I’m always awed by the people who can retort, “I’m not fat!”  Or, “Screw you!”  And mean it.

I have finally come to the point where I would be able to cock my head and asked, “What?”  Perhaps I could even say, “What does my weight have anything to do with this conversation?” 

But inside, I would still be asking myself why he or she called me fat.

What would you say?  Would you collapse into tears?  Get mad?  Walk away in embarrassment?  Agree?

(P.S.  Don’t ever call anyone “fat”, please.  It’s a hurtful remark no matter if they can “take it” or not.)

Post from: Blisstree

If someone called you “fat” right now…

The 2009 NEDA Conference “Reshaping Our Future: A Vision for Recovery, Research, Attitudes and Action!” will take place in Minneapolis, MN at the Hilton Minneapolis on September 10-12, 2009.

The Call for Proposals is now open. Click here to submit your proposal.

Please pass this information on to colleagues and others. This conference welcomes professionals, family members and individuals to present. Information regarding details is found in the CFP at the above link.

Thank you for participating in this important and unique convening of families and professionals. 

Post from: Blisstree

A word from NEDA on their 2009 conference

I just received this comment, in fact, and I do think the author of it makes some intriguing points (even if I don’t necessarily agree with her):

I think calling it demeaning is incorrect, in my opinion. Obviously your entitled to yours. I don’t get the feeling from it that anyone who looks at thinspo is supposed to be made to feel discusting or of less-worth then those in the pictures, if those viewing it have low self asteam they might… I don’t. To me it is useful.

I don’t hate myself now nor do I absolutely love my body, I just need to lose weight to be healthier and obviously being slim is more attractive then my overweight frame now. Hense why all actresses and models are slim…no matter what anyone says about it, no one wants to see an overweight woman, even a little bit chubby woman prancing about in a movie or showing their lumps and bumps on a catwalk. That would ruin the illusion, the fantasy even. If I was of a healthy BMI I would be a size 10/8… yes some people you see in thinspo are smaller then their healthy weight. If I was a size 8 though, I’d be concidered the most healthy I could be, via doctors, and could probably sit next to some of those thinspo models and not be too far off them! Seeing images of women who have thin bodies simply encourages me not to eat that danish pastry brought in the office or to have diet coke at lunch instead of regular…to achieve my goals.

I’m fed up a little of all this, celebrate normality and womans curves etc…yes, curves are good..but the women displayed and talked about in this arguement are normally overweight or even obese! You know, currently the average size in the UK is a 16, most women of that size would be at the top end of the Overweight section of a BMI chart!! These are the women to be celebrated?? Thats just as unhealthy as someone who eats less then 900 cals a day to maintain a size 6 body, but they are critised. I say stop the critism and help those who need it.

I like thinspo, I am a size 16 and concidered Obese. It helps me. Encourages me.

Help the girl who’s taken it too far and has a ED, but don’t critise something that has been previlant as a weight-loss tool for countless years!

Now, my only concern really is this whole “numbers” game.  Is a size 16 obese, even if a BMI chart says it is?  Is a size 2 or 4 or 6 ”perfect” even if Hollywood says it is? 

I suppose I can see using thinspiration to lose weight — healthfully.  But once you’ve lost the weight, do you feel better about yourself?  Or are you always striving to get just a little smaller?  I remember that slippery slope well… if I could lose two pounds, why not three?  Then four… then five… then…

I’d like to hear your thoughts on this.  Perhaps I am too harsh regarding the whole thinspo debate?  Or maybe I’m not harsh enough.

Post from: Blisstree

And the debate about thinspiration carries on…

I know my parents told me (after I was in my 20s) that they saw nothing wrong with the fact that I wouldn’t eat in front of them and always hung out in my room.  They chalked it up to “normal” teen angst.  And thus they ignored the symptoms of anorexia.

I wonder how many other families have gone this route?  Since I’m not the parent of a teenager, I don’t know how easy it is to fall into the trap.  But I would imagine that if you complained about your 14-year-old daughter not wanting to eat, another mother or father could easily scoff, “Oh, they ALL do that!  You just have to ride it out.”

Seems logical, if not a good way to solve the underlying problem.

Post from: Blisstree

It’s not because she’s a “typical teen”

This made me start thinking about things that we could all do this week to raise awareness of EDs as well as to help put a dent in their stronghold.

Some of my ideas include:

1.  Pledging not to weigh ourselves this week.

2.  Pledging to compliment the women in our lives on something other than their figures this week.

3.  Pledging to not binge, binge and purge or starve ourselves this week.

4.  Pledging to throw (or give) away the “skinny” clothes we use to torment ourselves.

5.  Pledging to make others understand that eating disorders are a disease, not a choice.

What are your thoughts?

Post from: Blisstree

Celebrate National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

(Author’s note:  Isn’t this what we should all avoid?)

Post from: Blisstree

chains of conformity

Have you ever felt that way about your derriere?  I know I just don’t look at mine with eyes of adoration… but wish I could!

Post from: Blisstree

Do you have a booty?

It’s once again time to give positive comments to all the folks who’ve bravely sent us their snaps to display and discuss during Breaking the Mirror’s second annual “24 Hours of Body Love” challenge.

The rules for “24 Hours of Body Love” are super simple:

1. Leave comments noting what you like about this person’s body. You can focus on general appearance or something specific.  You can even make observations such as, “I love it when someone smiles like that!  It shows so much confidence!” 
2. Remain positive. All comments will be moderated by me. I’d hate to have to delete any of them.
3. The identities of the people in today’s photos will remain anonymous, but be assured they are all REAL people.
4. There’s still time to send me your pic!  A full body shot can be sent to lemonpepr(at)aol(dot)com.

Remember, this exercise is meant to be fun and supportive.  Here, we introduce you to  BOD #3…

Bod #3

Post from: Blisstree

“24 Hours of Body Love” – Bod #3!

It’s once again time to give positive comments to all the folks who’ve bravely sent us their snaps to display and discuss during Breaking the Mirror’s second annual “24 Hours of Body Love” challenge.

The rules for “24 Hours of Body Love” are super simple:

1. Leave comments noting what you like about this person’s body. You can focus on general appearance or something specific.  You can even make observations such as, “I love it when someone smiles like that!  It shows so much confidence!” 
2. Remain positive. All comments will be moderated by me. I’d hate to have to delete any of them.
3. The identities of the people in today’s photos will remain anonymous, but be assured they are all REAL people.
4. There’s still time to send me your pic!  A full body shot can be sent to lemonpepr(at)aol(dot)com.

Remember, this exercise is meant to be fun and supportive.  Here’s BOD #2…

Bod #2

Post from: Blisstree

“24 Hours of Body Love” – Bod #2!

It’s once again time to give positive comments to all the folks who’ve bravely sent us their snaps to display and discuss during Breaking the Mirror’s second annual “24 Hours of Body Love” challenge.

The rules for “24 Hours of Body Love” are super simple:

1. Leave comments noting what you like about this person’s body. You can focus on general appearance or something specific.  You can even make observations such as, “I love it when someone smiles like that!  It shows so much confidence!” 
2. Remain positive. All comments will be moderated by me. I’d hate to have to delete any of them.
3. The identities of the people in today’s photos will remain anonymous, but be assured they are all REAL people.
4. There’s still time to send me your pic!  A full body shot can be sent to lemonpepr(at)aol(dot)com.

Remember, this exercise is meant to be fun and supportive, so let’s get started with BOD #1…

Bod #1

Post from: Blisstree

“24 Hours of Body Love” – Bod #1!