fasting vs anorexia?

[Thick]

Pardon my ignorance, but I really want to know you guys' opinions on fasting. Is it an eating disorder? Is it an eating disorder in some people? If so, what are the differences between healthy fasting and ED fasting?

[Jenifae]

That's a great question!

I am a recovering anorexic/bulemic and fasting can be unhealthy if I'm trying to control my ED aka Food. Ha!

So, I personally do not do too much fasting.........GS's yes for a day or two. BUt, just eating normally and fresh is my best solution right now. Maybe, when I am in a better emotional space it would be okay. But, we all know ourselves and why or why not we are doing something.

[rftm0115]

Easy differentiation. A person who is anorexic or has any other eating disorder is not pro-body whether they fast or not. It's mostly about the image with little or no concern towards health.

They can rationalize that it's for health, but they know the prevailing reason for why they're fasting or on any other kind of cleansing regime or way of eating. If and when they're on something that feels and looks dangerous but are losing weight, they will continue.

Sure. There are lots of people who are on diets at one time or another in this country, but they're also concerned about their health and what the diet will do to their body in the long run. Or else there wouldn't be milk ads and about how milk is good for the bones, etc.... ;)

[Irish_Vegan_Girl]

Pardon my ignorance, but I really want to know you guys' opinions on fasting. Is it an eating disorder? Is it an eating disorder in some people? If so, what are the differences between healthy fasting and ED fasting?

You have labeled your post; "fasting vs. Anorexia" - let me give you my opinion on it and what I believe to be fact-based.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder. Sufferers of this ED almost always suffer from BDD (Body dysmorphia disorder), meaning that no matter how thin they get, they usually will look in the mirror seeing themselves twice as big, or just generally "fat" and not thin enough. In general, it has been found that anorexia has little to do with the food itself. Although, this appears to be the issue, the starving/restricted eating is only a symptom of what is going on inside them. It is a way out, a release of the pain, a way of dealing with trauma, or awful problems. There are also so many different forms of ED's mistaken for anorexia nervosa. I do not want to elaborate on this too much, but I hope you understand what I'm saying?

Fasting, when done carefully and conciously can be very healthy. Fasting because you think you are fat is probably not the best idea. Fasting for improved health is a good idea. Thinking it out and planning it. Someone with an ED might try to hide the fasting because they're afraid they will be stopped. This is not the the same as someone not telling their friends because they know they will not understand healthy fasting.

Good luck, I hope I helped shed some light on the subject. =)

-Alva-

[Aleesha Sattva]

I really want to know you guys' opinions on fasting. Is it an eating disorder? Is it an eating disorder in some people?

No... fasting is not an eating disorder.

Yes... someone with an eating disorder may choose to fast (although I wouldn't advise it).

I can only speak for myself but... fasting for me is about health and spirituality. I gain such a great sense of peace-filled bliss when I'm fasting. I feel so different inside my body. Do I struggle to fast - often. I seldom find it easy to do. I find it easy to fast until about 4pm and then it gets tougher to continue... but it also brings me a sense of great accomplishment when I am able to breathe through it.

That said, at times fasting is so easy and just flows... it changes all the time.

If you have an eating disorder or you are fasting simply for weight release... I don't recommend you do an unsupervised fast.

[Thick]

What is the advantage of water fasting over juice fasting? Is there an advantage other than just detoxing and losing faster?
More self deprivation and more control?

[Aleesha Sattva]

water fasting is much harder to do. it's also waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more important that you do not cheat at all, and it's way more important how you break a water fast.

a juice fast is much more forgiving. so if you have a hard time 'keeping to a fast' then juice fasting is much better.

and i don't think it's really about which is better for you, which you get more benefits from... it's more about a personal choice. some people just love to water fast... i'm not one of those people. i prefer to taste... and so juice fasting works better for me... i get lots of yummy juices to satisfy my palette.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i want to add: if you find breaking a fast difficult (you find you eat more than you should and you eat more complex foods than you should)... then water fasting is not a good idea for you.

[zozodarko]

I am starting a juice fast this Sunday. Is weight loss another benefit of juice fasting? Or does your body just pack on weight because you are getting pure vitamins and mineral?

[Aleesha Sattva]

some people release weight... others do not. but weight gain is not part of it :)