Unhealthy Tips on a Health & Fitness Pinterest Board
Source: skinnygurltrappedinafatgirlsbody.tumblr.com via Alexandrea on Pinterest
Yesterday I was browsing around Pinterest for fun and as usual stumbled into the health and fitness section. I saw a bunch of repins for “How to Stay Motivated” so I clicked on it. Turns out these weren’t the tips I was looking for.
Below this picture that you see to the left, I saw 36 tips on basically how to lose weight. It gets scary because some of those tips say:
” 5. Eat ice or gum when hungry. This will make your body think it had food without the calories.”
“9. Wear a rubberband around your wrist. Snap it when you want to eat.”
“13. If you start to feel hungry do sit ups. ”
This guys, is unhealthy thinking. This person’s relationship with food is out of control. (Not attacking the person who repinned this, but questioning the author of the post.) Food is your nourishment – you need calories, vitamins, and minerals from food to SURVIVE. TO THINK. TO MOVE. I don’t normally like to touch on eating disorder topics just because I have not experienced it myself, but I feel the need to just say that losing weight isn’t a game you play with yourself. Don’t trick yourself. Don’t punish your body. You know what will happen? Backfire. Binging. Loss of control. Self destruction. There are consequences.
Because a portion of my readers may be younger girls, I need you to listen to me when I say this – there is no “quick fix” or “magic trick” to getting “skinny”. Nor should your goal be to reach a certain weight or to finally have your hip bones show. Please understand that you health is #1 and if you treat your body right, it will respond how you want it to. You don’t need to take anything to an extreme.
If you want to lose weight , and I know you’ve heard it a million times, you need to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Begin to love veggies and lean protein. Find a workout that makes you sweat AND smile. It is possible to lose the pounds while having fun. Even better, when you’re having a good time, you forget the numbers and the frustration. You begin to focus on how amazing you FEEL. Not look. The look will follow.
As you know, you can lose fat quicker when you begin strength training. The only way you can strength train effectively is by fueling your body with FOOD. YOU MUST EAT! The thing is, you just gotta eat the right foods.
Some of the best bodies in the world eat 5-6 times a day! They even eat before bed! These people workout hard and nourish themselves properly and are rewarded with an amazing physique.
Try driving a car with no gas. It’s not going to turn on. It’s going to break down. Your body is the same. You need fuel to survive and do the things you love. Do not fear food. That is not the culprit. The culprit is a lack of motivation to eat clean and workout hard. Seriously, that’s it. NOT THE FOOD.
Later that day I started a thread on facebook regarding this topic. A lot of thoughtful comments were left, please take a moment to read or even add to the conversation: http://www.facebook.com/blogilates/posts/197366170343988
Someone mentioned that this pin was actually the clean version. Apparently there’s a dirty version that’s floating around (probably on Tumblr) of way extreme tips like “Eat naked in front of a mirror so that you don’t eat anymore” and “When you get hungry, look at disgusting pictures online so you lose your appetite.” I don’t want to attack anyone for having these thoughts because I get it, weight loss is tough, and our society keeps pushing certain images at us that makes us girls want to achieve a certain level of “beauty”. Humans want the quickest and most efficient route to any destination. It’s natural.
If you’re stuck in a rut, feeling like the lowliest person ever because you can’t budge that scale, please understand that you don’t need to enter this world of extremes. Change your mindset, love your body, and give yourself time. Time to adapt to a new healthy lifestyle and time to see the transformation. Appreciate the progression.
You have one life and you should live every moment of it with passion and purpose. Stop focusing on how you look and instead direct that energy onto something you want to get better at. Maybe there’s a talent you want to develop. Maybe there’s a project you really want to lead. Maybe there’s a person you really want to get to know better. Focus on a goal that will make your SOUL happy or fulfilled. Once the soul is content, your mind is calm, and your body is balanced. At this point working out and eating clean are a breeze. Well anything is when you’re happy! So get happy!
In conclusion, (why am I saying “in conclusion??”) when you guys see things like this, acknowledge that they exist and differentiate between what healthy and UNhealthy thinking is. And try to make others aware (politley of course) as much as possible.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What did you think of that Pinterest post? Do you think it’s uncomfortable? I’d also like to hear from anyone who’s had an ED. What was your experience and how were you able to transition out of this state of mind and finally embrace healthy living? And congratulations by the way – I’m super proud of you.
64 thoughts on “Unhealthy Tips on a Health & Fitness Pinterest Board”
There are 64 comments posted by our users.
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Dear Cassey, I just want to say a huge thank you for everything you do, and the wonderful attitude with which you do it. You are an inspiration! I love how you push yourself hard and yet keep smiling, and your incredibly healthy outlook on life overall. I look forward to getting home from work every day just so I can do your videos and/or read your blog. Keep up the excellent work! We love you! 🙂
Kate
So glad you posted this! I saw the same pin on Pinterest and was thinking to myself, why is the focus so on avoiding eating?? Isn’t eating a huge part of being fit and healthy? I hate it when people who are trying to lose weight try to keep from eating at all costs- it’s these people that become not only physically unhealthy but mentally unhealthy because they end up repenting for everything they eat and see food as the enemy, rather than as something that will ultimately help them lose weight if they do it correctly.
I am not 100% sure if I have an eating disorder, but I do know that I have an unhealthy relationship with food. This post really helped my mindset because before I would try to tell myself that I needed to eliminate all of the bad foods and limit myself to certain foods so that way I can get to a certain weight and shape by Spring Break. Now I realize (thanks to blogilates) that I can have everything in moderation, but I should just try to eat as clean as possible and workout hard.(:
I just want to thank you, because if I wouldn’t have found this website I don’t know where I would be years down the road.
It’s funny (well, not really funny) that you posted about this because I stumbled accross this on Pinterest weeks ago too and I thought to myself “is this a joke!?”. I was disturbed by the fact that people were re-pinning it. Cassey is absolutely right girls! Eat right and be active and the rest will come naturally ! 🙂
I struggled with Bulimia my senior year in high school. I have a unique story because I was not only doing it just to lose wight, but doing it to deal with bullying. I was a crazed sports girl since the age of 5, and due to injury and health issues I was forced to quit the sport all together at age 16. Growing up extremely athletic and super thin all my life, suddenly I started filling out and looking healthy. But as a senior I was suddenly not able to eat whatever I wanted like I used to. I was confused and was never taught healthy eating habits. I was actually encouraged to eat unhealthy due to my very thin figure and difficulty to gain weight (swim practice 2 hours a day 6 days a week). On top of it I was being bullied by jealous girls who were using my new insecurity as a fuel to hurt me. I stayed strong in public… never let them see me cry or even show any sign of them getting to me. Alone I was a mess. My solution… bulimia. Not only did it release bad food when I “made a mistake” but it released the anger and pain too. A teacher turned me around after only 5 months of doing this. and 4 years later I relapsed big time. This time having my husband and friends to help me. I am now suffering with low blood sugar issues because of my life of unhealthy habits. So I am now making a change for the better. I eat 5-6 times a day… and right before bed even. And I keep telling myself not to obcess about weight and working out. To focus on how I feel. I now… doing much better. But I would be a liar if I said it wasn’t a constant struggle to keep unhealthy thoughts out of my head. I have bad days for sure… but so far I have not made myself sick in 4 years and counting. 🙂
may I also add… I changed my eating habits to super healthy ones. I stopped doing fast food and eating a ton of white bread. I switched to wheat and I can’t even stomach fast food anymore. After only maybe two weeks I was CRAVING vegetables! I eat a whole zucinni a day pretty much, I like Asparagus with burgers instead of fries and I think Carrots are actually a sweet snack! Its amazing how much better healthy food tastes when you stop coating your taste buds with garbage. I do have a sweet tooth and I tried giving up sweets for only ones or twice a week. but it doesnt work for me. I am more satisfied having a very small portion of a dessert with a glass of milk after dinner every day. I normally do pudding or jello. around holidays when cookies and fudge are around I eat that… but just one. I found eating it with milk fills me up and I am satisfied and happy. Otherwise I find myself eating a whole pie once or twice a week and hating life (horrible stomach ache too!). haha. because I chose to take control I have never gained more than 10 pounds since High school. I may go up 10, lose 5 because its beautiful outside or I got the flu, gain 5 on vacation… stuff like that… but I never go above or below the ideal weight for my height, body type ect. And I have never “dieted” in my life. 🙂
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I’m 15 and am currently anorexic, and have been for a while. However, a lot of my friends have been telling me things like this, that i should eat, that i need it, that i’m not helping myself in any way. And they were right. I’m bloated all the time from not eating and i have no motivation to do anything and it makes you depressed and obsessed, i’m also a dancer so it’s very hard for me to have the energy and strength to do what i need to in class if i’m not eating. Because of the society that we live in now, it’s very hard for girls to be okay and comfortable in their own skin. It’s really sad that we have to resort to starving ourselves so that we can feel beautiful. So now i have decided that i’m going to try my best to get out of this mindset and eat right. You’ve definitely helped tremendously with that decision because of all your tips, workouts, and meals and things. Thank you so much, Cassey.
xoxo~
Stay strong. You’ve got this.
Hi, this is a great post! Thanks..
Wow…I am amazed and feel not aso alone…I was severe anorexix from age 13-15, but it is true, I never feel like I am fully recovered…just chose to not practice it. It is a difficult thing, to sturggle not to see food as the enemy. This was a great post and great support/ discussion. Thank you!
Completely agree with everything you said, Cassey, and with what people have commented too. I suffered with an eating disorder in my teenage years, and this was EXACTLY the kind of advice that floated around all the sites that were called ‘pro-ana’, i.e. ‘pro-anorexic’. I used to surf them for ages, looking at all the photos of girls we aspired to be (but even at my lowest, seeing photos of girls with bones sticking out made me wince), reading the tips, logging out calories. I really feel that those sites encouraged my eating disorder, and intensified it by making it seem not just acceptable, but desirable.
Of course, one by one, those sites got shut down – I know, because I used to actively search for them. Now, in my twenties, I’ve turned it around, I look after my body, I eat well, and I never count calories or weigh myself because I know that’s when the problems start. To know that these kind of lists are still floating around the internet is horrifying. The fact that Chelsea, above, says that there is a big ‘ana’ community on Tumblr makes me feel completely miserable.
Thank you, Cassey, for continuing to inspire people to be healthy and to take care of your body – you’re a fantastic role model, and you help a lot of people, as is clear from the comments above. xxx
Hi Cassey, I saw that pin too and thought it was ridiculous. It’s things like that, that send the completly wrong message to young women.
Not healthy at all. Thank you for posting a FB thread on that. Awareness is everything, and it’s great that through that along with other resources people can be aware of healthy weightloss.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
This is one of my biggest peeves with Pinterest! I LOVE that site to death, and seeing all those tight and toned bodies in the fitness section IS motivating, but holy heck–all the untruths and “advice” constantly pinned about diet and exercise drive me nuts!
Thanks for drawing attention to the issue and providing a platform for discussion! Gotta start pinning more blogilates stuff in hopes that it catches on 🙂
Yeah! Let’s start pinning the good stuff!
always remember to love yourself first and CURVES LOOK HOT! And curves come with healthy eating and toning up muscles 🙂
Love yourself and enjoy your food!!!!
I saw the pinterest post probably around the same time you did. As I read it, I wondered if it was a joke, but realized it probably wasn’t. I appreciate you bringing this to light because a lot of people do not realize that health is a way of life, of consistent decisions and beneficial choices. It is easier to eat healthy and, most importantly, there are no “short cuts” to good health.
Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Great post! I think you have the quote of the day “you need to embrace a healthy lifestyle”. 🙂
I love this post, your words Cassey brought tears to my eyes! It’s really important girls know how serious this stuff is, when I was younger I suffered from being bulimic, I constantly was fighting with it and my family and friends helped me to overcome it. I now especially having daughters of my own don’t want them to every think this way and want them to always love themselves for who they are so I need to make sure I set a good example by teaching them the healthy smart way to stay in shape and be healthy! It’s important there are people like you around to always inspire and teach girls how to be happy , healthy, and fit and thanks so much for posting this and always inspiring us and keeping everyone on the right track!
This is such a amazing response to that pinterest post! Thank you so much for pointing out all of these unhealthy mindsets and shifting to actual REALISTIC AND HEALTHY mindsets.
I have struggled with my eating for as long as I can remember and our society just perpetuates this struggle. But once I forgot about all of the numbers in terms of weight and all that the pounds started to drop. Once I started to love myself, no matter what size I am, I started to shape up and become healthier. The habits that these “tips” foster are just a perpetuation of this struggle that so many people have with their physical appearance.
I appreciate all of the health focused advice that you give and I think that your presence in the health/fitness community is very influential for situations like this. You help show that these type of behavior are not necessary. Fuel your body with clean food and work out and the rest will all fall into place. All of the girls who are following the directions that this pinterest is giving need to follow your blog and do your workouts!
THANK YOU so much for posting about this. I saw that exact pin on Pinterest and was truly concerned about the tips that they offered. I am glad you addressed the fact that many of those tips were unhealthy and ultimately exhibit signs of a deeper problem.
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As a recovering anorexic, I need to hear things like this sometimes. I saw the community on Tumblr mentioned and I used to be a part of that, but the thing is, a lot of girls on there just need to vent, and never wish it on anyone else. I never did. But it gave me people to talk to who were going through the same thing I was, which I don’t have in person. And when I decided to recover, I got a lot of support, more than some close friends.
I still struggle a lot, and I often feel the need to hit/be under a certain weight. But reading things like this helps a lot in trying to maintain healthy eating.
wow my mom used to tell us girls to go eat naked in front of the mirror all the time so we would stop eating….did not realize it was a bad behavior until I just read this
What makes me upset about that Pin is that people keep repinning it over and over and over again with comments before the “advice” that say: “GREAT ADVICE!” or “I’M GOING TO TRY THIS!” and it makes me so sick and sad that people are reading that and thinking that it’s a good idea to “punch themselves in the stomach if they get hunger pains.” I think someone who has authority in the “Pinterest” world needs to step in in this case.
Cassey , I am a recovering bullimic
and I want to tell you that I saw this pin yesterday; and I said woah these are the extremes we have to get to now.
Since I am recovering, I still do think about well going back…
But I dont! I have not done it since August! I am very proud of myself.
Going through such an experience, made me realize I am so much better than that! I was depressed, , I was loosing my hair,skin color… I looked terrible.
My motivation ( and this should help other bulimics out their!) is
that everytime I want to do it I tell my self, do you really want to go back? Or do you want to be happy?
I since August, have chosen happiness! I am brighter and am more positive!
One question I do have Cassey is this… Ok so im recovering, and right now I eat very well! (All my meals and very good meals.) I love food, (I am a fat inside ) I love cooking! So now that I am not doing those things, I am gaining weight. But my problem is that I want to keep on being well thin. Not as thin, but thin.
And since I am in high school , I cannot make the 90 day challenge, since my mother is not going to buy all those foods for me. And sometimes I do not have time to exercise… What do I do now?
I make the most when I exercise, but (second question) Can you ever have a model body, by eating well and doing exercise, or do you have to make those types of sacrifices that the picture says?
thankyou for everything! You motivate me Cassey!
Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to understand so much approximately this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I believe that you just can do with some percent to force the message home a little bit, but instead of that, that is fantastic blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
I’ve seen that post floating around on pinterest for awhile too, and every time I see it, it makes me sad. Your posts, on the other hand, make me happy. Thank you so much for everything you do to keep us all motivated and healthy. You’re truly an inspiration!!!
I’ve seen that post floating around on pinterest for awhile too, and every time I see it, it makes me sad. Your posts, on the other hand, make me happy. Thank you so much for everything you do to keep us all motivated and healthy. You’re truly an inspiration!!!
I don’t know what you would do if you saw the ana community on tumblr. It’s sick and upsetting..It truly is =/ There’s a whole community of them out there though..
Hi Cassey,
I am an anorexic (I dont think anyone ever recovers, just simply stops practising, like christians who stop going to church but still believe) I KNOW that not eating will make me skinny and I KNOW that exercising 4-5 hous a day will make you thin but who wants to be thin when everyone hates you? I am now 24 years old, nearly bald with no friends and unable to have children, was it worth it, hell NO!
Only problem is because most people with anorexia are OCD its impossible to break habits if they dont want to, but once the choice is really made, the obsessive personality will help with recovery.
Thanks for posting this for anyone who wants to try being ‘ana’ or ‘mia’. Its very much like trying drugs, some will shrug it off after a while and not think of it again, but some will be hooked and it will change their lives, you never know which you will be so just dont try, like drugs it will feel great at first but it wont last and some things cant be taken back no matter how much you want to.
Much Love.
Emily xxxx
This post is so good in every way! All love and respect to you Cassey!!
i live in borneo nowadays but i keep following the swedish news and happenings and i read an article after stockholm fashion week about the models on the catwalk, as normal after a fashion week you get to hear people shouting about skinny models for a few days in the media until it is as if it never existed…. these girls we see on the catwalks often happen to be 14-17 year olds that has the height but has not fully grown into their bodies as women. And media is affecting us wither we want it or not, that this is the way we should look like, but how could possibly a fully grown woman be able to look like 15. it’s impossible. in the interviews with some of the models it was also said that they wouldn’t get paid if they didn’t lose weight or if they had put on a pound etc… it’s so saaad. and it makes me angry. i feel sorry for these young girls and i feel sorry for all the women trying to look like something that you might have been able to if you were 14… and i hate girls in this young age being exploited as something that men should desire for and find attractive, its completely disgusting…
I totally agree with you and I have to say that I am a part time bulimic for the past few years. It comes and goes. I eat healthily throughout the day and exercises too! But the demon comes out at night after dinner and before bed, especially when I was on my own and there’s no one to judge me. I sometimes binge eat on chocolate, biscuits, crisp – similar kind of rubbish food so much that I felt guilty afterward I threw myself up to avoid my body from getting fatter. Then I eat healthily the next few days or weeks before binging and purging again.
I have to THANK YOU for setting up this 90 days challenge to test my willpower and I couldnt believe my willpower is so strong and getting stronger as each day passes and I have not touch chocolate or any of those junk at night time anymore! Plus I have not binged / purged for over 5 weeks! I am so grateful for you and your motivation!
I sometimes struggle but then I think of you and Blogilates guys, it gave me the will strength to pull through any temptations and say no to sweets/desserts offerings. Looking back now what I have done was disgusting and that is the end of my past and this new healthy routine that I am on now is a new me, and for the rest of my future! 🙂 xx
aww yay go Sarah!! I know how it feels- ive been there!! I think you actually need a lot of willpower to have an ED, but if you can redirect that to looking after yourself its amazing, plus really distracting and therapeutic. xxxxxx
Awww thanks! I’m glad to know someone is in similar situation as me! I’m sorry but what does ED means? Xxxx
Eating Disorder! really hate writing it, seems so clinical lol xx
I did have an eating disorder, but I have, thankfully, beaten it. And you’re right. The “dirty” version is the one found on *every single* “pro-ana” (pro-anorexia) and “pro-mia” (pro-bulimia) site. And there are worse suggestions, if you can believe it. They include lying to your family and friends about having eaten, exercising in secret … and so on. I don’t want to post more, just in case really graphic suggestions trigger anyone.
The sad thing? I did a lot of what was suggested on these sites. Not because I read them, but because that’s what a person with an eating disorder will naturally do (I hesitate to say “naturally,” because there is NOTHING natural about an eating disorder). It was only later that I came across these kinds of sites, and used the pictures on them for “thinspiration”. Ugh.
Am I disgusted with myself? No. I was sick, and I didn’t realize what I was doing to myself. But I am furious with the kinds of people who create “ana” and “mia” communities to “help” each other get thinner via the above methods. The Internet isn’t regulated, and I don’t think the government has any right to regulate it (re: The recent bills regarding net neutrality). But people need to be a lot more responsible about where they post pictures and text. If it’s going to be easily found by a 13-year-old girl who is insecure in her changing body, that’s not okay.
I know I put this in my Facebook comment, but thank you, Cassey. You are a wonderful woman, and it is so good and refreshing to read a post like this. All young women struggling with their confidence and self-image should look to you!
great discussion
there are SO many unhealthy tips out there and I know so many people who look at a healthy lifestyle in a very unhealthy way 🙁
I was reading the post yesterday and as i kept reading i was like, “Are they serious”? I know from personal experience that you can’t lose weight by eating too few calories, not fueling yourself correctly, and losing weight too quickly and then completely stopping, and then gain it all back. I did this last year as an experiment and i was fine with it but slowly i began to feel weak even though i was pushing myself to run and get strong…the foods i ate, were not helping me develop the strongness(i don’t think that’s a word) that i needed. So i quit the experiment because i hated the way it made me feel and guess what, i gained back the weight i lost. So truly, yes, the only way people are going to lose weight is eating the right foods, not going below 1200 cals, and exercising with a smile on their face. And yeah, it takes more time…but its worth it. I’m almost at my goal weight and i’ve been eating organic, clean, no preservatives, sometimes gluten free, more veggies, more water, etc…and I never want to stop, i love eating healthy. It becomes you once you stick to it for a bit. Thanks for talking about this Cassey.
Hi Cassey,
Thank you so much for engaging with these really scary tips. Blogilates is an amazing community with a much more positive focus on health eating and exercising. I’m an emotional eater and can really go overboard under stress just eating everything in sight. Being part of the blogilates community has helped me to recognise that and stop quicker. It is often quite difficult and comments on your facebook page about compensating behaviour can be quite upsetting. I feel that I can only really acknowledge binging and move on, to try to “work it off” just makes me feel more and more out of control. You’re advice and motivation is always amazing – I know I should only exercise for FUN and not as a PUNISHMENT. There is a difference between objectively knowing something and not emotionally responding 🙁 As really innocent well meaning comments can have such a troubling emotional effect – things like this Pinterest post just make me SO SO upset. It is just irresponsible of whoever wrote these as they have no idea how many vunerable people will read it.
Thanks for all your hard work! xx
Oh my god. This is so sick, and it makes me so sad that posts like these are floating around the internet. Six years ago when I was in my teenages I myself were in a really dark place, and abused myself if ways that reminds of some of the “tips” in the post.
I can therefore by own experience tell everyone out there who is in doubt – trying to force your body to lose weight by not eating, pushing it through hard exercise and never giving it any real energy back will leave marks that are hard to erase. It is not just about marks you can see with your eye, but marks on your inside.
I can happily tell you I am healthy today, exercising and eating healthy. As you say Cassey – eat your veggies, eat your protein and carbs – get the calories in – exercise and make your body and mind feel great! Then you’ll see the results you wish for.
It is not about the number on the scale, it is simply about the way you feel.
Thank you so much for all the inspiration you give with your training and your energy! You help me feel great 🙂
Lots of love from Sweden
I had a severe ED too from ages 12-18, luckily i met my husband at 18 and being in love, plus having someone else love my body helped me recover. I still had an awful relationship with food though and used tips similar to the one in this article. I was tired, angry, and too hard on myself and very lonely 🙁 .
My mental recovery started when i found blogilates. Gradually from doing the videos i changed my mindset and started eating better, then i started wanting to see muscles instead of hipbone! Now im doing the 90 day challenge and im eating 3 proper meals a day with snacks which i haven’t done ever before!! Plus im desperate to weigh myself now as im hoping ill have GAINED weight- as its likely to be muscle. Good times!
Basically i learn you can recover physically from and ED but still have a warped mindset until you learn to love yourself. I do understand that when you have a certain attitude to food- being skinny is more important than the damage your doing yourself, but hopfully more info publicised on the damage some of these tips do will help make more girls aware
Good for you! I am/was in the same boat. With an ED from age 13-19. Being in love has definitely helped keep me motivated to stay healthy. I want a family one day with this man and I can’t do that if my body is so weak that I can’t even take care of myself.
Since I started working out and lifting weights my weight has gone up, but I don’t feel the anxiety that I used to have because I know that it’s sexy strong muscle! My life is not over for not being a size 2. I’ll gladly buy a bigger size if it means that I can squat my body weight and run a marathon!
Thanks for this Cassey! I’m really getting in to Pinterest lately and I’ve noticed the “Fitness” page riddled with stuff like this. I respond by only re-pinning those that spread the “Strong is the new skinny” message 🙂 I love the ones where people post the weights between their “before” and “after” picture and they actually weigh MORE in their AFTER since they have so much more muscle.
This post is amazing! Its so inspiring to hear that its not about being skinny but being HEALTHY. About 2 years ago I had problems with eating and was extremely unhealthy. I could physically feel my body shutting down. Thankfully with the help of my family I was able to realize I was not doing the right thing for myself and was able to successfully reach the proper weight for my height. Now I am a health nut and love to exercise! I feel so much healthier and am finally proud of how my body looks! Thank you for this post! Hopefully it can inspire more women to think about their health before being extreme 🙂
Hi. I have an ED. I’ve been struggling with it for almost 7 years. It’s not nice. My body is not healthy. My metabolism doesn’t work, I’m always cold, I have stomach ache and trouble concentrating and remembering things. I jump back and forth betweet constipation and diarrhea. I’m depressed and afraid of being around other people. I don’t have any energy. I’m a dancer, but I get so dizzy all the time that it’s making thing difficult.
I’ve read this list. And the dirty list. These things stick to your mind. It’s like poison. You might think that it’s an “easy way” to lose wight, but it’s not. It’s hell. And you will never be skinny enough or good enough.
those so called “tips” don`t affect me but i sure hope no easily impressionable person will read them and follow them. it`s important to realize that everything must be done in moderation, including eating, don`t overeat, don`t under eat. simple as that. it`s all about common sense.
Its so sad to read that this is on the internet. Having recovered from an eating disorder its scary to think that advice like this is being posted on sites where any gender or any age can be influenced to think that this is what you have to do to reach a goal.
I was in a very dark place mentally i dont think i can describe to someone how it feels when you have so much inner termoil inside of you. People react in diffrent ways and unfortunatly making myself ill was my coping method.
Learning to change that mind set from food enemy to norishment is difficult but my mum works with children with disabiltities. Some cant eat or drink like us beacuse when they swallow it goes into their lungs, they’d give anything to be in my position to eat out with freinds or just pour a glass of water or go to starbucks for a christmas themed drink. It made me rethink my situation. I had to realise that i was so fourtunate to be able to do that.
Having therapy, having family and freinds to be there for me was also important. I now cook my own food and make sure i move my body in gentle ways.
I always keep positive and like to belive im hope out there, like many others who have recovered that it is possible.
Its great to see people like you cassey who want us to embrace nourishment and loving our bodies, to go with healthy.
I hope everyone out there is happy and healthy.
Cassey—I am a recovering anorexix/bulimic. Thank you so much for posting this . Your words and passion about Health.not bones sticking out are so needed to ring in our heads and especially younger women. It is so easy to believe these extremes, but take it from me…it’s not the right way or the easy way! It will make you depressed, anxious, obsessed and as unhealthy as you possibly could be. Motivation to love our bodies, and eat clean food from the earth …to move our bodies in some form of excercise..this is the KEY to a stron lean body!! Let’s start a revolution to LOVE OUR BODIES!!!!! Let’s care for them ..like they are the only one we will get! 🙂 Love to you Cassey , I can’t tell you again, how awesome you are to speak out against destruction of our bodies. hugs
i agree with you a 100% and more =)
i am just like you recovering, and i am loving the healthy choices that i make nowadays =)
I’m with u on this Amanda , I’m to a recovery anorexic/ bulemic .I Deal with eating disorder for 26 years I’m 32 now .