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Dancer
August 25, 1998

A year ago it all began. I was 13, a dancer, and all I wanted to do was lose a few pounds. Everyone at dance would talk about weight, bragging about how little they weighed. I felt like I wanted to be in on the conversation, so I started counting calories, and eating little or no fat. I started losing weight, and people would say, "you look great". It made me feel so good that I decided to lose more weight. I restricted more calories and started exercising after every meal, wanting to burn it all off. I started dropping a lot more weight, and even the dancers would tell me that I was too skinny. I even noticed that my bones in my chest were sticking out, and that my hair was falling out. I no longer was just skinny, I was ugly. My parents took me to see a nutritionist, and he told me that the way I was going, I would die. He put me on a maintinance diet of so I wouldn't lose more weight. But I thought that it would just make me fatter, so I continued what I was doing. But one day, after I got back after a bike ride, my heart practically quit. I thought I was going to die. That was when I decided to change. I realized that being skinny didn't make me happy. It doesn't! It just made me feel awful! So I continued going to the nutritionist, and I worked my weight up. I look great now. I am just right. SKINNY DOES NOT LOOK OR FEEL GOOD! I have tons of energy now, and I have a very fine boyfriend. And now boys tell me that I used to be way too skinny and that they don't like skinny girls. I thought it was the other way around.

My advice to all girls with Eating Disorders: Food is not an enemy, you must have it or you will die. Weight is needed to live! And if you have what you need, you will look and feel great! I enjoy chicken, steak, rice, yogurt, and low fat treats and haven't gained an ounce from it! You can too! Realize that life is not about what you look like, it is about being happy. And believe me, being underweight does not make you happy! You only have one life: you can waste it or use it to the fullest. Learn to eat real food, God gave it to us to do just that! The Bible tells us to use what he gave us and not rebel against it. If you follow what it says, you will live fully, healthy, and happily!!! Good luck!

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