Eating Disorders Blogs 
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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory.
Resolution Renovation... Plus Big Weird Giveaway!
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Photo: Hypervocal.com
Did you make some hopeful New Year's Resolutions a few weeks back? Or, if you're not the resolution sort, have you set some worthy "self-improvement" goals in your sights?
Awesome! So.... how's that going?
Perhaps you're exceeding your wildest dreams of success, or at least you're pretty well on track to be one of the meager 12% who actually keep New Years Resolutions. If so, way to go, you rock!
But if you've already abandoned ship on your promises to yourself, or are in danger of doing so soon... hang on--don't give up just yet. Some simple suggestions may help you get rig...
Source: Cranky Fitness - February 7, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Hormones as Diet WreckersEmail this article to a colleague.
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You know how it is after you’ve been dieting and even have lost some weight. You’re feeling so good about yourself—til you’re feeling bad because you’re back into abusing food. It’s time to stop blaming yourself and to recognize that biology may be at work stoking your hunger. That’s why eating disorder experts keep insisting that diets don’t work long-term. So, if you must assign blame, try your hormones.
“Blame hormones for wrecked diets?,” an article by Malcolm Ritter (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 10/27/11) explains what’s going on. It says that the findings of a recent study “suggest that diet...
Source: Normal Eating - February 6, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
We stand for...Email this article to a colleague.
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In a previous post I mentioned Georgia's misguided and harmful Strong4Life Campaign where the focus is on shaming fat children through posters and ads that send stigmatizing messages with words and pictures.
Marily Wann and a number of other Health At Every Size® proponents have developed a wonderful response to this campaign. They've encouraged those of us who oppose weight bullying to take a stand by submitting a photo along with words expressing what we STAND for. The photo in this blog is what Tom and I submitted last night.
The words we used are from the following poem written by Andrea a few months before her ...
Source: Advice for Parents - February 3, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
The Importance of ChewingEmail this article to a colleague.
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One of the simplest steps you can take to eat more mindfully is to chew your food more thoroughly. I'm not talking radical behavioral change or doing a 180 in your thinking. Just doing more of what you’re already doing—chomp, chomp, chomp.
An article on this subject, “Slow Food” (Nutrition Action Healthletter, 10/11, originally published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), concludes that if you’re looking to consume less food, the way to do it is to rev up mastication. Remember, chewing breaks down food to release flavor and chemicals which tell the brain how much you’re enjoying what you’re ...
Source: Normal Eating - February 3, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Pycnogenol: What the Heck It Is, and Why You May Want to Win SomeEmail this article to a colleague.
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Hint: it comes from here.
Yes, this is indeed another review/giveaway post. But I realize it might take a little bit of explaining to get you all pumped up to win a 12 week supply of...
Pine bark pills.
But wait, don't go away! These are "French Maritime" pine bark capsules! Doesn't that sound a bit more jaunty? Picture 'em sauntering around in sailor suits eating croissants and smoking Gauloises if that makes them sound more intriguing.
Does that help?
(Image swiped from La Maison Boheme)
Actually, there's a fair amount of research that supports a long list of potential health and cosmetic benefits for pine bar...
Source: Cranky Fitness - February 3, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
The Obesity GeneEmail this article to a colleague.
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I wonder how many of you read the title of this blog and immediately groaned, “That’s probably me, alright.” Although it’s true that many overeaters carry a gene that makes them more inclined to obesity, your bummed-out response may not be as warranted as you think. Remember that weight is a bio-psycho-social issue.
According to Beating the Obesity Gene (PARADE, 10/12/08), it’s true that genes can predispose you to overweight. The obesity gene, called FTO, “is found in more than half of some populations. And those with two copies of the gene are 70% more likely to be obese than noncarriers.” If your parent...
Source: Normal Eating - January 30, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
More Snacks: Scary Seaweed! Plus Re-Giveaway WinnerEmail this article to a colleague.
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Yep, we have a new winner of the HUMAN snack-pack and t-shirt giveaway!
Plus there's also a micro-post about snacking. Because the funny thing about snacking... even after you've said you're done, finished, that's absolute it for now? Somehow two minutes later you're all "well, hell, just one more..."
And what happened to the big ol' post I was going to do on an important, sensible, and much-loathed medical screening procedure I had done last week? Well, still waiting for lab results, and somehow it seemed like its asking for trouble to write the whole thing without knowing what the biopsy's gonna say. So ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 30, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Your Brain and GratificationEmail this article to a colleague.
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Over the years I’ve blogged on frustration tolerance and delaying gratification from the behavioral perspective. Now science tells us that specific parts of the brain influence our ability to defer pleasure (or not). In particular, research conclusions on spending versus saving tell us a lot about our eating patterns and their bio-psycho-social origins.
Science tells us that there are measurable differences in the brain between folks who save or spend (NEWSWEEK, November 7/14, 2011), “…particularly in the areas of the brain that predict consequences, process the sense of reward, spur motivation, and control memory...
Source: Normal Eating - January 27, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Is there a Guitar in your Closet? - Realizing your Dreams in the New YearEmail this article to a colleague.
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I bought a guitar in high school. At the time, I was struggling with an eating disorder and its various underlying issues, including high anxiety and perfectionism. Needless to say, I did not learn to play that instrument. Instead, I shoved the guitar into the back of my closet where it lived for almost twenty years.
Malnutrition prevented me from having the physical strength and energy to press the strings down on the guitar. And perfectionism told me that if you can’t perform perfectly, don’t do it at all. Since playing the guitar is fun, I also had trouble with that aspect of making music. In those days, I restrict...
Source: Recovery Support - January 26, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Jenni Schaefer Source Type: blogs
Lazy Linkage: Let's Mess With Texas EditionEmail this article to a colleague.
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Should we worry that this is the design on a Kids Extra Small T-shirt?Photo: cafe press
Yep, it's time for one of those weird posts with bunch of miscellaneous stuff in it. And for absolutely no reason at all, it seems a good week to pick on Texas. Of course we apologize in advance to all of the awesome folks who live in Texas, like Mizfit! (Though does Austin really count as Texas?)
So, want to find out how Texas college kids are getting high these days, or why the New York Times is writing about pee, or perhaps where you might be able to score some free tea?
Join me for another lazy link roundup!
First ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 26, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Truth Versus Our StoriesEmail this article to a colleague.
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One major hurdle for disregulated eaters who’ve struggled with food for a long time is believing in recovery. Perhaps you believe there’s a truth that says you won’t or can’t have a positive relationship with food and eat “normally.” What you don’t realize is that this so-called truth is only a story that you tell yourself over and over.
Not a week goes by in which a client or message board member (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/foodandfeelings) doesn’t say something like, “I’m impulsive,” “I just can’t do this,” “It’s too hard,” or “I’ll never be a “normal” eater.” When I ques...
Source: Normal Eating - January 23, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Happy Trails: Thoughts on Camping, Plus A Re-Giveaway!Email this article to a colleague.
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All Photos by the clever Lobster
You know those inspiring photo-bloggers like Hilary at The Smitten Image who go out into the world, capture beautiful moments, and string them together with graceful prose? Not only do you get to enjoy stunning images of nature, but there's usually some sort of subtle but powerful observation about hope, or resilience, or the transience of life or some other deep topic.
Here at Cranky Fitness, we're not so highbrow.
Having just come back from a camping trip, I've been scratching my head trying to come up with some justification to post pictures, and nothing Deep is coming to mind.&n...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 23, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
A dentist taleEmail this article to a colleague.
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I changed dentists about 15 years ago when a molar on my lower jaw, that had been cracked and injured, needed to be removed. This professional insisted that he had to also pull the corresponding tooth on the upper jaw as well. If not, this tooth would grow to fill the gap, causing all sorts of problems.
I remember listening to this plan in stunned silence. Really. A perfectly healthy tooth needed to be pulled because of what might happen in the future?? I tried to talk my dentist out of this approach. Certainly we could pull the injured tooth and take a wait-and-see approach with the healthy one. But no. He insisted tha...
Source: Advice for Parents - January 20, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Book Review: THE COMPASS OF PLEASUREEmail this article to a colleague.
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For those of you who aren’t satisfied with simply working on changing your eating habits, but also want to understand the biology behind some of them, I recommend David J. Linden’s THE COMPASS OF PLEASURE—HOW OUR BRAINS MAKE FATTY FOODS, ORGASM, EXERCISE, MARIJUANA, GENEROSITY, VODKA, LEARNING, AND GAMBLING FEEL SO GOOD. It deals with some difficult concepts, but I found it enlightening and relatively readable if I was willing to read slowly and sometimes go through a passage more than once.
Linden explains why on a cellular level we become addicted to pleasure. Never mind family and cultural influences, insists t...
Source: Normal Eating - January 20, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Gone Campin'!Email this article to a colleague.
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Photo: The Lobster
OK, so actually, I'm just back from camping, but spending a few days in the desert means I've somehow accumulated a large and ugly "to do" list.
So while most fitness bloggers just back from an outdoor excursion would come back with a bunch of inspiring pictures and brilliant tips on making the most out of your hiking holiday... I've come back with a pile of stinky laundry and some heartfelt intentions to do some Serious Catching up over the weekend. And gosh, with my grueling blogging schedule of a couple of posts a week, in which I'm forced to write... well, whatever the hell I want--you can se...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 20, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
A student asks...Email this article to a colleague.
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We presented a number of talks at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire last week. During the morning assembly we were able to speak to about 1,000 students. Our first experience with over a thousand students in attendance was at the Coast Guard Academy a number of years ago. Our Exeter audience was as polite and attentive--a relief to us as speakers.
Upon our return home, I received an email from a young girl who asked me a number of probing questions. She was not writing an article or paper (at least she did not reveal as much to me in her email). Below are a few of her more unique questions along with my responses...
Source: Advice for Parents - January 16, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Thanks From Your Wild ChildEmail this article to a colleague.
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I’ve blogged often about the wild child in you that’s been getting its way around food—the part that’s entitled, defiant, demanding, uncaring about consequence, and who lives only in the moment. But there’s another part of the wild child that knows she’s out of her league around food and desperately, more than anything in the world, wants the loving, nurturing, compassionate, caring part of you to reign her in and be in charge.
Young children have no idea what’s good for them. They act impulsively and lack the life experience and awareness to look beyond now to consequence in what adults call the future. T...
Source: Normal Eating - January 16, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Tabatas: HIIT Made Evil (and Awesome)Email this article to a colleague.
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Photo: Tim Ellis
What's a Tabata? Simple: It's a 20/10 HIIT protocol repeated 8 times.
Wait, you want that in English? Sorry, let's try that again!
A Tabata is a form of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Tabatas require 20 seconds of all-out effort, followed by 10 seconds of rest, and this cycle is repeated consecutively for a total of eight times. So it really is "simple," though it sure as hell ain't easy.
And you math majors are all probably way ahead of us here... yep, that's a FOUR MINUTE workout.
Everyone knows that that HIIT interval training comes with great health benefits. And there a...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 16, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
HUMAN T-Shirt and Snack Pack Giveaway WinnerEmail this article to a colleague.
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And the winner of our healthy snack giveaway is... Kim!
Kim, please send mailing info, as well as T-shirt size and style (Men's or Women's) by the end of the day Wednesday to: Crabby McSlacker at gmail dot com. And congratulations!
And to those of you dreaming of healthy vending machine options at your work-place, school, or gym, don't forget the HUMAN folks are handing out $250 rewards for successful referrals.
Thanks for stopping by; new post up in a minute or two! (Source: Cranky Fitness)
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 16, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
What's NormalEmail this article to a colleague.
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Many disregulated eaters grow up in dysfunctional families and, therefore, lack understanding of what constitutes normal behavior and feelings—you may do whatever your parents did or exactly the opposite and be confused about what is mentally healthy or unhealthy. This uncertainty limits your life skill effectiveness and makes it harder to improve your relationship with food. So, here are some guidelines for emotional health.
There are people in the world who will love, value, and take care of you age appropriately. They’ll listen intently to what you have to say, take you seriously, believe you, compassionately cha...
Source: Normal Eating - January 13, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
What's On Your Workout Playlist?Email this article to a colleague.
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Photo by The Lobster
Looking for workout tunes?
And say, wouldn't it be nice if some blogger assembled a vast collection of awesome songs that totally transformed your workouts from a dreary chore to a blissful celebration of movement and music?
Well sorry, I ain't that blogger. In fact, musical taste is so personal, passionate, and persnickety that no matter who claims to have the best workout playlist, it will, for most people, suck in some way or another.
But you've got to start somewhere in locating new faves, right? And over at Shape Magazine they've got a great round-up of workout playlist selections ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 13, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Life, Not DramaEmail this article to a colleague.
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I was having lunch with a friend who is also a therapist a while back. We shared professional chit chat, but mostly we talked about how are our private lives were going—the latest developments in some ongoing family situations and how we were bearing up. She really got my attention when she said quite casually, “I wish clients saw the ups and downs of life as just that, rather than as exceptional high drama.” How true, I thought, how could our lives be any other way.
Life would not be life if it didn’t have ups and downs—a health problem, a house or car that needs fixing, tension with neighbors, family disse...
Source: Normal Eating - January 9, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Healthy Snacks Ideas, Gripes, and a Giveaway!Email this article to a colleague.
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I Won't Even Speculate As To What Strange Ritual Is Going On Here.Photo: Plan 59
Hungry... but it's not quite mealtime yet?
Some folks have a "no snacking between meals" policy. If that's part of your particular dietary religion, then so sorry! You'll have to suck it up, distract yourself, and wait until the clock tells you it's time to eat again. Just try not to think of any of sweet or salty or crispy or creamy or rich or flavorful favorites you might have--you know, those delicious treats you absolutely love that would taste so so good right now if only it were the right time of day? Yeah, just don't ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 9, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
HAES remindersEmail this article to a colleague.
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I wrote an explanation of a Health At Every Size® (HAES(sm)) approach today that was beyond the grasp of the youthful audience for which it was intended. Although they will not hear these words, I decided to share them with you:
We live in an environment that has become increasingly “fat phobic.” I realize that what I am going to propose is not only a major shift away from our current weight-based paradigm of health but can be an uncomfortable proposition depending on how immersed and/or dedicated one is to the maintenance of this paradigm. I ask, though, for you to open your heart as well as your mind and to giv...
Source: Advice for Parents - January 6, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Reconnecting to Your Eating ProblemEmail this article to a colleague.
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While reading an article entitled Therapists and climate change by Garry Cooper (PSYCHOTHERAPY NETWORKER, 10-11/2011), I was amazed at the parallels that occur between repairing and protecting our natural world and attending to appetite. Turns out that both share similar psychological dynamics.
A quote in the article on climate consciousness from The myth of apathy, an article by Renee Lertzman who teaches about psychology and sustainability, resonates with me: “…what appears to be apathy is really a ‘tangle’ of confusion, emotions and desires,” resulting in a gap between values and behaviors. Lertzman is sayi...
Source: Normal Eating - January 6, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Lazy Linkage: Making New Friends EditionEmail this article to a colleague.
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Photo: Fazen
Hey, it's a new year, and a good time for new ventures and new experiences, right?
In "real life," The Lobster and I are challenging ourselves to get off our asses and meet new friends. We've started spending winters in San Diego, and wow, there are lots of nice people here! However, it took us a while to figure out that in order to meet these people, we actually have to venture outside of the house. Furthermore, it turns out you need to do things like initiate conversations with strangers, follow up when things click, and get dates on calendars... yikes!
But as you might predict, we're fin...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 5, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Got New Year Resolutions?Email this article to a colleague.
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Photo: creepyed
I've never been much of a believer in New Year's Resolutions. Such a ridiculous ritual! Let's dither around all year, then go totally hog-wild with self-indulgence over the holidays. Because never fear: "resolving" to change our ways will somehow confer magical powers come January 1!
A lifetime of crappy self-defeating habits will be vanquished effortlessly, to be replaced by a shiny new healthy and virtuous lifestyle. And all we have to do is promise ourselves to try harder as soon as the calendar says it's 2012. What's not to like about such crazypants logic?
But what the hell. For some reason I'm...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 3, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Final Holiday Messages of Hope: Sarah Blumenthal and Caroline PerrisEmail this article to a colleague.
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Over the past week or so, I have posted messages of hope from others to help provide additional support during the holidays. Now that January 3rd has arrived, I guess I should stop talking about the holidays and move on with 2012! Here are some final recovery thoughts from Sarah and Caroline. Thanks to all of you (Meg, Kyla, Vic, Caroline, and Sarah) who shared your amazing stories.
I would love to hear from more of you! Please feel free to post words of inspiration on this page as a comment or on my Facebook page.
I look forward to hearing from you!
All the best,
Jenni
Words from Sarah Blumenthal:
I was anorexic...
Source: Recovery Support - January 3, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Jenni Schaefer Source Type: blogs
Holiday Message of Hope Continued: Vic AvonEmail this article to a colleague.
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The holidays are supposed to be a time of happiness, but for many of us it’s a time filled with much anxiety and struggle. I know I dreaded the holidays for years, and even after being in recovery for three years I know that there has been a certain level of angst when they come rolling around. There could be a million recovery messages that I could share with you, but I’d rather share with you a personal experience from this current holiday journey. Three weeks before Christmas Day I suffered an expected loss in my family. Not only did I lose my best friend, but I lost the most important source of strength in ...
Source: Recovery Support - January 2, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Jenni Schaefer Source Type: blogs
Write Your Own Treatment PlanEmail this article to a colleague.
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I’ve been writing treatment plans for clients at different worksites since the late 1980s, and now do them for telephone/Skype clients when I do an initial consultation. It recently dawned on me that disregulated eaters would benefit from developing their own treatment plans. It’s a pretty straightforward endeavor. Here’s how.
A treatment plan gives structure to getting from here to there. It’s a crucial tool for disregulated eaters who crave the do’s and don’ts inherent in diets (minus restriction). A treatment plan is different from devising goals because of its flexibility and internal exploration. In mos...
Source: Normal Eating - January 2, 2012 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
For 2012 ...Email this article to a colleague.
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May you know ...
With love and blessings,
Doris
(Source: Advice for Parents)
Source: Advice for Parents - December 31, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Trying, Learning, and SucceedingEmail this article to a colleague.
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I have clients who’re making real progress in their lives—they used to do “A” around food or people and are now doing “B”—yet still tell me they’re “trying” and “learning,” while I’d call what they’re doing succeeding. Do you understand the difference? When do you stop saying you’re trying or learning and start saying you’re succeeding? Not that there’s anything wrong with “trying” or “learning,” but the goal is success.
Let’s look at the word “trying” as in, “I’m trying to be more open about my feelings.” That implies that you want to be different, but it’s not ha...
Source: Normal Eating - December 30, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Celebrate!Email this article to a colleague.
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Photo: Tim Hamilton
So, it’s almost January 1… are you getting all psyched to change your entire life in a few days with a whole slew of earnest and optimistic New Year’s resolutions?
Or perhaps you regard the whole resolution routine as a futile and somewhat amusing cultural exercise in self-delusion? No worries! Either way, what with a fresh new year almost upon us, it does seem a handy time for a bit of reflection and self-assessment.
However, before we all start running around figuring out how we can be fit, slim, well-rested, courageous, non smoking debt-free vegan triathletes with clean closets and abs of st...
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 30, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Holiday Message of Hope Continued: Kyla BuckinghamEmail this article to a colleague.
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After a decade of being “the anorexic” and “the bulimic,” I wondered, “Maybe I’m worth more than this. Maybe I need my friends more than I need this eating disorder.” We may not choose to have eating disorders, but we can choose to treat ourselves kindly and ask for help long before we “look sick.” I hope you’re not ashamed. I hope you believe things can get better when you talk. Because they can--which is why today I work for a mental health charity to tell people that everyday.
- Kyla Buckingham (Source: Recovery Support)
Source: Recovery Support - December 26, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Jenni Schaefer Source Type: blogs
Part of the Problem or the SolutionEmail this article to a colleague.
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I’m giving you fair warning that I’m on a bit of a rant here about body image. How is it that so many of you bright, capable, clever, terrific folks won’t stop obsessing about your weight and keep choosing to make it the arbiter of your worth and lovability? If you must focus on weight, studies show that folks who shed pounds that stay shed do so through having fitness and health, not weight, as their goals.
I spend much of my professional life trying to convince clients, mostly women, not to devalue their bodies because of their weight/shape/size. I confess that I get frustrated; worse is how sad it makes me that...
Source: Normal Eating - December 26, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
The Gratitude ThingEmail this article to a colleague.
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Photo credit: Limevelyn
It’s not exactly breaking news that gratitude is a good thing. Psychologists, medical scientists, spiritual leaders, friendly fitness magazines, talk show hosts, your grandmother...everyone seems to be in agreement that you need a whole hell of a lot more of it.
In fact, happiness research studies reveal a bunch of cool benefits you get from feeling grateful. People who consciously cultivate gratitude have better health, achieve more of their goals, exercise more, sleep better, improve their relationships, become more generous, experience more positive feelings, and are way less of a pain in the ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 26, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Meg's Holiday Message of HopeEmail this article to a colleague.
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I know that many of you struggle with Ed thoughout this time of the year. (I know this, because you have sent lots of messages to me about it recently.) As my gift to you this holiday season, over the next week or so, I will share stories of inspiration from others --- to lift you up and to renew your faith that recovery really is possible. I have heard many people say, "Well, Jenni, I know that you are recovered. But you are the only person I know who did get better from an eating disorder." Many of you have asked me, "Does anyone else get better?" The answer is a big YES! I will start by sharing Meg's story.
Here is Meg...
Source: Recovery Support - December 24, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Jenni Schaefer Source Type: blogs
Wishing you....Email this article to a colleague.
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....during the holidays.
Blessings,
Doris
Photo taken this AM of our family room mantel (Source: Advice for Parents)
Source: Advice for Parents - December 23, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Research Explains Why Diets FailEmail this article to a colleague.
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I rarely blog on weight loss because obsession with a number on the scale or clothing size is unhealthy, and a goal of shedding pounds is not as effective in changing eating habits as a focus on fitness and health. However, many of you still struggle with whether or not to diet and may need a bit more convincing that diets really don’t work long term.
Toward that end, I was delighted to read Jane Brody’s, “Why Even the Most Resolute Dieters Fail” (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 9/27/11) which explains what goes wrong with diets and how to shed pounds that stay shed. Here’s her summary of research on the highly compl...
Source: Normal Eating - December 23, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Emotions As A Life RaftEmail this article to a colleague.
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Much of my work with clients is around sharing emotions, for they’re as important to recovering from eating problems as is appetite. Sadly, both often have been perceived negatively by disregulated eaters who trust neither their appetite nor their feelings. The good news is that you really can’t improve in one area without improving in the other.
This blog is based on a 2007 PARADE Magazine article that I accidentally misplaced and recently discovered, Why Emotion Keeps You Well by Dr. Henry S. Lodge. Fortunately what Lodge has to say remains current and relevant: We may think that emotions affect only our mental he...
Source: Normal Eating - December 19, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
What Sucked This Year: Health & Fitness EditionEmail this article to a colleague.
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So we're heading into the holidays, and soon it will be a new year. It's supposed to be the time even grumps and Grinches manage to turn those frowns upside down, right?
'Tis the season for reflection and heart-felt appreciation. Doesn't it just make you wanna dive into a big gooey vat of love, gratitude, and joy and splash around in it for a while?
Wait, some of you aren't feeling it yet? What's wrong with you?!
Well I say nothing's wrong that a little pre-holiday griping won't cure.
Because at least for some of us, it's important to get our accumulated year-end complaints properly whined about before there can be a...
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 19, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Winner of Deepak Chopra "Leela" GameEmail this article to a colleague.
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And the winner is... Therese!!
Congrats Therese, please email your name, shipping address, and which version you'd like to crabby mcslacker @ gmail dot com by end of day Wednesday the 21st to claim your prize. (Source: Cranky Fitness)
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 19, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Making room at the table for griefEmail this article to a colleague.
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A few days ago a friend, who recently lost a family member, emailed to ask about how we incorporate Andrea into the holidays...hoping for guidance on how to do the same for her loved one.
Yesterday, I had lunch with another dear friend whose best friend and companion died just two weeks ago. She marveled at how we'd survived our grief but also wondered what we were doing to include Andrea in our celebrations this year.
It is difficult to navigate the hard work of grieving during what is considered by many a time of "good cheer." To be surrounded by friendly smiles and wishes of happy holidays almost adds insult to inju...
Source: Advice for Parents - December 16, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Scripting Difficult Eating SituationsEmail this article to a colleague.
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One thing that leads us to eating in ways which are not in our best interest—and prevents us from stopping even when we’re aware we’re hurting ourselves—is the script that runs in our heads. It may come through loud and clear, be a barely audible whisper, or we may not even notice it because we’re on autopilot. Whichever, the way to create a different outcome in a situation is to create and practice a new script.
Here’s the outline of a common script: Tired after a day of school/work/running around, on the way home you start thinking about eating to unwind. The voice in your head coaxes you toward places y...
Source: Normal Eating - December 16, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Emotional eating articleEmail this article to a colleague.
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For anyone interested in reading an article on emotional eating in which I'm quoted, here's the link: Sarasota Herald Tribune Health and Fitness article.
Best,
Karen R. Koenig (Source: Normal Eating)
Source: Normal Eating - December 13, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
SnackingEmail this article to a colleague.
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What gives you the most trouble with eating—sit-down meals (in or out) or snacking? If the answer is snacking, it’s time to direct your energy and focus to changing your between-meal eating which, in turn, will improve your entire relationship with food.
We used to have most, if not all, our food interactions sitting at a table with others. In fact, much of our eating was done at actual mealtimes. We used to eat a piece of fruit, crackers, or peanut butter to tide us over between lunch and dinner, lick an ice cream cone while out and about, munch popcorn at the movies, enjoy cotton candy at the circus or a red can...
Source: Normal Eating - December 12, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
Holiday Healthy Gift Guide (And Giveaway)Email this article to a colleague.
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Image: Plan 59
Got gifts let to buy? Or perhaps you'd like to pass on ideas to well-meaning loved ones who will otherwise bestow you with an assortment of nightgowns, scarves, scented soap, and Festively Wrapped Gift Baskets Full of Tasteful But Toxic Junk Food.
Well, no worries, we've got a bunch of ideas! Most of them are unsolicited, though a few came from a desire to try out Stuff For Free. We'll make sure to disclose any freebies so that you can adjust your skept-o-meter accordingly.
Wait, hold on... what's this "we" business?
Yep, it's true, I got some help on this one. The Lobster offered to take on some Produc...
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 12, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Kuru Shoe WinnerEmail this article to a colleague.
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The winner of the Kuru Aalto Chukka giveaway is: dhansen11!
(And, yes, it appears there was a double entry. To clarify: it's ok to comment more than once, but only the first comment counts towards the giveaway. That's what the RNG picked in this instance).
dhansen11, please email crabby mcslacker @ gmail dot com to claim your prize by end of the day Wednesday December 14th or we'll draw again! (And it would be great if you'd include name, mailing address, color choice, and size).
Thanks everyone! (Source: Cranky Fitness)
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 12, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
An opportunity for mindfulnessEmail this article to a colleague.
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Yesterday I found myself feeling sick inside. I had to trace the day's events to arrive at what had triggered my nausea (this was not a physical response, but an emotional one). By the time I'd readied for bed, my limbs felt heavy and I knew I was allowing myself to sink into worry and despair.
The triggers that set me down this path are not important. What mattered to me was how I would deal with my reactions. I lied in bed knowing that sleep would not come if I continued to ruminate. I made a conscious decision to pull myself out of thoughts of future and past. I concentrated on my breath and with each exhalation I ...
Source: Advice for Parents - December 9, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Doris Smeltzer Source Type: blogs
Societal Impact on Eating and WeightEmail this article to a colleague.
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If you’ve struggled to improve your eating and health to little avail, you may feel as if you’ve failed at the process. What you may not realize is that you’ve not been making this attempt in a vacuum. Yes, there may be internal factors that make it difficult for you to eat “normally,” but there are also external ones that may be undermining success.
Health writer Jane Brody, describes these factors in Why, Oh Why, Are We So Fat? (Sarasota Herald-Tribune 9/20/11). Aside from wishing the article’s title said “Unhealthy” rather than “Fat,” I find Brody’s assessment of cultural changes affecting eatin...
Source: Normal Eating - December 9, 2011 Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs
