PrettyThin

UPDATE - 5:42pm Central Time USA
Seems like Google is blocking ads on this site, so that's out. I'll figure out how to contact them, but for the time being, looks like this is going to be a donation site. Want to donate? This is where.

UPDATE - OCTOBER 4, 2011

That's how many page views PrettyThin is receiving every month. More people come onto this site on a single day that would fit into an  average stadium, even if you held three events at the stadium each day! With this comes cost. And that's a problem I am trying to fix.

As many of you know, this site has been down due to bandwidth usage for five days in a row now. I have been in touch with Support at the host thinking that it was a mistake of some kind. Well, they were being kind with the bandwidth restrictions, but this site is no longer just a drop in the bucket any more.

I have posted a topic in the forums to discuss this as a community and to come up with a couple solutions. I apologize for the recent hiccups, and hope to have it all resolved soon.

Are you thinking of starting your own website? Click this link and the referral will help increase the bandwidth quota for the site.

A new story about learning about oneself, and a life with an eating disorder.
Member Submitted

Want to share your story? Click the Contact link on the left.

Newsletters coming out on Monday - first edition!

PrettyThin is not a dieting site. It is a community of individuals with an eating disorder, or somehow associated with the struggle within that manifests itself in this way.

This is where you find James.

I realize that the members of PrettyThin are here for different reasons; they are different people after all. And there are often battles around the content of the site, or the discussions in the forum, often leading to the drama that goes with having a community of this size, or of this type.

So I created newsletters. Email rings of members around the topics that matter to them most. I created a few lists that you can join:
- General PT stuff
- Diet and Exercise: not sure what this will look like yet, but don't join it if you're looking for something specific. It's going to be done in a PT way with sensitivity to the kind of community this is.
- Stories, and Poetry: share it and get it distributed in a different format than appears on this site, and get it in email form.

If you're the kind of person who would want to get these, or would like to contribute to them, just join the group. You'll get info on how to participate.

Is there a mailing list that you would like to be a part of but don't see? Click the Contact button on the left and let me know what it is. 

August 25, 2011

I've been missing for a little while. For better, or worse, I'm really not sure. But I've been here, in a way.

The summer has been great in many ways - I've explored a new city, gone floating down a river, dove off a pontoon and swam in a lake, had many barbeques by the pool out back - but there is always a constant nagging, a conflict, a struggle, a question.

As many of you know, I run PT and a sister site, PA. A combination of events, and possibly timing, has left me answering emails and calls about the communities - from school, from parents, from law enforcement. There have been warnings, that legal action may be taken. There have been threats, on my life or on financial future. And there have been questions upon questions, from concerned individuals and organizations, that needed to be answered about a community that needs to be understood.

And now....there seems to be a lull. A quiet moment in the storm. As if the summer was time for that and now that the summer is over, people have moved onto other things. I have to admit that I'm thankful for that.

Unity bracelets and shirts and other merchandise.  To my embarrassment, that has not gone out yet. Forget not going out - I've made very little movement on it.  Mostly because I just lacked the energy by the time I was done dealing with all the other sh%& that was coming this way. No excuse - just what it was.

So for those who ordered and are wondering wtf, I am sending you all an email which basically says what I just said above, and giving you two options. One, quite simply, is a refund. The second is an "exchange," for the Third Edition Unity Bracelets, and something else (not sure what yet, but some people paid a good amount of money, so it has to be worth it).

Aside from that....

I still get a lot of emails from people wanting to contribute to the site. Please, send me your stories, your articles, your concerns. One thing that is lacking and I think a lot of people would benefit from is a description or journal of your experience if you've even been through recovery. Or if you've ever had a struggle that you've worked through, or are working through. But it can be about anything. Feel free to share.

Stay Beautiful, just as you are,
James

People think its simple. To not eat. Something we each do every single day of our lives to stay alive.
Most think its an easy habit to cut out of your life - that its the "easy way out" to starve yourself.

Anyone with an ED will beg to differ.

When this obsession controls your life and you find yourself trapped - its far from easy. Its the hardest life to live - as an Ana/Mia.
Your mind controls you - every day is a battle between instinct and willpower.

I look in the mirror and see someone that disgusts me. Starving myself makes me feel alive, makes me appreciate beauty and love myself. Love myself up until that point where I cave in and open my mouth for a bite. Just one bite - a bite that throws my self worth and self respect completely off the table.

The world in general likes to look down on people with Eating Disorders - and feel sympathy for the obese. How is that ok???

Us that walk around nearly passing out from weakness in an attempt to find beauty for ourselves - not the world - for our own happiness - and people judge us. The fat person gulping down meds has to be sympathized for "shame honey, don't call her fat". That's not fair.
Its their choice to become so obese, and its ours to limit our food.

This is a constant battle for me, every single day, and its not something a healthy diet will cure or some counseling will fix - this I my reality.
My best friend...Ana.
My worst enemy...Ana.
My life.

________________________________

The above story was submitted by an anonymous member of the community.

The image is by the wonderfully talented Glenn Arthur

Submit your stories or art, comments or criticisms to me and help make this website yours.