The need to be thin

[Guest Chris546]

I have the need to be thin and slender. I have never been diagnosed with an eating disorder. I have lost 25 pounds which really isn't that much and would like to loose another 15 to be at my target weight which I will still be in normal range for bmi.

Over the past 2 years I have developed digestion problems and have been hospitalized twice for them. The First time I spent 8 days in the hospital due to malnutrition and dehydration. The second time I was admitted after spending the day laid out on the bathroom floor for the day and ended up spending 3 days in the hospital for the same thing. When they admit me to the hospital the put me on a liquid diet and then a surgical soft for the last day. Of course the have an IV bag the entire time feeding me nutrients and fluids. I DO NOT want to go back in again for this. These hospital stays have huge cost to them.

I have seen many GI's but they say everything is normal and give me medication for nausea and to slow down my digestive tract so that my food passes slower and I can absorb more nutrients from the food, but you need food to absorb nutrients from.

I have been drinking plenty of liquids over the past few days but have not ate anything. I don't feel hungry and tonight tried to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich which I ate 1/2 of. I know this isn't good for any person but like I said I don't even feel hungry. I can feel the fatigue coming on throughout the day today and low abdominal pain. Basically the same symptoms that I ended up in the hospital the past to times.

I really don't know what to do anymore about it. My cupboards are full of food and all I can do is open them and look at it, nothing seems even appealing.

[Charlize]

ClarissaJo, it sounds like you have an eating disorder that may require the help of a doctor. I would make an appointment and see one before you need to be hospitalized again. In the meantime perhaps some yogurt might slide down without much difficulty.

Do please get some professional help what you describe can cause you more damage while a slow diet can be healthier and more effective in making your weight goal. Thin and sick is not attractive. Take care of yourself.

Lots of hugs,

Charlize

[Guest Chris546]

To clarify I lost the 25# a little over a year. I really am not trying to loose weight fast and trying to stay healthy. Though I am 5# closer to my target know.

[Guest GinaInside]

The key to staying slender is eating the right kinds of foods, in small amounts. One of the biggest mistakes civilization ever made, was deciding to have 3 meals a day; for the sake of time, yes it makes sense. But, the body is really set up to digest small quantities of foods throughout the day, not 3 heavy meals. I have as a meal, about 1/2 of what most people eat for a sit-down meal, and eat small amounts when I am hungry.

Another thing, is retraining yourself to eat the right kinds of foods. This is hard for people who grew up on junk food. Even harder is to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean protein meats, and/or fish. Going totally vegan will not help you nutritionally, or otherwise (that one is loaded...).

What people are really dealing with in any kind of life change, especially eating, is that you are dealing with your subconscious. And, until you deal with that, you cannot make solid progress, which is why dieters relapse, and regain weight. Please do not think that by not eating you are doing your body any good, beyond the occasional 1 day fast, or colon clense. You must eat something nutritious, or your body will extract stored nutrients form your muscles first, then your vital organs.

[Guest Chris546]

This is why I really started this thread because I am at wits end when my stomach shuts down. I do agree that there might be something going on in the "subconscious." <--- (I want to be thin)

I actually eat very healthy. I cook my own foods and it would be a very rare occasion that I eat something that is out of a box and into the microwave or eat out. I avoid all dairy due to that I can not eat any dairy without getting sick for sure. I eat high fiber and protein diet generally. When I get into these lows I am suppose to move to a low fiber diet until it passes. This is generally a liquid low fiber. I have lost 5# in three days but if I can kick my stomach back into eating I will gain that back, most likely once I go high fiber again.

I hope I can eat tomorrow, its not like I don't want to eat but I do not want to empty the nutrients I have ingested in liquid form.

[Guest Kayla Grace]

I'm no expert on eating disorders, but intermiddant fasting has worked for me. if you need to gain weight, simply eat more. I know that's harder said then done, but the stomache is a muscle just like your chest or biceps; it needs work to expand.

Take care of yourself hun

God Bless

Kayla <3

[Guest Carla_Davis]

Hi ClarissaJo,

I am sorry that you are struggling.

Your desire to be thin and slender may be related to your desire to be an attractive woman.

This link may be helpful for you.

Eating Disorders in LGBT (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender) Populations

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/ResourceHandouts/LGBTQ.pdf

Also, from what you describe, you seem to have an eating disorder.

I would highly recommend that you see a Therapist, to help you determine your underlying cause to be thin and slender, being that your medical doctors have told you everything is “Normal”.

You may want to take this free Confidential Sceening for Eating Disorders by NEDA (National Eating Disorder Assosiation).

You can list your gender as male, female, transgender, or other.

NEDA Free, Confidential Screening

http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/NEDA

Welcome to NEDA’s free and confidential screening for eating disorders. This quiz is designed to help you determine if it’s time to seek professional help. At the end you will have a chance to speak with a volunteer or visit our website for more information. This screening is NOT an official diagnosis of an eating disorder. Please contact a treatment professional to receive an official diagnosis.

Completing these screenings will help you determine if your recent thoughts or behaviors may be associated with a common, treatable mental health issue.

Finally, you seem to be able to drink plenty of liquids, but you are not hungry to eat solid foods.

You may want to speak to your doctor about supplementing your liquid diet with “Ensure” Nutrition Shakes so that you do not get malnourished and dehydrated again.

Ensure Products

http://ensure.com/products

Finally, you may want to read this previous thread on Lauras, I feel that you can relate well to this.

talking to an ED therapist about my sexuality?

http://forum.lauras-playground.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65268

I hope this information is of some help to you

I wish you Success and Happiness in your Journey

Hugs,

Carla

[Guest GinaInside]

I understand the desire to be thin, since I was a child, I wanted The Hourglass figure, and I almost starved myself to get it. I learned about nutrition the hard way. I finally got it after living on Slimfast for 3 months, but it depleted my body otherwise. And, when I had to go to the doctor for something unrelated, he looked at my wieghtloss, and thought I had HIV, and did a blood test; actually, I was relieved he thought that, because he was pretty straight, and I wasn't ready to say why I lost the weight.

If you are not physically hungry, you may have to force yourself to eat something, like a simple piece of fruit, if you half to, have 1/2 an apple, or a banana, or something. There is actually wisdom in the old "apple a day" saying. When you wake up in the morning, your body craves fruit, and fruit helps keep your blood sugar balanced. Whatever you do, please eat something.

Another thing, avoid things with synthetic, or artificial sweeteners, especially things like aspertame. If you can, use natural sweeteners like honey, agave nector, pure cane sugar, stevia, or such. If you can't, you are better off using regular sugar.

As for the subconscious issue, you can through simple self-hypnosis, train yourself to eat healthy. Willpower and affirmations are nice, but until you address your subconscious, you will be hard-pressed to make real progress.

[Guest Chris546]

I did eat a pear today but it didn't stay down. I did drink lots today though. I knew that I had to do these things but I guess I just wanted to perhaps talk myself out of it. I love Clarissa and will do anything to keep myself healthy, even if I have to talk myself into it. *kicking & screaming*

I live in an area where there are really no specialist to see unless you want to wait 3 months. I am going to be making some appt. in the morning for a few different specialists being that I will be traveling to the one clinic that has every doctor you could ever imagine (appt. set to see an endocrinologist). I didn't really want this to be a week long trip to the clinic again, hotels get expensive and this place isn't really close to where I reside. Well, I guess I will be packing a bag on this one again. *sigh*

Thanks for all the

Clarissa Jo

[Guest Chris546]

I came out and told my mother today as I stated already in another thread. After getting off the phone with her I had gotten so hungery I had a big pig out and ate like a hog at the trough. I am feeling very energized now and hope that I can go forward with a healthy diet. I do have and appt to see a nutritioist the same day I goto the endocrinologist. Thank you all for your support!

[Guest Kayla Grace]

I know a mother of a friend that's like this as well.

Remember, the stomach is a muscle just like every other part of your body; you need to stretch it in order for it to expand.

I'm sure that attempting to gain weight can be as difficult as attempting to lose weight. Just don't give up. You'll be amazed at how much you can over/under eat in one day when you don't keep track of it, so I suggest keeping a journal as well.

Lastly, you can't just go cold turkey on things like this. I'll admit that I do (and it's worked for me. Eating, drugs, and alcohol), but I don't suggest it for others. Go out of your comfort zone yes, but don't go too far out of it that you bring up the food you ate.

I definitely suggest meat and carbohydrates. You're going to see a nutritionist, so don't take my word for it. From my experience, carbohydrates make you crave more carbohydrates, while meats and fats will help control your hunger. Again, I'm no nutritionist so bring this up to her.

I wish you luck, and health

God Bless

Kayla <3

[JJ]

I needed to lose a couple of hundred pounds when I started transition and found that Livestrong. com had a free feature called MyPlate that worked best for me. It allows you to set goals to lose, maintain or gain weight and I found being accountable to myself made it far easier. Eating has deep psychological components for many of us and any tool which helps us control whatever the issue is can be invaluable.

I lost the 200 and have kept it off for 33 months now. The most important thing though is to just keep trying even when you least want to do so. You don't lose the war as long as you keep trying. And each time you succeed makes you stronger. For all that it is so cliche it is still absolutely true.

Johnny

[Guest MichelleKY]

Hello! I too have been struggling with my weight. It takes a great amount of motivation to exercise and discipline to not over eat and to eat healthy. It is a live long journey not a quick fix. But I would love so see a more attractive person in the mirror. I know you are not alone. I'm sure everyone struggles in some way with weight.

[Guest MichelleKY]

Hello! I too have been struggling with my weight. It takes a great amount of motivation to exercise and discipline to not over eat and to eat healthy. It is a live long journey not a quick fix. But I would love so see a more attractive person in the mirror. I know you are not alone. I'm sure everyone struggles in some way with weight.

Coming out was the hardest and best thing I ever did!

[Guest]

I also want to lose weight. However, I'm not interested in the BMI. I wan't to get down to where I look good to me, however I 'get' that 'good' is very subjective. I'm 5' 10" and the BMI says I should weigh 150lbs which seems unreasonably skinny. I'll be happy in the 180 to 200lb mark. But I would prefer for the weight to properly distributed.

[Guest Chris546]

My Dr. has stated that she doesn't want me to loose any more weight and that I look very healthy where I am at. I went to see a nutritionist twice now and I have to change my diet slightly so i don't become diabetic. I am borderline right now and my numbers have been rising so I will go forward with the new diet plan which actually is a better diet than currently on. Who nows maybe I will naturally loose another 5# which is just a fluctuation in water weight anyways. That would put me at 125-130# which I would feel comfortable at also. Over all I will see how the next fwe months go now on the new diet plan.

[Guest Kayla Grace]

the stomach is a muscle just like everything else in the way that you have to stretch it in order for it to grow. Maybe I'm just speculating, but for the fat to be re-distributed, I would think you have to have some spare flub (I read you were on HRT now). I know you've probably heard this a dozen times, but you have to eat over 10x your bodyweight in order to gain fat. I'm no nurtritionist, but if you want real life experience when it comes to losing fat and understanding generally how the mechanism works, I've been around that block a few times.

I hope I've helped, and luck be with you for HRT

God Bless

Kayla <3

[Guest danceintherain1]

Stay strong girl! I know it's hard, but it is definitely worth it!!