r/MadeMeSmile • u/CalorieMuncher • Aug 08 '21
Beating anorexia 2 year Transformation Small Success
3k
u/morgaina Aug 08 '21
Who tf tagged this small success, this is MIGHTY VICTORY
578
142
172
u/[deleted] Aug 08 '21 edited 12d ago
[deleted]
→ More replies58
u/TechSalesSoCal Aug 08 '21
I think you are correct. Also, this is typically never over and is an illness that he will need to face every day of his life. What an awesome turn around and anorexia takes lives and destroys people. So awesome to see his turn around, but it’s not over and never will be.
→ More replies→ More replies111
u/Cold_Final Aug 08 '21
Not to take away from the improved physical health and body transformation, but anorexia is a psychological disorder of anxiety and control.
Sometimes I see these pictures and think this is just a different manifestation of managing anxiety and exerting control.
That’s all to say, I hope his psychological health has improved as well.
46
u/knisterknister Aug 08 '21
Yup, (over-)exercising a lot is in fact a pretty common symptom of atypical anorexia, and particularly men are more prone to cover up an eating disorder through bodybuilding. I really hope this is not the case here, and I wish OP all the best, but for the general Redditor it’s good to know that restrictive type eating disorders don’t always look like emaciation. Also, body checking can be a sign of active eating disorder.
→ More replies20
u/WaterGruffalo Aug 08 '21
I was looking for someone else with experience to mention this. I don’t see this necessarily as “being cured”. More likely, shifted from one damaging coping mechanism to a less damaging coping mechanism. But the voices in your head that tell you you’re disgusting and should be ashamed at yourself don’t just disappear. They just change their marching orders. Hopefully this person has been able to quiet the voices down and find a controlled healthy outlet to channel them.
46
u/vinoprosim Aug 08 '21
Yup. Anorexia isn’t exactly “curable,” it’s just like a voice that follows you around like you have to learn to ignore and fight through. Even once you’re at a healthy weight. At least in my experience...
16
6
u/MongoAbides Aug 08 '21
I’m having a hard time seeing a problem with someone using that motivation to become significantly healthier which is going to term benefits, including their self image.
→ More replies22
u/731K Aug 08 '21
It’s a similar phenomenon to drugs addicts that get high on Jesus when they get clean imo.
Obviously whatever he’s doing now is much healthier. Hope it gets him past whatever blockers caused the anorexia in the first place and help him self actualize his broader goals.
→ More replies13
u/truthlife Aug 08 '21
We're all addicts. We all have our fixations and preferred methods of exerting control over our environment as a way to achieve pleasure and/or a sense of safety and security. Some methods are more socially acceptable but they're all in pursuit of that warm, fuzzy feeling.
→ More replies→ More replies3
u/St-Ambroise- Aug 08 '21
Well obviously his psychological health improved since he went from actively dying to not dying.
841
u/SACKETTSLAND Aug 08 '21
Congratulations
119
→ More replies32
834
u/746J Aug 08 '21
inspirational. also the flair is wrong on this post. this transformation is a huge fuckin success❗️ not only in appearance but in health and overall just how you feel. keep it up man👍🏼
188
u/nowuff Aug 08 '21
Beating anorexia is NOT easy
105
u/expertlurker12 Aug 08 '21
Anorexia has proven to be the most deadly psychiatric disorder. Beating it is a HUGE DEAL!
42
u/WaddlingHippos Aug 08 '21
Someone diagnosed with Anorexia in their 20s has 18 times the chance of dying compared to a healthy individual.
I have bipolar type 2 non psychotic. This means I have had severe depressive episodes throughout my life marked with random episodes of hypomania (less severe version of Mania) I am/was considered quite a risk to myself. Someone with Anorexia is still 3 times more likely to die than me.
If you're struggling with an eating disorder, or think you might be struggling with an eating disorder, please reach out to others for help. This is much more serious than most people realize.
36
u/ratajewie Aug 08 '21
People discount anorexia a lot because they say “just eat more”. It’s physically impossible to get your body to put more in it if it doesn’t want to. The only way is a feeding tube if you can’t get yourself to eat a sustainable amount. I was anorexic for a period of time due to separate mental health issues (emetophobia, panic disorder) and I felt like I would burst, literally, after a few bites. People who haven’t experienced it can never understand.
29
u/Human_Syrup_2469 Aug 08 '21
I would love to send this to my son who is fighting this disease right now. You give me hope. You are a warrior! So very proud of you!!!
→ More replies14
u/TropicalHairyBear Aug 08 '21
Wish the best for your son and your family.
Hope you all beat this terrible disease.
16
u/Human_Syrup_2469 Aug 08 '21
Thank you very much. He gets angry so easily but he has made baby steps. He at least is able to say he has this disease and knows he needs his family for support. I would love to have him get professional help but he rejects that at this time. I will continue to encourage it .
10
u/TropicalHairyBear Aug 08 '21
Hope he changes his mind.
I was bulimic, but got myself out of it without professional help, though went to therapy years after my recovery from bulimia to treat depression and anxiety.
Still have a lot of insecurities about my looks, not a healthy relationship with food that I tend to overeat or exercise, that I can overdo, but some days are better than others.
It's tough, but don't give up on him.
Stay well.
10
u/Human_Syrup_2469 Aug 08 '21
If I didn't know you sound like my son. He is bulimic also. I will keep you in my thoughts and know that I care for your well being.
You can PM me anytime . You take care ...
3
u/Melburn_City Aug 09 '21
you’re a beautiful person writing such comments and having someone so sincere and kind as a mother is a huge thing…
3
6
u/Human_Syrup_2469 Aug 08 '21
I will never give up.. you are kind to respond to a desperate mom. I love him .
10
u/TropicalHairyBear Aug 08 '21
My mum never knew I was bulimic, but I think it's an illness easier to hide than anorexia. It'd have destroyed her.
My godmother's daughter was anorexic. The lass nearly died and I know how desperate it was for her. Will never wish it to anyone.
I hope your soon gets to be more open to you about his struggles than I ever was with my mum. It's helpful in the recovery, but if he doesn't feel like opening up, it's fine too. Not an easy chat.
We appreciate you felt comfortable to share your hassle and that it becomes just a memory of a bad event, in the future.
Peace!
3
3
u/Thatswhatyouwant Aug 08 '21
Sorry to hear about your son, but it is treatable and there is hope! I'm sure you've been inundated with info before, but just in case you haven't seen these before I would recommend the CCI models for eating disorders (Google search). Great self help modules, and also great for you to read too. Not sure where you are based but the charity BEAT and support ED (UK based) are great. BEAT recently started up some new groups online for carers/parents.
Wishing you and your son all the best
→ More replies→ More replies18
u/Pmmenothing444 Aug 08 '21
I'm not even anorexic im just a little underweight and I can't fucking gain 10 pounds this dude is a legend
→ More replies
336
u/Intelligent-Cell-243 Aug 08 '21
Reminds me of my own road to fitness i was overweight and used to get bullied. Everyday felt like living in hell and i just wanted to end everything. And then i met gym and never looked back ever since. Gained confidence and self respect and now we here..still not ripped as you but on my way. Thanks for inspiring us king! So proud of you!!
→ More replies227
u/CalorieMuncher Aug 08 '21
Keep grinding king 💪
→ More replies36
u/Christian159260 Aug 08 '21
What was your weight before and after?
→ More replies108
u/CalorieMuncher Aug 08 '21
43kg/96lbs to 63kg/140lbs
30
u/Christian159260 Aug 08 '21
Damn I used to be 45 a few months ago but I've gained to 50, what height are you?
→ More replies43
u/CalorieMuncher Aug 08 '21
5’6”
29
u/Christian159260 Aug 08 '21
Same bro I'm 5'7, what foods do you find easiest to get down a lot of?
60
u/CalorieMuncher Aug 08 '21
Greek yoghurt, eggs when they’re creamy, cook everything in butter.
15
u/TheRealDandy Aug 08 '21
Obviously you spent some time at the gym do you have a routine? Cause your proportions are legit amazing.
→ More replies14
u/Rehxza Aug 08 '21
search up the Push Pull Legs (PPL) routine. it's a pretty decent routine, worked well for me so far.
9
u/really_isnt_me Aug 08 '21
You look absolutely amazing now! Hopefully your mental health is doing amazingly too.
You’re a real tough cookie to have kicked anorexia’s ass as you have!
265
u/[deleted] Aug 08 '21 edited 20d ago
[deleted]
87
u/TurbulentSetting2020 Aug 08 '21
Orthorexia. Just as debilitating.
→ More replies39
u/[deleted] Aug 08 '21
That’s what I was thinking. Trading anorexia for orthorexia. I used to compete in bodybuilding and if you’re not careful you can become insanely obsessive over being lean. Packing on muscle is great, but being lean is addicting. The dieting and exercising it takes to maintain low levels of body fat and that perfect physique become draining on your mental health and social life. I wish more people understood this but, sadly, no.
→ More replies63
u/Swallowedoxygen Aug 08 '21
This really needs to be higher in the comments.
The after photo looks much healthier, but that kind of physique takes incredibly disciplined eating to the point of monitoring everything that goes in your mouth. Beating an eating disorder like anorexia isn't just about gaining weight, it's about changing your relationships with food and the reflection in the mirror.
OP looks like they went from single-digit bodyfat to...single-digit bodyfat with much more muscle. That's not to belittle their progress, but their self-perception and relationship with food might not be much healthier right now. I hope they're in ongoing therapy with someone who is monitoring this.
18
u/Human_Syrup_2469 Aug 08 '21
How do help someone like this?? I worry everyday about my son who purges often to keep weight off or exercises constantly. Food is all he thinks about. Angry most of the time . I know he reads reddit and so it would be great if there was a place for men with this disorder could help each other.
→ More replies23
u/loalenatrice Aug 08 '21
if he’s purging he needs help ASAP. All eating disorders are serious and deadly, but bulimia has so many extra risks. As a bulimic myself, please encourage him to get help. I’ve had so many scares. It’s not worth it.
12
u/Human_Syrup_2469 Aug 08 '21
Thank you and he is and we are working on getting the help he needs. I wish you the best and please care for you because you are worth it.
5
u/loalenatrice Aug 08 '21
thank you ❤️❤️ working on stopping purging again after relapsing back in March. I was 3 months clean before, and I know I can do it again and stay clean for longer (:
→ More replies→ More replies3
u/stolethemorning Aug 09 '21
Exactly. It’s worrying because I know a lot of people with anorexia that were put on exercise bans (i.e. even going on walks, doing netball/sports, swimming) because it wouldn’t be safe physically or mentally for them to engage with that. The fact that OP has clearly done intense exercise from the get-go of recovery suggests to me that it wasn’t professionally monitored.
18
12
u/loalenatrice Aug 08 '21
Yeah. I think there’s a huge problem with ED sufferers, particularly anorexics just swapping anorexia for orthorexia. It’s dangerous because they become so obsessed with health that they don’t see it.
I remember seeing some thing on Snapchat about a girl who went from being 60lbs to spending as much time as she could in the gym. All throughout the documentary thing she was still obsessing over what she ate, how she looked, still bodychecking, etc. It’s just as unhealthy as anorexia.
→ More replies7
8
u/Ok-Introduction-244 Aug 08 '21
This
Everyone is missing the point here. They just switched from one obsessive disorder, to a more socially acceptable, but remarkably similar one
6
5
u/cheaperwormguy Aug 08 '21
Thank you for this! Eating disorder therapist here and it’s extremely common to swap anorexia for orthorexia. It’s an unfortunate reality that “clean eating” and working out is an acceptable form of an eating disorder. I hope OP is doing well, and I hope anyone else reading this has the courage to go to therapy. 10 years eating disorder free and now a therapist. It’s hard but possible.
→ More replies3
u/obviousthrowaway362 Aug 09 '21
Agreed. And while anorexia is downplayed some because thinner is better in our diet culture, but orthorexia is on a whole other level. People need to realize you need a healthy body and mind to be happy and healthy. People don’t see the problem and think “oh what kind of person complains about being healthy” the second someone with orthorexia wants help. As someone who has dealt with anorexia (still do to some extent) and had the pleasure of being in a mental hospital for a while, society is fucked up on congratulating weight loss and selling you supplements to “lose weight and be happy.” Health should be worked towards, not being thinner
537
u/heavenlessly Aug 08 '21
wow this is such wonderful progress! recovery is so tough in and of itself, and im sure the stigma of it being a "girl" disease made it that much tougher. i hope youre feeling happier and healthier ♡
211
u/MrDobble Aug 08 '21
So true. I'm a male and have been anorexic earlier in life. Very much looked over as a feminine disorder. I was lucky enough to srill receive help.
Fantastic to see OP do the same, well done!
21
u/MoeLesterOG Aug 08 '21
Do you have any advice to beat it for people who suffer from it now?!
58
u/MrDobble Aug 08 '21
Good question, nobodies ever asked me before. I suppose it would be to listen to those around you who love & care for you. And have faith that things will get better. My anorexia really affected my mum and she fought to get me help, even when I was resistant. She's passed away now but I'll always regret not listening to her more.
12
→ More replies4
14
u/expertlurker12 Aug 08 '21
I beat anorexia, although some struggles will never truly go away completely. Feel free to message me for specific advice, but here’s my biggest takeaway.
Go into treatment and stay in treatment as long as you can. Don’t drop down to a lesser level of care until your team makes you. GO SLOWLY! Work hard at every step and don’t rush even the slightest bit. You can get creative with your finances, but money won’t matter if you’re dead. Slow and steady wins the race.
3
u/TechSalesSoCal Aug 08 '21
Thank you for sharing and congrats on your progress and continue the fight.
8
u/idontknowaboutthat31 Aug 08 '21
I just feel so dumb, that I was willing to die for anorexia. I can’t even imagine how my family felt. I can’t even believe it was ME who was sick. I wasn’t myself.
I don’t think I’d recover without the gym, I’ve always been sporty and getting back to working out for the right reasons did help me. Small steps.
→ More replies11
u/Hammeredyou Aug 08 '21
My help was my grandmother screaming “mangia” (eat) from the age of 7 to, well today 17 years later
5
28
u/heavenlessly Aug 08 '21
im glad you were able to get the help you needed! hope youre doing well now!
14
→ More replies3
u/TechSalesSoCal Aug 08 '21
Congrats to you as well!!!!! Keep it up ans stay focused. You are so correct.
25
u/Over_Hospital959 Aug 08 '21
So inspirational ! This made my day . Congratulations by the way , What a man !
→ More replies12
260
140
u/Brown_bagheera Aug 08 '21
You didn't just beat anorexia, you fucking killed it!
52
→ More replies5
72
51
u/Dontfollahbackgirl Aug 08 '21
Do you have any recommendations about good ways to support people struggling with anorexia? Was there anything that was good to hear? Was there anything you often heard that wasn’t helpful?
90
u/heavenlessly Aug 08 '21
not op, but another former anorexic, hi! the most frustrating thing that my friends/family would tell me (with completely positive intentions, of course) was that "weight isnt everything" or "weight doesnt determine your beauty", etc. it's always said with kindness and to be reassuring, but when youre that deep in an eating disorder, it's no longer about weight. it's about control (and losing control, really) and rules and fear and numbers and coping. it's kind of like a workaholic— they work a ton to distract them from something or to feel structure and success, not because they just absolutely adore working haha. eating disorders often start as weight-focused, but it's really not about vanity deep down. if youre supporting someone through an ED, just do your best to understand that there's a separation between the disorder and physical looks. but honestly, even if you dont always know the "right" thing to say, intention is very important when it comes to supporting anyone dealing with anything. when i was battling my anorexia, the best thing was just feeling safe with someone, and if you make it clear that you want to help, that'll do so much for them 💗
35
u/FarrahKhan123 Aug 08 '21
Also, I wanna add that you should never ever compare them. Whether it's to someone else or to their past self. It's an illness that feeds off of comparison
17
u/heavenlessly Aug 08 '21
!!!! yes. comparison is HUGE within eating disorders and it can inspire dangerous competition. thats a good tip!
19
u/Dontfollahbackgirl Aug 08 '21
Thank you for sharing! Your insight was a big help. I have empathy but lack the experience and inside perspective. The more who can answer, the better!
5
u/IAtooDF Aug 08 '21
Hearing this enlightens my heart. My 14 yr old daughter is currently fighting An, and it seems as if I am the only person seeing it as a control issue. Everyone tries to stuff her with food while i am just trying to recognise her as her being and helping her understand it is not her fault. With that being so, she started eating again slowly and went from 35,4 kg to a whooping 36.3 kg (im so f ing proud!) But she still has a long road ahead. Thank you for sharing your insight, this truelly brings hope to this scary rollercoaster ride.
5
u/heavenlessly Aug 08 '21
hope is very important throughout any sort of addiction, don't lose that; for your daughter's sake and yours. my mom still feels so much guilt for not recognizing/helping me sooner and in case no one has told you, it is not anyone's fault. don't put that weight on you. i'm sure you're doing your best, and you seem like an encouraging, kind mom, and i'm sure your daughter is grateful for your support and hope. it's easy to overlook eating disorders as "diets" or just teen girls being teen girls and people tend to not see it on a deeper level than that. it's not just about eating and food, and i'm glad you know that. force feeding someone is really just a bandaid fix, but unraveling the layers and healing from inside is what's really important. sending you and your daughter my best ♡
6
u/IAtooDF Aug 08 '21
Thank you, im so giving you an internet far distance but feeling the love kind of hug hug
Again, THANK YOU
→ More replies3
u/[deleted] Aug 08 '21
Would also like to add that trying to force someone to eat might not be as helpful as people think (in some cases). I had anorexic tendencies when I first entered college and my parents kept trying to force me to eat, but it just made me resent them and think they were trying to sabotage my diet. I went ahead and ate, but then I’d just try to force myself to throw up and go exercise for hours. Just ended up replacing anorexia with a combination of bulimia and orthorexia.
7
u/discotiddies14 Aug 08 '21
also not op, but someone who has battled EDs for 10 years now. i wanted people to stop inviting me to things that were food-centered so badly but i didn’t know how to ask. it drew too much attention to my disorder and it gave ppl around me the opportunity to make snide comments about my eating habits. what really triggered me was people beating really persistent in pointing out that i wasn’t eating my meal, “you only took two bites you can’t be full.” or “i don’t think i’ve seen you eat much all day you have got to eat.” phrases like that or situations when i was called out in front of several people would then trigger anxiety. for me, that manifests physically as a stomach ache and then i really could not eat. it was embarrassing and, like others have mentioned, it put me in a place where i lost control.
that was a personal experience but i think the overall take away is be mindful of the things you do with them because it’s not always about the food, it’s about control or lack of control. i loved the supportive people who wanted to go to the beach with me for a couple hours, go hiking, hammock together, see a movie, just do something!!!
→ More replies→ More replies4
u/expertlurker12 Aug 08 '21
Don’t talk about weight/food/etc. Keep compliments away from appearance. Instead of “you look pretty today,” you could say, “you look happy today.” Encourage professional treatment.
→ More replies
17
u/nwhcr Aug 08 '21
Congrats friend. I've been in recovery for a decade, I know it's a hard thing to speak about as a guy. Things have come a long way but there is still a lot of misunderstanding about eating disorders, particularly with men. Keep it up, the battle will likely never fully be over as these diseases are incredibly potent and persistent, but as someone who has been at a higher and healthier weight for multiple years and has done tens of thousands of hours of therapeutic exploration and self acceptance work, I PROMISE you the further you get from that physically and mentally emaciated and hyper-controlled state, the better life gets.
3
49
11
u/-Brennus- Aug 08 '21
My dude looks like Captain America before and after the serum. Good work my guy.
→ More replies3
45
70
u/Couldbeurmom Aug 08 '21
We so often see and hear about weight loss success that it both contributes to and overshadows those struggling with eating disorders. Being underrepresented in this way makes it more difficult to take the first steps toward recovery, and find the emotional and physical support to do so. As a kid, I was naturally very thin. Both then, and later in life when EDNOS occurred in times of stress, people thought nothing of telling me, "You're so skinny, it makes me sick." Most were sick with envy and thought they were handing me some sort of compliment, and that didn't help. I was always tempted to respond that they were so fat it made ME sick, but of course I knew better. In both the media and entertainment, the kid who is bullied for their body image is more often overweight. Congratulations for persevering and overcoming all of these hurdles! I hope you'll continue to look and feel well going forward.
→ More replies6
u/penguinguy240 Aug 08 '21
Well said. Just because it's less common doesn't mean its any less difficult for the person to deal with.
10
u/Wild-Watch- Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21
This kind of thing amazes me. How the hell did you get so big so fast?? What's your routine? Your diet? I need to know it all
→ More replies
9
u/TheBuilderDrizzle497 Aug 08 '21
As an ex anorexia victim, I understand your struggles. It’s so hard to train your mind to force food down when you just feel like it’s the wrong thing to do. I weight lift and run now, but anorexia held me back and when it took me unlearning everything I was taught in order to overcome it. Years of suffering, agony, hiding from mirrors and purging… I’m never going back, fuck that shit fuck it man. Good job 💪💪💪
8
u/MrGaber Aug 08 '21
“Small success” you worked on this for TWO WHOLE YEARS!! THE DEDICATION!! THIS IS A MAJOR FUCKING SUCCESS.
32
u/LTTP2018 Aug 08 '21
gotta admit, you worry me a little little wee bit because this sorta seems like one extreme to another but, you look healthy so hopefully you also ARE healthy. Congrats!! Best wishes to you!!
→ More replies
7
7
5
5
6
u/CrochetMama13 Aug 08 '21
Good for you hunny. You look amazing and more importantly, super healthy. I hope you're happier. 🥰
15
7
4
u/alarocquee Aug 08 '21
Ive been within 10 pounds of 160 pounds for 5+ years and I’m 6’4. Help a skinny guy out, what do you eat?
10
u/CalorieMuncher Aug 08 '21
Eat Greek yoghurt after everything else, you can swallow it, it’s the chewing that’s hard.
→ More replies3
→ More replies5
15
u/yagirltired Aug 08 '21
i don’t know why this is called a small success! this is huge man! proud of you for coming so far.
12
u/FluffyDiscipline Aug 08 '21
2 years, it's a long road but you got this..
Well done you look so healthy now
20
5
4
4
u/familytyes Aug 08 '21
Way to go man! Not only did you beat a terrible disorder, but you got RIPPED! That in itself is an accomplishment!
5
10
14
3
3
3
3
3
u/thepittsburghchick Aug 08 '21
You look amazing. Job well done on getting healthy. I’m very proud of you. ❤️
3
u/SweetestBDog123 Aug 08 '21
You look fantastic now! Keep up the good work. I'm sure the battle is incredibly difficult but you're doing awesome!
3
3
3
3
u/Affectionate-Pea8706 Aug 08 '21
Hell yeah dude! Your transformation is amazing!! You look way healthier - many kudos to you!!
3
3
u/MemphisGalInTampa Aug 08 '21
What is great transformation!!! You’re cute,young,and proud of it. Salute 🥩🥂🍾🥇🏆
3
3
3
3
u/Accomplished-Task324 Aug 08 '21
Mate thats amazing. Well done 👏 my daughter is just coming out the other side of anorexia 🤞 so I have some sense of what you've been struggling with so to see this is just inspiring to me.
3
u/Monster_NotWar Aug 08 '21
From one anorexia sufferer to another: way to fucking kick it in the ass! It's one of the hardest things to beat, and I have the utmost respect for you. Keep rocking it.
3
3
3
u/BoredDao Aug 08 '21
Holy fuck, bro you are now the guy the girlfriend tells not to worry about, continue the good work my man, you are a hero
3
u/Last_Independence674 Aug 08 '21
Hey. Body wise you seem to have recovered. How about mentally, been through some of this as well. And happy that finally a dude comes out with this disease.
→ More replies
3
u/TheKonyInTheRye Aug 08 '21
Yeah bro you didn’t just beat anorexia. You held it against the wall and choked the life out of it. Good on you, brother!
3
u/wannabesurfer Aug 08 '21
Even without the disorder, a transformation like this is wild. The fact that you did this in addition to overcoming anorexia is almost unfathomable. You’re amazing and your dedication inspirational. Good work my man
3
u/The_POOTIS_Man2 Aug 09 '21
Post flair “Small success.” “Small.” Mfing this ain’t no small shit, you just escaped death’s grip.
9
12
u/Brennan_Shank Aug 08 '21
Hell yeah bro. I don't believe I have anorexia but I am 5'8 at 115 lbs at 27 yrs old. I've had a few workout journeys over the years where I got up to 125 then back down from not eating enough/maintaining the appetite. I suffer from depression and anxiety but I'm a fighter at heart. Any tips or advice that don't involve slamming supplement shakes w every meal?
→ More replies
6k
u/thiccboymexi Aug 08 '21
Dude you went from Christian bale in the machinist to Christian bale as fucking Batman, you fucking legend