Meet the Fighters: a series in partnership with Women Who Fight
An interview from a brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete.
-What were signs and symptoms of your condition?
Vomiting after eating “too much” or “assisting” myself to be sick if I had a sore stomach.
-What do you believe triggered these conditions?
Wanting to lose weight, not be fat anymore, lower the weight on the scales.
-What were helpful words of support you received?
Friends were supportive but still along the lines of “you need to stop this”. Personal trainer at the time was stern in the way that it would affect my training progress and possibly lead to anorexia.
-Did you experience reproduction issues? Amenorrhea (longer than 3 months without a period)?
No
-Did you experience bone health issues? (stress fractures/stress reactions)
I don’t think so.
-Did you seek help? If so, how?
No, I was very embarrassed about it, just spoke to friends about it. They all told me just to stop, some told me about the long term damage it can cause and one told me maybe to go to an ED group to talk about it.
-What steps did you take in order to recover?
Still recovering as we speak. Trying to lose weight in a healthy way, which is going okay at the moment. Still think about purging from time to time.
-Anything you wish you had known sooner?
How to stay at a lean weight without becoming obsessed with getting smaller.
-How were you able to move forward?
I told myself this is not how my life should be, but it’s still a shameful thing I experienced in life that really got a hold of me and made things miserable.
For more information regarding eating disorders:
Guide to Student Eating Disorder Awareness
Eating disorders are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and might be kept a secret. This in-depth guide explains what eating disorders are, how to spot the signs among peers, and what treatment are available for those experiencing a disorder
Other resources:
www.NationalEatingDisorders.org
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