Eating Disorder ProAna Blogger Focused on Body Image and Self Esteem

I dug my Vogue magazines out of the basement, dated August 1987. You’ll never guess what I found…..

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfZuDDj-pJ8] 

Size 0 is now available in pill form! Just pop one, I mean four, of these little beauties a day and you too can look like a zombie runway model.

This simply fabulous breakthrough secret is contained in a dainty little black box, with the answer to happiness  plastered front and center just in case you forgot that anything above a size zero is, well, eeewwww.

Brought to you by your friendly mall vitamin store GNC, the leaders in converting lard asses nationwide, into “Hot, Radiant, Alluring, Elegant & Beautiful” creatures.

Just a few silly warnings, pay no mind:

Not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18 (but what about my 10 year old daughter who is dieting with me?)

Consult with a physician prior to, during and after use (I’ll get right on that)

If you are taking any prescription medication or have any medical condition (wait, that eliminates 99% of the population) 

If you have been treated for or diagnosed with, or have a family history of, any medical condition including, but not limited to:high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, peptic and gastric ulcers, cardiac arrhythmia, renal disease, hyperthyroidism, spasms, glaucoma, psychiatric disease, psychological conditions, anxiety, depression, nervousness, seizure disorder, stroke, angina, diabetes, asthma, suffer from migraines, are allergic to tyramine or chocolate or sensitive to the effects of caffeine (that eliminates the other 1% of us)

Do not take in conjunction with any supplement or over-the-counter drug containing ephedrine alkaloids, caffeine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine or any stimulants. One serving of this product contains approximately as much caffeine as two cups of coffee (catch a buzz off the stuff simultaneously, I like it).

Do not use if you have a history of drug use. Do not use with alcohol (I’m out)

Do not use during high intensity activities in high temperature conditions (exercise not allowed.)

Discontinue use and consult a physician immediately if you experience any of the following: nervousness, sleeplessness, dizziness, cardiac irregularities or rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, tremors, nausea, chest pain, tingling sensations, behavioral changes, loss of consciousness, or other similar symptoms (any one still alive?)

NOTE: The product name Size 0 does not depict the amount of weight loss or clothing size goals that will be achieved with use of this product. Individual results will vary depending of body type and fitness goals.

Manufactured Exclusively for Size 0 Labs
3133 Fortune Way Suite #4 (nice address)

Well, since this one won’t do the trick for me, I’ll pop some “clen.”

Never heard of it? Get with the program man, they’ve been vaccinating horses with it for years.

We are one desperate bunch ladies, and I don’t see any light at the end of this tunnel.

mamaV

Pro anorexia sites are running rampant. We must shut them down quickly and swiftly to save society!

Microsoft steps in and shuts down pro anorexia sites, without a court order. YouTube and Facebook are under the microscope too.

What genius is still beating on this dead drum? 

Don’t tell anyone…but it takes about 5 minutes to set up a new site…hehe…the pro ana’s have their sites back up and running before you can blink. 

Even more scary is there is no logic to this madness.  I overuse this phrase, but I like it; nothing like sticking your head in the sand. And since everyone got really fired up the last time I posted this picture, let’s post it again just for shits and giggles. 

A few stats, which are growing as I type this: 

Google “pro ana” to view over 5 million results

YouTube “thinspiration” hauls in well over 5000 full length videos, a total of 8 uploaded TODAY.

ProAnaThinspo is just an unbelieveable mashup of thin bodies, body parts, stars and real girls that will blow your mind.

How about we face reality think about what the hell we have created here.

On second thought, that sounds like a lot of time and energy. Let’s stick with ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ it’s a lot more convenient, plus I have a lot of shit to buy before Christmas.

-mamaV

Since Pro Ana Privacy is the most visited post these days, I figured it was time for another go around. Especially since I can really feel the love in the comments.

For what it’s worth; I heard a story on the radio that I wanted to share.

A talented young woman recently applied for a job just after she graduated from college. A dream job really, everything she ever wanted. Mom and Dad were so proud.

Little did she know that some pictures that she uploaded to the web many years prior would come back to haunt her.

One in a bikini.
Several in her underwear.

One doing a frickin’ back-bend in her undies.

Not good. No job. Worst of all? No way to remove them – ever.

This thing is permanent girls. It’s called the world wide web and once you CHOOSE to serve yourself up for the taking, you are gone, your privacy is gone, and your future opportunities are at stake.

Think about it next time you want to ask one of your dear ana friends “Do I look fat?”

-mamaV

We are all suckers. Suckers in the biggest con game in history.

Everyday we paint on our faces, slather on our potions and play make believe that somehow these magic $90 elixirs are a doorway to beauty…..to being loved.

The beauty industry peels the cash out of your wallet with a huge smile on its face, laughing behind your back as they literally steal you blind.

Read this ad for “Bliss…The Youth as we know it”cream from Sephora Age Control section.

An extraordinary age-fighting moisture cream that has it all, including MMP Inhibitors, Wrinkle Reduction Peptides, Visual Facial Fillers, Cellular Respiration Boosters, Hyperdermal Destressors, 7-Day Hydrators, Barrier Repairing Ceramides, Wrinkle Relaxers, Multifruit Complex, and Vitazyme A.

Are you shittin’ me? Tell me what the hell is a cellular Respiration Booster? How about a Hyperdermal Destressor? This is all bullshit ladies, and you are buying it at $79 bucks a pop.

What do I use? Generic Cetaphil. Walmart $2.89.

Listen, we are all going to get old. What is so bad about old? Did you ever ask yourself this question? I like old. My best friends, my parents, my mentors are old. I don’t love and admire them because they are beautiful, or skinny. They are who they are because they listen, they care, they are down to earth, and real.

Not some stretch faced, sun tanned, hard boobed- fake.

HOPE, in a jar. How inspired.

I don’t know about you, but I will pass. My hope is in my heart. And I will grow old gracefully, thank you.

Don’t play this game girls.

Life is too damn short.

-mamaV

Hugo Boss is a great bad example of current fashion designers utilizing men that are waaayyyy to thin. Thin enough to be anorexic? Maybe.

I’ve shy-ed away to delving into the men’s side of eating disorders, because I didn’t feel like I knew much about their side of the story, but when you get right down to it we are all the same, aren’t we?

Men have reached out to me in the past asking me to address pro anorexia from their point of view, but it was not until I cracked open Vanity Fair at the gym earlier this week that the reality sunk in. I discovered male models really have morphed into the same way-t0-skinny-to-be-healthy female model counterparts.

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgRy-BOerHk]

The other aspect of this style that I don’t get is femininity, I suppose this is what is coined ‘metro-sexual.’ I don’t buy it and it makes me ill to this we’ve got men now going down this sickly lifestyle path.

Who’s next on the anorexia super highway?

Children.

-mamaV

 We’ve created quite a little research pool here. The way this community picks apart topics, and analyzes issues is truly commendable. I don’t know about you, but I am still smiling about it, and I am passionate about heading into Year 2 as mamaV.  

I look forward to seeing who is saying what, who is pissed at me today, and what you all believe to be life’s truths. Why? Because it challenges our minds, our thoughts, and opinions. Between you and I, I am one of the most wishy washy people you’d ever meet (stop laughing panda07).

Give me a great debate on a topic and I am most easily swayed. In my personal and business life, I give people WAY too many chances, and I am optimistic to a fault. This personality trait has gotten me burned time and time again, but I keep doing it. I am just wired this way.

BUT, there are a few topics in life I am stone cold set on. It is this side of mamaV you see here and these topics drive the passion behind this blog. 

In the past year, one topic that continually gets debated with great passion is;

WHAT THE HELL IS PRO ANA ANYWAY?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lJmuOPzqcs]

To tell you the truth, sometimes the discussions get my head spinning so much, I really couldn’t tell you. But at the end of the day I always come back to this;

If you are looking for support, don’t lean on others with your same problem.

Trust me, this path is bad news.

I just don’t buy it, and no amount of tongue lashing has torn me away from this opinion. Why girls, for the love of God, would you think that when you have an eating disorder, the direction to head for support is to a bunch of eating disordered women?

You’ll sink deeper.

Faster.

Guaranteed.

Kristi4 is an example of this and her journal serves a very important purpose. Her life message is plain and simple – don’t turn to pro ana forums for support, instead run, as fast as you can, in the other direction. I have refused to edit what I have written about her, much to Josie’s dismay, because I know in my heart I have written this out of kindness, not hatred.

I’ve read Kristi’s journal too many times to count, and I am always left with the same impression. Here was a young woman (she was young, only in her 30′s) trying to lead a pro ana “support” community. Although she was surrounded by others in her same situation, she felt alone, depressed and ultimately suicidal. I can’t help but think if she would have turned outside for help that she may still be here today.

This topic gets to the core of why I do this blog, to create forum for discussion, inspiration, and thoughts beyond your eating disorders. There is a whole life out there waiting for you and I am fighting like hell to help you find it.

So if you find yourself part of the pro ana “support” community, I’d like to know this…..as Dr. Phil would say “How’s it workin’ for ya?”

-mamaV

This woman really needs no introduction. I think we can all listen and learn.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=yUTJQIBI1oA]

-mamaV

Tyra Banks is off her rocker. After being stalked and humilated by the paparazzi for her weight, she turns around and redefines “plus size” as a skinny mini size 8.

We are all now “plus-sized” thanks to America’s Next Top Model show and the model of the moment Sarah Hartshorne!

Sarah leads the plus sized parade prancing in at:

Height: 5’10

Weight: 150 pounds

Size : 8

Hang on, that’s me, that’s my size. I’m confused.

As most of you know, when I was modeling the size requirement was size 8. I am a size 8 now, but I am 30 pounds heavier. Hmm…..

Have I been duped?

Did the sizes change?

Did the scale change?

Did I fry too many brain cells starvation dieting?

(Let’s not even go into the image in the mirror…oh the horror of aging!)

Sarah is no plus size and this is a load of crap. Why the hell did she accept the title “plus size” when she knows she doesn’t fit the bill? I guess she was not willing to miss her 15 minutes of fame.

Girls, this is bullshit. Don’t buy into it.

If you do, you’ll be sunk like the rest of the pro anorexia suckers that paste on their smile as they die inside from starvation and self hatred. They will quickly reel you into their misery filled existence because they need company, reassurance, and purpose to keep their hope alive. Their heads filled with nothing but desire to become someone else.

(Ugly, Ugly, and Ugly)

It’s a dead end. Pro ana’s don’t care about you- they care about themselves. This is simply about one thing, and one thing only only - self esteem. Starving yourself will not grow it. Let’s be real already.

Bones are not attractive.

Bones are not sexy.

Bones are not cool.

Vanity. Damn ugly.

-mamaV

————————————————————————-

Thanks to Tipster Laura for this story.

Yes Vanessa, I had to drag Pro Ana’s into this story.

*All photos complements of the World Wide PUBLIC Web! 

I have been pondering this whole Britney Spears saga since her painful performance at the MTV awards a few weeks back. The entire discussion of her being a lard ass was so beyond my comprehension, I didn’t feel a need to discuss it.  

But stumbling on her new video ”Gimme More” this morning, featuring Britney humping a mirror, put me completely over the edge. 

The name of the song is slutty. 

The first words uttered are “it’s Britney bitch.”

The video looks like it was shot is some rat hole strip joint.

And Britney….well, it ain’t pretty.

“Gimme More” Strip Show Video

May I ask that the hell is going on here?

We have a young woman, reportedly with a drug problem, being totally and completely exploited for her sexuality, and we are all just watching the collapse of this human being, salivating.

I am not a prude, but c’mon already. Did she really need a video, shot in a strip joint, moaning & humping in all out hooker garb?!

Here’s the kicker: The song is topping the charts. We are one classy society people.

Here’s the questions I have for you:

1 What makes a woman want to flaunt herself in this manner (drugs aside)?

I realize I was never really cut out to be a model. I was totally embarrassed to give the camera sexy, pursed looks.  It just felt weird and silly to me. I recall my agent telling me I needed to be more sexy, at 16 mind you, and coaching in his ugly french accent ”you have to make them want you.”

Want me for what? Rape? Porn? Bondage?

2) What is this video expressing to young women?

Same old crap, use your body cause its all you got. This is why you are on the earth girls. Got it, flaunt it. Sex is all that matters.

What happened to modesty? What happened to grace and class?

3) What does this say about us?

We are a country totally and completely obsessed with celebrity and fame. We chase these stars unto the ground, waiting for them to crack, and when they do we live and breath their pain.

We wish we were them. We starve, nip and tuck ourselves to be them.

I’ll let you in on a little secret…..they hate themselves, we hate ourselves, and the world goes round and round.  Nuts. The whole thing is totally nuts, and I don’t want any part of it.

Britney, bless your heart child. I hope you find your way,

-mamaV

Cool anti ana avatars, read em’ & live em’ girls!

Next up, a fun little weekend project.

1) Go to office depot and get some bright orange post its.

2) Write a positive body message of inspiration for yourself and others.

3) Stick it in a public place, one frequented by women (bathrooms are perfect).

4) Be a part of the real body revolution started by WeBiteBack!

5) Believe what you wrote, repeat it, live it.

6) Report your posting to The Orange Revolution.

This thing is going international….check out this one in Australia!

chuck the scale : ditch the fashion rags : check out the library : buy some new music : learn something new: no fat chat : be kind : believe in you :

Love you, enjoy the warm air and do something different this weekend

mv

A teenage model has been found dead only six months after her model sister, Luisel died at a fashion show of complications arising from anorexia, as reported by Times Online.

Eliana Ramos, 18, was found dead in her bedroom in Montevideo, Uraguay, by her grandmother, with whom she was staying. She is believed to have had a heart attack.

She is the sister of Luisel Ramos, dead from a heart attack. She also starved herself to fit the fashion industry standards.

HOW MANY GIRLS ARE WE GOING TO KILL BEFORE WE WAKE UP.

I am absolutely livid, so please excuse my emotion and passion. I read this story 10 minutes ago and my heart is pounding out of my chest.

1 Modeling agents and bookers are at the center of this problem. They see the girls daily, they pressure the girls daily, they measure the girls daily, so stop acting like you are not aware of this and this is not a major influence in this problem. I know you have one modeling agent on your panel, how is he playing a part?

2 What size are your clothes that you are producing for your fashion shows? It’s this simple: To be a model, I must fit into your clothes. If my body is to large to fit, I will lose weight to make the cut. End of story.

3 Why do the fashion magazines showcase children as the women? Just stop already.

The findings of a post-mortem examination have yet to be released but local reports suggested that Ms Ramos, who was taking part in the Montevideo fashion week, suffered from “alimentary deficiency”.

Her parents, who were on holiday at the time of her death, were said to be devastated by the loss of a second daughter in six months.

Their father said afterwards that his daughter had been on a diet of lettuce and diet-cola in an attempt to lose weight. Her body mass index (BMI) was found to be below the level considered starvation by the World Health Organization.

Despite her sister’s fate Ms Ramos, nicknamed Elle by family and friends, had decided to continue her modeling career. She had signed with one of Argentina’s top agencies and the blonde, blue-eyed teenager was considered to have a promising career in Europe and the US.

She had been signed up recently by Dotto Models, the agency that represented her sister. Pancho Dotto, the owner of the agency, today dismissed claims that an eating disorder was responsible for Elian’s death.

“She was very healthy, she ate well and played sports,” said Mr Dotto. “She was never extremely thin. It is absurd to talk of alimentary deficiency, anorexia, bulimia and all that. It is clear that the deaths of the Ramos sisters are due to a genetic problem and not an eating disorder.”

At the time of her death she weighed only 6st (40kg).

Please take a moment today to say a prayer for the Ramos family. Their grief must be simply unbearable, and my heart is broken, once again for them.

-mamaVISION

The pressure is on the Fashion world as they prepare for New York Fashion week, starting February 2, 2007. So the organizers of New York’s fashion shows put their heads together and issued guidelines to tackle the problem of too-skinny models:

1 We recommended models with eating disorders seek treatment.

2 Young models should work limited hours.

3 Healthy food to be supplied backstage.

4 Smoking and alcohol be banned.

Ummm, I don’t know what you are thinking but is this a totally lame plan?

Let me see, we are going to “recommend you seek treatment” -when is this reccommendation going to happen, before or after you use their bodies to show off your collections? Are you going to hand the girls flyers on the dangers of eating disorders and then send them on their way?

Young models, please limit your hours. Limit your hours to what and for what? Resting does not cure an eating disorder.

Please eat the healthy food we have provided. Anorexics don’t eat food, healthy or not, so they are out of luck. Bulimics throw up their food, healthy or not, so this doesn’t do the trick for them either.

No smoking or alcohol please. What does this have to do eating disorders?

Then we have the famous Ford Modeling Agency execs piping in with their oh so cherry voices “I think the new Council of Fashion Designers of American CFDA guidelines are fantastic,” Katie Ford, chief executive of Ford Modeling Agency, told Reuters. “I think just discussing it creates a lot of awareness for designers and all people who are watching models and I think it’s a good thing.”

I’ve got news for you Katie Ford, its your bookers who see your girls daily, and tell them to lose weight. They are on the front line of the problem. How is the CFDA’s solutions just simply fantastic as you say? Because you think this takes you off the hook? Ford is notorious for looking the other way on this issue, and I can see you are going to keep the good old tradition going. What a farce.

My prediction? We lose another young life before or during the NY show. But I am afraid not even that will wake these people up.

This week LATimes asks the question “Is Skinny Going Out Of Style? ” The ultra-thin model issue remains at the forefront thanks to designer Diane von Furstenberg’s letter to the Council of Fashion Designers of America urging them to take a position on the issue of underweight models.

Frankly, it’s pathetic that someone of von Furstenberg’s status needs to literally sit down and draft a letter to her cohorts in the Fashion Industry asking them actually look their beloved, pre-teen models in the eyes and see their pain.

Put aside the designers themselves for a moment, and let’s talk about the audience. Anyone who sat there during this show, and watched this obviously sick, young girl prance the damn “catwalk”, as it is favorably called, and didn’t react should be ashamed of yourselves.

How do you watch this, see her bones literally sticking out of her frail frame, the dark circles under her eyes, and the pain in her expression, and clap for this year’s amazing collections, yelling “Bravo” to the warped designers who created this monster of a business?

This whole thing is totally beyond me.

Von Furstenbery recognized this as a global fashion issue and stated ”as designers, we cannot ignore the impact fashion has on body image. We share a responsibility to protect women, and very young girls in particular, within the industry, sending the message that health is beauty.”

We need to share in this responsibility…remember that each one of those fashion magazines you purchase only drives this business. So, think about ditching them. What do they do for your self esteem besides send you deeper into your body image issues? Free yourself of this trap and how happy you will be.

I got a bad feeling, skinny ain’t going out of style anytime soon.

___________________________________________________________

7 million women and 1 million men have anorexia, an epidemic level according to the National Assn. of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders of Highland Park, Ill.

If you need help, please call the ANAD hotline, 847-831-3438 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, Central Time)