Blisstree » Break the Mirror

Yup, but let’s face it… your body is the only one you’ve been given. So grin and bear it, change it a little here and there, add a tattoo or piercings… but never forget to admire it for its many intrinsic attributes.

Author and editor Victoria Zackheim’s new book, For Keeps: Women Tell the Truth about Their Bodies, Growing Older, and Acceptance, celebrates women learning to love their aging bodies.

Zackheim’s website explains the impetus for the book:

Why is it that with everything women have accomplished, we still struggle with our feelings about our bodies? Perhaps it’s because, in our society, body image has become a loaded term. Whether we’re young girls or elderly women, we are bombarded by the media’s idea of perfection: lithe young models with perfect skin and smooth bodies too often achieved through eating disorders and fad diets. And no matter what product the manufacturer is trying to sell, the substance of that message remains the same: women are imperfect and, unless we succumb to the hype, that imperfection will thwart our chances for happiness.

Sounds, cool, right?

AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY CAN BE YOURS! (If you win, that is!)

Here’s the low-down on the “For Keeps” Contest at Breaking the Mirror:

1. Before next Tuesday, May 13, at 12:00 p.m. E.S.T., each contestant is asked to submit a poem of no more than 20 lines to me at lemonpepr(at)aol(dot)com (put “POEM” in the subject line.)

The poem can be any style, but MUST have something to do with your body – love it, loathe it, feel so-so about it, whatever. (Keep it clean, though, please!) Include the name/byline you’d like to use as author of your poem and a link to your website or blog, if applicable.

2. As I receive each poem, I’ll check to make certain they fit the guidelines, then I’ll post them. (Ask your friends and family to stop by and leave comments!)

3. All entries will be judged by Breaking the Mirror visitors. Next Wednesday, May 14, I’ll open the voting for 24 hours.

3. On Thursday, May 15, I will announce the winner and he or she will receive an autographed copy of For Keeps thanks to the generosity of Victoria Zackheim!

Good luck! The contest is officially open NOW, so start sending in those poems!

Post from: Blisstree

Your body is “For Keeps”… here’s a CONTEST to celebrate it!

Moms, listen up ~ Ana’s counting on you to be naive!

angelique — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:23:34 +0000

Ana loves moms (and dads) who ignore her presence. She absolutely adores them. In fact, they keep her going strong day-in, day-out.

So to shake things up, let’s throw a monkey wrench in her plans.

Rather than playing the role of the naive mommy, why don’t we all ban together and educate ourselves on the realities of Ana, Mia, Rexie and all their controlling cousins?

If you’re with me, why not start by taking a gander at this posting over at momlogic? The gist of the column is an interview with a former gymnast who finally reveals why all those gals REALLY have boy-like figures. (Hint: It’s not their natural state.)

Then, come on back and visit Breaking the Mirror often this week because in celebration of Mother’s Day, we’re going to make sure moms (and dads) are educated about the EDs that are destroying so many women and men around the globe.

Post from: Blisstree

Moms, listen up ~ Ana’s counting on you to be naive!

Pro-Ana, Thinspiration, ED Stories — Break the Mirror Today!

angelique — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:33 +0000

Welcome and Happy May Day!

If you are new to “Breaking the Mirror“, I’d like to say hello and suggest that you check out the following links to some of the top April posts from the site to get acquainted with what’s going on around here.

From pro-ana news to ED-related short stories, we aim to serve you. So keep those comments a’coming and enjoy!

From 4/23: Please Tell Me We’ve All Been Punk’d ~ http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/23/please-tell-me-weve-all-been-punkd/

From 4/12, 4/13, and 4/16: “Her Father’s Daughter” (an original short story) ~ http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/12/her-fathers-daughter-1st-installment/
http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/13/her-fathers-daughter-2nd-installment/
http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/16/her-fathers-daughter-3rd-last-installment/

From 4/30: AnoSEXYa? Some pro-anas think so!http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/30/anosexya-some-pro-anas-think-so/

From 4/27: In Mauritania, Anorexics Looking for Love Would Be Out of Luck ~ http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/27/in-mauritania-anorexics-looking-for-love-would-be-out-of-luck/

From 4/2: Just don’t tell me, okay? ~ http://www.blisstree.com/2008/04/02/just-dont-tell-me-okay/

(After you’re done browsing, check out the other b5 Health and Wellness channel blogs for some humor, insightful commentary and news you can use!)

Post from: Blisstree

Pro-Ana, Thinspiration, ED Stories — Break the Mirror Today!

Parents! Don’t ignore the not-so-obvious warning signs of eating disorders

angelique — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:48:15 +0000

How many times can I tell parents to be on the lookout for signs of eating disorders in their children, even those who seem “too young” to be worried about such a thing as having the “perfect” body?

If you’re a mom, dad, grandparents or guardian, it’s time to open your eyes and watch out for the following signs that may not seem at first glance like indicators of disordered eating:

1. If your outgoing child suddenly withdraws, this is a huge red flag. Don’t assume it’s “a phase”. It could be depression… and many people with EDs also suffer from depression. If you get to the root of the mental illness, you may head an ED off at the pass.

2. If your child starts talking about “fat”, “weight”, “thinness”, et cetera, it’s time to have a serious discussion about bodies. And don’t agree with your child, for heaven’s sake. Even if he or she needs to lose a few pounds, it’s downright cruel to taunt your son or daughter or make him or her feel as if weight equals worth.

3. If you notice large amounts of food “disappearing”, but your child is the same weight or smaller, he or she may be bingeing and purging. It’s time to investigate, though it might just be a “growth spurt” and not anything untoward.

4. If your child refuses to eat in your presence, don’t assume he or she is eating at all. “I had something after school with the girls” or “We ate so much at McDonald’s before we came home” could be lies.

5. If your child’s teeth begin to decay rapidly for no obvious reason, he or she may be bingeing and purging. Remember — a dentist could be your best friend in the long run and could save your son or daughter’s life.

I invite those who have had eating disorders (or who have known others with eating disorders) to share warning signs in the comments section. Let’s not approach EDs with an “eyes wide shut” attitude.

Post from: Blisstree

Parents! Don’t ignore the not-so-obvious warning signs of eating disorders

I Luv Cellulite

angelique — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:17:03 +0000

Okay, that’s a total lie. I don’t like cellulite at all. It drives me bonkers and I wish I could eradicate it forever from my derriere and upper thighs.

However, an interesting thought occurred to me as I showered this morning, trying not to hate my body while simultaneously being driven to distraction by the “dimples” that aren’t cute when you’re 36. (They’re adorable when you’re 6 months, however.)

WHAT IF CELLULITE IS NORMAL?

Dear god. It’s so simple, isn’t it?

What if that’s true? What if our obsession has all been a marketing ploy, a plot by evil snake oil sales people who want us to part with our hard-earned buckaroos in order to smooth out the unsmoothable?

Have we been taken for a collective “ride” for decades? Are we just perpetuating a myth? Could it be that cellulite is as natural as breathing, as hair color, as length of earlobes?

Post from: Blisstree

I Luv Cellulite

“Clean your plate! There are starving kids in this world!”

angelique — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:22:53 +0000

So… did your mom or dad say that? Perhaps a grandparent or an aunt? Did it bug you, annoy you, anger you?

We parents say so many things without thinking.

Even though my son is very young, I worry that if I make a big deal out of the itsy-bitsy amount he ate for dinner, he’ll spiral out of control when he’s a teen as a direct result of my maternal nagging.

For the moms and dads who read this blog, I’m wondering how worried you are about the manner in which you address the issue of food and eating in your household.

Do you carefully consider what you say when discussing how “clean” a plate is? Or do you simply let it go and move on to the next meal? Is food a way for you to show love? Or is it a way for you to control a situation?

I’m not judging anyone here, by the way… just asking out of curiosity. For me, a meal is a labor of love, and I suppose it does hurt me in some way when I hear the words, “Yuck.” Ouch. But I know my little guy is rejecting the spinach and not me. (At least that’s what I hope!)

Post from: Blisstree

“Clean your plate! There are starving kids in this world!”

Getting to know you…

angelique — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:57:22 +0000

Blogging is funny… I feel like I “know” some of my visitors, but most of them are unknown in terms of their likes, dislikes, personalities, et cetera.

Therefore, I’d like to invite you to finish the following sentence so I and all other Breaking the Mirror guests can know you a little bit better than we do now:

“Eating disorders are _____________ .”

I’ll start the process:

“Eating disorders are a topic area that I find incredibly fascinating. In a land of plenty, we have hundreds of thousands of people deliberately restricting food. Can it ever be stopped? God, I hope so.”

Post from: Blisstree

Getting to know you…

Notes on How to Save a Life

angelique — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:19:37 +0000

Is it possible that you could save the life of an anorexic, bulimia or binge eater?

Maybe.

You’ll never know if you don’t attack the problem in some small way.

To help you build your anti-ED arsenal, I’d like to suggest that everyone adopt the following philosophies:

#1: “I will not ignore the problem.” Like a raging fire in the middle of the sofa, anorexia won’t go away on its own. You can pretend it doesn’t exist, but it still will.

#2: “I will not blame the victim.” The more you judge the anorexic or bulimic, the less likely it will be that he or she will open up to you when it’s time to ask for help.

#3: “I will not enable a person with an eating disorder.” Does your wife feel sick from not eating and make you call her boss to beg off for the day? Is your daughter using your fights as a “reason” not to eat? Disengage from becoming part of the ED behavior and make the person take responsibility for him- or herself.

#4: “I will not make fun of people who are heavy.” Should I even mention why this is so terrible? I think not. If you think it’s funny to call someone a “hippo” or “pig”, think again. Sure, you might elicit a few giggles, but that doesn’t make it right.

What are your thoughts on how to save the life of an anorexic or bulimic? What has worked (or hasn’t worked) for you?

Post from: Blisstree

Notes on How to Save a Life