serious condition that can lead to physical illness or death. This is why, even if you plan on using the BAR Cycle to help control your condition, you should seek the help of a licensed therapist experienced with bulimia, to guide you and monitor your recovery.

The good news is, you don't need to live in the self-loathing, emotional prison of bulimia nervosa. You don't need to live a secret life of anxiety, binging and purging to achieve some irrational ideal of physical perfection. Instead, you can begin the recovery process by seeing a doctor and getting the symptoms under control with drug and counseling therapy. You can enhance that therapy and eliminate the root causes of bulimia nervosa by using the BAR Cycle to understand and embrace the real you, a person of great value...comfortable in your own skin.

Does Guilt About Overeating Make You Overeat?

2008-08-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

It would be hard to find a dieter who hasn't felt that pang of guilt after overindulging on something that was not on their diet but guilt is not a dieter's friend; in fact it often leads to even more eating because you feel so bad about your lack of discipline. So how do you break the destructive cycle of overeat / guilt /overeat? By simply reframing how you look at this problem you can throw guilt out the window and avoid this cycle all together.

First it is good to establish that it is never appropriate to feel guilty about wanting to eat. Food is necessary for your survival and your body knows it, so your body always wants you to eat to assure your survival. It doesn't care if you are carrying an extra 10, 40 or 100 pounds on your frame; it wants you to get some energizing food today. And, to ensure you do eat it releases hormones and chemicals inside you that make you want food. Therefore you should never feel guilty for wanting to eat, it is natural, and equally as important you should never be mad at your body for feeling hungry, it is just trying to help you survive.

Emotional eating has taken a lot of blame for the skyrocketing obesity epidemic, and rightfully so, but you shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to eat in reaction to an unpleasant emotion. Why? Because food does sedate your emotions, millions of people use food to dampen stress, anxiety and worry because it works. I am not saying it is a good solution, but it does produce temporary relief. Therefore, it is not appropriate to feel guilty about wanting to use food for emotional reasons.

Another reason you should not feel guilty about wanting to overeat is because most of you reading this live in an area where food is abundant, convenient and cheap. You are constantly reminded of food throughout your day. Food surrounds you so it makes sense that food would be on your mind often; you shouldn't feel guilty for thinking about food or even entertaining the thought of overeating.

With all of these factors surrounding you it is not unheard of for you to give in from time to time and overeat, your diet can certainly overcome these occasions but if you add guilt to the mix your diet may not survive. You will have moments during a diet when you don't eat as planned, accept these times and drop the guilt and in turn you will break the overeat / guilt / overeat cycle.

Understand that it is only human to enjoy a treat now and then and it is equally human to have an occasional slip when you are dieting. Accept and expect these times and not only will you find getting back on track a lot easier but you will also multiply your chances of success.

A Life Story Of Anorexia-Bulimia Sufferer - Why She Does It And What Is Her Life Like?

2008-08-25T03:46:00.001-07:00

People often ask me to describe what a day in the life of an anorexic-bulimic sufferer is really like. How do people become eating disorder sufferers and what do sufferers themselves think about their disorder and why they developed it. When I explain to them about the plight of the anorexics-bulimics I explain it from a third person view (use "they" - they do this, they do that etc).

But I don't think this way is powerful enough to show the real life of the anorexic-bulimic sufferer and what their day is really like. It is always good to show a real example from real life but because of the privacy reasons I can't give any real life example from an actual sufferer. So using real life examples I made up this story based on a girl whose full name is Anorexia Bulimia. She lives in a big Western city and she is 27 years old. She comes from a family of two busy dedicated professionals. She lives separately from her parents but her parents help her financially.

And here is what Anorexia Bulimia is saying about herself and her life. (Note: the story is made up and does not apply to anyone personally. It is a composite of many millions of Western girls who suffer from eating disorders.)

Anorexia Bulimia said: "I have suffered from anorexia and bulimia now for more than 10 yrs. I am not doing much of anything right now. I was studying at university but had to put my university studies on hold. I was an arts student. If I do return to university, I will have one and a half more years of studies to complete my degree. I left school because of my ED. To say correctly I had to leave because of the unbearable symptoms I had and I could not cope with.

It is the same story where I use to work: I had to leave to go to hospital for inpatient treatment and have never gone back to work since then as I just can't face it. I just have too much complications and organ failures to be able to hold a job down. In hospital I had a tube (stoma) put through the belly skin and muscles to feed me, so I could gain some weight. But I developed an infection around the tube and it was removed. Now I am here again at home with my normal crazy routine I follow day after day.

Right now, medically, I have many problems. I have major backaches, headaches, muscle aches/soreness, I cannot sleep, I have some chest pains/ heavy chest, I take heaps of laxatives because I cannot go otherwise. I cannot concentrate on much of anything and did I mention the dizziness. I see my doctor weekly and he does some blood/lab work on me and my potassium is always low. Sometimes my bicarb and creatinine levels are so high that he wants to throw me in hospital again but I will not go back as it does not help. Those are just some of the things that are keeping me from completing my studies and working or should I say keeping me from having any sort of productive life at all. I hate it but I can't stop and it is driving me crazy.

I don't have any hobbies I do like reading but I can't seem to concentrate on it for long because my mind always wanders to food and its abuse. I can't go out to social events any more as I am afraid that they will interfere with my schedule of starving and then binging and purging. I hate to interrupt the patterns and my routines.

I can honestly say that I cannot believe I have survived this long because sometimes I think I would rather be dead than continue on the way I am. Why do I feel like this, doctor?

I really would love to have a husband but what if he wanted a baby, how could I cope with being that fat? Do you think I could find a man who did not want sex or wants to be intimate? When I was young, a friend tried to touch me inappropriately and it hurt me, what if the man wanted to have sex and it hurt me again, how could I deal with that.

I don't know how I came to be where I am today I just started to diet and before I knew it I was totally consumed by my ED. I never had problems with eating I always loved eating when I was young. I was always taller and bigger than most kids at school but they use to call me fat, even my family said I was big and that I take after my mom's family who are bigger in size. I did not want to be called big I wanted to be just like the other kids, but I couldn't be.

Now all my life revolves around binging and purging I even have a ritual where I go through the same things every day. I go to the same place in the house not the bathroom, I have a big bucket and I use that as I purge for a few hours. Sometimes I am so weak after I just collapse were I am and can not move.

Sometimes I just want to die and I honestly don't know why I am still alive. The doctors have told me I should be dead but I am still here, please help me!

This is an article written from the many emails we get sent from anorexia-bulimia sufferers. It is all true and it breaks my heart every time we receive emails like this: we get many many of the same kind.

A Teenager's Analysis of Eating Disorders

2008-08-25T03:46:00.000-07:00

As caring adults, we struggle to understand why an adolescent would starve herself to death. What causes a bright, healthy young girl to turn her body into a weapon?

To answer this question, I received permission from a 17-year-old girl to publish her cogent analysis of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis. She uses this classic work to illuminate, in a succinct yet powerful manner, the causes and consequences of eating disorders.

Gregor the Anorexic

Today, eating disorders are a widely discussed and observed tragedy. Yet, what is not as well known is that eating disorders have existed for hundreds of years. In Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa exhibits the typical circumstances and symptoms of someone suffering from an eating disorder.

The causes of eating disorders are disputed, but there is a general consensus that pressure is a contributing factor. Gregor feels an obligation to pay his "debt to my (sic) parents" and save his family from poverty.

In addition, an eating disorder is a cry for help from someone who can't verbalize his anger and frustration. As a perfectionist and conformist, Gregor refrains from leaving his job even though he desperately wants to; as he says, "I would have quit long ago."

Of course, the most obvious sign of an eating disorder is the change in someone's physical appearance. People suffering from this tortuous disease have a twisted sense of their own appearance, and will perceive their quite ordinary looks as monstrous. Gregory's view of himself as a vermin, a bloated and misshapen creature, is an example of this shamed perception.

Secrecy is the life blood of an eating disorder. Someone trapped in this struggle will try to hide their condition for as long as possible. Initially, Gregor seeks to mask his voice and pretend he is in perfect shape. For as long as he can, Gregor tries to appear normal.

The underlying cause of an eating disorder is a lack of self-confidence. Gregor retreats under the sheet, stays in his room and doesn't fight to be understood - all a reflection of how little he believes in himself. Instead of finding the man within the bug, Gregor has spent too long viewing himself as a bug within a man.

Ultimately, as is the case with a significant percentage of anorexics, Gregor succumbs to his illness. Even more tragically, perhaps, no one bothers to mourn for him.

The Truth About Anorexia Symptoms

2008-08-23T02:17:00.001-07:00

Anorexia symptoms are hard to see because the afflicted try to hide them as much as they possibly can. When they are caught they will try to explain their way out of it. Often they will do a good job of it, too. Eventually the signs will be too hard to hide. Their condition, at this point, will be so unmanageable that their bodies will exhibit clear evidence of their condition.
The most common anorexia symptoms can be seen in behavior and eating habits. One particular telltale habit is when a person goes on a restrictive diet even when the person is already thin. Such a diet would often ban fat and carbohydrates.
Another sign is when the person carries around a food diary or is obsessed with keeping track of their food intake. Patients will keep on counting their calories obsessively. It would even go to the point of weighing the portions that he or she eats.
Another thing to watch out for is when a person has strange rituals when it comes to his or her eating. They would be eating in ritualistic ways like obsessing about the cuts of the meat portions. In most cases the person would be very secretive about these rituals. They would even refuse to eat in public places or usually eat alone.
Another anorexia symptom is when a person lies or pretends that they have already eaten. They would even throw away food just to avoid eating. They will often have excuses like "I'm not feeling too good" or "I've had a big breakfast".
Sometimes an anorexic would hide their behavior too well that the disease will just be evident in the person's body and her body image. Often you would hear the person complain about how fat he or she is.
In some cases, an anorexic would obsess over their body. Tiny fluctuations of their weight bother them a great deal. They are overly critical of their appearance. They would constantly be looking in mirrors and pointing at flaws.
The rapid weight loss would be evident in their body. There would be no medical cause but the drop in their weight would be drastic. They would try to deny being too thin and try to hide it by wearing baggy clothes and try to hide their weight in physicals by drinking a lot of water.
In some cases, anorexics use purging to reduce their body weight and limit their calorie intake. Take notice of their use of water pills and herbal appetite pills to suppress heir hunger. They would also use laxatives to pass food a lot faster. They will also use ipecac syrup to induce vomiting.
Exercise can also be an anorexia symptom where they exhibit and follow a strict exercise regimen. They would often work hard after eating something bad like fat or hi-calorie foods. Nothing can interrupt this strict regimen. They would even workout despite injuries or bad weather.

5 Tips to Prevent a Binge

2008-08-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

Here are five tips that I have received from people who are struggling with binge eating disorder. When I was binging I used some of these exact tips. The tricks really helped to curb a binge or two. Try them out ad let me know how they work out for you.
1. Become a vegan.
I've heard this from a handful of people. Although it's not the norm to binge on meat, there are people that can't get enough of Buffalo wings, roast, steak, chicken, and any other kind of meat. Making the decision to cut out meat has really worked wonders for them. (Believe me, I realize that this tip is extreme, but hey, if it's helped others, it's my duty to pass it on!)
2. Drinking a cup of coffee to kill a binge.
Many people feel like when 3pm rolls around, they are ready for a binge. It's called a "time trigger". Again, a handful of you have said that coffee has really helped with preventing a binge. If you feel like you binge around a certain time, try grabbing a cup of coffee (or tea) and see if it works for you!
3. Finding a distraction.
Find something that will distract you from binging. It can be absolutely anything: going outside for a walk, talking to a friend on the phone, yoga, playing with your dog, organizing your junk drawer in the kitchen, etc. Distractions work because they disrupt the binge eating habit... and anything that breaks the binging habit is good.
4. Put together a photo album.
Pick a few pictures out of when you felt the best about yourself. Make a rule that each time you want to binge, you have to look through the whole album, picture-by-picture. Surely looking at yourself at your best might help prevent food from going into your mouth. It helped a few people realize that giving into the binge would just put them one step further from looking their best again and it also would make them feel awful for giving in. Personally, I think that beating a binge this way will help you to feel stronger than you have previously. It shows you that you can beat a binge and that is powerful!
5. Brush your teeth.
Have you ever noticed that nothing (food or drink) tastes as good right after you brush your teeth? Next time you have the desire to binge eat, brush your teeth. At the very least, you'll have the cleanest and brightest smile out there!
I hope you found some, if not all, of these tips helpful! Good luck with beating binge eating disorder and just remember that you can beat this!

Troubling Eating Habits - Disorders?

2008-08-23T02:16:00.000-07:00

A new study says that 6 out of 10 American women are "disordered eaters." They have unhealthy obsessions with food, their body and eating behaviors. This isn't just the teens and twenties population this includes women in their 30's and 40's of all ethnic backgrounds.
Many women including myself at times do not have a healthy relationship with food or their body. Many women spend half their time thinking about food and meal planning. Some restrict themselves to the same foods everyday. Then there are some that weigh themselves every morning and their mood is determined by what the scale says. I know when the scale goes up I automatically think I need to get some additional exercise in today.
Sound familiar? It should: According to a survey sixty-five percent of American women who responded are disordered eaters. Eating habits that women think are normal such as eliminating carbs, skipping meals and, in some cases, even dieting itself may actually be symptoms of the syndrome. Although disordered eating doesn't have the lethal potential of anorexia or bulimia, it can really cause havoc in your emotional and physical health
According to the survey which gathered responses from 4,000 women ages 25 to 45 to a detailed questionnaire about their eating habits and found that most disordered eaters fall into one or more of six categories. Calorie prisoners are terrified of gaining weight, tend to see food as good or bad and feel extremely guilty if they indulge in something that's off-limits. Secret eaters binge on food at home or wherever they won't be found out. Career dieters may not know what to eat without a plan to follow; despite their efforts, they're more likely than other types to be overweight or obese. Purgers are obsessed with ridding their body of unwanted calories by using laxatives, diuretics or occasional vomiting. Food addicts eat to make themselves feel better - soothe stress, deal with anger, even celebrate a happy event; they constantly think about food. Extreme exercisers work out despite injury or exhaustion and solely for weight loss; they are overwhelmed if they miss a time to workout. Many disordered eaters piece together a mix of destructive habits such as a calorie prisoner and an exercise addict. Others may shift between categories over the years, going from restricting to bingeing to purging, for instance.
This survey was a real eye opener to me. As a society, we don't see the problem of disordered eaters. A few eat nutritiously and exercise moderately. The rest turn to unsafe tricks. The result is failure; severe measures don't work. So how can we get healthier? We need to go about change. First stop restricting your diet and embrace a healthy lifestyle. Bring in more healthy foods. Try to eat more often by including snacks in your day. Always start your day with a healthy well balanced breakfast. Studies show the people who eat breakfast maintain a healthier body than those who choose to skip it. Make steps to separate mood from food which is probably the most challenging. Listen to your stomach - eat when you're hungry. Lastly do it for the girls in your life so we can have a healthier future for them.

What You Must Know About Anorexia People

2008-08-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

Anorexia people exhibit certain traits that manifest in different ways. Some of these traits include distrust of themselves or other people, overly critical thinking or being a perfectionist and having low or no self awareness.

If these traits are present, the risk of developing anorexia doubles. When a patient with these distinct traits live in communities that are critical about a person's appearance, specifically about a person's body, the pressure doubles and leaves them vulnerable to anorexia.

If you know any person that exhibits three or more of these traits, one should try to get them help. They should be very careful when going through a strict diet program. The risk is that they might transform the diet and eventually have an unhealthy view of themselves. They would look at the diet as a means to increase their self esteem. To them, they see controlling their weight as an easier option than controlling other aspects of life. As the illness progresses, it becomes increasingly hard to control both as they spiral further and further into despair.

Anorexia people would lower and lower their food intake until finally they would stop eating altogether. Eventually the body would respond by eating into their muscles for calories. Although it started as something to keep themselves healthy it would eventually change into something unhealthy.

The afflicted would be obsessed with their weight. They would starve; purge themselves to maintain their weight at a low level. Thin is not enough; they always have to be thinner.

The afflicted would often look at themselves in a mirror and see a fat person. In truth their bodies would be ravaged by all the weight loss it has been through. Their skin would be hanging off their bones but all they would see is fat. Their obsession about losing their weight would continue up to the point that they get hospitalized or worse.

Sufferers can be classified into two categories. They could be the type that restricts their food intake. In this category, anorexia people will limit the calories in their diet. They will stay away from food that can be fattening. They will also accompany this extreme dieting with excessive exercise and fasting.

Another category is the purging type. These people would resort to vomiting and use of laxatives and diuretics to remove the calories that they have consumed. They would also go through fasting and other radical means to maintain and reduce their weight.

Such people can be anyone. In most cases they, are adolescent girls between the ages of 13 and 20, but it is not too uncommon to see this condition in men and children.

It is also hard to tell an anorexic because they make a conscious effort to hide their condition. Most of them are ashamed of what they are doing and will go to great lengths just so they don't get discovered. You will only notice them when it has gone overboard. At this point, the condition can lead to death.

This condition is very serious and could be fatal. Fortunately there is still hope. It is important that people that have anorexia seek proper treatment. The condition can be controlled with proper support but it is important to catch the symptoms early.

What You Must Know About Anorexia Causes

2008-08-19T05:08:00.000-07:00

Unlike other diseases where the main cause is identified, anorexia causes could be perplexing. To arrest this eating disorder, one should have an understanding of the anorexia symptoms.

In our present society, it is fashionable and in to be thin. This standard of beauty is further motivated by media hype. Women are constantly exposed to advertisements of diet pills, of cosmetic surgery centers where body enhancement procedures are ordinary occurrences. One of the major anorexia causes is cultural pressure. Women who are inordinately dissatisfied with their bodies often start excessive dieting.

Anorexia can be the result of a medical condition. This eating disorder may also be the side effect of a medication. Kidney failure, diabetes, and liver disease could result. Fortunately, once the illness is treated, the anorexia symptoms will be eliminated too.

Depression, stress and anxiety could cause a person to stay away from food. Psychological anorexia symptoms are more difficult to treat. Anorexia causes people to have a notion that they are fat even though the bones in their body are sticking out and they have an emaciated appearance. In some instances the family's lifestyle can contribute. Parents' over protectiveness may suffocate the child, causing him/her to rebel and to refuse to eat as a sign of independence.

People who have suffered from physical and sexual abuse are most likely to be afflicted with anorexia nervosa. These people would starve to death to avoid the sexual demands of the abuser. The same thing is true with physical abuse. Anorexics have this notion that self starvation is the only way by which they can avoid physical abuse.

Whatever the anorexia causes may be, it should be understood that anorexia is a serious eating disorder. Anorexia people may inadvertently cause severe damage to their own vital organs by self starvation. So if you see a family member, a loved one or a friend with a compulsive desire to lose weight to the point that she/he is no longer eating proper meals, if you see that he/she is using large baggy clothes to hide an emaciated body, if you notice that she/he is exhibiting drastic mood swings...this person has anorexia symptoms. Act at once for your help is urgently needed!

Anorexia-Bulimia Is Not About Food - Well, What Is It All About?

2008-08-19T05:07:00.000-07:00

Many people just associate anorexia-bulimia with food and/or dieting. But this is not the case. An eating disorder is not just about food and dieting.

Eating problems are just only a symptom of anorexia-bulimia. In the big picture eating disorders are a disorder of feelings and emotions. For sufferers food abuse helps them to respond to their feelings, thus allowing the individual to avoid, postpone, forget, deny, or otherwise anesthetize their feelings.

For the anorexic or bulimic person, keeping a safe emotional distance precludes the risk that others will discover her/his real self and hurt them.

Secondly, an eating disorder is a disorder of control. A sufferer perceives that she/he can't control anything in their life except for their food intake and their weight. They perceive that controlling their weight and food intake will enable them to keep their uncontrollable life in balance.

Thirdly, an eating disorder is a disorder of thinking. Anorexics-bulimics are thinking in a distorted way about themselves, the world, and their place in it. They believe that gaining even 1 kilo invariably leads to gaining 10 to 20 kilos. Their misconception about how they look is called body image distortion or "broken eye syndrome".

Fourthly, an eating disorder is a disorder of coping. For sufferers, their eating disorder is a way they cope with everyday stress: with their school, homework and pressure from their friends.

Fifthly, an eating disorder is a disorder of identity. For many sufferers their eating disorder becomes a substitute for their identity. Some of them even describe that being without their disease is as unthinkable for them as being without air to breathe.

Sixthly, an eating disorder is a disorder of values and lifestyle. For many bulimics spending time with themselves and binging is much more important than going out, seeing friends and socializing.

The eating disorders become their lifestyle, their entertainment and total interest in life.

Seventhly, an eating disorder is a disorder of relationship. Some people even say about their eating disorders something like: "My best friend is always there for me." This is about their eating disorders, they perceive it like their "best friend", unlike these hurtful and rejecting people in real life.

And finally, an eating disorder is a disorder of behavior. The extreme unbending and compulsive nature of unbalanced eating behaviors is the main feature of the disease.

For most sufferers they simply do not know how to stop, if they eliminated one meal, they want to eliminate two; if they lose some weight they want to lose more and more and it becomes a vicious cycle.

It also gives them a form of control they don't normally have in the real world. So the wish to stop has to become greater that the wish to stay where they are, but unfortunately by the time they reach this point they have done a lot of damage to themselves.

How to Help Young Anorexics

2008-08-16T05:22:00.001-07:00

It is with growing concern that I have noticed an alarming trend in the emails I receive from people asking for help with young anorexics eating disorder problems. It has become obvious that something is terribly wrong with the normal medical approach to helping these sufferers.

I would like to share with you just some of the pleas for help I get so you can see what I mean.

"Dear Doctor

My daughter is away at university she had a week to go before the end of the term/academic year. Her weight is very low (under 5 stones) and although she has some help (psychiatrist/art therapy/dietician) she is really struggling and desperate for some rest bite and help but the resources available are scarce and a hospital admission initially to a medical ward is what is most likely to happen. Over the years she has had 3 admission to specialist units where she has gained weight over many month only to lose it all once she resumes independent living. She does not believe another hospital admission would really help but to be honest she is getting so ill she may not have a choice". Janet T.

Here is another email from a desperate mother.

"Dear Doctor

I am a mother who has a 17 year-old daughter suffering from bulimia and anorexia. She is receiving no help whatsoever from our doctor or counseling services here in Northern Ireland. It fact she seems to be getting worse although she is under treatment. I can't understand what is happening can you help me please". Pauline M.

I receive many of emails like these from people who just can't understand why their loved one is finding it so hard to recover even though they are under medical supervision. And I will explain the reasons in a moment but first here is another plea from a grandmother I received.

Hi Doctor

I hope I am not fussing too much but we are so desperate as my granddaughter is rapidly going downhill with really bad tantrums etc., and is so thin and won't eat hardly anything, we are all in despair and so scared for her health she continues to lose 2lb every week she has been seeing councilors and the weight loss has increased since then. We cannot understand why she is getting worse, we thought she would get better after seeing a counselor. Andrea R

Another cry for help.

Dear Doctor

I have just finished speaking to my brother and sister-in-law who are at a crisis point in trying to deal with their young daughter's anorexia.

Alice says they are both beyond hell and do not know how to recover the lives of their daughter or themselves. I suspect it is putting immense strain on their marriage as well.

Their 16 year old daughter knows what the condition is doing to her but is powerless to ignore the voices in her head telling her to do the opposite of everything that will help get her better.

She is critically thin and starting to be suicidal. After the phone call I got on line and was lead to you. I do not know how else to help. They are on that dreadful treadmill of Doctors, hospitals and counselors, today they have been told by the doctors to go to her school and sit with her while she eats her lunch!! This is no life. Betty D.

There is a reason why all these people are understandably confused about how to treat young anorexics and it stems from the lack of real understanding of the condition by conventional medical practice in treating eating disorders.

Most eating disorder specialists are highly trained and very competent in trying to look after sufferers, but most of the doctors I have talked to are equally baffled by negative the results they are getting.

One of the main things you have to understand is eating disorders like anorexia are not a logical disease, so you can not treat them with logic as conventional treatment tries to do. An eating disorder is all about feelings and emotions and these are certainly not logical. You can't counsel a person by pointing out they could die from their disorder: most already know this but still cannot change.

Sitting around just listening to the sufferer talk about how they feel or ask them to describe the feelings they have and expecting the sufferer to know the answer is also ludicrous. Asking them to keep charts on what they eat for weeks is only making them focus on their ED even more and is also a crazy way to deal with the problem.

Getting them involved in group therapy does not work in most cases either. In fact this can cause more problems that it fixes as sufferers can get attached to the group. They make friends with other anorexic sufferers, and then if they get better they asked to leave the group and also all their friends, so they often choose not to get better.

So what is the remedy for the young anorexic sufferers and their families? The best way to beat an eating disorder is by attacking the eating disorder where it lives and that is in the subconscious mind of the sufferer. By showing the young anorexic sufferer how to stop the voices in their mind from controlling their life and changing their thought patterns to a more positive outlook on life is paramount to their recovery.

To do this you have to reprogram the mind of the sufferer by using positive input. This does not simply mean just trying to think positive about things or telling them that everything is rosy and wonderful, because this does not work either.

What you need is a specific method and set of exercises that are tailor made to change the way the sufferer sees them self and thinks about themselves. They need a treatment method that helps them to defeat the voices in their head which have already lead them down the dark path that is their anorexia.

How to Help Anorexic Children

2008-08-16T05:22:00.000-07:00

What we understand from our personal experience coping with a child suffering from anorexia is that there isn't one single definitive guide or course of action for you and your child to follow that will guarantee a solution to their eating problems.

Your attitude and beliefs about children and teenagers and the interaction of the parents affect the way you respond to your child.

You should understand that you are not responsible for your child's illness as well as you should understand that your child turned to an eating disorder for emotional comfort and is in emotional pain, though she/he may not recognize it.

Remember, that if one approach for coping with your child's illness does not work there is always another way.

What I want to say is that people who develop eating disorders are absolutely normal. Just something happens in their lives that make them really suffer emotionally and they turn to an eating disorder to compensate for this emotional discomfort.

Anorexia like other eating disorders is not about food. Anorexia is disorder of feelings, thoughts, identity, values, relationship, coping and control.

If you fix all of the above or change these feelings to new ones (like positive feelings and thoughts, strong sense of identity and values, good coping and control strategies, high self-esteem) you can conquer anorexia.

Only then will the young anorexic be able to recover from an eating disorder quickly.

I should say that affecting someone's subconscious mind is not a quick process. It will take some time. But if you are persistent you will definitely see a significant improvement in your child's state within a few months after beginning and doing the exercises above.

How does it work, you may ask? Here is the short and simple explanation. Our brain consists of two halves (called hemispheres). Both hemispheres are covered by a thick layer called the Cortex. The Cortex is the conscious part of the brain, the part we think with (logical thinking). But this part of the brain is not responsible for our feelings.

We have another small part of our brain which lies between the two hemispheres and connects them. This little part is called the limbic system. The limbic system, as discussed in the next section, is involved in regulating emotions and motivations. In addition, parts of the limbic system, the amygdala and hippocampus, are important for memory.

This part (The limbic system) does not have consciousness (no thoughts only feelings). It was found that people with emotional problems have an imbalance of the limbic system. The question is: how to influence the limbic system and put it in the right balance?

The answer is: the cortex which is the conscious part of the brain should influence the limbic system which does not have conscious thought. The cortex, which makes the decisions for us, learns new things, and understands things for us should influence the non-conscious part of the brain by giving signals to the limbic system to work differently.

Most eating disorders are learned behavior. Initially the sufferer taught themselves to diet to become slim. Initially it was their own conscious decision to lose weight because they wanted to look better. This conscious decision was made by their cortex and sent to their limbic system which gave them the feelings (like feeling good about yourself if you became slim).

So, what you need to do is reverse this: to say in other words you have to get the sufferer to change their perception (or their cortex). They should make another decision (about changing their own image and feelings that they have now, like starving them self or purging, back to a normal response) and send this signal to their limbic system to foster good feelings about their new decision they have just made.

Weight Loss Disasters Like Anorexia and Bulimia Can Be Avoided

2008-08-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

It's not hard to understand how people young and old can fall victim to horrible diseases like Anorexia and Bulimia. Everyday we are bombarded with unrealistic body images and at the same time bombarded by unhealthy food choices, and society makes both seem irresistible. People become trapped in the weight loss weight gain cycle and look for an easy way out.

Typically people who become anorexic or Bulimic do so because they are interested in losing weight. They want to lose weight in order to look a certain way. They feel that they cannot lose the amount of weight they want simply by diet or exercising normally so they develop these unhealthy habits. in order to shed these pounds quickly they go looking for alternatives and sometimes find that anorexia or bulimia fit their needs.

In reality these types of actions create weight loss but not healthy weight loss and even worse they can create addiction to the anorexia or bulimia. These types of weight loss decisions can lead to severe health problems and even death. Finding an alternative to anorexia and bulimia is not hard. But the mindset of an anorexic or bulimic is hard to circumvent. The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to find a safer alternative.

What most of these people who turn to drastic measures such as anorexia and bulimia do not know is that their bodies are most likely suffering from harmful substances living in side their bodies. These harmful substances will keep them from losing weight. The body's first instinct is to protect itself and that means storing up extra fat to help it fight off illnesses and provide extra energy.

A healthy body that has been purged of these substances will shed excess weight naturally. The body will no longer need these extra pounds to protect it from the harmful substances that are living off of the extra weight. If more anorexics and bulimics could have found this simple truth out before they took such drastic measures to change the way they look lives could be saved.

There is help more and more people are discovering a way to purge their bodies of the very substances that are keeping them from losing weight and keeping it off. Don't cave to the pressures of society avoid the trappings of anorexia and bulimia.

Understanding Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder

2008-08-14T03:17:00.001-07:00

Nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NSRED) or often considered as sleep eating disorder (SED) is a type of sleep disorder wherein a person eats unconsciously during the night. Sometimes, NSRED sufferers make an effort to prepare their meal, which can be quite hazardous, since they do it all while sleeping.

Most of NSRED sufferers do not remember or have not recollection of what they did during the past night. Later on, when clues of their behavior start to manifest, they often feel ashamed and guilty. Sometimes, they also feel self-hatred.

NSRED or SED can either be a disorder in eating or sleeping. Usually, sleep eaters like to eat foods that are rich in sugar or fat contents. There are also cases of people suffering from NSRED who eat items that are inedible like soap. Meanwhile, most tend to prepare strange combinations of foods.

There have been various treatments introduced to heal persons stricken with sleep eating disorders.

Although nearly any person can be affected by sleep eating disorders, about 1 - 3% of the general populations appear to have this kind of disorder. Though it could affect both gender, about two-thirds of the total number of sufferers compose of women. People with sleep eating disorders have high risk of becoming overweight or obese.

There are ten usual signs or symptoms that a person is affected by a sleep eating disorder.

1. Eating while unconscious or sleeping

2. Unconscious preparation of meals during the middle of the night

3. Feeling angry

4. Finding food crumbs or wrappers in the bed or pillow that have been left over due to sleep eating on the previous night.

5. Not hungry or craving for breakfast

6. Feels stressed out or tired easily

7. Limited or absolutely no recollection of what transpired during the night

8. Walking while asleep

9. Feeling easily tired or fatigued during the day

10. Anxiety attacks

Various health factors arise out of SED-NOS or NSRED

Here are several of the health risks that may affect the persons who are suffering from sleep eating disorders:

- Gaining weight or obesity

- Being injured while preparing or cooking food while in a sleep eating episode

- Being attacked with anxiety, stress or anger in the daytime

- Poor quality of sleep

Like most the other sleep disorder, there are different types of treatment for NSRED sufferers. The first step is to have a correct diagnosis of his or her symptoms. A doctor can prescribe a visit to the sleep center, where there is a laboratory to conduct several tests on the sleep eater. During the sleep test, it is important to identify if there are other diseases, medical conditions of sleep disorders that causes the signs of NSRED. These conditions can be hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, sleep apnea, encephalitis or hepatitis.

Meanwhile, there are natural treatments for NSRED sufferers that can be as effective:

- Maintain a daily regular form of exercise

- Enrolling in a stress management or stress reduction class

- Quitting nicotine intake and any other stimulant that can disrupt sleep

- Limiting consumption of alcohol

- Controlling the amount and time of caffeine intake

Furthermore, sleeping pills must always be avoided. A doctor must supervise the person's intake if it becomes necessary to take.

Binge Eating? It Could Be Worse!

2008-08-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

What if there was something attached to our mind so that we could record everything that we told ourselves, good and bad? I bet we would be surprised to realize that we talk worse to ourselves than anyone else does. We are literally our worst enemy, and this is everyone, not just people that have binge eating disorder.

Our negative self-talk starts as soon as we wake up in the morning. It really gets going when we take that first look in the mirror, step on the scale, put on a shirt that's just a little too snug to make us comfortable, or binge eat. This is about the time that we start beating ourselves up and take it another step further... We turn everything about our body into something negative.

It's not just about the scale; we obsess about that extra pound. Instead of looking in the mirror and appreciating something on our face, we go crazy about that pimple that seems so monstrous. Instead of forgiving ourselves for that last binge, we think way too much about all of the food we consumed three hours ago, which doesn't help anything. It's an endless cycle.

Our fears about our looks naturally lead us to compare ourselves with others all of the time. We always wonder why we can't be as pretty, popular, or skinny as her or her or her, or all of the models that stare at us from magazines, television, and movies. Let's face it: We are obsessed, but will never win when we put ourselves up against stylists, airbrushes, and plastic surgeons.

It's very normal to compare ourselves. It's just part of human nature. However, it is so detrimental to our own happiness, not to mention when we are trying to end binge eating disorder.

If we must compare ourselves to someone else, what if we did it in a more healthy way? Instead of wishing we looked like Jessica Alba or Angelina Jolie, how about being thankful for the legs that are still attached to our body instead of the woman that lost hers while fighting for our freedom in Iraq? How about being thankful that you have both breasts that are healthy instead of a woman that is battling breast cancer? At least this kind of comparison will tap into our reserves of empathy and gratitude instead of endless self-judgments, fears, and jealousy.

When you live your life with gratitude for your situation, things just don't seem as bad. Work daily on the fight against binge eating disorder and notice all of your successes. Be thankful for your life, binges and all, because it really could always be worse, but at least you can gain control over bingeing. The same can't be said for losing your legs.

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Eating Disorders in Teens

2008-08-14T03:16:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders can be a threat to your own life. It can choke the life of people especially at the stage of teens. This stage can be really bad in case physical change. It brings a change, which can ruin the life.

Most of the teens are unaware of the ill effects of eating disorders, which bring them to a stage of unconsciousness such as stress, depression, obesity and hypertension at early age. Teenagers get disheartened after getting trapped into these kinds of problems. They start feeling inferior to their friends and family, which results in depression and stress.

So, parents should actively participate by helping out their children to get rid of problems in life. They should seek to each and every activity performed by their child. They should understand their child and find the reason behind such problems. A child should be made strong so that he or she does not feel lonely in their life. This would happen by loving and understanding your child. At this stage, a child should not be scolded. Even you can help him or her in academics because children who are caught in the trap of problems are not able to concentrate. And if there is no improvement in your child, you should immediately seek help from a professional. Sit with your child; tell him or her to follow a dietary plan or to exercise to reduce the plumpness.

Girls need more attention as they usually go mad when they start putting weight which can be seen now days. Girls follow standards and trends of beauty. They are under a notion that by starving, they won't put on weight and this will enhance their beauty. But it is a wrong notion. Skipping meals will create diseases like anemia, hypertension and in-fertility. The girls are influenced from TV commercials, magazines and posters of the celebrities. So, it is necessary to follow a balanced and appropriate diet to reduce obesity and to remain fit, healthy and strong.

Bulimia in Men

2008-08-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

It was with great interest that I read in the UK Telegraph about the ex deputy prime minister of the UK John Prescott and his battle with bulimia. It is good that man in such a high powered position has finally come out and said he was a sufferer of this insidious disorder.

It was also with interest that the headline in the Times online said "How could a big man like John Prescott have a girl's illness"?

This has always been a huge misconception that only women and girls get eating disorders and of course this could not be further from the truth. Although there are more women with the disease than men, it does not mean there are not many more male sufferers out there who have hidden the disorder like Mr. John Prescott has.

Statistics say that there are many more women with the disease than men but this could be because men will not come forward and seek help. It boils down to the fact that men will not tell anyone because of the stigma attached to people with eating disorders, especially males with this problem: this in turn can easily skew the statistics.

Mr. Prescott put his bulimia down to the fact he was under enormous stress associated with his job as a parliamentarian, working long hours and deriving his only pleasures from eating large amounts of food. He stated himself that he ate huge amounts of food and no one ever suspected he was a bulimic because he was not thin.

This is another misconception; you do not have to be really thin to have bulimia: Mr. Prescott is certainly no stick figure. I have been asked the same question many times by family members of a sufferer who say, but he does not look really thin. My answer back is you don't have to be to be thin to be bulimic.

So why do men contract a disorder like bulimia? Like Mr. Prescott says his was due to stress and this is certainly one of the keys. But it can also be for job reasons and many male sufferers start of being bulimic because of their occupation. We have come across many male sufferers who are dancers, gymnasts, jockeys, airline stewards, male models and many more industries where being a certain size is a must for the job.

Most people, who know little about a disease like bulimia and this includes many journalists, say why can't they just stop: I wish it was as simple as that but it is not. Like Mr. Prescott said he got some weird satisfaction from binging and then purging and all bulimics get the same thing.

When a bulimic purges they get a release of a pleasure hormone not unlike the endorphins an athlete gets after exercising. This feel good hormone is one of the reasons a bulimic continues on with his erratic eating behavior. The problem is the rush they get is very short lived, so they have to binge and purge even more. So asking a bulimic to simply stop is like asking a non-sufferer to give up breathing air: it is not going to happen.

Most non-sufferers and many others think that you can beat bulimia with logic and by pointing out the errors of their ways they will stop. But again this is an impossibility and simply cannot happen. Mr. Prescott and his wife knew for years it was wrong and that he was in danger of serious medical problems, but he could not stop. If bulimia was a logical disease then he should have been able to stop when he realized he was doing harm to himself, but he couldn't.

This is because bulimia lives in the subconscious mind of the sufferer and the subconscious mind does not work on logic, it works on feelings and emotions and these are certainly not logical. The longer the bulimic has the disorder the more ingrained it becomes in the subconscious mind of the sufferer.

There is a way you can see how the subconscious mind works for yourself. The next time you explode at one of the kids or go off for no apparent reason, just ask yourself if it was logical. I bet you do not have the slightest idea why it happened; it is because it came from your subconscious mind and not your logical mind.

There is only one way you can really stop bulimia and that is through the subconscious mind where the bulimia lives. It lives there because it was programmed by the sufferer to be there over months or even years as was the case with Mr. Prescott.

Ways To Cure Bulimia Nervosa

2008-08-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to treat bulimia but not very many of them really cure bulimia. Popular treatment is going to the doctors or clinics or a counselor. How helpful are these? Statistic shows that nearly 90% of suffers relapse after attending these kinds of treatment.

What happens to these people is they feel temporary better while they are in the clinic or in a doctor's room, but lose all sense of self-control around food when they come back home or while on their own and unprotected.

The next way of treatment is group therapy where sufferers are supposed to get ongoing support and help from other sufferers and a group leader. But this way has many flaws and is not helpful either: it can actually become harmful to many sufferers.

The reasons of this are that while in the group there is often a competition for attention. In the group patients often deliberately get worse or engage in more symptoms just to get extra attention from each other or the therapist. This kind of competition always exists in eating disorder help groups but on many different levels. Sometimes it can get out of control and cause a lot of harm to some members of the group, the most venerable ones.

Also, while in the group people learn from each other. And they learn not necessary only the good things. They learn a lot of bad stuff too.

Like say if a young woman has never heard of drinking ipecac to induce vomiting and learns this technique in group therapy. She may try the technique out herself at home; instead of getting positive help she has just learned how to mask her disorder even more. This can also have a detrimental effect on the group leaving the group leader or member feeling responsible for teaching her.

Some doctors prescribe drugs to treat eating disorders but this also does not fix the problem and in the long run even makes things worse.

The only way to cure bulimia in my opinion is to eliminate the reason why people have it. You see what happens is that people understand that their bulimia is slowly killing them and want to stop but they can't.

It seems like something inside the person is stronger than their own free will and controls their logical thinking. What is this something?

It is basically another part of our brain called the subconscious mind that not only is responsible for people's feelings, emotions and non-conscious actions that keep them alive, but it can also work against your own free will.

It is the part of the mind that is responsible for our actions when we do something but we don't know why we did it. The subconscious mind operates on feelings and senses. And very often people can't even describe it logically because it consists of thoughts and feelings. Sufferers just do what the subconscious mind wants them to do.

So,the main reason people have bulimia lies in the subconscious mind and to stop bulimia one needs to get rid off the subconscious blockages that always keep you being a bulimic against your will.

Subconscious blockages are described by many sufferers as being like voices or senses they have that make them binge and purge.

If someone has a subconscious emotional blockage preventing her/him from stopping their bulimia, they are unlikely to realize it. An example of this is a bulimic who doesn't realize that they have "broken eye syndrome" - they see in a mirror a different picture from everyone else: basically their own mind is lying to them.

Subconscious blockages cannot be identified and changed at the rational thinking level; this is where most conventional treatments fail: simply because they think logical actions will fix it.

For example, the "broken eye syndrome" gets worse and worse the longer you have bulimia, because the bulimic brain is constantly working on false information and is reinforcing false beliefs. You can talk logic to a bulimia sufferer all day long and it will not help one bit: because bulimia is not logical.

To conclude, identifying and eliminating your subconscious blockages is the best and really the only way you will ever cure your bulimia. There are special programs that help bulimics to do this. You can try to use them to cure bulimia.

Diabulimia - Scary Things Teens Do to Get Thin

2008-08-12T05:19:00.000-07:00

"M" was an attractive, effervescent 18 year old girl when I first met her. As one of my roommates, she loved to be around her friends and talk non-stop. She also would steal several bags of Milanos double chocolate cookies from the kitchen cabinet; eat them all in one sitting, and not gain and ounce. She was hiding a huge weight-loss secret. She had diabulimia; the diabetic's eating disorder. This disorder has joined other well-researched eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia, and lesser known unstudied eating disorders like Wannarexia.
The facts:
Up to about 1/3 of young women and teens with Type 1 diabetes skimp or withhold on their insulin doses in a scary attempt to lose weight, according to new research out of the Joslin Diabetes Center. Girls and women who skip or skimp on these doses are more likely to suffer negative and serious side effects such as kidney failure, foot problems, and even death at a young age. In fact, diabulimia triples the risk of premature death about women who have diabetes.
Other studies on diabulimia indicate that these young women have higher rates of both nerve damage and eye problems.
In addition, young women with Type 1 diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop a full blown eating disorder (i.e. anorexia, bulimia) than women without diabetes who are the same age as them.
The Warning Signs:
* unexplained elevations in A1C values
* persistent problems with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
* unusual/extreme concerns about weight and body shape
* an obvious change in food-related behavior
* exercise bulimia (extreme patterns of exercise)
* missing monthly period called, amenorrhe
The Risks:
* higher A1C levels
* higher risk of developing infections
* more frequent episodes of DKA
* more frequent hospital and emergency room visits
* higher rates and earlier onset of diabetes complications - nerve damage, eye disease, kidney disease and possible heart disease
What should you do?
The Strait Approach: Ask them about Diabulimia
Have they ever heard of diabulimia? Thought about it? Do they know the risks? Sometimes hearing about it or having a conversation about it can reveal what's going on in the other person's head.
The Direct Check: Verify their insulin intake
Is insulin being used? If insulin is being used correctly, there should be a consistent decrease in the bottle, insulin syringes used, and medical supplies discarded (i.e. alcohol swabs, gauze).
Weight Loss Monitoring: Witness side effects
Are they losing weight? Are they binge eating? Are they losing weight, showing signs of dehydration, exhaustion, depression, or ketoacidosis? If they are using insulin correctly and eating a healthy diet, they should have normal energy and typical and predictable weight patterns.
Intervention: Getting Help
Are you certain that there is a problem? If so, talk to the person who you believe to be affected by Diabulimia. Express your concern and your support. Turn to a trained doctor who can help the person deal with these very real issues. They typically do not go away by themselves.
Call the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for more information or a referral (800-931-2237). They can also provide you with a referral if you fill out their referral form that is available on their website. You can also submit a question. Finally, parents, friends, and family members can also learn how to support their loved one through this trying time through the Parents, Family, and Friends Network.
As Powerful Parents, we all need to stay ahead of the curve and know what our children are doing. While we are making progress everyday to help our teens move forward and people speaking out on behalf of girls and women, we still have a long way to go. Let's help our teens together.

Warning Signs For Bulimia In Kids And Teens

2008-08-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

I have been ask this question so many times by lots of worried parents who think their child may have bulimia but don't know any of the warning signs.If you are one of these parents then here is a list of things to look out for, I will start with simple things first:1: Look for an excessive amount of food that is missing. Things like packets of biscuits you have just bought and they have disappeared overnight. Packets of sweets are gone without you even having one yourself. Look for easy accessible foods that seem to be gone faster than what is normal for your family use.2: The child is starting to act unusual around meal times. Being a bit anxious and not wanting to eat certain food groups, or may play with their food. They may say they have eaten at a friends place but then start to raid the food cupboard for easy food soon after dinner.3: You notice that the child may have lots of food rappers in their bedroom hidden under the bed or in their trash basket. Half eaten candy bars or potato crisp packets hidden in places that are unusual.4: The child may start to miss family gatherings or not want to go out to events where they normally would have, like picnics or parties preferring to stay home. Even making excuses they feel ill or have a headache.5: The child may start to do more exercise that they use to do. Go for long runs or bike rides and start to really push themselves to the extreme.These are all little things but point to a change in the child's habits although you can't come to the conclusion that your child has bulimia from these alone. You need more concrete evidence to go with these before you can be sure.Bulimics normally become very good at hiding their condition from family and friends. Bulimia has been described as secretive and sneaky and it most certainly is.So you as a parent have to become just as sneaky if you suspect your child of this disorder.Here are some more concrete things to look out for.1: The child after finishing their meal disappears to the bathroom for a long time. This starts to become a habit and is a surefire clue to the child being bulimic.2: You notice the smell of toothpaste on their breath when they come from the bathroom, or a sour smell on their breath.3: You start to find laxatives in their bedroom or empty packets in their trash bin.4: They start to become really edgy and anxious for no apparent reason and may start telling you to mind your own business if you say anything to them. They act out of character towards you.5: They start to look sickly and feel the cold more that was normal for them. They may start having problems with their teeth or complain of a sore throat all the time.6: They start to become obsessed with there weight and are looking at the bathroom scales all the time, or asking you if they look fat or looking in the mirror more that they use to do.If you noticed a number of these symptoms together then there is a good chance your child may have Bulimia. But do not simply confront them as this can drive the child away or warn them you are on to them, so they may become even sneakier.You should educate yourself first from people who have faced what you are facing now. One of the best educational information around on this subject is at www.mom-please-help.com
written by a mother whose daughter nearly died from bulimia anorexia. She was able to save her daughter herself when all else had failed.

The Inside Skinny On Natural Treatments For Anorexia and Bulimia

2008-08-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

What is Anorexia? And What is Bulimia?

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are psychological disorders which causes eating in a complex, compulsive way that disturbs the physical, mental, and psychological health of the individual.

A person suffering from anorexia harbors an obsessive, irrational fear of gaining weight, and will utilize extreme measures such as starvation or vomiting to maintain thinness. A bulimic individual consumes excessive quantities of food, feels guilty afterwards, then relieves the guilt by taking extreme measures to purge themselves of the food consumed.

Both disorders are typically observed among prepubescent and teenage girls. Men also suffer from eating disorders, but not at the same frequency as do women.

What are the causes?

A combination of social, psychological and biological factors.

Modern Western culture portrays the thin body structure as the ideal female form. A prevailing condescending attitude towards overweight individuals, and positive attention awarded to thin individuals make staying thin a priority to many young people. Sometimes the desire to be thin can lead to the development of an eating disorder.

A person suffering from either anorexia or bulimia usually holds a distorted image of his or her body. Certain traits such as obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and pessimism may also contribute to the development of eating disorders, as can traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse, bullying, or the death of a loved one.

Genetics may also play a small role in determining an individual's susceptibility to anorexia and bulimia.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are generally both physical and behavioral.

Physical symptoms include:

o Unusual and dramatic weight loss.

o Stunted growth

o Irregular or inconsistent menstrual periods in women

o Sunken eyes or dark circles around the eyes

o Pale complexion

o Excessively dry or chapped lips and skin

o Creaking joints and bones

o Anemia

o Headaches

o Fainting spells

o Constipation and diarrhea

o Oral hygiene problems such as discolored teeth, sensitive, swollen and bleeding cheeks and gums.

Behavioral symptoms include:

o Extreme exercising

o Social withdrawal

o Self-destructive behavior including substance abuse

o Refusal to eat in public

o Secretive behavior, especially when it comes to eating habits

o Moodiness

How is it treated?

Both anorexia and bulimia are most successfully treated with a combination of psychological and behavioral therapies and consistent emotional support from friends and family. But some natural remedies can also be helpful as well.

HERBAL TEAS created with calming herbs such as chamomile, comfrey, valerian root or mint (and sweetened with honey if so desired) have been proven effective in balancing emotions and reducing stress that may lead to eating disorders.

ZINC improves appetite. The consumption of 50 milligrams of zinc each day (thru diet and supplements) along with one to three milligrams of copper can increase the desire to consume food.

Orthorexia Nervosa - The Fixation On Healthy Eating

2008-08-09T00:21:00.000-07:00

The Healthy Eating Obsession

Steven Bratman, MD, is credited with coining the term orthorexia nervosa (ON) from the Greek word ortho, meaning straight and correct. It refers to a pathological fixation on eating healthy and beneficial ("pure") food as a means of losing weight, overcoming chronic illness, or improving general health. At one time or another, most of us decide to change our diet to reach one of these three goals. When we reach our goal, we usually return to the old diets, but in moderation or combined with exercise.

ON individuals, however, do not. They adopt a diet that is radically different from the foods they have eaten in the past. The two most common diets are raw food (uncooked raw vegetables, fruits, and legumes) and fruitarian (only fruits, tomatoes and cucumbers). They rigidly police their diet until the pure foods are all they eat. Once that happens, they are constantly on guard against resuming old dietary habits. For most people, this is not an easy thing to do. Those that succeed become food snobs and look down on the misinformed wretches who eat French fries, cookies, pizza and ice cream. Moreover, ON sufferers feel compelled to lecture family and friends on the virtues of adopting a pure diet.

The term "kitchen spirituality" was coined to describe the effect that food has on ON individuals. Tiffany Reiss, Ph.D., an assistant professor in nutrition and exercise science at Bastyr University, says that orthorexia can lead to isolation, rigidity, and alienation. It can lead to a feeling of virtuousness. ON individuals feel that everyone should be eating as they do. They become like hermits.

Their diets are so rigid that they cannot eat meals anywhere but in their own homes. Eating pure food becomes an almost religious experience. These food acolytes often feel that the act of eating sprouts, umeboshi plums, and amaranth biscuits is as holy as working with the poor and homeless. Conversely, when an ON person slips up and eats regular food, it is perceived as a fall from grace and must be atoned for by the penitence of ever-stricter diets and fasts. The need to eat meals free of meat, fat, and artificial chemicals becomes the holy grail.

Because the desire for eating the proper foods assumes a central role in an acolyte's life, Dr. Bratman believes that ON is similar to anorexia and bulimia. Bulimic and anorexic individuals focus on the quantity of food, while the orthorexic fixates on its quality. All three give food an excessive place in their lives. Dr. Bratman feels that ON can be overcome by convincing sufferers that their diet has important elements, but they have alternative choices. Sharlene Hesse-Biber, PhD, a sociology professor at Boston College, describes orthorexia as an obsession "that our bodies need to look a certain way....It's not a healthy way to live." Julie B. Clark-Sly, PhD, a psychologist at the Foundation for Change, agrees. "They say what they're doing is healthy, but they fool themselves. It becomes an emotional disorder."

Dr. Bratman has his detractors. ON is not listed in the clinical Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM-IV). There is no clinical guideline for this disorder. Dr. Diane Mickley, a spokeswoman for the Seattle-based National Eating Disorders Association, describes orthorexia as a psychiatric disorder. Kelly Brownell, PhD, co-director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders, states that without research to back his theory, Bratman is simply another guy trying to make a buck off the health-conscious public. "They invent some new term, a new diet, a solution to a problem that doesn't even exist. The burden should fall to the authors to prove that what they're saying is correct before they start unleashing advice on the public." Dean Ornish, MD, founder and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California said "I've never seen [orthorexia] in my clinic. Most people have the opposite problem; they don't care enough about what they eat."

What If Coaching Uncovers Signs Of An Eating Disorder?

2008-08-08T04:51:00.001-07:00

A coaching conversation at work offers opportunities to delve into cause as well as effect. Coaching sets great store by asking questions, but of course that means we can never legislate for the answer. In my view managers who coach should develop an awareness of the signs of abnormal psychology so that they can spot problems early and bring in appropriate support. Consider for example, eating disorders.

The term eating disorder can apply to a variety of conditions but here we'll consider two of the better known: Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa:

This condition is associated with a 'wrong' perception of body weight or shape. The sufferer will often perceive themselves as overweight and be fearful of putting on weight. Usually however, they would be deemed seriously underweight. Anorexia Nervosa is a very serious condition which can prove fatal.

Bulimia Nervosa:

Unlike anorexia the bulimia sufferer is normally within a normal body range but again will tend to have a distorted perception of body or size. The condition is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by 'remedies' such as self-induced vomiting or taking laxatives.

A number of possible explanations for these disorders have been advanced:

Sociocultural Factors:

It is perhaps no surprise that these conditions are most prevalent in developed western societies that have an abundance of food and yet attach huge value to the notion of being slim. One study (Davies & Furnham, 1986) found that a research sample included significantly more people who wanted to lose weight than actually saw themselves as overweight. This suggests cultural pressure to achieve a certain body.

Psychological Factors:

Eating disorders tend to occur in young women. This may coincide with a loss of self-esteem which is often experienced at the same time of life. There are, of course, different perspectives within the psychology field:

Behaviourist - suggesting that slimming becomes a habit
Psychoanalytical - suggesting that anorexia may be an attempt to suppress sexual impulses
Humanistic - suggesting the conditions are connected to family relationships

Family Factors:

Eating disorders could be connected to family factors such as a history of obesity or an obsession with eating and weight.

Biological Factors:

Recent research focusing on the hypothalamus has suggested a biochemical explanation for these eating disorders. However it is difficult to differentiate between cause and effect.

Irrespective of the cause signs of either Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa must be taken very seriously as the effect on the sufferer and their family can be devastating. Consider for example, the famous case of the Carter family who ended up launching an historic legal battle to compel their anorexic daughter Vicki to eat.

What then of the coaching manager who uncovers these signs when coaching around day to day issues such as workload management or time keeping? My recommendation would be to focus on the main principles of coaching. Ask questions designed to raise awareness, generate responsibility and build trust then listen carefully and attentively to the responses. This is highly unlikely to make things worse and may actually do quite a lot of good.

After that, it's a question of referring the coachee to the relevant professional. With this in mind, my recommendation is that coaching managers familiarise themselves with their organization's welfare procedure.

How to Overcome Bulimia by Eliminating Subconscious Blockages

2008-08-08T04:51:00.000-07:00

I know you are thinking right now "Why do I have bulimia? How can I overcome it? And why isn't anything I tried before stopping it and has failed to help?"

You understand that bulimia is slowly killing you and ruining your life but you can't stop. It seems like something inside you is stronger that your own will.

Do you want to know what this "something else" is?

Well! It is another part of your brain called the subconscious mind that not only is responsible for your feelings, emotions and non-conscious actions that keep you alive, but it can also work against your own free will.

It is the part of the mind that is responsible for our actions when we do something but we don't know why we did it. Like when we get angry and explode, then we don't know why we did it (when there is no conscious explanation for it).

The subconscious mind operates on feelings and senses. And very often people can't even describe it logically. They just do what the subconscious mind wants.

So, the reason you have bulimia lies in your subconscious mind and to overcome bulimia you need to get rid off your subconscious blockages that always keep you being a bulimic against you will.

This is a major reason why conventional therapy doesn't work in most cases, because they try to affect the conscious mind of the person only. They don't change a person's subconscious. That's why when bulimics come back home from the clinic or doctor's room they continue their distractive eating behavior unabated again and again.

One of the common subconscious blockages bulimics have is the "broken eye syndrome". This is when bulimics see themselves fatter then they are and see their entire environment and other people in a different (wrong) way.

So, in order to overcome bulimia you should really find a way to change your subconscious mind and overcome these subconscious blockages that cause your bulimia.

Without working on your subconscious you will always come back to the same spot when you first started your bulimia and recovery becomes impossible, it is a never ending circle.

To conclude, if you have been unable to stop you bulimia it more that likely is a result of a subconscious emotional blockage. For example, the most common blockage is the "broken eye syndrome".

If you have a subconscious emotional blockage preventing you from stopping the bulimia, you are unlikely to realize it. An example of this is a bulimic who doesn't realize that they have "broken eye syndrome" - they see in a mirror a different picture from everyone else: basically their own mind is lying to them.

You are almost certainly not consciously aware of what the blockage is. For example again the "broken eye syndrome" - people are not aware of it, they truly believe that what they see in a mirror is the truth.

Subconscious self-beliefs cannot be identified and changed at the rational thinking level. For example, the "broken eye syndrome" gets worse and worse the longer you have bulimia, because the bulimic brain is constantly working on false information.

Causes Of Anorexia

2008-08-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious condition where we can literally starve ourselves to death, thinking we're fat. The disorder can stem from physical, psychological and, sadly, intentional causes. In this article, we'll consider the different causes of anorexia, and discuss symptoms and treatment needs.

Physical Causes Of Anorexia: Studies are underway to determine if there is a genetic predisposition for anorexia, but short of that, any of a number of illnesses can actually cause a person to be anorexic. These include arthritis, colitis, kidney failure and cirrhosis of the liver. Also, advanced alcoholism and drug addiction can result in anorexia. If our diet is deficient in certain nutrients, like vitamins A, B3, or B8 we could develop anorexia as a deficiency symptom. Anorexia can be a medical drug side effect, too, so see your doctor. The cool thing about anorexia that had a physical cause is, once the physical condition is cleared up, the anorexia usually goes away, too.

Psychological Causes Of Anorexia: More difficult to treat are the psychological causes stress, depression and anxiety. In fact, anorexia nervosa is a severe anxiety over body weight. We actually see ourselves as being fat, even as we look in a mirror and see a body that's wasting away from hunger, with bones sticking out. It's this body image that's at the root of anorexia. Even when medical treatment restores a normal body weight, until the body image is corrected, the person will just lose it all again.

Intentional Causes Of Anorexia: This is probably the saddest part of the anorexia story. Some people actually cause themselves to become anorexic, accidentally, through fad diets or worse, intentionally, through a sick idea that the "anorexic look" is sexy. There are websites and companies making money by promoting self-starvation as a weight management tool. This creates the mindset of the negative body image which is at the heart of the disorder. I'm all for web freedom, but I think websites promoting anorexia are as bad as those promoting kiddy porn, and for the same reason...they're destroying lives.

Anorexia Symptoms And Treatment: Because the heart of anorexia is an irrational belief you're fat, most people are unlikely to look in the mirror and say, "I'd better get to the doctor." Since denial is a big part of the illness, the best way to see if you or a loved one needs to see a doctor is to take a self-test like this signs of anorexia nervosa quiz
. Anorexia is never a self-treatment issue. You must see a doctor, get a proper diagnosis and get professional treatment. Anorexics, left to their own devices, often die. Often, treatment includes medical tests to determine the cause, food supplements to restore body weight, antidepressants or anxiety medicine and psychological therapy to get at the body image issue. How you see yourself is usually the key to the whole thing.

The cause of anorexia can be as simple as a vitamin deficiency or as complex as the human self-image. Often, those causes are physical, psychological and even intentional in nature. Whatever started it, anorexia is a serious condition that can be deadly if not treated. With proper treatment, though, recovery is very likely. If you suspect you or a loved one suffers from anorexia, get it checked by a doctor as soon as possible, so recovery can begin.

Anorexia - Cured Anorexics Eat Cream Donuts Again

2008-08-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

What type of person is more prone to having an eating disorder, in a sense you could say everyone. We have those who stuff their face with cream donuts and Chinese takeaways, and those who at the sheer sight of these yummies would throw a wobbler. Because we as individuals differ in personality shape and form so does our taste in food also. Some people like to eat it and others don't. Let us focus on those who abstain. Anorexia is an eating disorder where a starvation course is purposely sanctioned by a sufferer. Anorexia usually starts in young people around puberty, primarily in teenage girls and men too.

Fear of putting on weight has anorexics live under threat from them self of ever living a healthy life or ever having a life to live. Extreme weight loss is the main display of an anorexic person. Weight loss is normally 15% under the person`s average body weight. This is an uncontrollable self inflicted condition. Anorexia has at times had people believe they are fat, so fat they died. Anorexics tend to take on excessive exercise, consume laxatives in great numbers and are inclined to avoid meals; they have an intense fear of being overweight.

Odd eating habits of the anorexic, like refusing to eat, not eating in front of people are the tell tale signs. An anorexic will avoid eating food but can handle it. It is known for them to cook meals for others. Help and support is urgently needed for the patient. Parents of a teen anorexic may struggle to get their child to see sense. The child may revolt and deny what they do or become angry. You must be patient and persuade them to talk to the doctor. Never push unless you want a major crisis on your hands with devastating consequences.

Anorexia has many symptoms, however not all may be experienced by one individual. Body weight that is inconsistent with age is one symptom; others are their build and height, absence of three following menstrual flows can be a sign, refusing to eat while others are present, weakness, fatigue , delicate skin , out of breath , compulsive calorie checking and consumption.

Health risks involved with this eating disorder are shrinking of the bones, mineral loss, low body temperature and irregular heartbeat. Anorexia is often confused with bulima, there is a great difference between the two so therefore the importance for your GP to check you over and determine which one is present to prescribe the appropriate medication/therapy.

Bulimia has a person eat large amounts of food and throw up. Anorexics do not eat big portions but vomit afterwards to empty the content of their stomach. Seek medical help sooner than later. Most common treatment for anorexia is counselling and consultations on dietary needs. Treatments will vary due to severity and the in-depth of the condition.

People who were once a shell of them self are now leading a normal life thanks to medical experts. We say normal because it is not normal not to eat. Counsellors are compassionate in understanding and help anorexics see this. Treatment procedures for this eating disorder can take time; it is not a condition which results in an overnight cure. Psychological counselling is a powerful approach to helping those who suffer; it helps decipher between both eating disorder symptoms and the fundamental psychological and cultural forces that may well have given cause to its beginning,

Young girls have been known to follow suit of models that host skeletal frames, not recommended and must be avoided at all costs. Fashion houses are now housing the larger model to walk the catwalk due to the fact that "Skinny is Unhealthy". Just ask those who recovered and are now one of those people who love licking the cream of the doughnut..