1. The act of purging increases your metabolic rate.
a.  True
b.  False
2. What is the average age of U.S. bulimics?
a.  13
b.  17
c.  21
d.  25
3. On average, how many calories are consumed during a bulimic’s binge?
a.  1,000-1,500 calories
b.  1,500-3,000 calories
c.  3,000-5,000 calories
d.  5,000+ calories
4. What percentage of bulimics (in the U.S.) are female?
a.  50 percent
b.  75 percent
c.  90 percent
d.  99 percent
5. What percentage of calories consumed are typically absorbed by the bulimic’s body after a vomiting purge?
a.  25 percent
b.  50 percent
c.  75 percent
d.  100 percent
6. What percentage of calories consumed are typically absorbed by the bulimic’s body after using diuretics as a …read more

Eating disorders aren’t about the past or the future.
They are about the present.
They are about how much we weigh today, how little we ate today, how many calories we expended today. They aren’t about planning five or ten years down the road; no, they are part of the “here and now.”
Yet for most people who suffer from anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS or binge eating disorder, the future does come. And for many, a full-fledged battle with ana or mia subsides into a period of recovery. However, the scars and wounds inflicted during the months, years or even decades of an eating …read more

This week, I discussed how bulimics (and some anorexics and those with EDNOS who purge) are likely introducing all sorts of bacteria, germs and goodness knows what else into their throats every time they induce vomiting using objects such as their fingers, toothbrushes or spoon handles.
Sarah, a commenter, had this to say.  It really impressed me… especially the last bit about commodes:
I was just thinking about this. I have had quite the history with bulimia and while I have mostly overcome it, last week I had gastroenteritis. While sick I made myself throw up multiple times because it made me …read more

There are numerous reasons not to make ourselves vomit. We all know that. But lately I’ve been thinking about an aspect of bulimia, ED-NOS and anorexia induced purging that I’ve never thought about before: bacteria.
Let me preface this post by telling you that I’m not a germaphobe. Far from it. I don’t get too grossed out by a messy house. If a potato chip falls on the floor, I casually brush it off and happily eat it. But the more I thought about the subject I’m about to bring up, the more it gave me a case of the good …read more

I remember a former acquaintance telling me with glee that the average bulimic only purges around 25% of the calories he or she consumes. (The gal was studying to become a sports medicine therapist/specialist and she had heard this in class.)
But the figure strikes me as odd.
Considering that the average binge (and I’m talking a full-out binge, not an “I-ate-a-cookie” ana/mia-induced panic) can be anywhere from 1,000-10,000 calories (or more), that would mean many bulimics would be huge. And they’re not.
Certainly, it’s well-known in eating disorder circles that bulimics are usually of normal weight or slightly overweight (by medical standards …read more

Dear Readers:
I have asked several other people who have experience with eating disorders to write a little something for the Breaking the Mirror site.
The piece below is by Erika, the exceptional blogger and Lambchop Bijoux jewelry designer. Erika is “re-feeding” her body right now, a process that’s probably foreign to those who have never had an eating disorder, but one all-too-common for those who have.
For more of Erika’s insights, head to her blog, bubble wrapped.
Enjoy!
Angelique
*********************************** 

(Don’t) Feed Me!
by Erika

Perhaps it’s the way we internalize others’ words, actions, and our own beings, so that we create and live in …read more

There’s no bulimic in the world who will tell you that bingeing and purging is a safe activity.  Everyone seems to be well aware of the physical risks associated with such behavior.
But what about the fiscal problems that being bulimic bring?
From a purely economical standpoint, it can be extremely expensive to keep eating copious amounts of food only to eliminate them before they can even partially nourish the body.  I have no idea how much a typical binge must run with food prices soaring (milk is $3.28/gallon on a good day); I’m guessing it’s pretty bad.
I’m requesting that any bulimics …read more