Just for the record, this should ALSO be considered as part of the "Pop Culture and the Media" boards.

We all know eating disorders (ED) are bad. We all know we'd love to yell at those with them about how stupid they are being. But honestly, I'm sure it's hard. As a dancer, I can see the "allure" (I know, sick word) of EDs, but really, starving yourself or puking it up is not worth it. About a month ago I started eating really healthy and since then, I've lost twenty pounds and am almost to the estimated (read the following with a hint of disdain) "healthy dancer weight" for my height and age. So it is possible to shed that unwanted fat without starving yourself. (It's hard for me to make sure I'm not crossing the line, though, so I'm being careful and employing an inordinate amount of paranoia. I don't want to be another statistic/MSNBC story.)

Also, starving yourself eliminates muscle first, not fat. That's not what anyone (especially a dancer) wants. Another thing, check your BMI (google "BMI calculator"). You may not be overweight at all, and its just what you see in the mirror at dance class, or the back of your bathroom door when you step out of the shower. I know I'm not technically overweight; I just need to boost my self-esteem like about 99.9% of the teen (not just girl!) population needs to.

So, think about ALL that.

If you're a dancer, gymnast, actor, etc and fear that you are struggling with an ED or self-esteem issues, check out Dance.net (DDN) and check out the "Advice: Health and Nutrition" pages. The "ballet" forums also have a crazy amount of stuff about it posted. I posted about EDs here because they're prohibited on DDN due to the audience they cater to, what with "triggering" and all. Also, I think many, MANY people, including myself, need to realize that everyone can be beautiful, whether a size four dancer (or chemist, physisist, soccer player, architect, writer, Young Republican, etc.) or a size ten (or whatever you are).

Everyone needs to stop and think about this. It is so important. I'm trying to slow down everyday and remember that my health is more important than my looks. Shedding my few excess "hip pounds" before I return to ballet in the fall semester is NOT worth my longterm health. Slow down, think it through, act how your body needs you to act. Or get help (refer to link at top of health, sexuality, and substance abuse page). Please.

Thanks for listening.

Greenleaf771

I know that I have been put in situations where I felt as if I "needed" to stop eating. I am not fat, but i am just not as "small" as other girls. I agree with the people who put that as dancers there are pressures to be skinny. They are sending the wrong messages. Some of my dance teachers will tell the students to lose weight or they won't be able to dance. No one should feel the urge to get an ED because they need to in order to do something, like dance. Dance is just an example that i can relate to this subject.

I used to have eating disorders. I was a compulsive eater one week, and I'd be anorexic the next. It's dangerous business, and it's easy to become a slave to them. I would get a little tinier, and then gain more weight, and it was almost blatantly obvious I had problems in addition to depression. And it's true, it takes your muscle first. And you get so weak, and you get so TIRED. And as much as I'd love to say otherwise, as much weight as you lose, it DOES NOT MATTER- as much as you wanna say "just 20 pounds should do it. just 20 pounds and I'll stop." that's a lie, because you'll look in the mirror an see the same girl you saw before. It is self projection, and it is not what other people see.

I knew I had problems, and that's the first thing you have to admit. It's a problem, and it has so many bad effects. It can cause heart attacks, and in some cases, death. It's a problem that can be fixed, but it is so hard to fix. But the best thing you can do if you have an eating disorder is to tell someone or GET HELP. I eat normally and healthy, and I am happy now. Eating habits and foods do affect your mood, but if you eat healthy and take steps to losing weight the right way, you'll be healthy and happy in no time, without having any risks or problems. :]

Well, to me, eating disorders make no sense. I mean,if your body tells you that you're sick, and you simply ignore it because you think beauty is more important than health, something is really, really wrong with you.
However, you've gotta consider that some people need to be thin to make a living. Models, singers, dancers, actors- they all need to have what society considers 'the perfect body', which happens to be really, really skinny. But let's face it. Almost nobody can achieve the perfect body without getting really sick, both physically and mentally. Our minds want our bodies to be healthy, but society pushes us to the point where our minds and bodies work against each other. The mind wants the body to be skinny, and the body wants the mind to wake up and realize that the body just isn't capable of doing what the mind wants it to. The balance is thrown off, and the mind and body can't support each other, so they both crumble. That's why I believe that people who have jobs where people pressure them to be thin should just ignore society and do what they need to do to stay healthy. And if society won't let them, thay should find another job. All the money in the world just isn't worth killing yourself.

Welcome To YN sweet0serenity.

On eating disorders, often, these girls, or boys, but mostly girls, do not see themselves for what they really are, they see them selves as fat girls. So they are delusional. And that is why people with eating disorders go into mental hospitals, because they have these delusions, and the hospitals can help them through it.

This is a good video about the delusion that the girls see

OMG!! I SO hear what you are saying I've felt the same way my whole life! I have a friend who was struggling with an eating disorder and I pulled her out of it. She's falling back into it and is mad at me for riding her on it but I know she'll be grateful in the end!

quote:

Originally posted by Greenleaf771:

We all know eating disorders (ED) are bad. We all know we'd love to yell at those with them about how stupid they are being. But honestly, I'm sure it's hard. As a dancer, I can see the "allure" (I know, sick word) of EDs, but really, starving yourself or puking it up is not worth it.


Greenleaf771

i know exactly what you mean about the "allure" as a dancer. At my studion the teachers are sending many mized signals by telling girls to loose a few pounds. and since nallerinas are already concious of their weight they seem to really take the comments/suggestions to heart. The percentages of girls with eating disordors around me seem to be growing larger and larger. I don't know if everyone has always been this skiinny, or if i am just more aware of it. But I too see why girls starve themselves. It is easy for other people to look form the outside of the bubble and tell these girls to 'eat a hamburger' or something. But they don't understand what is going on in the minds of these girls. I know many many girls with eating disodors, and living with somebody with one I have observed many similiar habbits. They don't see what you see. But I do believe that somehow society needs to take action in the impressions of these girls' minds.

This post is for people in general, but since I'm a dancer that's where my perspective is coming from. Dance.net is a community/advice for dancers of all types.

I'm not sure if that's what you were asking or not, but hope it helps.

Is this about eating disorders in general or dancers?