Why Purging is Pointless

November 28, 2008 at 4:41 pm | In Eating disorders, Health Hazard, Throwing Up, Useful Posts | 30 Comments
Tags: anorexia, binge, binging, bulimia, Eating disorders, how to purge, laxatives, pro ana, purging, purging tips, purging tricks, teeth

You wouldn’t believe the number of hits I get a day, from people searching “How do I make myself purge?” or “when should I purge pizza/chips/ice cream”. In honour of these visitors, I thought I would dedicate a post, like a reception desk, for wannabe bulimics everywhere. As many as 70 to 80 percent of bulimics purge by means of self-induced vomiting, while 30 percent use laxatives. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and I’m sorry to have to break it to you boys and girls, but purging? It’s completely pointless, and here’s why:

Throwing Up:

Puking, purging, spewing, vomiting, chucking up, hurling, being sick, choose which ever term makes you comfortable, either way you will be having a wonderfully close up inspection of a toilet bowl. If you catch a look at your reflection in the water at the bottom, you get extra points. Points will be subtracted for back splash. Here’s what you should know, before you dial 1-800-TICKLE-MY-TONSILS

If you are looking for a quick route to getting thin, perhaps having your cake and eating it too, well this is probably the last thing you want to be doing. Ever wonder why it’s not obvious when someone is Bulimic, and why most Bulimics aren’t all that thin? You can’t fool your body, people. Binging and purging can actually lead to weight gain instead of weight loss! I can tell you this from experience, as well as quoting you some research.

A study conducted at the Pittsburgh human feeding lab showed that making yourself throw up after a binge, resulted in the retrieval of less than half the food consumed! The subjects, all of whom usually purged their binges, were asked to make themselves at home in the “Lab”. The guys in the white jackets, weighed up (I hope not literally but it doesn’t say) the difference between subject’s calorie intake & calorie content of the vomit. They found the vomit was only about half of what had been munched. (Twisted and ripped off from “Overcoming Binge Eating” by Dr C Fairburn)

Still not convinced? Purging by self induced vomiting can expel some calories, however around 1,200 are retained by the body (Kaye et al.,1993).

Your body is a clever, adaptable creation, it will learn to hold on to food that you ingest, and you won’t have a chance to dispose of it. So, you don’t “Get Rid”, kids. Actually, you probably will find your binges get bigger and bigger too, because if you think it works, then what’s to stop you just going wild in the aisles? And it is a little easier to throw up if your stomach is fuller, but in order to do that, well you need to eat more food, don’t you?

Oh yes, and don’t bother using a “Marker”, because that’s also unreliable. Your stomach churns food up, and mixes it around. It probably won’t be coming up in the same order that it goes down.
Plus, the more you binge, the less likely you are to feel satisfied by eating, because it messes with your hunger response chemicals. This study would appear to support that finding.

So, you can’t chuck up what you munch down, the more you do it, the more you need to do it, to get that release. The more you do it, the more weight you gain, but the hungrier you are, so? The more you need to do it….Vicious cycle anyone? It’s really bad for your whole body, and it’s going to knacker your teeth. It’s worth noting that yes, these consequences do happen, and are not just for “really bad” Bulimics. I used to think I’d be fine too, even after the first time that I threw up blood. The warning signs just didn’t sink in, until about the 20th time I’d vomited a bowl full of blood, but by then the damage was already done.

Laxatives are Sh*t

Laxatives just don’t work, they get rid of most of the weight of the food, but they are completely ineffective when it comes to combating the calories. Since most of the calories eaten are absorbed by the small intestine right after eating, by the time the food gets to the end of the intestinal tract, the calories from your binge are already consumed. Pointless then, huh? Purging with laxatives reduces calorific absorption by only 12% (Bo-Linn et al.,1983).

Maybe you’re thinking, “well, water weight, that’s just as good, I’ll lose a pound or two just to tide me over” Maybe in time for that important night out? Get in those favourite jeans? Flat tummy for the beach? Yeah, no, I used to think that too. Trouble is you can’t judge what your body is going to do. I can think of one occasion where I ended up gaining about 6 pounds from messing with laxatives. I only wanted the scale to move down a pound, but the sneaky body freaks out big time when it loses too much water. So instead, everything I drank, stayed in my body, and I ended up with a banging headache, and got hell of a dizzy. That’s really dangerous territory, having too much water in your body, is just as bad as having too little. And I couldn’t fit in my jeans…

It’s worth knowing that you are in danger of getting into a vicious cycle here too. If you use laxatives a lot, then the bowel gets used to the extra help. So when you stop, you get temporary constipation, bloating and abdominal discomfort. It makes you feel fatter, and weigh more. So what do you do? Aside from scream and burst into tears, or take up hermit residence until the weight comes off again (I’m not judging! That’s what I did!) You just end up taking more laxatives. Round and round and round we go!

Laxative abuse is pretty risky. Using them on a long term basis can lead to potassium depletion and dehydration. You’ll look like hell, dehydration gives you those lovely bags under your eyes, very hot, not. Your skin gets bad, and grey and patchy. Laxatives can make you, well there is no nice way of putting it, they can make you “Leak”. Take too many and you can end up in quite a predicament. I had a friend who this happened to. She waited ages for them to work, a whole day sitting in the house. Eventually she figured it just wasn’t going to happen. She went out to the supermarket, and the rest you can probably imagine. Not. Good.

So, anyone for purging?

Healthy eating is looking more and more attractive, especially in contrast to the view at the bottom of the toilet pan….

Lola x

P.S Have you have found this page from searching for help? Please tell me what you think. I promise I don’t bite! I’d love to hear if this page has helped you.

Related posts: Purging Tips and Tricks

30 Comments »

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A fuckin *great* post even better than usual.

Not meaning to keep jumping from one opinion to another, but I think this type of post is the exact reason that any website you were to set up would be an invaluable resource.

Good work girl…

John

Comment by John — November 28, 2008 #

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Aww shucks **Blushes a lovely puce colour***
Luckily I had this as my emergency post because my head is still contemplating about words which rhyme with teapot
I like writing like this, but the research takes aaaagggeees. Am currently ploughing through neuroscience research so might go back to fluff for a while!

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — November 28, 2008 #

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i wish it was socially acceptable to post this post around my home, office, car, etc. Not even the content (which my ED head is arguing vehemently against – wanting to be the exception to the research) but the title…. just “why purging is pointless” posted all around my life.

i think the bottom line for me is….purging works because i’m addicted to it. even if weight loss isn’t the end result…that feeling is, well…i’ll avoid triggering others and leave it at – I’m hooked.

Comment by novemberblue — November 28, 2008 #

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BTW…

I meant to say, I think it’s more powerful to hear that “purging is pointless” from someone who has purged, and it would appear is uncertain as to whether they will again.

From my side of the fence… I know getting the old scalpel out and tearing into my arm is hugely pointless. But… can I say for sure I’m not going to do it again?

I guess what I’m saying is if one person who is looking up how/when to binge/purge…and they read this and don’t do it. Then you’ve made a huge contribution to the world.

Cheers…

John

Comment by John — November 28, 2008 #

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That’s a really good post. Going to be stuck, um, somewhere for bad days! xx

Comment by Kate — November 28, 2008 #

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Thanks Guys, I have a few more similar posts to this.

Hell, NB I’m in the same boat completely. I’d love to just abandon it, but I’ve only got as far as the breaking the binging habit, unfortunately I abstain from the purging side yet. However, tune in on Sunday/Monday and find out why this might be….

Thanks Kate, hope it is of use xx

Comment by Lola Snow — November 28, 2008 #

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Hey Lola…

Quick addition to the dehydration factor – it also gives you awful breath, as my GP kindly pointed out to me. Infact, the concept of having dogbreath hit home harder than the serious physical damage that laxatives and diuretics can do.

Oh, and the moment you stop taking them, you gain 1,000,000lbs in water weight. Maybe a slight exageration, but that is certainly what it feels like.

*Learn to cherish the day that you don’t have to sleep with a pillow between your boney knees*

GG

Comment by Gutter Girl — November 28, 2008 #

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Hi Lola,
This post was so interesting and informative. As always.
…aqua

Comment by aqua — November 28, 2008 #

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Thanks guys. Thought I’d try something a little informative

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — November 28, 2008 #

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Lola – yet another interesting, and extremely informative, post! I learnt some things about purging that I had never even imagined

It’ll certainly make me think twice before *I* next decide to ram my fingers half way down my throat

Also, you totally right about Bulimia not being obvious to those around you. People are often surprised to hear that I binge and purge given the fact that I still way a hefty 14 and a half stone!

Just goes to show I guess….

Hugs to you babe xx

Comment by Lindsay — November 28, 2008 #

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{{Hugs back}}

That info was about the most useful thing I got out of therapy, certainly it held more longevity than the rest of the “Facts” that I was told. It stopped me binging alot. Unfortunately I just stopped eating instead

Frying pan – fire….

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — November 28, 2008 #

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Excellent post, Lola. Couldn’t agree with you more.

Comment by Charlynn — November 29, 2008 #

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Love it, Lola. Good work!

‘Laxatives are Sh!t’…..

Comment by petrona — November 29, 2008 #

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Argh! I had *cackle* after the three dots at the end of my post, but it didnt’ show up – I used so maybe it excluded it?

Comment by petrona — November 29, 2008 #

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Thanks guys! I think a few more of these should do the job, i hope those searching think twice about purging!

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — November 29, 2008 #

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Wow, those are some scary facts Sort of a mini Our Bodies, Our Selves for the Net generation But truth is often the best medicine so, great post!

Meanwhile, bring on more moderately snarky ED humour. That’s what’s missing from most of the literature on the subject!

Comment by Catatonic Kid — November 29, 2008 #

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Thank you for this post Lola. It’s taught me a few facts that I didn’t know and really hits home with the stark reality of purging. I have had some terrible issues with Laxative abuse in the past and would strongly urge anyone NOT to go down that path. It’s so not worth it. I also used Ipecac syrup at one point and made myself very ill.

Comment by janey — November 29, 2008 #

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CK – (sounds like i’m talking to a bottle of aftershave) Thanks for the feedback. I am working on some tasty tasteless jokes as we speak!

Janey – I’m so glad it helped. The laxative issue is a nightmare, because of the variety of reasons people slip into it. I hope readers will heed your advice. Yikes, and Ipecac is NOT the way to go at all. That stuff is just scary, I’m glad that you are OK. I hope people read that bit too! Thanks for your thoughts

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — November 29, 2008 #

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What stat counter do you use?

Comment by NiroZ — November 30, 2008 #

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Alas, not the one I would like NiroZ. Hampered by the wordpress fear of Javascript! But then there is only so much stalking a girl can do

Comment by Lola Snow — November 30, 2008 #

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That was a pretty awesome post. Looks like you really do learn something new everyday huh. Tell you what, it’s put me off going back to my old ways, that’s for sure.

Comment by AudaciousAria — November 30, 2008 #

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Cheers A,
I’m hoping that it will be found frequently enough to have that impact on lots of people. I hope I can get a few people to think twice before they start at all.

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — November 30, 2008 #

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[...] well for all the reasons so eloquently put forward by Lola Snow in her post on the subject: Why Purging is Pointless. I’ve read a lot about the subject and everything points to it as being pointless and [...]

Pingback by Arielsinking’s Weblog — December 30, 2008 #

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[...] Snow explains that purging is pointless. If you are looking for a quick route to getting thin, perhaps having your cake and eating it too, [...]

Pingback by Mental Nurse · This Week in Mentalists (57) — January 2, 2009 #

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make me better?

lol. (i sound so gay)

ive had an ed for 4years and i hate it so much ive been in recovery for 2years and still cant stop the purging:(

Please die ana

Comment by krissy — January 25, 2009 #

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Wish I could Krissy. If I had a magic wand I’d make us all better.

Lola xxx

Comment by Lola Snow — January 25, 2009 #

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This is a very good blog entry unfortunately even with blood i still keep going, first it was specs, then streaks. i don’t want to see a pool, next time.
Did you know that when you type ‘how to be’ on google search the 4th suggestion is ‘how to be anorexic’? it’s sad that people would rather be ill because they think being thin is worth it. like you said in your post purging doesn’t make you thin. you can’t learn how to be ill, anyway.

Comment by Jo — January 26, 2009 #

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Man that is so so sad. I feel another blog post coming on. {{Jo}} sorry things are shit for you.

Lola x

Comment by Lola Snow — January 26, 2009 #

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Hello, I actually found this website trying to find out how to cover up purging. I have only purged a few times tho, and when I do my face turns red and I have blood vessels. I just purged. I have probably done it 5 or 6 times since October 2008. people say that it becomes a habit, an addiction, but I don’t think it’s like that for me. I only do when I really feel sick from eating, cuz I wanted to eat loads but not gain any weight. I was doing well restricting (edit) but then I binged. Probably a (edit) calorie binge. IDK. I appreciate this post but it kind of scares me that I am really not losing all the calories I consumed.
-Madison

Comment by Madison — March 18, 2009 #

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- MADISON STOP!!!!! When I started bingeing and purging, I would always say to myself, “just one more time”, because it was “cool” that I could eat anything and throw it up. Well guess wat,” just one more time” became 4 years later. It is an addiction no matter how strong you are. So PLEASE stop now before it gets you. it will ruin your life, your family, your friendships. * personal experience” and If it helps at all, I’ve gained 8kg’s in those four years! SO be happy with who you are now .
  
  Comment by Leigh — May 26, 2009 #
  
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