Let’s Talk About It: How We Recovered From Insane Eating and Bad Body Image

Many of you have heard the basics of my story of recovering from chronic dieting and binge eating disorder. Recently, the National Organization of Women asked me to submit a short video for their “Let’s Talk About It” video campaign in support of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. I was happy to oblige and hope their campaign will help get the word out that binge eating IS a disorder, and that there is hope! (To see more videos—from folks like models Crystal Renn and Chenese Lewis—or to find out how to make a video of your own, go here.)

Not Cool, Pepsi. Not Cool.

(via Jezebel.com)

Are any of you also a little upset by Pepsi’s new marketing campaign for their “skinny can”? They launched it during NYC Fashion Week—a time when historically, all things tall and skinny are already being celebrated—and are calling their “slim, attractive new can” a “celebration of beautiful, confident women.”

My first thought: Are they only celebrating the slim, attractive confident ones? Something’s off in the messaging there. My second: Perhaps I’m being too persnickety or sensitive. Third thought: No, I’m not! The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) expressed their displeasure as well:

“Is HealthyGirl Only For ‘Young’ Women?”

HealthyGirl might be directed at younger women, but our older, wiser sisters are welcome here, too! (via flickr user ♥ellie♥)

I got this note from a 51-year-old reader and wanted to share. The “age” question is one I’ve gotten more than once:

Q: Is this site only for young women, and if so is there one for older ones? I am 51.  I have struggled with binge eating all my life, until I went into therapy in 2005 (only because my son was, I didn’t think I needed it … ha ha).  I subsequently lost about 112 pounds and felt as if I had completely conquered it.  I ate like a normal person, was happy with who I was and liked myself for the first time in my life. I got a job, a boyfriend and a life!  I was so happy and energetic. I could have taken over the world. Then last year I had a heart attack. I was furious! After all that work to make myself healthier my body had played a really nasty joke on me. I was OK for a few months, still maintained the healthy eating, went to the gym and back to work. And a couple of months after that (4 months after the heart attack) I broke down.

“There is ALWAYS Hope!” A Message From Someone Who Hit a Little Bump in The Road

Mistakes during recovery usually aren't mistakes at all—they're all a part of moving forward! (via Flickr: elycefeliz)

There were a few times during my recovery from binge eating disorder when I thought, “Hey, maybe I’m all better!”…and then found myself a week or a month later driven to binge. At first, I felt like I was failing, and had guilt about the little bumps in the road. But eventually, I came to believe that those little relapses were all a natural part of getting better for me. It was three steps forward, one step back sometimes, and that was OK. So, when I got a note from long-time HealthyGirl reader/contributor Trish saying she had relapsed, I totally understood where she was coming from. I invited her to share what happened with you all today. Thanks Trish! xo…Sunny

Hopping From One Weird Eating Behavior to Another—Have You Done It?

Some people hop-scotch from one disordered eating behavior to another on their way to finding freedom. Have you ever done that? (photo via flickr/MC Quinn)

When I was writing my book, experts told me that it’s incredibly common for people to use several different disordered eating behaviors over their lives. You might start out with extreme dieting or purging, but then fall into bingeing, then boomerang back to restricting again. That’s why I asked Angie to share her story. At different times in her life she has fallen on all different spots on the disordered-eating spectrum—and I thought many of you might relate. xo…Sunny