I need your opinion...

Gooooood Mornin' Gangstas! How's everyone this fine Thursday? I'm doing SUPER! Here's my dilemma: as most of you know I'm a gym rat...and work very hard on staying in shape. There's a girl in my gym who is anorexic...and exercises every single day...hours and hours a day. I know it's none of my business...but I'm just waiting for her to drop dead and me having to use my EMT skills to try to bring her back...and I'm not kidding So my question is...should I even bother talking to her? Every time I see her I feel so angry I want to smack her. She's skin and bones...seriously...and the folks at the gym (trainers, etc) won't tell her anything. I feel it's their obligation to STOP her from working out...but I guess that doesn't fly here in the US In Brazil we all stick our noses where it doesn't belong Anyway...what u think? Have a TRRRRRRRREMENDOUS THURSDAY! Love, Paola

Paola - I would talk to the trainers/managers of the gym first. I saw this report about people exercising to much and one person die. This person was there everyday for 4.5 hours each day. Well the family sued the gym - they felt it was like a bar - if they have to much to drink and the bar does not cut them off and then they get in an accident the bar is partly responsible. The family won the suit. Everyone has their own personal demons - mine was over eating food to get rid of pain - her's might be to exercise. You might want to befriend her and see if there is anything you can help her with. I think it is wonderful that you want to help - so many people don't want to get involved. Where are you from in Brasil? I lived there when I was 16-18 years old. Totally loved it and have been back several times to visit my friends. I lived in Porto Alegre.... it was so much fun! Valerie

I'm from Sao Paulo...Porto Alegre is soooooooo beautiful...

There's a lady like that at my gym. She appears to be in her late 50's, but frankly I think she just looks to be older than what she is because of how boney and haggard she is. Anorexia is a mental disorder and I really don't think anything a stranger/acquaintance could say would make a difference. I hope she can get the help she needs before it's too late. Becky

Befriend her, be a good friend, support her. But don't ever, ever do to her what people felt free to do to you regarding your weight. Just remember how it made you feel and how it sabotoged your efforts when well meaning aquaintances discussed your weight and health with you unsolicited. Anorexia is a serious medical and psychological condition that must be acknowledged by the patient themselves before it can be successfully treated....just like obeisity. Until an obese person is ready to acknowledge to themselves that there is a problem and that they alone can fix the problem...well, you know how it goes. Also, you don't know her medical issues, perhaps she has another underlying medical condition causing the weight loss... The best thing you can do is to become a friend that will be there for her.

That's a tough one. I have the problem when I see morbidly obese people now, I just want to run up to them and tell them about my experience but I also think about how I would have felt if someone had done that to me when I was 370 pounds. I probably would have sat on them! I would say to strike up a conversation with this woman and build some sort of communication before you discuss your concerns. She would most likely be more willing to listen than a stranger talking to her about it. Michelle