Today is a Great Day to Eat All Day
Do you know what would be awesome today?
For you to have regular meals.
And then to have regular snacks.
To eat consistently, all day.
Not only would your blood sugar stay stable, but you’d be less likely to be preoccupied with thoughts about food, would likely be a little bit more patient with that friend or colleague or classmate whom you find irritating, would be more capable of physical efforts, and would be able to make more thoughtful eating decisions.
Today is a great day to eat all day.
….so is tomorrow and the next day.
FOREVER.
#eat #antidiet #foodhacks #eatingdisorderrecovery #fitness #wellness #selfcare #hangry
Digestive Issues Impact Up To 98%+ of Humans Living With Disordered Eating
The literature on the connection between the existence of digestive issues in humans struggling with disordered eating (see: ED, dieting) is clear: Up to 98+ percent of humans will deal with symptoms of IBS as part of their story.
Gas, bloating, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, heartburn, dysphasia, altered motility, more.
As a new dietitian, working in a clinic, I got really good at telling clients that their symptoms would resolve as their bodies healed. I imagine I was rather insistent about this. “Feed your body, feed your gut, heal your body, heal your gut.“ For some clients, this worked. For others, it didn’t, but I remained staunch in my insistence that it would.
🙅♀️What a jerk.
If you have digestive issues in the context of healing from diet or disorder, I believe you. The fact is, incorporation of regular quantities of food and a wide wide variety of food, after a period of dieting or restrained eating, will likely upset your belly. That’s pretty normal.
And if things do not get better as you move through this process, please talk to your doctor. Get a referral to see a gastroenterologist.
Please don’t rely on Dr. Google to provide you with good health solutions.
They are almost always diet-wellness culture infiltrated. Even if ‘experts,’ are owning the suggestions.
You don’t need to struggle in silence.
And even if the first treatment suggested is food, regularly, and patience, you might need more. That’s okay.
I HOPE YOU FIND EASE.
Abraham S, Kellow J., 2011
Janssen P, 2010
#eatingdisorderrecovery #dietrecovery #digestivehealth #digestion #wellness #gastroparesis #diarrhea #constipation #gas #bloating #healing #ibs #guthealth #BingeEatingDisorder #Bulimia #osfed #ARFID #Anorexia #disorderedeating #dietrecovery #diet #orthorexia #rdchat #dietitiansofinstagram
I Love My Job
I LOVE MY JOB.
I am humbled every day by the work that my clients do. I am humbled by the number of opportunities that I have been given to do this work that I LOVE. I am humbled by the tireless work that is required to truly move through eating disorder recovery.
AND
I’m so delighted to say that RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. Even if you’ve struggled for as long as you can remember. Even if your eating disorder has been a loyal companion. Even if, even if, even if.
I went to college and graduate school with the sole intention of becoming an eating disorder dietitian so that I could tell an important human in my life that recovery happens.
I’m so glad that I did.
And I’m so grateful to say that I’ve seen recovery in action. Over and over. That I have ZERO question about whether or not recovery is a thing.
Recovery is THE thing. I’ll stay here. I’ll stay in this work. With the hope that one day, I won’t be needed here.
Fight on #recoverywarriors - and stay in the fight. Just stay. You’re worth it.
#nedawareness #nedaweek #eatingdisorderrecovery #nationaleatingdisorderawarenessweek #edrecovery #edawareness #recovery #believe #heal #nourish #comeasyouare
Eating Disorders are Unique Conditions
Having the pleasure of working with humans who are struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, moving away from diets, and body image issues is a great honor and pleasure. It is also something that I was NOT trained in during my undergraduate or graduate education.
We all start somewhere. Read. Listen to podcasts. Go to conferences. Seek out support. Learn before you treat.
Our clients deserve the best. If you are treating humans who have challenging relationships with food or body, it is your responsibility to be trained to do so safely and appropriately. It’s also your responsibility to engage in continuing education and supervision.
Professionals who are treating eating disorders MUST be supported in doing this rewarding and important work.
Our clients DESERVE THIS FROM US.
#EatingDisorderDietitian #nedawareness #nedawarenessweek #nedaweek #neda #EatingDisorderRecovery #eatingdisorderspecialists #supervision #responsiblehealthcare #haes #eatingdisordereducation #rdchat #rd4bc #rd2be #weightstigma #comeasyouare #intersectionality @iaedpfoundation
Eating Disorders Are Functional
Eating disorders serve a purpose.
They are functional.
They are not conditions acquired intentionally.
And when someone’s eating disorder begins, perhaps there are no other strategies for them to utilize. Perhaps engaging in eating disorder behavior is a means of survival. Perhaps following eating disorder rules is the only way for someone to make sense of an otherwise nonsensical experience.
I think it’s important to validate the function of an eating disorder.
The truth is, they work at doing a job. But they’re shapeshifters. I have yet to meet a person for whom the initial job of the eating disorder remained static throughout their experience.
A few exercises that I ask my clients to consider:
1. Write a thank-you note to your eating disorder. Thank it for doing a job. If you’re ready, end the letter inviting your ED to move on.
2. Make a list of ED functions at the start of your struggle. Compare it to the function of today’s ED. Make a list of skills, tools, that you have today that you didn’t have when your ED started. Use them!
3. Write out ED self and Healthy self dialogues. If your healthy self is quiet, write this as though you were offering support to a loved one. Do this anytime an ED thought shows up.
No matter how functional your eating disorder has been, know that you CAN function without it.
And life is better on the other side.
Recovery is worth every ounce of effort.
#eatingdisorderawarenessweek2020 #nedawareness #nedawarenessweek2020 #nedaweek #eatingdisorderrecovery #recoverywarriors #edrecovery #edawareness #eatingdisorderawareness #comeasyouare
Come As You Are
Diet culture. Fatphobia. Weight stigma. The media. Racism. Societal “beauty ideals.“ The computer you’re holding in your hand right now. Omnipresent access to images, of bodies that look like yours, and bodies that don’t. Omnipresent messaging about those bodies. Omnipresent access to food cures, food solutions, miracles.
Is it any wonder that the rates of eating disorders have doubled between the years of 2000 and 2018? And that is not to mention the MANY who are uncounted because of lack of screening or appropriate diagnosis.
Disordered eating is so elevated in our culture, that I no longer care about whether or not someone has an actual diagnosis.
A struggle with food is real and valid.
A struggle with body is real and valid.
If you’re not counted in the DSM, your struggle is real and valid.
Diagnosis or not, I see you. Your experience is real. Your experience is valid.
You might’ve been rewarded, congratulated, elevated for engagement in disordered behaviors. There’s a good possibility that you never thought a thing of it. Maybe your behaviors fell under the guise of “taking care of yourself.” Maybe your relationship with food became complicated in a response to watching a salacious documentary, or reading something on Dr. Google, or having a conversation with a friend that made you question yourself. Your body.
No matter the reason, your story is valid.
COME AS YOU ARE.
Galmiche M, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019.
#eatingdisorderawarenessweek2020 #nedawareness #nedawarenessweek2020 #orthorexia #anorexia #atypicalanorexia #dsm #racism #recoverywarriors #edrecovery #edawareness #eatingdisorderawareness #comeasyouare #eatingdisorderecovery
It Takes a Village
Eating disorders are biopsychosocial conditions. They’re not caused by one thing, can’t be treated by a sole practitioner in isolation, and need to be fully understood with consideration of the context in which they exist.
The expression “IT TAKES A VILLAGE,” couldn’t be any more appropriate. Recovery is hard. Recovery without thoughtful understanding of every angle of the condition is nearly unfair.
If you’re struggling, I hope you have access to a doctor, a therapist, a psychiatrist, a dietitian and whoever else makes up your village.
If you’re a practitioner, collaborate, collaborate, collaborate. Seek supervision. This is good for you and imperative for thoughtful understanding of your client.
#EatingDisorderDietitian #EatingDisorderRecovery #nedawareness #nedaweek2020 #nedawarenessweek #edawareness #edrecovery #eatingdisorderawareness #eatingdisorderawarenessweek #eatingdisordertreatment #comeasyouare
Eating Disorders are NOT Captured in B&A Photos
Today is day two of seven dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders. I’m here for it.
And Eating Disorder Awareness Week is contentious for many of my clients. A lot of them have strong feelings of dislike for this week.
Generally, this is about the global oversimplification of eating disorders. It’s about stereotypes. And it’s also about the omnipresent pre-and-post photographs that might flood your social media feed.
The fact is, most people with eating disorders don’t “look” as though they have an eating disorder. (Because it’s not a look) Bodies may or may not change as one heals their relationship with food. There may be no appreciable visual shift at all.
And if you are someone who has struggled, or is in the process of recovery, or who has recovered into much the same body as the one you had before your eating disorder, know that you represent the norm. And if your body has changed dramatically in the process of healing, know that you are welcome here, too.
The purpose of this week is to raise awareness. Of the most lethal of all mental illnesses. This is worthy of a week of dedicated effort. It is quite literally the least that we can do.
And if you get caught in a comparison trap, consider ducking out. Maybe skip searching for the pre/post photos. Consider protecting yourself first.
I am going to post about eating disorder awareness week, because I want to raise awareness, but am with you in being aware of these conditions, everyday.
Be gentle with yourselves and know that
YOUR STORY MATTERS.
#edawareness #edaw2020 #nedawareness #nedawareness2020 #eatingdisorderawareness #eatingdisorderawarenessweek2020 #neda #recovery #edrecovery #eatingdisorderdietitian #beforeandafter #eatingdisorderrecovery #comeasyouare
Forget Everything You Know About Eating Disorders
There really is only one prerequisite required for the development of a clinical eating disorder or disordered eating: ONE MUST BE HUMAN.
Forget everything that you have heard about eating disorders affecting only cis/het white affluent females.
You’re missing the majority of eating disorders if you stop there.
Over the last almost twelve years, I have treated clients while they have been homeless. I have treated clients with food insecurity. I have treated people across the gender spectrum. I have treated people from a range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. I have treated young clients. I have treated clients who are well into their retirement years. I have treated clients who have required weight restoration. I have treated clients who have been subject to extraordinary weight discrimination. I have treated clients in able bodies. And I have treated clients in differently able bodies.
I have treated clients who have wanted to get better in the moment. I have treated clients who have felt apathetic about recovery in the moment. I have treated clients who have recovered. And I have treated clients who were unable to win the battle against their disease.
For many, eating disorders are invisible illnesses. (This does not mean that an illness is invalid.) It is easy to focus on all of the incredible attributes of the humans who walk into my office. They are some of the bravest, wisest, funniest, and more sincere people I have ever met.
No one chooses to develop an eating disorder. No one. This is not a selfish disease. This is the utilization of resources. I am ever humbled by just how well eating disorders work. And I am more humbled by being able to be a part of the process as a client chooses to move through the world in a different way.
Forget everything you think you know about eating disorders. The only prerequisite for the development of one is the state of being human.
#nedawareness #nedawarenessweek2020 #neda #eatingdisorderrecovery #comeasyouare #recovery #edrecovery #effyourbeautystandards #effyourbodystandards #haes #healthateverysize #eatingdisorderawarenessweek2020
Your Eating Disorder is Real
Your eating disorder is REAL.
Your eating disorder is VALID.
You don’t need to be at your worst, your weakest, your most vulnerable, your most distressed or in the most pain to be recognized. Or worthy of attention and care. If you have access to care, please accept help. If you don’t, I’m sorry and I see you and I’m glad that you’re here.
Pain is not a contest.
Be gentle this weekend, lovelies.
#eatingdisorderrecovery #recovery #healing #support #BingeEatingDisorderRecovery #BingeEatingDisorder #OSFEDRecovery #OSFED #Bulimia #BulimiaRecovery#Anorexia #AnorexiaRecovery #ARFIDRecovery #ARFID #intuitiveeating #Orthorexia #orthorexiarecovery #Selfcare #eatingdisorderdietitian