All-Star Cheerleaders With Eating Disorders?

[Aussiekat]

Not the way I look, I just don't want to feel heavy to my bases.

Please think about eat something, even if it's just a tiny peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with no crusts)! If I don't eat before training I get tired, grumpy and don't hold my stunts up as well. I end up feeling heavier AND more frustrated. Now I pick up some nori rolls on the way to training and scoff them, makes a big difference! A nori roll or pbj doesn't weigh much, just hold one in your hand and see. Give your bases some credit for their strength, I'm sure a little bit of bread and jelly isn't going to make their muscles quiver and shake.

It's a little skip over the line from not wanting to be heavy for other people, to punishing yourself by withholding food for not hitting your stunts because you think you're too heavy and you don't deserve nourishment. Please eat something before training. It will make a difference to your mood and ability, if it doesn't I'll share a tub of ice-cream with you ;)

 

[dohnutt]

What do people say to those that call them "fat" or "too heavy" or anything of that kind?
I have always been super tall and super skinny and everyone always pointed out how skinny I was and how jealous they were. Now that I have gotten to college I have gained about 20 pounds, and am very happy about it. I felt that before I just looked unhealthy, even though no matter how much I ate (which is a lotttt haha) I just didn't gain weight. Now that I have been able to up my weight I think I look healthier and more normal. On the other hand though, I have friends telling me that I have gotten fat or have rolls or just bring up how much weight I have gained and how much I eat. I was actually out to eat with one girl that asked me if I was going throw up the ice cream I was eating because it was so much and I definitely didn't need it. Although I knew (or hoped) she was kidding, it still killed me inside because I'm so used to being that super skinny girl that eats whatever. I would never starve myself or anything over this because I am happy with how I look, but I have also found myself looking in the mirror more often and wondering if I look fat in what I am wearing. So my question here is, what would you say to someone like this? I don't want to outright be mean because sometimes I think she is just jealous of how confident I can be in myself (she is very sensitive) and I don't want to lose her as a friend, but I also don't want to put up with her saying stuff like this anymore.

 

[soFIERCE08]

What do people say to those that call them "fat" or "too heavy" or anything of that kind?
I have always been super tall and super skinny and everyone always pointed out how skinny I was and how jealous they were. Now that I have gotten to college I have gained about 20 pounds, and am very happy about it. I felt that before I just looked unhealthy, even though no matter how much I ate (which is a lotttt haha) I just didn't gain weight. Now that I have been able to up my weight I think I look healthier and more normal. On the other hand though, I have friends telling me that I have gotten fat or have rolls or just bring up how much weight I have gained and how much I eat. I was actually out to eat with one girl that asked me if I was going throw up the ice cream I was eating because it was so much and I definitely didn't need it. Although I knew (or hoped) she was kidding, it still killed me inside because I'm so used to being that super skinny girl that eats whatever. I would never starve myself or anything over this because I am happy with how I look, but I have also found myself looking in the mirror more often and wondering if I look fat in what I am wearing. So my question here is, what would you say to someone like this? I don't want to outright be mean because sometimes I think she is just jealous of how confident I can be in myself (she is very sensitive) and I don't want to lose her as a friend, but I also don't want to put up with her saying stuff like this anymore.

my mom once told me i looked fat in something. i shrugged it off and then didn't eat for 3 days. and when it comes down to it, i'm dieting like i am just to make my parents proud. i figure if i'm skinny, i'll be good enough for them.

moral of that story- never comment on someone's figure in a way that might be harmful. you never know what it'll do to someone's self esteem.

for you, the best thing you can do is say "well, i really like icecream. i don't think that requires any comments though" and leave it there. if she sees you don't care, she'll stop making remarks. and if it continues, then tell her you'd prefer if she didn't comment on your eating habits.

 

[createmagic]

What do people say to those that call them "fat" or "too heavy" or anything of that kind?
I have always been super tall and super skinny and everyone always pointed out how skinny I was and how jealous they were. Now that I have gotten to college I have gained about 20 pounds, and am very happy about it. I felt that before I just looked unhealthy, even though no matter how much I ate (which is a lotttt haha) I just didn't gain weight. Now that I have been able to up my weight I think I look healthier and more normal. On the other hand though, I have friends telling me that I have gotten fat or have rolls or just bring up how much weight I have gained and how much I eat. I was actually out to eat with one girl that asked me if I was going throw up the ice cream I was eating because it was so much and I definitely didn't need it. Although I knew (or hoped) she was kidding, it still killed me inside because I'm so used to being that super skinny girl that eats whatever. I would never starve myself or anything over this because I am happy with how I look, but I have also found myself looking in the mirror more often and wondering if I look fat in what I am wearing. So my question here is, what would you say to someone like this? I don't want to outright be mean because sometimes I think she is just jealous of how confident I can be in myself (she is very sensitive) and I don't want to lose her as a friend, but I also don't want to put up with her saying stuff like this anymore.

What would I say? Honestly, I'd say something along the lines of, "wow, hurtful" with a pointed look. If that didn't get the point across (and if she's truly your friend, it should), then you could try explaining that its comments like that that can trigger eating disorders...and would she want to feel responsible for something like that?

 

[Deleted member 1556]

I don't know if y'all have seen this, especially @AllstarObsesssion , but this just goes to show you how fake all those girls in magazines and stuff are.

 

[wcsstilldeath]

This "Worlds Diet" thing stikes a cord. I understand wanting to look good and toned to see everyone you havent seen in a while. BUT when you eat minimal calories, you body looses muscle and doesnt provide energy for you to cheer with. Alot less teams would drop at worlds if the athletes actually sat down and had a hearty meal before going to the milkhouse.

 

[xcourtneylynnex]

A few years ago I literally watched a girl on my team develop an eating disorder. As the year went on, she kept getting smaller and smaller. It wasn't only pressure to look good in a uniform, but other teenage pressures dealing with friends outside of cheerleading. She looks a lot healthier now, but that is something that she is going to have to deal with for the rest of her life.

 

[PCMKarma]

Worlds diets are good when done safely and when done with high protein and carbs.... All level 5 teams practices insanely the last month before Worlds... All of us need lots of calories so our body has energy instead of eating minimal calories and becoming weak and could possibly injure yourself... If a coach says you guys need to stop eating so much and no fat or anything then they aren't really qualified coaches and sports knowledgeable. My parents were both professional tennis players, my dad went to the olypmics and they've taught me how to eat when training so hard... with that being said on a healthy athlete diet eating ice cream isnt good but it shouldn't be cut out of your diet just treat yourself to it 1 time a week or the thing you crave sweet the most. To not eat cause you want to look good in your uniform, your an athlete!! You aren't suppose to look skin and bones if you want that... Runway modeling might be more your thing.. If we all want cheerleading to be respected as a sport you have to treat it like a sport which requires having a athletes diet before worlds.

 

[SamanthaFoor]

I have personally have never had an eating disorder of any kind, but when i was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just like @TwistersOwnTheThrone<3 i lost 25 pounds in about a week, and i was eating alot. My dad and my sister both noticed, (my mom was on vacation.) and some of my teammates noticed too. When i ended up in the hospital, my mom called to tell my coach. My coach told her that she was glad it was not an eating disorder and that if i was to show up at practice one more time looking as skinny as i did she was going to make the call to my mom and let her know that she thought i wasn't eating. Anyways everytime i feel bad about the way i look, or my weight and think i should lose some pounds, i go back and look at the photos of myself when i didn't have that 20 pounds, and i looked so unhealthy, and didn't have any of my womanly curves. Looking at those pictures help me make the connection that skinny doesn't always mean you will look better.

 

[marissa.d]

i've never had an eating disorder either, but with hypoglycemia i can't even think of a life without eating! i mean like it effects me so strongly lol i literally could not.
Everyone who's on here who's dealing/dealt with one - you are SO strong, keep fighting and stay healthy!

 

[LisaMarie Langton]

Its not cheer or name calling that causes your mind to push you to extremes! If you have an eating disorder, you were born with it. And usually triggered by a traumatic event! It doesnt help when all your team mates seem to live perfect lives though!

 

[kickdblcj]

Not appropriate for the seriousness of this thread.
-Kingston

 

[gi_cheer]

I cheered in high school and college. I now coach. I had an eating disorder for 10 years. I eventually had to quit cheering in college b/c lost too much weight and was very weak. I was hospitalized 10+ times....sometimes for over 2 months. Eating disorders are definitely about more than weight and looks and food. There are always underlying issues. I still have to be vigilant about eating properly. I'm also always concious of how I present myself to my girls and I keep a close eye on them to make sure they are eating properly and aren't displaying other symptoms.

A very close friend of mine died from multiple organ failure due to anorexia. She was 48 lbs when she died. It was a long painful death by starvation. Definitely not glamourous like some media makes it out to be.

 

[Deleted member 8658]

Not the way I look, I just don't want to feel heavy to my bases.

i know how you feel!
i am a flyer on a senior 3 team, im 16 and im a junior (11th grade) in high school. at school i am very tiny and skinny compared to EVERYONE! even some freshmen. on my team there are two flyers who are alot shorter then me, they are in 6th grade (10-11 years old)and i always feel so much bigger then them! i just always feel like i am way to heavy at cheer and way to light at school. i know this sounds funny but i feel like i need to be lighter on my bases even though they say im a feather, i just dont always feel like it compared to the little flyers on my team. this is something i have been worrying alot about lately because i really want to fly and its something im really good at!

 

[Deleted member 8658]

As a flyer i noticed that i was eating less. Not to lose any weight but, i didnt want to gain weight. I didn't want to make it hard on my bases. But i became obsessed with what i ate and worked out like crazy everyday. Im still obsessed with it. Maybe its just me?

trust me its not just you i am the same way!