Is this normal? :\

[Lovespentinthedark]

Umm...

I just don't want to eat anymore. I've been getting away with skipping lunch, just because my parents don't really pay attention during that time. I can skip breakfast, as long as I wake up before them. If I don't, they pester me about it until I eat. If I'm out with friends, I don't eat. I have not had an eating disorder in the past, and I don't have one now. I just want to lose weight, but the only way I can do that is if I don't eat anymore. I exercise, but it's not doing any good. I'm going to start running at least 1 1/2 miles every day. No matter the time, I'm going to do it. I weigh about [EDITED], and I feel really fat. I can't even look at anything below my face in the mirror without hating myself. I have made myself puke a few times, but that was only because I ate a lot and I didn't want that much food in my stomach. So, it's not a problem.

I'm writing this because I'm wondering if this is normal? I think it is but my best friend noticed that I wasn't eating and I was exercising a lot, and she said she is worried about me. I said that it's completely normal and I just want to lose weight, but she said that this is not normal.

Opinions?

I'm sorry if this sounds so stupid. All of you have so much more to do than to listen to my shit problems. I'm sorry:\

[sassygurlone]

It is normal for a teenage girl to want to lose weight, however it is not normal for someone to stop eating as the way to shed the pounds.

[Agoraphobia♥]

Nikki is right and I'm going to go a little more in depth with my answer. I know I'm younger than you but I've been where you were and actually I was even younger when I started with those feelings. I was 8, less than half your age, the point is, at some time in any girl's life they want to lose weight at least the majority of girls, not all, but the majority. And most of the time, they don't even need to. It's usually because of things society says and that is that if you are not a size zero you are fat but what we don't realize is that for some people, size zero is just not possible, and that's how it is, you can be healthy and trim without being a size zero, and you also need to remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so just to put that out there.

To answer your initial question which I did on your poll, the answer is no, this is not normal, wanting to lose weight is, but starving yourself or wanting to is not. It's a plain fact that this is a disorder, I can't diagnose you, only a doctor can, but if this isn't an eating disorder it could very well be leading you to one, although in my unprofessional opinion, it sounds as though you already have an eating disorder, do not take this as a diagnoses though. Your friend is right to be worried because when someone decides the only way to be thin is to stop eating completely it is unhealthy and shows that they are not thinking about it rationally which is not your fault, eating disorders are exactly that, a disorder. It's not only a physical thing, it's also very mental. I suggest you talk to a doctor and/or therapist because this can be very dangerous behaviour to get into, and the longer you let this continue, the more of a hold it will get on you and the harder it will be to stop and get better, I know, I've struggled for 7 years, nearly half of my life, and you need to nip it in the bud when you or someone else knows that this is a problem, because if you hold it out, it will do no good, I can promise you that.

[Iridescence]

more on what I'm talking about

While people often eat very little with the hope of losing unsightly body fat, they generally end up with the opposite result. After a while, your body will become so efficient at storing fat that you will stop seeing any fat loss results completely.

Your energy will spiral downwards, you’ll get headaches, your friends and family will notice how irritable you have become, and you will be miserable. Starving yourself is not sustainable. Eventually, when you realize that you’re not getting your desired results from eating very little, you’ll begin to eat normally again.

When you do begin eating food again, your body won’t know what to do with it. Your metabolism will have slowed down because of your previous fasting, and the food you do eat will very quickly turn to fat.

The body weight you lost while starving yourself will come back with a vengeance, and for many people, they’ll gain even more weight than they had to begin with. Does not eating make you lose weight? I hope you know now that this couldn’t be farther than the truth.

For fast, healthy fat loss, it’s best to implement a program of exercise and nutritional eating.

Now I'm not trying to sound like a bitch, and I'm not trying to force you to not lose weight, but not eating does not help you lose weight.
I'm not using you as an example, or anyone in general, but a whole bunch of people believe not eating is the key to losing weight. The fact is it doesn't help! I don't know who thought it helps but it simply doesn't. Please, for your own sake, continue eating. I'm not saying in unhealthy amounts, but simple amounts of food.
Say you're not look to eat a whole bunch of food for breakfast, a simple apple or granola bar is fine.
For lunch, you can have a simple sandwich or microwavable lunch.
Anything to help you continue to keep your metabolism going. Not eating slows down your metabolism.

I hope you found this helpful, but I don't want you getting too far into your plan, and then it backfiring.
Eating right and staying active is the perfect way to losing weight, not starving yourself.

[Aestai]

I'm sorry hun, but it's not normal to lose weight like that, although its 100% normal to want to lose weight. You need food, trust me on this, and not eating is just gonna cause you a whole ton of problems you don't want to have. Just eat healthy and excerise in a healthy way. I hope you're doing alright <3

[Reverie.]

Hey there,

Many people go through times of low confidence and self esteem. People want to loose weight a lot, it's normal. We want to be healthy and the right weight. However what you are describing DOES sound like an eating disorder. I know you said you don't see it as a problem, but purging and skipping means IS a problem, and it's not the way you should approach the issue of losing weight. If you're serious about weight loss, excersise and eat healthily, don't not eat all together. That will only make you ill, and if it turns into something serious, it can be very dangerous. Don't get yourself worried over how much you've eaten so much that you need to purge, because it doesn't help. Watch what you eat, and don't eat too much rubbish. IT's the beter way to do it, and I'd strongly advise you use that method instead of the one you are now. You're worth more than that.

Chin up,
Hollie.