To us, there is a fine line between being thin and being healthy. Do we sacrifice some thinness at the cost of keeping our health? Or do we sacrifice our health at the cost of being as thin as we'd like?
Studies show that one can be underweight, even emaciated, and still be healthy. CR Society is one such organisation which proves this. Their philosophy is that, to achieve long life, one must restrict their calories by up to 60%. CRers tend to become underweight after a very long period of time following the CR diet.
The problem which arises when one has an eating disorder is that we cannot always objectively select the right foods (which tend to be things like avocado, apples, and nuts; things too high calorie for many of us to consider, or too bland for others) because our eating disorder chooses for us. That, therein, is the dilemma we afford in pro ana. We seek to control our eating disorders, and yet are always required to make plans for the fact that it does control us.
Food plans help keep us objective, by keeping food out of our sight when choosing the healthiest foods per calorie (what is known as “nutrient dense”), as well as only keeping the right foods in the house whilst simultaneously making sure one eats the same thing every meal or day.
This is not a health guide, so I will not be posting what to eat before a work out or how to lose weight the fastest. I will however leave you with one more thing: don't listen to the media. Don't let anyone tell you something is wrong or unhealthy without evidence to back it up. Always do your own research.
Think for yourself.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Faust Paust: What Is Pro Ana?
Pro Ana is one of the choices that can be made when one has an eating disorder.
First, let's define all the choices one can make when one has an eating disorder. There are several options.
One is to pretend you're okay, and keep spiralling downward, getting sicker and sicker until the people around you notice and put you in hospital (or you die). This is generally the worst option. It leaves no hope for the sufferer.
Another option is recovery. This is arguably the best solution, and definitely the most brave of all three solutions. This usually includes biting the bullet and telling someone you have a problem, at the risk (or usually just your own fear) of them laughing at you. When one goes into recovery, one fights the fact that they have an eating disorder for the rest of their life.
The last option, and certainly the hardest, is pro ana. This is where we find our little community online, where you go and immerse yourself in the waves and waves of thinspo, the hundreds of websites about how to best lose weight/hide your exercise/restrict your food intake. When one finds their first pro ana site, it's just the start of the rabbit hole.
Pro ana is when one accepts that they have an eating disorder, and embraces it. One uses their mindset/control to their advantage and holds on tight for the ride.
This blog is about the philosophy of pro ana, and where we fit within the realm of the real. It's about our perspective on life, and the way we see things.
Are you ready to descend into the rabbit hole?
First, let's define all the choices one can make when one has an eating disorder. There are several options.
One is to pretend you're okay, and keep spiralling downward, getting sicker and sicker until the people around you notice and put you in hospital (or you die). This is generally the worst option. It leaves no hope for the sufferer.
Another option is recovery. This is arguably the best solution, and definitely the most brave of all three solutions. This usually includes biting the bullet and telling someone you have a problem, at the risk (or usually just your own fear) of them laughing at you. When one goes into recovery, one fights the fact that they have an eating disorder for the rest of their life.
The last option, and certainly the hardest, is pro ana. This is where we find our little community online, where you go and immerse yourself in the waves and waves of thinspo, the hundreds of websites about how to best lose weight/hide your exercise/restrict your food intake. When one finds their first pro ana site, it's just the start of the rabbit hole.
Pro ana is when one accepts that they have an eating disorder, and embraces it. One uses their mindset/control to their advantage and holds on tight for the ride.
This blog is about the philosophy of pro ana, and where we fit within the realm of the real. It's about our perspective on life, and the way we see things.
Are you ready to descend into the rabbit hole?
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