So here we are. The fudge. The cheesecake. The cookies. There are so many ways to look at this.
We are called upon to enjoy ourselves over and over with friends and family. Plus pictures will be taken of you at those occassions.
Perhaps we should stop to focus on the fact that the occasions are really about love and connecting with others. Rather than on the food itself. To us, with our intense focus on seeing the food, simultaneously craving it and loathing it, and the anxiety over what we will DO with the food, the food takes on a life of it's own this time of year.
Remember that the food will always be there, but the people won't.
Obsessing over the food, will only destroy the moment put before you.
Eating this time of year will not be a "mistake". It will not be irreparable damage. But losing out on time with your family and friends, and listening to what they say, will be lost forever.
Here are some ideas:
Enjoy the season in ways that do NOT involve food. Enjoy making crafts with friends, developing photos, decorating and making your home warm and inviting.
Make food for others, and allow yourself to enjoy in the appropriate moderation. I love baking treats this time of year, turning my kitchen into a cookie warehouse actually decreases the odds I will eat too much of them. I enjoy packaging them. I only bake as much as I will use to give away though!
Enjoy some treats of the season that will not cause you stress. Warm mulled cider, flavored coffees, fresh fruits that are in season, nuts and cranberries. Go ahead and eat! But eat healthy!
Allow yourself to enjoy the foods that you are given, while also being honest with yourself and OTHERS. Be able to say, no thank you it looks lovely but I am FULL!
Most of all remember, the gift of your health is precious.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
What if...
All this was not as hard as we think it is.
Lately I have been wondering if the cure to eating disorders doesn't lie in the following four things:
1) Own lots of black, because it really is the ONLY color a woman should wear
2) Own LOTS of spandex (explanation unnecessary)
3) Eat more protein, because it does wonders for your overall health and weight management (in any direction)
4) Stay away from people who make you feel like shit. It isn't you, it's them.
yes- this is overly simplistic and I am a little facetious. But- I think there is truth to be found in simple observations sometimes.
Lately I have been wondering if the cure to eating disorders doesn't lie in the following four things:
1) Own lots of black, because it really is the ONLY color a woman should wear
2) Own LOTS of spandex (explanation unnecessary)
3) Eat more protein, because it does wonders for your overall health and weight management (in any direction)
4) Stay away from people who make you feel like shit. It isn't you, it's them.
yes- this is overly simplistic and I am a little facetious. But- I think there is truth to be found in simple observations sometimes.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
We need so many more idols like this!
She is lovely, she is strong, she is CURVY!
I love her!!!
http://soul88.blogspot.com/2009/03/mad-mens-christina-hendricks-named-tv.html
I love her!!!
http://soul88.blogspot.com/2009/03/mad-mens-christina-hendricks-named-tv.html
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Holidays
They are upon us. The unholy trio: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Never mind the extra food activities that seem to get slipped in there- the office parties, the fall apple pies, hannukah chocolates.
This is indeed a DIFFICULT time of year for us. This is how I am going to get through it this year, let me know if you like this strategy!
I am definitely going to revisit my meal plan. I know that on my meal plan I CAN eat a single little treat each day. I also am supposed to keep up my moderate exercise when I follow the meal plan.
I am going to make sure I pick up a couple of flattering outfits that make me FEEL GOOD about myself- so I am not additionally overwhelmed by poor body image.
I will plan for the days that I'm not going to worry about food. For me I know which dates those are: Thanksgiving and Christmas eve and Christmas Day. EVERY OTHER SINGLE DAY, I'm going to follow my meal plan.
I'm going to look for a few new "healthy" recipes that will still give me those wonderful fall flavors without overwhelming me. Mulled cider? Baked apples (without the pie crust!)?
I'm going to refuse to engage in conversations with other folks about "how much I'm putting on because of the holidays". It will trigger me and make me feel worse. I will learn to smile and say something encouraging and walk away.
Let me know if you have any other great ideas!!!
Amy
This is indeed a DIFFICULT time of year for us. This is how I am going to get through it this year, let me know if you like this strategy!
I am definitely going to revisit my meal plan. I know that on my meal plan I CAN eat a single little treat each day. I also am supposed to keep up my moderate exercise when I follow the meal plan.
I am going to make sure I pick up a couple of flattering outfits that make me FEEL GOOD about myself- so I am not additionally overwhelmed by poor body image.
I will plan for the days that I'm not going to worry about food. For me I know which dates those are: Thanksgiving and Christmas eve and Christmas Day. EVERY OTHER SINGLE DAY, I'm going to follow my meal plan.
I'm going to look for a few new "healthy" recipes that will still give me those wonderful fall flavors without overwhelming me. Mulled cider? Baked apples (without the pie crust!)?
I'm going to refuse to engage in conversations with other folks about "how much I'm putting on because of the holidays". It will trigger me and make me feel worse. I will learn to smile and say something encouraging and walk away.
Let me know if you have any other great ideas!!!
Amy
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Progress
I finally picked a title for my book (sorry too superstitious to reveal it yet!)
And have been researching different options such as print on demand and e-books. I know that's kind of taking a different approach, and maybe I should be submitting it to publishers. I just don't feeeeel like it!
Be happy healthy and smart everyone!
And have been researching different options such as print on demand and e-books. I know that's kind of taking a different approach, and maybe I should be submitting it to publishers. I just don't feeeeel like it!
Be happy healthy and smart everyone!
Monday, October 4, 2010
update from Amy
Hello dear friends,
I know i have been silent lately. It isn't for a bad reason. In fact, it's for a very very good reason. I have finally been able to really get to work on finishing my book! it's taken three years to compile and organize it, but I can honestly say it's shaping up.
I'm very excited because I actually feel like I'm going to be able to offer something new.
I am going to try to self-publish as a downloadable (e.g.,"kindle") book so that the price will be affordable and I won't have to work with middle men in publishing.
Be happy and be free!
Amy
I know i have been silent lately. It isn't for a bad reason. In fact, it's for a very very good reason. I have finally been able to really get to work on finishing my book! it's taken three years to compile and organize it, but I can honestly say it's shaping up.
I'm very excited because I actually feel like I'm going to be able to offer something new.
I am going to try to self-publish as a downloadable (e.g.,"kindle") book so that the price will be affordable and I won't have to work with middle men in publishing.
Be happy and be free!
Amy
Monday, September 20, 2010
The power of forgiveness
Lately I’ve been challenged by my own internal struggle over forgiveness.
I have been seeking my own ability to move past a number of events in my life. As I have gone on this journey to understand forgiveness and learn how to truly practice it; It has frequently occurred to me how the process of forgiveness applies to our ability to recover from an eating disorder.
We frequently are “angry” or “resentful” of ourselves for having bodies that are “imperfect” or “not good enough”. We seem trapped in the idea that if only our bodies were better, that somehow our lives would be better. We take out this anger of our imperfect body on ourselves. We cast our bodies (and our traitor selves) as the enemy and distance ourselves from our bodies, because it is our bodies that are doing so much wrong in our lives and that with which we must do battle with.
When we are hungry we are angry at ourselves for being unable to control our appetite. After we have eaten we are angry at ourselves for having eaten “too much”. When we look in the mirror, we are angry for not having done enough to have the perfect body at this point in out lives. We are irrationally angry and bitter at ourselves for things over which we have no control, and are perfectly normal human ways of living and being. The ways that we are meant to be.
It seems that simply forgiving ourselves, our lives, and our DNA is in order.
Recently this was shared with me:
http://learningtoforgive.com/9-steps/
It seems to have implications for our battle as well. I am going to learn how to say to myself
“I forgive you” more often. If we forgave ourselves our imperfections in the FIRST PLACE, perhaps we wouldn’t find ourselves trapped in the position to forgive ourselves for relapse as often as we do.
I have been seeking my own ability to move past a number of events in my life. As I have gone on this journey to understand forgiveness and learn how to truly practice it; It has frequently occurred to me how the process of forgiveness applies to our ability to recover from an eating disorder.
We frequently are “angry” or “resentful” of ourselves for having bodies that are “imperfect” or “not good enough”. We seem trapped in the idea that if only our bodies were better, that somehow our lives would be better. We take out this anger of our imperfect body on ourselves. We cast our bodies (and our traitor selves) as the enemy and distance ourselves from our bodies, because it is our bodies that are doing so much wrong in our lives and that with which we must do battle with.
When we are hungry we are angry at ourselves for being unable to control our appetite. After we have eaten we are angry at ourselves for having eaten “too much”. When we look in the mirror, we are angry for not having done enough to have the perfect body at this point in out lives. We are irrationally angry and bitter at ourselves for things over which we have no control, and are perfectly normal human ways of living and being. The ways that we are meant to be.
It seems that simply forgiving ourselves, our lives, and our DNA is in order.
Recently this was shared with me:
http://learningtoforgive.com/9-steps/
It seems to have implications for our battle as well. I am going to learn how to say to myself
“I forgive you” more often. If we forgave ourselves our imperfections in the FIRST PLACE, perhaps we wouldn’t find ourselves trapped in the position to forgive ourselves for relapse as often as we do.
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