Tips for Anorexics

A big problem with anorexia is malnutrition. Nothing can replace food, but we all know that "just eating" with anorexia isn't as simple as it sounds.

The big things with malnutrition are the vitamin deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances. Take a supplement, like Centrum. Your body still needs certain vitamins to function properly.

Electrolyte imbalances are EXTREMELY dangerous. If an act as simple as walking up the stairs or standing up makes you dizzy (or worse) then your electrolytes are out of whack. The easiest way to fix this is to drink some gatorade or a sports drink. You can also drink Pedialyte.(yes, that's for children with diarrhea) Gatorade has 50cals per 8oz serving. It seems like way too many calories sometimes, but one serving per day is enough to keep them balanced (or it is for me). If you're already way out of whack, you'll have to have some extra or it will take a few days to get you functioning.

Water. Many "pro-ana/mia challenges" give lots of points for drinking ten glasses of water/day. Yes, you do need to drink plenty of water; and yes, too much water can KILL you. Eight 12oz glasses each day is PLENTY. Much more than that will dilute and even wash out any vitamins/electrolytes in your system.

Your hair/skin tend to get dry or damaged when you fast. Taking the vitamins should help with that, but another good thing to do (even if you eat normally, but if you do eat normally get out of this section of the site.)is use moisturizer/chapstick because dry/itchy/cracked skin is VERY unpleasant. Use a gentle cleansing shampoo and conditioner. Also, "gentle skin cleanser" can be found at cvs. Your hair/skin is already lacking in minerals, it doesn't need abrasion or abuse from you trying to get it clean or styling it.

That's all that's popping into my brain as of yet. If I've missed anything really important, let me know immediately. I want this to be as helpful as possible. miarexia@yahoo.com