No one has ever tried more diligently to solve a problem than the chronic dieter… …The way you’ve been told to deal with your problem – through control – puts you face-to-face with an impossible dilemma.  You have been told not to do exactly what you need to do.  — Jane Hirschmann and Carol Munter, […]

It is possible to spend your entire life treating your body as if it is an uncompleted project constantly needing renovated.  Many, many people do this. I was getting a pedicure the other day and overheard two older ladies chatting while getting their nails done.  They were talking about their diets and how they needed […]

With effective treatment, eating disorder behaviors related to food and exercise subside.  Many times loved ones perceive that this means the individual is “over” the eating disorder.  But those who have suffered know that this is typically just the beginning. That’s because body image often gets worse before it gets better as behaviors are decreased […]

Ask an adult what they like about their body and you’ll likely get a response along these lines: “Nothing.” “I guess I don’t mind my hair/eyes/etc.” (Often a part of the body that we don’t judge on its fatness.  Also note the disqualifies of “I guess” and “I don’t mind.”) (Nervous laughing) followed by “I’m […]

I was driving my son to daycare today, dressed in gym shorts and a t-shirt, my hair and makeup undone.  And I caught myself worrying about what the daycare teachers would think of me.   As I got back home and was walking my dog, I was contemplating how we do this all the time. […]

I was standing in line at Starbucks today and a conversation at a nearby table caught my attention.  It was 3 middle-aged men sitting there, and one of them was going on and on about his opinions on weight.  "Being overweight is what's unhealthy!  Think about it, you don't see fat people in nursing homes. […]