Do NOT starve yourself; this could be deadly!

Despite the lure of starving (or almost starving) yourself in order to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time, this is absolutely not a healthy move in the long run. Such behavior can lead to serious disorders such as Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa, which, although they are referred to as "eating disorders," are, in fact, emotional disorders. For more details on this topic, consult with your doctor or see the Related Link.

Other answers from WikiAnswers participants

• If you starve yourself, you will be very unhealthy and weak and probably grumpy. And as soon as you start eating again, you will gain back all of the weight -- and probably more. It's better to eat 5-6 healthy light meals a day. And try to stay away from carbonated beverages and other junk foods. It may take a while for you to lose weight; each person is different. But if you are eating healthily, you will lose weight. You will lose even more weight if you exercise along with eating a healthy diet.

• Do not starve yourself. When you skip a meal, your body stores more of the next one, and your metabolism also slows down -- even if just a little. If you make a habit out of starving yourself, you will become anorexic. This is a very unhealthy and unsafe way of trying to lose weight. You become hungry because your body needs food to keep it going. If you starve yourself, you will be killing your body (I'm not talking about skipping a meal here or there). It isn't healthy to not eat. There are many diets and exercise plans out there that you should try looking at. Anorexia is a very serious problem. Don't get yourself mixed up with it.

• I starved myself, lost 30 pounds and gained 35 pounds back. You cannot starve yourself without gaining it all back. I'm sorry to be harsh about it, but it's only because I have gone through so much pain and anger from starving myself.

  I could give you 100 good reasons not to starve yourself. Don't think that it won't happen to you, because it will. I thought that I could go on starving myself forever and never gain a pound. I rolled my eyes when anyone tried to warn me or anyone else. In the end, I got help and I'm much happier.

  Please don't starve yourselves. I came so close to almost killing myself because of everything that I went through -- the dieting and then the binging. You will deprive yourself too much and your body will go crazy and eat everything in your house. Please try to hang in there. I know it's hard, but please just try to get help.

• I think that starving yourself does help. But: you want to lose weight and look good, right? Well, how good will you feel when you are so hungry that the pain in your stomach is almost unbearable. In addition, your family feels helpless because they love you and do not want to see you throw your life away.

  Try the healthy method and eat lots of fruit, drink heaps of water, and stay away from the chocolate. Also, partying on the weekends does not help if you require the usual hangover cure of Macca's the next day. Try eating a Caesar salad; i did that, and it felt great. Just please don't starve. You are beautiful and anyone who doesn't see this has the problem -- not you!

• I agree with the previous answer. Starving seems like a quick and easy way to get the body of your dreams. It might work physically; inside, however, you are slowing -- and sometimes quickly -- just killing yourself. It's so scary! Why do it?
• What we all need is self-driven determination. I know it can be difficult to exercise. I hate saying No to pizza and a cold Pepsi, then choosing grapefruit and water instead. But instead of starvation, why not just eat healthy food, lose weight and exercise like every few days. Even healthy food alone does the trick; this way, your are still giving your body the nutrition and vitamins it needs and you still get to eat tasty food. A few things you can splurge on while eating healthily are slim fast shakes; grapefruit; a few Saltine crackers with cheese. And black coffee and tea are a great metabolism-booster.

  Lastly, water. It's so plain. But on those days where there's nothing to do, go jog or do sit-ups. After that, you will crave craving a tall glass of water and then get full on that. Trust me, it's so much healthier!

  I don't care if you weigh 200 pounds or if you have a big nose or the worst acne. You are all beautiful. Don't change for anybody; if they can't accept you for you, then they are just not accepting of themselves! You are truly beautiful. That's why God made you who you are. :)

• An alternative to actually starving yourself is only eating foods in their natural form. Some examples are: Breakfast -- oatmeal - as much as you want; Lunch -- Caesar salad from McDonald's; Dinner -- vegetables, raw or cooked with no oil.

  You can eat oatmeal anytime you want and as much as you want; it will fill you up and take away the hunger.

• What are you doing to yourselves? I've suffered from Anorexia for 11 years now (I was born into a family where such behavior and habits were normal). I subsisted on milk and sandwiches as a child. And now, at 17, I can hardly bring myself to have food touch my lips without hesitation.
• Starving yourself is not the answer: you're hurting your brain, your muscle mass, the strength of your bones, your vital organs. If you want to lose weight, and keep it off, wouldn't you want to do the best and healthiest thing for your body to ensure that you look slim and slender -- and stay that way too? My fear of gaining weight, and body fat in general, increases every day of my life. Not a second goes by without thinking about it... Is that what you really want?
• Starving yourself -- Anorexia, Bulimia -- these aren't ways of life, no matter how many pro-anorexics claim it to be; no matter how many nearly emaciated celebrities you see on TV. These women are sick. They are unhealthy, and in their future, they are looking for a slew of medical problems with the way they are dieting. Take advice from someone who has been to the very bottom, weighing 85 pounds at age 15, 5' 3", and still on a rocky recovery to a normal body weight. I know there is no hope for me of returning to a "regular diet," but please -- especially the women out there -- do not put yourselves in such a situation! Eat healthily, and exercise. Think positively of yourselves, and take time out every day to relieve stress. I promise you, the healthier way is a much, much better alternative than a slow and painful path to death....

• Do you people notice how you have to KEEP starving yourselves for those few days? It's because, despite the rapid weight loss, it comes back. The only way to get rid of that weight is to either become anorexic/bulimic, or eat healthily and do exercise. Take it from a person who's contemplated starving herself many times, who HAS tried it before. Sure, guess what, I did lose some weight. But my stomach also started to eat itself and then I got a stomach ulcer. When someone even HUGGED me, I got a horrible, stabbing pain in my upper and lower abdomen. And then I had to force myself to eat when I thought I wasn't hungry , because your body doesn't send you the impulses like it usually does. Now, I still eat when I'm not hungry and I ended up GAINING weight!

  I know it's hard. I hate exercising and getting sweaty, and I still wonder if I should just try skipping meals again. But I know what the consequences will be. I don't want to look like some skinny model; I just don't want a fat stomach. But by starving yourself, and then eating normally, over and over again; or by purging, or constantly starving yourself, you're going to ruin your body even though it'll get thin. I'd rather be a little overweight than lose my entire life to an eating disorder.

• I found out how to make your metabolism faster: cardio exercise. Anything that gets your heart a-pumping, such as biking, walking at a good pace, jogging, etc. Your metabolism skyrockets and you can eat more and not put on weight. Or you can EAT THE SAME AMOUNT AND LOSE WEIGHT!

  In addition, Pilates is excellent for losing weight. You can learn some of the exercises from their infomercials.

  And I don't have to tell you how good it feels to eat! I went on a crash diet. It sucked at first, and my stupid stomach wouldn't shut up! I was tired and hungry and I just wanted my favorite foods! But then I got used to it. I held my head higher every day. I was proud of myself for controlling my eating. I got better and better at it. And I got skinnier. You could see it in my face and everywhere else, although it wasn't THAT fast. But, one morning I woke up sick. I panicked. I vomited water. IT WAS AWFUL. But I KEPT GOING. I "stayed strong," and didn't "let myself go." Or so I told myself.

  I found ways of not letting people know that I wasn't eating, such as making the dinner while my mum was on her walk and telling her I had already eaten; or dirtying plates to make it look like I had eaten. You get the idea. I kept on and on, until I started to lose less weight than before, but I kept going.

  Then, I started to die. Seriously, die. My brain didn't work as well as it used to. I began to get weaker and weaker. I damaged my liver, my kidneys and my heart (emotionally as well as physically). I had been known for my quick wit and imagination. Then I was dying. I put my weight above EVERYTHING. Now I was dying. I couldn't be ME. I COULDN'T BE ME ANYMORE. I was sick and I needed help.

  I began to eat. At first, I couldn't. I vomited it. I wanted to eat good food (junk food) but I managed to be strong and only eat fruit, vegetables and grains. I drank soy milk (no lactose). I began to come back to life. I still hated myself for eating at that stage. I thought to myself: "How weak. All that time, wasted. You stupid fat pig." But I began to pray. Although this might sound stupid to some of you, please hear me out.

  I prayed: "What the hell am I doing. There ain't anyone listening. Are you going crazy, you...?" But I kept praying, what the hell? And my prayers got answered. I didn't know that would happen. I just didn't know what to do, so I simply prayed. And I got better. I figured how to be how I wanted. And I shared some of that with you before. And I found out that God actually exists. I thought he didn't, but he is there, so there! I am happy now! And I have someone who loves me! He always has, he said, and he always will -- even if I do something really bad. And he told me that it doesn't matter if I am the fattest girl in the UNIVERSE, he still loves me! This blew me away!

  So anyway, I'm free, I'm me, I'm happy, I'm not depressed anymore. I am worth something and beautiful to someone, and I think that's all I needed.

• Starving is not the right way to go. It's a very unhealthy thing to do; what you need to do is just eat healthily and do exercise! Another VERY important reason not to starve yourself is because it shuts down a lot of organs in your body because they don't get enough nutrients to keep it working and you can EASILY become infertile! Is it really worth it? Is it worth not having children some day and not being able to share this joy? So, please think about this before you go on starving yourself. Just exercise and you'll lose the same amount of weight.

• Starving yourself to lose weight is the worst possible thing you can do to your body.

• Sure it will work, but it doesn't mean its GOOD for you... By the time you are 20 or 30, you'll end up having heart failure and liver failure and kidney failure and every other organ in your body failing.

• I just want to tell you know that, from starving, I lost a baby after I became pregnant.

• Don't starve yourself to lose weight. Your body will just gain back all the weight you lost. you see when you starve yourself your body needs something to use for energy AKA calories, so it takes what you have stored, which sounds really attractive but once you start eating normally again your body stores the calories again. so the healthiest way to lose weight is exercise regularly and eat a healthy balanced diet.

• If your starve yourself to lose weight, then once you start eating. Start with soups and smoothies and gradually introduce light solids. This should help prevent weight gain. Eat a healthy diet, and exercise is always recommended.

Statistics show that intimate partner abuse, including domestic violence, has declined by one half in the last decade in the United States. Jay Silverman and Gail Williamson demonstrated in "Social Ecology and Entitlements Involved in Battering by Heterosexual College Males" (published in Violence and Victims, Volume 12, Number 2 (Spring 1997) that abuse is best predicted by two factors: the belief that mistreatment is justified and the succor of peers.

These two facts elucidate the cultural and social roots of abusive behavior. Abuse is bound to be found in patriarchal, narcissistic, or misogynistic collectives. Many societies exhibit cross sections of these three traits. Thus, most patriarchal groups are also misogynistic, either overtly and ideologically so - or covertly and in denial.

Paradoxically, women's lib initially makes things worse. The first period of social dislocation - when gender roles are redefined - often witnesses a male backlash in the form of last ditch patriarchy and last resort violence, trying to restore the "ancien regime". But as awareness and acceptance of women's equal rights grow, abuse is frowned upon and, consequently, declines.

Alas, four fifths of humanity are far from this utopian state of things. Even in the most prosperous, well-educated, and egalitarian societies of the West there are sizable pockets of ill-treatment that cut across all demographic and social-economic categories.

Women are physically weaker and, despite recent strides, economically deprived or restricted. This makes them ideal victims - dependent, helpless, devalued. Even in the most advanced societies, women are still expected to serve their husbands, maintain the family, surrender their autonomy, and abrogate their choices and preferences if incompatible with the ostensible breadwinner's.

Women are also widely feared. The more primitive, poorer, or less educated the community - the more women are decried as evil temptresses, whores, witches, possessors of mysterious powers, defilers, contaminants, inferior, corporeal (as opposed to spiritual), subversive, disruptive, dangerous, cunning, or lying.

Violence is considered by members of such collectives a legitimate means of communicating wishes, enforcing discipline, coercing into action, punishing, and gaining the approval of kin, kith, and peers. To the abuser, the family is an instrument of gratification - economic, narcissistic, and sexual. It is a mere extension of the offender's inner world, and, thus, devoid of autonomy and independent views, opinions, preferences, needs, choices, emotions, fears, and hopes.

The abuser feels that he is entirely within his rights to impose his species of order in his own impregnable "castle". The other members of the household are objects. He reacts with violent rage to any proof or reminder to the contrary. Moreover, his view of the family is embedded in many legal systems, supported by norms and conventions, and reflected in social arrangements.

But abusive behavior is frequently the outcome of objective societal and cultural factors.

Abuse and violence are "intergenerationally transmitted". Children who grow up in dysfunctional and violent families - and believe that the aggression was justified - are vastly more likely to become abusive parents and spouses.

Social stresses and anomy and their psychological manifestations foster intimate partner violence and child abuse. War or civil strife, unemployment, social isolation, single parenthood, prolonged or chronic sickness, unsustainably large family, poverty, persistent hunger, marital discord, a new baby, a dying parent, an invalid to be cared for, death of one's nearest and dearest, incarceration, infidelity, substance abuse - have all proven to be contributing factors.

I agree. Learned behaviour and reinforced environments supporting abuse.

Best wishes...

Answer

Although, I agree with many of the statements made in the answer it is flawed due to not taking into account that both sexes batter, in both heterosexual and homosexual relations. I will freely admit that majority is male (batterer) and female (survivor).

This is a disorder called pica. It involves strong cravings for non-food items, such as:

• Dirt, clay
• Paint chips, plaster, chalk
• Cornstarch, laundry starch, baking soda
• Coffee grounds
• Cigarette ashes, burnt match heads
• Rust

Pica is usually found in people will mineral deficiencies. In some cases it is a psychiatric disorder.

See the Related Question links to the right, and please see your doctor. This can be dangerous.

I eat the heads of spent matches sometimes. I have a gas stove and each time I light it with a match(always, can't work out those gas lighters)I eat the head.

Charming I know, although I'm not perturbed by it really.

I just started taking a product called "WYLD for Women". It contains b vitamins, iron and Siberian and Korean ginseng and a few other things. I've found it great.

I'm a women and a vegetarian(doesn't mean I have a super healhthy diet) who doesn't really like tofu.

I had been having rather bad back and neck strain and pain. I always had tension in my body. Every morning I woke up sore. Since taking this supplement the pain and discomfort has gone. It was all muscular. I thought I was becoming the hunchback of Notre Dame.

Quite amazing. Well not really I knew I was deficent in a lot of key nutrients. I read that lack of iron can also cause excessive production of or over oxidation of lactic acid(something like that). Lactic acid being the thing that makes you feel sore after exercise. I think that was my problem.

Literally the day after I started taking the supplement I didn't feel the muscle fatigue and pain. Great, I'm now going to get some spirulina.

i think its like a drug in some what why which makes the brain crave for more and more and more like smoking and probz really hard to break lose off it they really should invent a medicine to stop things like tht and caffeine

There are quite a few signs...Rapid weight loss, irritability, low self esteem. Most anorexics or bulimics are also diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so this person may also be very "anal" about their living environment. They NEVER eat in front of anyone, usually they will become defensive if you ask them if they have eaten yet. Depending on how long this person has been anorexic, you may notice things like their gum lines deteriorating, bad breath or sores in the mouth and throat. Diagnostic criteria for 301.7 Anorexia Nervosa

A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected).

B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.

C. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

D. In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. (A woman is considered to have amenorrhea if her periods occur only following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration.)

Specify type:

* Restricting Type: during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas) * Binge-Eating/Purging Type: during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas)

SOME VERY IMPORTANT points you should consider: When you don't eat or "starve" yourself, your body does something very interesting. A "built-in" survival instinct your body has actually stops you from burning calories! What happens is your body thinks you are unable to get food, like if you were stuck on an island and had no food. To conserve and not die, your body immediately shuts off your 'calorie burning furnace' and you lose weight MUCH SLOWER. Starving does not work to lose weight!! Same thing when you throw up any meal; your body thinks it's starving and you lose weight VERY SLOWLY. Plus, when you throw up, the acid from your stomach EATS your teeth away. If you are doing this to lose weight, you will ruin your teeth, not lose weight, and screw up your metabolism, and your electolytes. It could Kill YOU!! That's what happened to Terri Schivo- she went into a coma and died. Seek help from any doctor or nutritionist IMMEDIATELY. You can eat six tiny meals a day, add some exercise and lose lots of weight. Please seek help if you or someone you know is trying to lose weight by throwing up and not eating.

Answer

I am tired of everybody saying that you don't lose weight when you starve or throw up. I have been bulimic for about 9 years and my weight has fluctuated only due to treatment methods. You will lose weight throwing up, I began bulimia at 253 pounds and in 4 months was down to 165. Now I'm not recommending this method, but those wives tales are one of the main reasons I began throwing up, because I had to find out for myself!

Yeah your right I have had this disorder for about a month now and have lost a stone in weight and am still losing it

Answer

I agree that yes you can lose lots of weight, fast, being bulimic... I confess I also did so for almost two years, I was in the best shape of my life, I would throw up almost every day, especially large dinners, and than go work out for an hour, drink lots of water, lots and lots of liquid to compensate for the lost liquid.... So theres the positive side for being so ignorant....

BUT I ended up in the hospital twice, just fainting, not from hunger, I wasn't hungry, but from lack of oxygen or bloodflow to my brain, remind you of Terry Schiavo? The girl who had a heart attack and ended up a vegetable for life? She was bulimic, and she looked really good before her brain died... In the ER they gave me IV said I was severely dehydrated, and asked if I'd been throwing up, and I said no of course... and even after the second time in the ER I still didn't stop, it was actually when the stuff about Schiavo came out on news I researched it and it scared the heck out of me, I wouldn't want to end up like that...

I feel very lucky to have realized what I'm doing, and I know I have been real lucky to not have died or suffered serious injuries to my body, although I know I have created some damage to my liver and kidneys, which trust me IF YOU HAVE THROWN UP FOR 9 YEARS, YOU HAVE DAMAGED YOUR LIVER AND KIDNEYS..... I'm surprised you're still living, but good for you, but for your own sake and for a chance to live your life STOP DOING IT! I'm probably not the right person to say so.... because I find it real hard to stop too, and I must admit, sometimes, I still find myself running to the toilet after my stomach feels so full from a big dinner...

But I just cant get back to the shape I was in, when I stopped throwing up I gained even more weight, and now I am in the worst shape of my life, and as tempting as it is to start the same method again to get back in shape, I remind myself of what could happen... I know after throwing up I can feel a headache, dizziness sometimes days later, not the same day, in fact I feel real good immediately after throwing up, but few days later I can feel something wrong with my heart beats and weird headaches, or feeling like I'll faint.

So in fear of ending up with a heart attack, stroke, coma, or vegetable, I stop and I am trying to adopt a healthier way, to just eat less, exercise, and be happy I'm still alive.

so this whole obsession with weight really messes with my life, and I think my hair falling out so much, I meant a lot... I had the thickest head full of hair, and its falling out, I've lost almost 50% of my hair... and I know it is due to years of unbalanced diet, and fluctuating weight, basically being so unhealthy, and the stress that goes along with it... a very unhealthy living style... like an addiction.

I hope you understand, and I know there are millions of girls who do this, and get sick without knowing what its from, also it impacts your chances of getting pregnant, it screws up your uterus too, so if you'd like to have a baby someday, think twice when you put your head over the toilet. Just some advise from someone like yourself, and as I type this I kind of am telling myself too, as I am a slowly recovering bulimic...

Best of luck. :)