Orthorexia Nervosa - SUZY

[Guest guest]

Suzy, I really enjoyed reading YOUR assesment, as well! You are a very good,

entertaining writer. I'm going to save your post as well as others' on this

subject in order to support my debate when my older family members attack me

again. Congratulations on quitting smoking.

-Tiffany

 

Live Simply <sgsikora wrote:

I also agree with Leah's assessment of the symptoms of ON. I heard about this

" syndrome " some time ago regarding vegetarian diets.

* Spending more than three hours a day thinking about healthy food

I think about " healthy food " every time I'm about to eat or getting hungry. If

that constitutes three hours, I'd be surprised, but why is three the magic

number?

* Planning tomorrow's menu today

I do this occasionally, and -yes- it's called being organized and prepared! I

dislike going home from work and spending extra time figuring out what we're

going to eat, when we only have so much time before going to bed.

* Feeling virtuous about what they eat, but not enjoying it much

I feel both virtuous AND enjoy my food immensely. hahaha

Of course, I don't think about feeling virtuous when I eat! I usually think

about how much time I have to eat (if I'm getting ready for work or on lunch),

how wonderful the food tastes, how good the company is (if eating with others),

how much room I need to leave for dessert, if I'm going to

HAVE dessert, etc., etc., etc.

* Continually limiting the number of foods they eat

I don't consciously think, " Gee, I want to further limit the foods I can eat. "

I have, however, found that occasionally I had to eliminate something that I

previously thought okay. (Typically, that happened as I grew more and more

aware of the choices I made.)

* Experiencing a reduced quality of life or social isolation (because their

diet makes it difficult for them to eat anywhere but at home)

Yes, I have felt left out in the past, or intentionally not attended a gathering

because I knew it would revolve around a carcass. Just because this society

embraces unhealthy foods and often builds events around them, doesn't mean I

have to participate or I have a disorder. However, I know have a very strong

network of friends who are vegan, and I have no lack of social occasions or

gatherings from which to choose now. (Does that mean I'm cured?

* Feeling critical of others who do not eat as well they do

I feel critical when others don't seem to care, but I also feel critical when

someone takes up two parking spaces in my office parking structure. Is THAT a

disorder too? FA, maybe? The syndrome of the Frequently Annoyed.

* Skipping foods they once enjoyed in order to eat the " right " foods

Yes, I " skip " foods I used to enjoy. I also " skip " cigarettes that I used to

enjoy (thanks, Leah, for making the point), and some other things that I once

enjoyed.

* Feeling guilt or self-loathing when they stray from their diet

Nope... no guilt, because there is no straying. (Of course, I'm speaking of

being vegan here, not being raw. I have strayed from the raw diet a lot, and

have never felt " guilt " and certainly not " self-loathing. "

* Feeling in " total " control when they eat the correct diet

I'm not sure what " total " control is here... what does that mean? I like to

control what I eat and when I eat it. Does that mean I have a disorder? I also

like to control when I sleep, what I watch on television, the radio station to

which I listen in the car... Is THAT a syndrome?

I'm not sure who coined this " disorder, " but I feel sorry for anyone who has

ever been diagnosed with it! No planning or thinking about healthy foods, no

feeling good about what you eat and why, no feeling in control over your food

choices, no skipping things that are bad for you, and no pangs of anything if

you eat something you feel you shouldn't!

Suzy