Poll: Eating Problem.

[Riobux]

I have a problem with someone I'm very close to.

A girl who I've fallen for and loved for the past three or four months at least may be developing an eating disorder and it scares the hell out of me. The disturbing part is no matter what I say, she can't see that she may be destroying herself. She has decided that she is so fat and her metabolism is so messed up that she has decided that starving herself is the way to go to lose weight to a correct size. For instance, I counted roughly seven meals in a week (the routine is straight from her mouth):

In one week:
Friday: A salad with Italian dressing with milk.
Saturday: Nothing.
Sunday: Vegetarian burger with salad with water.
Monday: Unsalted fries.
Tuesday: Nothing (cup of coffee).
Wednesday: Half of an alfredo dish and small plate of salad (with vinegar), a bread stick and berry lemonade with tonic water.
Thursday: Salad (Italian dressing), two bread-sticks and a slice of desert pizza with water. Small meal at a banquet.
Today: Two chocolate-chip scones with water.

She feels she actually ate too much that week. The reason she is this way is partly because, yes, she is overweight (230 pounds, 5 foot 9 inches), but I'm concerned because she is crash dieting; which may lead to a worse metabolism since she is essentially starving her body and then eating foods that could be considered fattening (despite not eating for a few days, she's happy to then eat foods like ice-cream because it makes her feel happy). I'm also afraid that even if she does lose the weight, she'll have the mentality of an anorexic which will mean she'll lose more weight.

Any comments would really be appreciated. I'll likely end up linking this topic to her later so she'll be able to view it herself.

 

[delet]

Sounds like the classic signs of Anorexia... Get her to a doctor?

 

[Julianking93]

Sounds like the starting signs of anorexia.

I'd say take her to a doctor

 

[Marter]

Well, first off, she is harming herself. You need to try and convince her that she needs to continue eating normally.

The best way to lose some weight is to stop eating the really fattening food, as well as beginning an exercise routine. Start off slow though, or she may end up injuring herself, and then while hurt, gain more weight.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Good Lord... Honestly, that is completely terrible and instead of asking the internet, see a doctor. Probably the reason why she feels as if she is eating too much is because her metabolism has already come to a screeching halt... Her body is taking in everything she eats instead of burning it off. But seriously, that's about as far as I know and it's just a guess. I could be completely wrong, but a doctor needs to be involved. Not a professor.[footnote]I am not actually a professor...[/footnote]

 

[Cabisco]

Get her to a doctor?

I'd say take her to a doctor

see a doctor.

I agree with these guys, go see a doctor now. In future I think people should learn that instead of asking the internet they should do straight to the trained professionals.

 

[manythings]

I agree with all the above she needs her some form of doctory. At the very least you need to get her to see that crash dieting causes the body to hold onto fats hard not get rid of them since the body goes into famine mode.

 

[NJ]

My advise:
Smoke the reefer in a enclosed room and somehow get her to spend a long time in there, munchies should kick in.


Legally advisable advise:
Take the poor thing to a doc and see if it's anorexia or something and get somethin' done.

 

[Riobux]

Get her to a doctor?

I'd say take her to a doctor

see a doctor.

I agree with these guys, go see a doctor now. In future I think people should learn that instead of asking the internet they should do straight to the trained professionals.

The reason why she hasn't seen a doctor is because she is poor and in America. She's so poor, she can't even afford to go to a doctor for non-emergency reasons. So the only thing I can do is try to convince her otherwise myself. To just make herself feel better and to stop having an anorexic mentality.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

Does she exercise? If not, starting to do so will do much to restore her health. Also, she should replace junk food with similar, but healthier foods. For example, replacing unsalted fries with baby carrots (if the taste of carrots alone is too bland, just use spinach dip. It would still be a lot healthier, and of course better tasting than eating unsalted fries), or ice cream with yogurt (which pretty much tastes like melted ice cream anyway).

Crash dieting will, as you've said, harm her metabolism, making her need to eat even less/exercise more. When the body is deprived of food to an extreme extent, it will adjust to the lack of food by lowering its metabolism. Furthermore, foods high in sugar signal the body to store the food as fat.

At least she's drinking mainly water and milk. Water is vital. Helps purge the body of toxins and increases metabolism.

 

[dududf]

Tell her she will look like this.

Spoiler: This is to protect the squeamish pussies out there.

Because she will later on.

 

[teutonicman]

Suggest exercise, that is quite a bit of weight for her height. But if you do, exercise with her as that will make her fell better about herself and it will be easier to maintain the routine. Start of with stretching then go for a walk say a 1-2km (I don't know you're age or physical habit so this is just a guess) and then stretch when finished the route (daily or at least every second day). Then move up to a brisk walk/jogging and/or extending distance/reducing time, again what ever you feel comfortable with/goals are.

 

[muckinscavitch]

I am by no means an expert, but she should definitely be eating more. Girls of the age of majority should generally be eating 1800-2000 calories per day minimum, spread out throughout the entire day.

What happens when you don't eat enough? Simply put: Your body eats itself. Muscles get broken down to create energy, hormones essential for normal function and growth can't get produced.

As an ironic side effect, by not eating much 2 things happen: When you do eat, your body just stores EVERYTHING as fat as quick as possible to try and save for when you fast. Also, you end up looking unhealthy and ugly. Oddly, eating the correct amount of meals and more calories, but just focusing on getting nutrients and simple sugars such as those found in fruits will make someone a healthier weight than someone who starves themselves.

Tips for what she should do:
1) Eat 5-6 small "meals" a day, rather than just 2-3 bigger ones. Eating smaller amounts more often keeps your metabolism very high, prevents hunger from setting in (and thus prevents grabbing for some chips and all the bad stuff), and also prevents stomach stretching (if the stomach stretches, it will take more food in there to actually feel full and thus you eat more, by eating lots of small meals, you stomach will eventually decrease in size and those small meals will make you feel very full.

2) ALWAYS eat breakfast, and never eat within 1-2 hours before going to bed(only drink water). Eating breakfast kick starts your metabolism at the beginning of the day. Skipping breakfast can lead to your body trying to store more body fat from other meals in the day (which she obviously doesn't want)

3) She doesn't seem to mind fruits and vegetables, which is good. If she does go for 5-6 meals a day, breakfast should contain a high fibre meal, packed full of nutrients. The first 'snack' of the day should contain a bunch of colourful fruits. Lunch should contain proteins and greens. Second 'snack' could be vegetables, fruits. Supper could have a little of everything. And then a later night snack of really anything but simple sugars from fruits is best.

4) Best tip: See a nutritionist. A doctor is alright, but will probably not be as helpful as a good solid nutritionist. They could sit down, discuss meal plans similar to above. Set up goals and plans.

5) Second best tip: No matter what, be there to support her the whole way through. Make comments as to how she is doing that are encouraging such as "wow, you look incredible today", comment on skin quality (which will surely improve with good nutrition), anything to give her that extra boost.

EDIT: You'll notice I never mentioned working out or anything. It is encouraged to do cardio and weight training. By building muscle mass, you will burn more calories just sitting around doing nothing helping your cause. I personally get up in the morning, drink a little bit of water, then do a bit of weight training. This removes some of the glucose and stored energy in my muscles and blood. I then do my cardio for 20-30 minutes. By doing the weight training first, my cardio is more effective at actually burning fat. At the very least, I would recommend a bit of work on the arms, legs and core for the strength training, and jogging at a pace where you can barely talk/not talk for 30 mins. By doing all the above, she would probably see changes within a couple of weeks. The changes will slow down as your body adjusts, but if you keep at it, you will get there.

 

[cheese_wizington]

Yeah you need to try and drag her to a professional.

 

[Cabisco]

Tell her she will look like this.


Because she will later on.

Might I suggest you spoiler that image? I personally found it abit eww so undoubtedly someone will find it offensive and report you etc etc. Because you know, people like to report anything

But I will agree with you, surely pictures of things like that will should kick start the need for healthy eating.

 

[NJ]

Tell her she will look like this.

Spoiler: Damn, them thighs!

Because she will later on.

I'd tap that.

 

[dududf]

Tell her she will look like this.


Because she will later on.

Might I suggest you spoiler that image? I personally found it abit eww so undoubtedly someone will find it offensive and report you etc etc. Because you know, people like to report anything

But I will agree with you, surely pictures of things like that will should kick start the need for healthy eating.

Scare the shit out of em. Fear is a good motivator.

And sure, I'll do that.

 

[zehydra]

She's developing anorexia nervosa. Yes, there is a problem.

 

[Cabisco]

Tell her she will look like this.


Because she will later on.

Might I suggest you spoiler that image? I personally found it abit eww so undoubtedly someone will find it offensive and report you etc etc. Because you know, people like to report anything

But I will agree with you, surely pictures of things like that will should kick start the need for healthy eating.

Scare the shit out of em. Fear is a good motivator.

And sure, I'll do that.

haha that it would, and I like what you put as the pre spoiler check

 

[dududf]

Tell her she will look like this.

Spoiler: Damn, them thighs!

Because she will later on.

I'd tap that.

Yeah I'd tap that as well.

With a stun stick.