I love beginnings, but endings are not my thing. When leaving a party, I'm a big fan of the Irish goodbye (aka sneaking out without telling anyone.) I don't like the awkward hugs, the cheek kisses, the feeling that a good time is over. When writing, I never have a problem with the opening sentence, … Continue reading The decade of my eating disorder, and of my recovery
Three years ago I was going through one of my worst relapses. I was injured post my second full marathon and worried that I'd never truly be able to recover from my eating disorder. I'd made it three or four months without purging (my hallmark of a relapse) many times. I'd made it eight months … Continue reading Eating disorder recovery is real, and so Werth it
This morning, I woke up at 2 a.m. with my stomach growling. Not the kind of growl you can roll over and ignore. The kind of growl that demands immediate attention. My tired feet padded out of the bedroom, into the kitchen and located the only clean knife left, a few pieces of bread and … Continue reading Eating enough for a marathon
More than a year ago, when I was still a dietetic intern, learning about HAES for the first time and just thinking about getting back into writing again I pitched an article. It was about the menu labeling law that was about to go into effect nationwide. I was concerned about it. I knew a … Continue reading The dilemma of menu labeling
"The hardest part of recovery is even knowing what normal eating looks like," I said to my therapist a few months into my first round of treatment. "I can't even remember what hunger feels like." It took me years to really understand my hunger cues - and especially normal fullness cues - were again. I … Continue reading Life with ED: when intuitive eating doesn’t work
My second dietetic intern has a story and a message worth sharing. Read her first blog post all about the female athlete triad, a topic near and dear to not only her heart, but mine. By Kara Peters, Dietetic Intern at the University of Saint Joseph I was fortunate enough to be a three-sport athlete … Continue reading Stop normalizing the loss of your period in sports
"You're looking slim!" "Have you lost some weight?" "What do you weigh? You look great!" "You've definitely lost some weight, you must feel so much better." "Wow you've lost weight! That's awesome. Amy Dunham R.D. works at UConn in the Nutrition Services Department. Listen to her perspective as a provider for those in ED recovery … Continue reading Life with ED: What everybody’s always talking about
And I am by no means alone. Over one-third of female, division-one college athletes develop an eating disorder, according to one study. For athletes competing in endurance sports such as running and swimming as well as those that emphasize appearance like dance, gymnastics or wrestling are at even higher risk.
On January 9th I went for a late afternoon run. I took a new route, fully around a lake I'd only ever run the length of before. It was one of those January days - that we seem to be having a lot of lately - that make you wonder if it's really April. I … Continue reading Life with ED, the podcast is HERE!!
"Honestly, I'm terrified of the stomach bug," my friend whispered across the table at me. I nodded, thoroughly chewing my first real meal in days. I swallowed. "Yeah," I laughed a little, for years the stomach bug had been one of my biggest fears too. "Me too." Nobody likes being any kind of sick. … Continue reading Life with ED: When you’re sick…
Have you ever made cookies and not tasted the dough? Unless you're one of those people who is hyper concerned about raw eggs - and I can't blame you salmonella is truly terrible, ask my cousin - it would be hard for me to believe. Cookie dough is simply delicious. Irresistible even. And cookies fresh … Continue reading Life with ED: When a dietitian eats a cookie
"Anyone else want a cookie?" I asked my new college friends as I stood up to return my empty plate. They all stared at me, pursing their lips slightly. "I really don't want to gain the Freshman 15," one said. "Sorry, I was bad at breakfast so I can't risk a cookie now, I'll be … Continue reading Life with Ed: Drowning in a diet culture
