Archive for the 'Q & A' Category

Nurturing a Positive Pregnancy…Lessons Learned from Eating Disorder Recovery

Several months ago, The Center for Eating Disorders had the pleasure of hosting former World Champion rower, Whitney Post, as a keynote speaker during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.  In her talk, Invisible Victory, she spoke about her identity as an elite athlete and how she ultimately used it to her advantage in recovering from her eating disorder (ED).  During her visit to Baltimore, Whitney also shared that she was expecting a baby this June, and that  her work in ED recovery had provided a unique perspective and helpful skills for navigating the ups, downs and body image challenges of pregnancy.  In honor of Mother’s Day,  we asked Whitney if she would help us re-introduce our Nurture blog series for moms and mothers-to-be, and she graciously agreed.  The result is this insightful and delightfully down-to-earth Q&A  post about her ongoing journey through pregnancy and recovery. 

 Q & A with Whitney Post

Q: Have you noticed any similarities or parallels between the pregnancy experience and the recovery process?

WP: I remember early on in pregnancy lying in bed and trying to take stock of all the changes that were going on in my work, my body, my energy, and my identity.  It felt overwhelming to say the least, but what occurred to me was that I was so glad I had all the training of recovery to help me navigate this new journey.  I already knew how to surrender large areas of my life for the sake of something new and different.  I think both recovery and pregnancy are about building new life.  In each the process is long, full of uncertainty and discomfort, and full of hope.  There is a great demand for outside support and people who have been through the process before, and the ability to surrender to what the process is asking of you vs. having things exactly the way you want them.

Q: Can you describe how the process of recovering from an ED has helped you prepare for the experience of pregnancy, particularly as it relates to your body image?

WP: I wanted to be one of those women who remained toned and just grew a big round belly out front.  I am not.  I wanted to be one of those women who stayed true to her satisfying workout regimes.  I am not.  And I wanted to be one of those women who seemed to get more stylish as her belly grew, with cool accessories and funky outfits.  I am not. 

But what I am is one of those women who is putting the health of the child growing inside me first, and doing my best with all the rest.  I just do it while wearing clogs, and in between very moderate (“lame” would be another term) workouts.  As the weight started to come on, I could feel two sides of my brain at work.  One said, “this is a miracle and weight gain is part of the process.  This is healthy and natural.”  Meanwhile, another, old part of my brain shouted, “Hello!!!! You are gaining weight!!  Remember how unhappy you were last time this happened?  Do something about it now!!!”  Every time another round of clothes has to be retired because it becomes snug, a part of me feels an old tug to feel bad about myself.  But recovery taught me the skills of being able to recognize these two different voices and gave me the ability to make a choice, vs. listening to whichever voice is scarier.  I am pleased to say that, “this is normal and natural” now wins easily over “go on a diet!”

At my OB office when they check you in for each visit they hand you a cup to pee in and ask you to weigh yourself.  They leave the room and come back in about ten minutes.  For several months I would worry about having to weigh myself, as part of my recovery has involved not knowing how much I weigh.  I could have asked them to weigh me and just looked away, that would have been totally valid, but I just chose to do the drill and let them decide if I was gaining too much or too little.  As long as I’m not trying to control my weight, but rather trust that to the doctors, and manage healthy meals and appropriate workouts, I feel I am on track.

Q: How can pregnancy positively or negatively impact recovery? 

WP: I have found that I have had to work pretty hard at taking care of my recovery because my needs changed suddenly.  I had to find a new way to eat when everything made me nauseated.  I had to find a new way to work the tools of the program when I was too tired to go to 12-step meetings I normally went to.  I had to find women who were in recovery who had been pregnant to learn from them.  So suddenly, the little world of my recovery resources needed to be updated and shifted, and that has been a big investment on my part.  So I think if you let the things that sustain you in recovery slide because you have less energy or those resources don’t fit as well, you can be on a slippery slope, because you may also find yourself (as I often have) more emotionally vulnerable than normal.  But if you look at it as a time to invest in a new phase of recovery and build a community around you, it can strengthen you.

Q: Can you share some concrete steps women can take during pregnancy to help them nurture a positive relationship with their changing bodies?

  • Recognize you may have conflicting feelings and impulses but make sure your actions reflect your goals and values.  (for example – I want to diet because I don’t like gaining weight but my goal is to have a healthy baby and pregnancy, and so I will accept that gaining weight is part of the process and is temporary).
  • Talk to other women who have been through it and speak honestly about your experience.  You can be a wonderful mother and still not enjoy every aspect of pregnancy – they are not mutually exclusive.
  • Ensure from the outset that you have an OB who is supportive of prioritizing health vs. weight.  Then, trust your doctors when it comes to monitoring weight, exercise, etc., and get someone (nutritionist or physician) to work with you on the food and eating part, if you struggle with it, so you aren’t alone.
  • Focus on the positive parts – go to birthing classes, pay attention to the baby kicks, pick out baby clothes, prepare the house, etc.
  • Go with your body’s intuition about when it needs a rest, a snack or a cry.  You may not be able to keep up with your old self, or your old standards, and that’s okay.  It’s important to accept that your body now has a whole new task to prioritize; supporting the physical growth and development of your baby requires a lot of energy.

Q: As an eating disorder treatment professional, a recovery advocate and now a pregnant woman yourself, what are your thoughts on the mainstream media’s representation of pregnant and post-pregnancy bodies? 

WP: Mainstream media has never been helpful when it comes to figuring out how my body should look, and a pregnant body is no different.  The women chosen to be pregnancy models or on the covers of magazines are a very select group of pregnant women who all look much the same, and are all captured in about their fifth or sixth month of pregnancy when the belly is often cute and round.  If you go to a prenatal yoga class and look at all the bodies (as I often did – I was barely able to focus on the poses) you will see all the different shapes and sizes of bellies regardless of the phase of pregnancy.  Some of them seem pretty wacky looking as we are just not accustomed to seeing really pregnant women!  I find it much healthier to see these real live pregnant women than to look at the models.

As for “after the baby” the media is obsessed with how fast a woman can “get her body back.”  I’m happy Heidi Klum made it her goal to be a sexy Victoria secret model within weeks of giving birth, but I don’t think that is helpful for most women.  I am really looking forward to being able to run and do a sit up and move my body with greater ease and speed after the baby is born.  But the reality is I will be sleep deprived and in a very demanding phase of feeding, soothing, and getting to know a new baby, and at that time, I don’t need to be preoccupied with how quickly I can lose weight.  Focusing on eating well and getting in some sleep and exercise will be my goal for good self-care.

Q: Is there one piece of advice that has been particularly helpful for you in terms of staying focused on wellness and body positivity during pregnancy?

WP: Trust your body and stay connected ~ not that different from recovery, right? : )  Pregnancy can make you tired and moody, and both of those things can make socializing less appealing. I have found that I need to push myself to stay connected to old pals and to reach out to start to create a new community of moms-to-be. 

Q: Are there any lessons you’ve learned through ED recovery that you think may also be helpful for individuals as they venture into the day-to-day life of motherhood with a new baby?

WP:In recovery I spent a lot of time learning how to figure out what I needed, and how to stand up for that need while being kind and respectful of others.  But I still need to fight a part of me that is stuck in the habit of  “people pleasing.”  In pregnancy part of my job is to avoid putting myself in bad situations (being around people who have contagious colds or flus, overdoing myself with social/work demands), even though I might have been fine with these situations when not pregnant. This means I have to say “no” to things more often.  I learned early on that if I went against an instinct about my limits of comfort, I was really uncomfortable. I imagine some of the same will be true with an infant.  So my lesson that I am learning over again is that I need to respect my instincts and boundaries, and while I may inconvenience people in the process, we will all survive.

Whitney Post is the President and Co-Founder of Eating for Life Alliance and spends much of her time educating college students, professionals, athletes and coaches about eating disorder prevention and treatment. The Center for Eating Disorders is incredibly grateful to Whitney for sharing her insights, experiences,  and advice about pregnancy and recovery for this post.  We wish her well as she ventures into motherhood!  If you’d like to share your own ideas on this topic, please leave your thoughts in the comments section below or join the discussion on our Facebook Page. 

If you enjoyed this blog, you may want to read these previous entries from CED’s Nurture Blog Series:

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*Significant health risks (for mom and baby) are associated with eating disorders during pregnancy.  It is recommended that the eating disorder be significantly resolved before a pregnancy is attempted.  If pregnancy does occur prior to recovery, it is imperative that you receive appropriate medical and psychological support. If you are struggling with an eating disorder during pregnancy, or are working hard to maintain your recovery during pregnancy, we would like to remind you how important it is to be honest with your OB and other medical providers during this time.  It’s critical that your providers are aware of your medical history and any current and past ED symptoms so that they can provide the best possible health care for you and your baby.  

Published by Kate Clemmer
May 10th, 2012 in Body Image, Guest Blogger, Media, Parenting, Q & A, Recovery
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Invisible Victory: An Athlete’s Story of Hope & Triumph in Eating Disorder Recovery ~ Q & A with Whitney Post

In observance of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2012, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore is excited to offer a special community event to raise awareness about the serious nature of eating disorders, the importance of treatment and support, and to help shed some light on the surprising place where eating disorders often hide - on sports teams and among athletes.  On February 26th, former World Champion rower, Whitney Post, will be speaking about her own identity as an elite athlete and how she ultimately used it to her advantage while recovering from an eating disorder.  Today, Whitney is the President and Co-Founder of Eating for Life Alliance and spends much of her time educating college students, professionals, athletes and coaches about eating disorder prevention and treatment.   

In advance of her talk, we asked Whitney to comment on this important topic and provide our readers with a glimpse into her February 26th presentation entitled, Invisible Victory: An Athlete’s Story of Hope & Triumph in Eating Disorder Recovery. 

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Q & A with Whitney Ladd Post:

Why do you think it is important to address the intersection between sports and disordered eating? What are the benefits to creating awareness and spreading education about this particular topic?

WP: For starters, we live in a culture that is incredibly rewarding of the goal-oriented, driven, take-responsibility, and perfectionistic qualities of athletes.  In addition, the media sensationalizes athletic bodies, not just athletic performances. In athletes, the body can become an obsessive focus as well as a tool for athletic success. Many of the traits that make people successful and driven athletes, can also be easily misdirected towards disordered eating and an overly-critical body image. In one study of college female athletes, 88 % felt they were overweight or needed to lose weight. Another challenge is that some athletic cultures perpetuate the myth that weight loss improves performance, and athletes may be reluctant to acknowledge a problem or seek treatment. In short, it can be very easy for athletes to hide a serious and dangerous eating disorder because they often appear, from the outside, to be excelling at their sport and may look incredibly fit and healthy.

My goal is for everyone, athletes in particular,  to understand the physical and emotional consequences of eating disorders and disordered eating in the short and long term.  Weight loss in athletics can often be presented as the magical elixir, but if it compromises health it will ultimately compromise performance.  I want athletes to know that it is a highly treatable disorder with early and proper interventions, and I want to address their reluctance to seek treatment. In my experience an eating disorder never gets better if left untreated, only worse.

Research tells us that eating disorders are biologically-based illnesses but that a variety of other factors can also play a role in how and when the illness is expressed in different individuals.  Did being an athlete affect your struggle with the eating disorder?  What role did it play in your recovery?

WP: When people ask me if lightweight rowing gave me an eating disorder, I say absolutely not. I loved being on the water, I loved the sense of team, and I loved working hard to win. Yet, I also had an attraction to the grueling process of making weight for the sport, as part of my willingness to put my body through extremes for the sake of weight loss.  Lightweight rowing offered me a mechanism to play out my unhealthy relationship with food and my body.  My years as a lightweight further entrenched my eating disordered mentality.

Yet, there are many features of athletics that can be applied to recovery if the right goals are set.  The sense of team, commitment, step-by-step training toward a goal, and positive self-coaching as well as support and guidance from others can be applied to the treatment of an eating disorder.  Part of my message is that some of the same liabilities of competition and training can be redirected toward recovery.

Your blog about eating disorder recovery is called “Invisible Victory” – why do you refer to this victory as invisible?

WP: Great question.  For me, all my goals in my sports career involved getting noticed, recognized, and praised.  There was always a teammate or a coach or spectator to witness when my hard work resulted in success.  The situation was very different with my eating disorder recovery.  I had to be my own cheer leader, because so many of my victories were not even perceptible to anyone else.  Monitoring and changing my thoughts, behaviors, and reactions were crucial to creating a new relationship with food and my body.  I had to learn to both accept the invisible nature of my new quest, and celebrate the victories big and small with or without witnesses.

When you were struggling with an eating disorder, did you ever reach a point where you didn’t think recovery was possible?  If so, what helped you push past it and what message would you give to other individuals who may be feeling that way now?

WP: Recovery felt very much the way many of my lofty athletic goals felt.  At times I faced feeling totally devastated, discouraged, and depressed, but I never stopped working in the direction of my goal.  So of course there were many times when I wasn’t sure I would ever find my way out of my little prison in which I was both warden and prisoner, but I never stopped trying.

How has your definition of health changed throughout your life as you were struggling with an eating disorder and now, as an advocate for recovery?

WP: The biggest tangible change over the years has been that my self-worth and self-image are no longer tied to exercise. Exercise is still very important to me, but now I workout mainly for the health, mood, and social benefits (I love working out with a friend).   I believe the best way to advocate for health and recovery is to live it.  I continue to place a high priority on physical, spiritual and emotional health.  Without that, nothing else works very well.

It’s clear from your bio at Eating for Life Alliance (ELA) that you’ve accomplished a great number and variety of personal and professional goals.  What would you say you are most proud of today and why?

WP: I am so happy to be freed up from the narrow vision of the world that defines eating disorders.  Instead of all the daily struggles faced when I defined myself by my body, I am now free to channel my energies to so many things.  For me, recovery from my eating disorder was a gateway to an easier and more fulfilling life.  I have a wonderful marriage and a new family, great friendships, and the opportunity to work professionally on something I am passionate about.  Before recovery these things seemed to always belong to other people, not me.

What do you hope is the take-home message for those who attend your presentation on February 26th?  Who could benefit from attending?

WP: My message is one that can benefit anyone who has been affected by an eating disorder themselves or has had a loved one with an eating disorder.  It is also important information for any parent, professional, educator, coach or friend who will likely be in a position to help someone someday if they know what to look for and how to respond.

One practical message I plan to get across to athletes and those who work with them is this: although athletes have a unique set of factors that make them more susceptible to eating disorders, they also have impressive assets that can be enlisted in helping them recover.  Eating disorders are common in athletes, and I don’t want anyone to be isolated and without the help she or he needs.

I want to offer education and encouragement to everyone who attends and wants to know more about eating disorders as they pertain to exercise and athletics, as well as to anyone out there who is looking for more hope.

Download the event flyer (pdf)

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Many thanks to Whitney Post for taking the time to provide these responses and for having the courage to share her story so that so many others may know they are not alone. 

If you would like to hear more about Whitney’s story of recovery, please join us on Sunday, February 26th at 2:00 pm for our NEDAWeek kick-off event, Invisible Victory: An Athlete’s Story of Hope & Triumph in Eating Disorder Recovery.  All are welcome to attend this FREE event.  We strongly encourage athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and athletic directors from surrounding schools and colleges to attend,  as well as any individual who has been personally affected by an eating disorder, their parents, friends, educators, and health professionals.  Please download an event flyer for details.  Attendance is free but seats are limited so pre-registration is encouraged by emailing: RSVP@sheppardpratt.org. 

This is just one of several special events to be offered over the course of NEDAWeek.  Find out more on our Events Page. 

You can also request a mailing of event flyers or posters for your organization by emailing  kclemmer@sheppardpratt.org.  

 

Published by Kate Clemmer
January 30th, 2012 in At-Risk Populations, Athletes, CED Events, Guest Blogger, Males, NEDAWeek, Perfectionism, Q & A, Recovery
2 Comments

“Navigating Our Culture’s Body Anxiety & Finding Body Confidence” ~ Q & A with SUSIE ORBACH

Susie OrbachSusie Orbach is a psychoanalyst, activist and author of many books including the classic, Fat is a Feminist Issue and her latest publication, Bodies. In addition to co-founding The Women’s Therapy Centre  in London and The Women’s Therapy Centre Institute in New York, Orbach serves as consultant and co-originator of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty.  She is also convenor of www.any-body.org through which she recently organized a series of international summits aimed at promoting body diversity and changing the way our culture turns individuals against their own bodies.

As an author and international body image activist, Orbach lectures extensively worldwide.  On October 2nd, 2011 we are excited to welcome her to The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore where she will be presenting a free talk for the community entitled, Navigating Our Culture’s Body Anxiety and Finding Body Confidence. You can get the details and reserve your seats for the event here.

In advance of her presentation, we asked Dr. Orbach a few questions about her upcoming talk and her responses are below.
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Q & A with Susie Orbach:

Q: The title of your upcoming talk at CED is “Navigating our Culture’s Body Anxiety and Finding Body Confidence”.  In your own words, how would you define body anxiety?  How do you define body confidence?

Susie: Body anxiety: Waking up and worrying whether it is going to be a good day or a bad day in relation to food; scrutinizing your body –dreading it will have the faults you see there, hoping it won’t; feeling pierced throughout the day with negative body thoughts; making plans to change the way you eat, exercise because you must ‘punish yourself’ and so on

Body confidence: waking up and feeling your physicality; reflecting on what you are doing that morning and what you might want to wear. Eating just what you want and relishing it when you are hungry. Moving your body because it feels good. Enjoying going about your life trusting your body will be there in a good way with you.

Q: In your opinion, where does the responsibility lie for this culture of extreme body dissatisfaction we have come to accept as the norm?  With whom does the responsibility lie to change it?

Susie: Big questions I hope to answer in my talk…The important thing is that whether in advertising, the media, food industry, the beauty industry, there are things we can to do change the situation. We need bold strategies from the individual, to the corporate to the political governmental

Q: What would you say is the biggest cultural myth that affects body image and/or weight struggles?

Susie: That the diet industry is on our side. It isn’t. It is part of the problem not the solution

Q: You have played an integral role in the creation of an international movement called Endangered Species.  What is the mission of this project?  In what ways has the project begun to accomplish its goals and what is on the horizon?  How can individuals contribute to the movement?

Susie: Come and join us one and all…set up a group in Baltimore, propose a project or join one of our existing projects. You are really welcome and needed.

Endangered aims to transform the culture that makes us afraid of our bodies and their appetites. We launched this year on the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. In London we are working with Parliament, with Girl Guides, with the Y, with many different Body Activist Groups – some in Fashion, some in education,  to take on those industries which grow fat on making girls and women, and increasingly men, feel wary of their bodies and their desires.

*Check out some great highlights from the Endangered Species Summits compiled by  Elena Rossini who is also the director of the upcoming documentary, The Illusionists.

Q: Many people, especially individuals with eating disorders, often struggle with intensely comparing themselves and their bodies to other people.  What do you think are the origins for this process and what roles do you see body competition and comparison playing in our society today?

Susie: Body competition is destructive and ubiquitous and not made easier by the cosmetic surgery industry, photo shopping and celebrity culture. Our visual culture is so full of images of people that don’t actually exist and it is very damaging.

Q: In your experience treating individuals with eating disorders and body image disturbances, what one piece of advice would you offer to individuals working towards recovery and body acceptance?

Q: Susie: Look back at pictures of yourself from a few years ago when you thought you looked awful (if you kept them), the odds are, you’ll find you were quite ok, lovely even. Then reflect upon the sad fact that you didn’t trust you looked ok then but you did so perhaps you have to risk feeling a tiny bit ok now…….

But in truth I wouldn’t give one piece of advice! It would depend on the individual….

Q: What keeps you hopeful that we will be able to push back against society’s damaging messages with regard to body satisfaction?  Do you think we will see real change in the way future generations relate to their bodies?

Susie: I am deeply pessimistic. But I also think: what choice do we have but to challenge the hurt and the vicious attacks on bodies. What gives me hope are the number of body activists out there – young, old, across cultures and class who are insisting on something more humane in relation to our bodies.

Q: After attending your community talk in Baltimore on October 2nd, what primary message do you hope individuals will take from your presentation and put into practice?

Susie: Gosh, that’s tough. We are all individuals and will take and give different things to the day and so what hits home will vary, but I hope it is the determination to make peace with our bodies.

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We hope so too.

Do you have your own questions for Susie Orbach? Join us in Baltimore on October 2nd for the chance to ask.  A reception and book signing will follow the presentation.  Attendance is free but seats are limited – don’t forget to RSVP.  Get details HERE.

Are you a treatment professional?  You may also be interested in the continuing education event taking place earlier the same day:

October 2, 2011 (8:00-11:00am) The Body in Therapy: An In Depth Look at Countertransference and the False Body with Susie Orbach, approved for 2.0 CME/CEU credits.  Download the program Flyer (pdf)


Published by Kate Clemmer
September 12th, 2011 in Body Image, Books, CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, Q & A, advocacy
0 Comments

Is ‘MyPlate’ Missing the Mark?

In conjunction with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the federal government’s newest national food and nutrition icon on June 2nd.   The new icon, referred to as MyPlate, is actually the 7th in a succession of food guides promoted by the USDA over the past 95 years.  The most recent predecessor to MyPlate was MyPyramid, introduced in 2005, which most people are relatively familiar with.  The new MyPlate is arguably easier to interpret than the pyramid, particularly because MyPlate recommendations are communicated through a simplified visual that consumers use every day – a dinner plate.

Michelle Obama had this to say about the usability of the new icon, “When mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we’re already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew. So it’s tough to be a nutritionist, too. But we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates. As long as they’re half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we’re golden. That’s how easy it is.”   Easy as it may seem, we still have some reservations about the new icon, particularly the dietary suggestions and some of the interactive tools that accompany it.

  • Blanket Assumptions. MyPlate’s overall recommendation is: “Enjoy your food, but eat less”.  This statement operates under the basic assumption that all Americans overeat which is simply not true.  What if the consumer already eats appropriate portions, or perhaps doesn’t eat enough to fuel their body?  “Eat less” sounds a lot like a universal prescription for restriction and leaves little room for honoring internal cues for hunger/fullness.
  • Is this just another diet? The reigning factor in MyPlate seems to be focused on control; control your diet and portions within the confines of the plate, and avoid too many of what MyPlate defines as “empty calories” (more on this term later).  Healthy, normalized eating involves trusting your own body’s hunger, fullness, and taste cues to help give you everything you need. The My Plate icon could be a helpful reminder of the importance of a balanced diet.  However, working overtime to make every meal fit precisely into MyPlate could be more harmful than helpful in establishing a peaceful relationship with food.  Furthermore, many of the associated online tools on the USDA website, including “analyze my diet”, food tracking and calorie counters seem to foster an unnecessary focus on precise counting/measuring of foods.
  • Essentially Missing. Fats and oils are not visually represented anywhere on MyPlate despite the fact that fats and oils are necessary for energy, transportation and absorption of vitamins, satiety, taste and texture, heart health, and cholesterol.  They are an essential nutrient, and a major component of all brain and nerve cells. The MyPlate website does state that “oils are not a food group, but are essential.”  If the goal is healthy and balanced eating, such an essential part of the human diet needs to be represented on this easy-to-read graphic as it was with the last two government food models. Showing healthy ways to incorporate dietary fat and oils into meals could help educate consumers on appropriate amounts of dietary fats and oils as opposed to just instilling a fear of them by ignoring them altogether in the icon.
  • Labeling Foods. Labeling foods as good/bad or healthy/unhealthy is a way of thinking that isn’t making Americans any healthier and can actually promote disordered eating.  Yet the USDA website where MyPlate lives continues to assign the  “empty calories” label to a long list of  foods.  A calorie is a measure of energy, equal to the amount of heat that is contained in food and released upon breakdown in the body.  All food provides energy to our body – glucose to fuel our cells, protein to build, repair, and maintain body tissues, and fat for healthy cell membranes and brain development. Remember that by incorporating different choices from all food groups, you will naturally be achieving an appropriate balance of calories – thus leaving room for the treats and extras that are physiologically and psychologically satisfying.  Removing labels on food, such as “empty calories”, and working to make all foods neutral lends itself to a healthier relationship with food, and helps with food habituation – when you’ve had a food item a multitude of times and can decide freely whether you’ll truly enjoy and taste the food when you have it.
  • Logic. The plate pictures protein, grains, fruits and vegetables with a side of dairy as an ideal meal. How would an average consumer translate this message? Perhaps strawberries just don’t make sense with your Chinese food meal.   Does this picture create the notion that every food group must be consumed at every meal? (i.e. veggies with your cereal?)  That feels like a lot of pressure.  And what about lasagna or casseroles when almost all of the food groups may be combined into one dish – where does that fit into the MyPlate icon?  Looking at an overall weekly balance of nutrients and food choices would be more appropriate than feeling as if the eating must be perfect on every plate at every meal.
  • Does it promote overeating? Does the plate send the message that someone should push past their satiety point just to incorporate that fruit or dairy serving? Not honoring the fullness cue could trigger feelings of shame and guilt (not to mention physical discomfort), which can lead to emotional eating or compensatory restricting.

So, the next time you sit down to a meal, take a look at your plate. Not in an effort to follow the MyPlate guidelines exactly, but more so to be mindful.  Are you choosing a variety of foods from each food group throughout the day or week? Do the food choices make sense and complement each other?  Are you able to stop when you feel full?  Choosing foods that nurture the body and the mind are all steps on your road to health, and a healthy relationship with food.

Do you have questions about MyPlate or other nutritional guidelines?  Ask our Registered Dietitians and we’ll post the questions and answers on our blog!  Submit questions by emailing kclemmer@sheppardpratt.org anytime before August 10th.  Add “ask the dietitian” in the subject line.


Submitted by Courtney Perkins, RD with contributions by CED’s team of Registered Dietitians

Published by Kate Clemmer
July 19th, 2011 in Celebrity Topical News, Diets, Nutrition, Q & A, intuitive eating
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Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Q&A with Johanna S. Kandel ~ Part 2

Today we feature a continuation of  a two-part interview with Johanna Kandel, author of Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder and upcoming keynote speaker for The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt’s NEDAWeek kick-off event. Check out Part 1 to read Johanna’s thoughts on the role of control, humor and fear in the process of recovery.  In part 2, below, Johanna discusses her top 3 recovery tools and what she hopes people will learn from attending her presentation in Baltimore on February 20th, 2011.  You can find out more about this free event here.

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Q&A with Johanna S. Kandel ~ Part 2

Q: In your book you talk about not knowing who you were during the height of your illness and that you felt like you had become your eating disorder.  How did you re-discover yourself and did you encounter any surprises along the way?

JK: One of the biggest fears I had when approaching recovery was not knowing who I was or what I liked.  I truly believed that recovery meant knowing everything about me at that moment.  My therapist assured me that no one was expecting me to know all the answers to the all important questions right away.  No one was expecting me to write an epic-autobiography about all of my likes and dislikes the moment I began the recovery process.  Life, like recovery, is a journey and you may find that what you like today may not be what like you two weeks or two months from now. The biggest surprise that I encountered was that I actually started having a good time exploring all the things I gave myself permission to try.  Nothing is written in stone, so give yourself permission to explore and try something new.  You never know, you might just like it!

Q: What would you say were the top 3 most important things in your recovery toolbox?

JK: Filling my tool box with as many tools as I could was integral to my recovery.  Some of my most favorite that I used on my journey were:

~ Ignorant Stamp to help me to ‘stamp out the ignorance’ and not let people’s comments fuel my negative voice.

~ The Dresser with Seven Drawers which allows me to take a look at the ultimate best outcome (top drawer), the ultimate worst (bottom drawer) and then come up with a middle ‘okay’ drawer/outcome.

~ The Box of Crayons – Just as in a box of crayons there are so many colors other than just black and white.  As someone who lived in only the black or white (all or nothing), learning to embrace all the colors in the crayon box of life was so important.

Q: What do you hope people take away from your presentation in Baltimore on February 20th?  Who could benefit from attending?

JK: My biggest wish is that people take away the message that there truly is life beyond eating disorders.  People can and do recover.  There is help, there is hope, and there is healing.  I battled for so many years alone and afraid.  I didn’t believe that I would/could get better.  I didn’t think it was an option.  Turns out, it absolutely was and can be for anyone that is struggling too.  If you or someone you know is battling and/or recovering, I hope you will be able to join me on Sunday, February 20 at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt.  I am so incredibly honored to be part of their Eating Disorders Awareness Week events and really look forward to seeing you there!

In good health,

Johanna

*   *   *

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Johanna Kandel for taking the time to provide such hopeful and insightful responses for this blog.  We are very much looking forward to her Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder presentation in Baltimore on February 20th, and we hope you can join us.  Download the event flyer (pdf) and remember to pre-register as space is limited, and seats are filling up quickly!

More Upcoming NEDAWeek Events at The Center for Eating Disorders:

  • ‘Love Your Tree‘ Community Art Exhibit and Reception on February 22, 2011 at 6:30pm
  • Free Eating Disorder Screenings ~ February 21-25, 2011

Visit our Events page or call (410) 427-3886 for more info on any of the upcoming events.

Published by Kate Clemmer
February 4th, 2011 in Books, CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, NEDAWeek, Q & A, Recovery, Support
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Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Q&A with Johanna S. Kandel

Each year in February, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt kicks-off National Eating Disorder Awareness Week  with a special event designed to shed light on the serious nature of eating disorders.  This year, we are excited to host Johanna Kandel who will present a free talk for the community entitled “Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder” on Sunday February 20th, 2011.  Johanna is an author and the Executive Director of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. She will not only be helping to spread awareness and education about eating disorders but she will share her own inspiring story of recovery and hope.   In advance of her arrival in Baltimore, we asked Johanna to provide us with a glimpse into her experience with the recovery process. Read her responses below and visit our Events page to RSVP for her talk in Baltimore on February 20th.

*     *      *

Q & A with JOHANNA S. KANDEL ~ Part 1

Q: In the preface to your book you quote a philosopher who said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Why is this an important message for individuals who are struggling and what was your first step towards recovery?

JK: Recovery from an eating disorder is definitely a journey that happens one step at a time.  It doesn’t happen overnight and it is not perfect.  When I became so sick and tired of being sick and tired, and when the pain of living with my eating disorder exceeded my fear of recovering, I knew that it was time to do whatever it took to start the process of recovery.  The first step I took was reaching out to my parents and asking them for what I needed most of all: help.  However, the idea of changing everything right away was way too scary. I had to remember to take it one moment at a time.  And if I tripped along the way, I had to pick myself up, dust myself up, and keep on stepping.

Q: Was there a time during your illness that you knew something was wrong but you convinced yourself that you had everything under control?  If so, how did you eventually break free from that thought process?

JK: Ah, control…the famous word!  I have to say that when it came to control, my eating disorder pulled a ‘bait and switch’ on me.  At first it lured me in with its promises of feeling like I had ultimate control, but very quickly I realized that the eating disorder was the one in control (while garnering a path of self-destruction).  For so many years, my negative voice was the only thing I heard.  My healthy voice was only a distant whisper and seemed liked a complete stranger.  Learning how to first press the “pause” button and then the ‘stop’ button {when the negative thoughts were taking over my thought process} is what allowed me to ultimately break free.

Q: There are several very meaningful yet funny parts in your book – the body armor incident to name just one – did humor play a role in your recovery?

JK: Absolutely!  Surprisingly to me, I found myself laughing quite a bit throughout my journey.  After not laughing at all during my battle with the eating disorder, it was strange at first, but then I began to embrace it.  I learned to how to use laughter as another tool in my recovery toolbox. It was so interesting to see just how many times laughter got me through potentially triggering situations and became an ally.

Q: What were your greatest fears about recovery and moving beyond your eating disorder?

JK: I had so many fears about recovering from my eating disorder.  In fact, it was the fear that stood in the way of my recovery for so long.  It was my security blanket and I didn’t know how to cope or live without it.  I was afraid to live without my eating disorder because I didn’t know who I was without it.  I was afraid of dealing with my emotions, I was scared of feeling, and I was petrified of using my voice. I was also so incredibly scared that recovery (and all the hard work it would entail) would not be worth it.  As I began to walk through my fears and take very small risks, I realized that I could live without my eating disorder and that I was so much more than just that.  I started feeling again and it was (although scary at first) so incredibly wonderful.  I learned that I had a voice that deserved to be heard and I became pretty comfortable using it.  And finally, I can say with 100% conviction that recovery was without a doubt the best thing I ever did.


…Part 2 of the interview with Johanna Kandel is now up!  Click HERE to read about her top 3 recovery tools and how she re-discovered herself without the eating disorder.  Can you relate to Johanna’s experience above?  What parts of Johanna’s message have played an important role in your journey to recovery?  Please leave a comment below or join the discussion on our facebook page.

Download the Event Flyer:   Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder ~ JKandel 2.20.11 event (pdf)

Johanna’s book, Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble.com

Published by Kate Clemmer
February 3rd, 2011 in CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, NEDAWeek, Q & A, Recovery, Support
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Support for Parents & Families: Navigating the World of Eating Disorder Treatment & Recovery

Join us on Thursday February 24th, 2011  to hear from a panel of parents who’ve been through the treatment process in various forms with their own children.  Listen to their stories and join the conversation during a special Q/A with the panel members and several treatment specialists from CED. You can read more about the event and meet our panel members below, then download the Event Flyer or visit our website to register for this free event.

*   *    *

For someone with an eating disorder, the positive role of the family in the recovery process cannot be underestimated.  Parents, spouses, siblings and close support people can make a world of difference for someone who is struggling with an eating disorder, especially as they work towards recovery.  But its not easy.  It takes a lot of patience and presents many challenges for parents and support people who have never before been forced to learn about the complexities of an eating disorder or navigate the world of treatment. Just as the individual with the disorder experiences intense fears, personal hardships, and emotional angst throughout the illness and recovery, so too do those who support them.  It can be torturous to have an eating disorder but in many ways, it can be just as difficult to care deeply for someone who does.

Parents in particular, despite the age of their son or daughter with an eating disorder, can be met with incredible fear, stress and frustration as they try to weed through a completely new landscape of physical and mental health complications, what to say and what not to say to someone in treatment, and how to respond to irritability, refusal to get treatment, or general isolation from the rest of the family.  And while each family has their own unique experience, two things are very common when approaching the recovery process with a loved one:  1) you will have a lot of questions, and 2) you may feel very alone.  That being said, it can be very beneficial to talk with other families who understand what you’re going through and can offer knowledgeable, experienced support.

This year, in honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will be hosting a Panel Presentation and Q/A event featuring parents who’ve experienced the difficult job of supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.  This free event is designed to create a safe place for families and support people to gather, ask questions and seek feedback from those who’ve been in the trenches themselves.  The panel will also include specialists from the Center for Eating Disorders who will answer questions about the treatment process, types of therapy, health and medical concerns,  nutrition issues, and all things affecting recovery.

All of the parent panel members come to the table with different experiences, different strengths and different outcomes but they all have an important story to tell and a hopeful message to share.   If you have questions about supporting a loved one, or you would just like to listen and know that you are not alone, please join us for this special event in Baltimore on Thursday February 24th at 7:00 pm.

~  MEET The PANEL ~

PARENT & FAMILY Panel Members:

Jane Cawley – Jane and her family helped her daughter, then age fourteen, recover from anorexia nervosa with family-based treatment in 2004. Ever since, she’s worked tirelessly as an advocate for eating disorders, actively helping parents find and better understand information on eating disorders and the treatments available.  She co-chairs Maudsley Parents and serves on the steering committee of NEDA’s Parent, Family, and Friends Network.  She was also recently interviewed for a PsychCentral blog entitled, What Parents Need to Know About Eating Disorders: Q&A with Jane Cawley

Katherine Bloom – Katherine is the loving mother of Kira Bloom, who lost her struggle with bulimia nervosa on May 21, 2009 at age twenty-five.  Katherine now speaks out to honor her daughter’s memory, the importance of treatment and to share what she has learned in hopes of sparing another family a similar tragedy.

Jean R. – Jean and her family learned to navigate the world of eating disorders when their daughter was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in 2000.  Through their daughter’s journey they became acquainted with an ANAD support group, and in the spring of 2007, she volunteered to be on the Eating Disorder Network of Maryland board.  Jean has also been involved with Supporting Each Other, a support group for family members and friends of those who have loved ones struggling with disordered eating.  As an educator, Jean sees the importance of education to spread awareness and understanding about this dangerous disease.

TREATMENT SPECIALIST Panel Members:

Steven Crawford, MD – Dr. Steven Crawford is a board certified psychiatrist and Associate Director of The Center for Eating Disorders.  Dr. Crawford has spent over 20 years devoted to the treatment of individuals and families impacted by eating disorders.  He remains committed to providing the best possible treatment for every patient at CED, ensuring a comprehensive continuum of care, state-of-the-art programs and a staff of highly qualified, specialty trained practitioners.  Dr. Crawford also serves on the faculty at the University of Maryland where he trains medical students on prevention, identification, early intervention and evidence-based treatment for eating disorders.

Dina Wientge, LCSW-C – Dina Wientge has been a part of the CED staff for more than 14 years. She received her Masters in social work from the University of Maryland and trained at Johns Hopkins University .  Dina provides family therapy for patients in CED’s inpatient program and oversees all aspects of the Center’s family therapy programming.   She is one of a select group of clinicians from across the country who have been specially trained and certified to provide Family Based Treatment (FBT) for eating disorders.

Debbi Jacobs, LCSW-C – Debbi Jacobs earned her MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work in 1999.  Prior to joining the team at The Center for Eating Disorders, she provided individual, couples and family therapy at the Jewish Family Services in Baltimore with a particular interest in trauma and loss.  Debbi currently provides individual and family therapy at CED’s outpatient department with a concentration in providing support for families engaged in the Maudsley method of re-feeding.

Samantha Lewandowski, MS, RD, LDN – Samantha Lewandowski received her BS in Nutrition from the University of Delaware and her Masters in Health Promotion Management from The American University.  Samantha, a Registered Dietitian, joined the CED staff in 2006, and her main role is working on nutritional goals with patients and their families in the outpatient setting.  As Nutritional Care Coordinator, she also supervises the outpatient nutrition staff, coordinates nutrition programs and provides community workshops and professional trainings on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

All family members, support people and health/mental health professionals are welcome to attend.  Download the Event Flyer or visit our Events Page to pre-register and reserve a seat.

If you have questions about this panel or any of our other NEDAWeek events, please call The Center for Eating Disorders’ Outreach Coordinator at (410) 427-3886.

Published by Kate Clemmer
January 31st, 2011 in CED Events, NEDAWeek, Nutrition, Parenting, Q & A, Recovery, Support, Treatment Providers, family based treatment
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2010: Looking Back on a Year of Eating Disorder Awareness, Outreach & Education

2010 has been one of the busiest community outreach years to date here at The Center for Eating Disorders.  We are very glad to have welcomed many of you to our events for the first time.  In addition to providing requested trainings and workshops in the community CED also hosted five major community events on the Sheppard Pratt campus.  These are just a few of the many highlights from the past year…

In January of 2010 CED kicked-off the year with a day long conference  entitled, Promoting Self-Esteem & Positive Body Image: A Program for the Jewish Community. Despite a lingering snow storm, over 100 community members attended including parents and adolescents, educators and school staff, medical and mental health providers as well as rabbis and Jewish community leaders from Baltimore and surrounding areas.

One month later we celebrated National Eating Disorder Awareness Week with a keynote presentation by author and parenting expert Rosalind Wiseman.  In her talk,  Positive Parenting for a Healthy Self-Image, she spoke candidly about relating to kids and adolescents in ways that build self-esteem and body confidence.  That same week in February, we honored student artists from across the state of Maryland at the annual “Love Your Tree” poster art exhibit and awards ceremony. Bel Air High School Freshman, Kiley Baker was honored as her original artwork was unveiled as the official 2010 Love Your Tree poster. More than 130 art pieces were on display and over $1,200 in scholarships and prizes were awarded to participating students and teachers. (Don’t forget: the deadline for this year’s LYT Poster campaign is Dec. 17th, 2010!!!)

Before NEDAWeek 2010 ended, CED therapist, Craig Boas, LCSW  facilitated a community workshop called Mindfulness 101: An Experiential Exploration of DBT Practices for Eating Disorder Recovery and Everyday Life. In addition to these local events, we also launched a blog series called Nurture:  A mind and body wellness blog for moms and mothers-to-be. The blog entries helped to provide support around issues of fertility & pregnancy, eating disorders, body image, media and motherhood.  

In August of 2010, we were honored to host a community presentation by author and parent, Harriet Brown the very  day after the release of her book, Brave Girl Eating: A Family’s Struggle With Anorexia. Her talk was inspirational for the many parents and professionals in the audience and stimulated much discussion about Family-Based Treatment (FBT).  The Center for Eating Disorders is one of a small number of sites across the country that has clinicians who are specially trained and certified to provide FBT for eating disorders.

We switched gears in September 2010 for a focus on continuing professional education for providers.  Five eating disorder treatment experts from across the country converged in Baltimore to present at CED’s professional symposium, Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment.  Almost 200 physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, dietitians and other treating professionals attended the day long conference to learn about topics such as Family-Based Treatment for EDs, Psychopharmacology and Cognitive Remediation Therapy.  Several of our expert presenters provided guest blogs for us in advance of the symposium.  You can read them by clicking on the links below:

Several days after the symposium, CED staff members, including CED Associate Director, Dr. Steven Crawford, teamed up with fellow advocates from across the country on Capitol Hill to take part in a Lobby Day organized by The Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC).  We spent time meeting with Maryland representatives in congress and senate, discussing how important it is for them to sign on in support of the FREED Act.  It was an empowering day and CED is looking forward to being a continuing sponsor of the EDC in the new year.

Most recently we were incredibly excited to host our fall outreach event,  Intuitive Eating: Making Peace With Food,  featuring Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, a nationally acclaimed nutrition expert and bestselling author.  There was a tremendous response from the community, and over 200 people from across Maryland and surrounding states converged in Towson on November 21st to hear Ms. Tribole’s engaging presentation.  After the talk, many attendees lined up to speak with her personally about their stories of success with Intuitive Eating.  If you missed the presentation, check out the pre-event Q & A with Evelyn Tribole on our blog.

Many thanks to all who have attended and collaborated around these events.  As we move towards 2011 and a new year we maintain a commitment to providing events and outreach opportunities with the following goals:
  • Increase awareness about the growing prevalence of eating disorders and their consequences
  • Provide opportunities to help individuals, families, schools and organizations prevent eating disorders and promote positive body image
  • Encourage early intervention and improve access to care while decreasing stigma associated with seeking help
  • Support individuals and families throughout the recovery process
  • Enhance professional knowledge and competency through continuing education events for medical and mental health providers

Upcoming community outreach events:

www.EatingDisorder.org

CED on Facebook

CED on Twitter (@CEDSheppPratt)

Published by Kate Clemmer
December 9th, 2010 in Body Image, CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, In the News, NEDAWeek, Nurture. Blog Series, Professional Education, Q & A, Recovery, Treatment Providers, intuitive eating
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Body Image, Eating Disorders & Intuitive Eating… A Special Pre-Event Q&A with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD (Part 2)

Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD,  co-author of Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works, answered some important Intuitive Eating questions for us in yesterday’s post, What is Intuitive Eating? (Part 1).  Readers found out, perhaps surprisingly, that research shows Intuitive Eaters are actually healthier, both physically and mentally.  Today’s post (Part 2) is a follow-up Q&A with Evelyn and delves a little deeper into the intersections between body image, eating disorders, recovery and Intuitive Eating.  Evelyn will be presenting “Intuitive Eating: Making Peace With Food” at a free community event in Baltimore on Sunday, November 21, 2010.  All are welcome.  Her talk will be followed by a book signing and casual reception.  Please visit our Events page for more information.

Q & A with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD (Part 2)

In your book, you have a chapter entitled “Respect Your Body” – what kind of role does body image play in becoming an intuitive eater?

Body image is often at the core of people’s struggle with eating and weight because their initial desire to lose weight or change their body in some way may have been the catalyst for their first diet.  Unfortunately the first diet often leads to more diets, and a long relationship with dieting and weight fluctuations can wreak havoc on a person’s metabolism, their relationship with food and their overall self-esteem.  As mentioned above, diets have also been shown to result in increased weight gain (rather than the intended weight loss) which can perpetuate further body dissatisfaction. In other words, as stated in the book, “body vigilance begets body worry, which begets food worry which fuels the cycle of dieting”.

That being said, in order to move towards becoming an intuitive eater you really have to learn to respect your body.  Respecting your body doesn’t necessarily mean immediately liking every aspect of your body.  Respecting your body means treating it with dignity, and meeting its basic needs.  It means accepting your genetic blueprint, getting realistic about what is a healthy weight for you and letting go of the unrealistic and unhealthy weight expectations you’ve set for yourself along the way. Chapter 12 in my book and my presentation in Baltimore on November 21st will delve into some more specific steps involved in this process.

Can someone who has had an eating disorder become an Intuitive Eater?

Yes they can, however, timing and readiness are key factors that must be considered in order to do so safely and in a way that does not create risks for relapse.  When an individual is in the throes of an eating disorder, he or she is not capable of accurately hearing biological cues of hunger and fullness.  In this situation, their “satiety meter” is broken, a consequence of complex interactions of mind-body biology and malnutrition.  In the beginning of treatment, nutrition rehabilitation usually requires some sort of eating plan (often under the direction of a nutrition therapist). With proper treatment and input from their providers, individuals with eating disorders can determine the best timing and their readiness to begin transitioning from a structured eating plan to more intuitive eating. Ultimately, when a person recovers from an eating disorder, she trusts her inner body wisdom. She/he is at peace with mind and body, and finally, enjoys the pleasures of eating according to natural hunger and fullness cues and without guilt or moral decree.

In your experience, what are some of the most frequent reactions or responses people have had after learning about and incorporating intuitive eating into their lives?

One of the most common reactions from people who make the shift into Intuitive Eating, is that they marvel at their new sense of freedom and peace—freedom from:

  • Worrying about every single morsel they put into their mouths.
  • Judgment from their incessant food-police critic.
  • Worrying about what other people think about their food choices.
  • Pre-occupation about eating the “right” or “wrong” food.
  • Counting—calories, carbs, or points.
  • Guilt, judgment, and self-worth related to food and body.

Consequently, their anxiety is markedly decreased, and they can participate in life—on what’s happening — right now, in the moment.  No more distraction.  When someone is constantly worried about what they eat—it’s akin to talking on the phone to a person who is simultaneously emailing or surfing the net.  The distracted person is saying the right words, but the connection is missing.

I never tire of hearing the genuine surprise of “taste discovery”, when someone finally gives herself unconditional permission to eat.   It’s not unusual for some to discover that they really don’t like a particular food that they have lusted after, and felt guilty while eating it.  When you have unconditional permission to eat—you really get to taste and experience the food, without judgment.

When someone embraces Intuitive Eating (and “gets it”), it is very empowering—because ultimately, the individual becomes self-attuned, and the expert of his or her own body.

Who could benefit from attending your workshop on November 21st, 2010 at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt?

This will be a great opportunity for individuals who’ve struggled in anyway with their relationship with food or weight including those who struggle with yo-yo dieting, compulsive overeating, weight fluctuations, restrictive diets, disordered eating or any type of general anxiety about food and weight.  This will also be a helpful presentation for parents or caregivers who are looking for ways to help their families develop an emotionally and physically healthy relationship with food.  Professionals who work with individuals around eating and weight can also benefit from learning more about Intuitive Eating.

In addition to attending your workshop on Nov. 21st and reading your book, Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works, can you recommend any other supportive resources or additional strategies for individuals or families who are interested in intuitive eating?

On my website I have an entire collection of articles, interviews, research, trainings, and supportive resources related to Intuitive Eating. I would suggest starting there. You can also sign-up for my e-newsletter to receive ongoing news and research about intuitive eating.

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If you missed Part 1 of this special Q & A with Evelyn Tribole, we suggest you take a moment to go back and read it here.   Part 1 is important to understanding what Intuitive Eating is all about and provides links to additional research supporting the intuitive eating principles set forth by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and her Intuitive Eating co-author Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA.

You may also be interested in some of these past entries from The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Blog:

Published by Kate Clemmer
November 16th, 2010 in Body Image, CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, In the News, Nutrition, Q & A, Recovery, intuitive eating
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What is INTUITIVE EATING? A Special Pre-Event Q&A with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD (Part 1 of 2)

On November 21st, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will  host registered dietitian and bestselling author, Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD  as the 2010 keynote speaker at our annual Fall Outreach  Event. Tribole will be speaking at the free event where she will be de-bunking diet myths, sharing important nutrition information and discussing practical ways individuals and families can move toward becoming Intuitive Eaters (even as the food-focused  holidays approach).   Over 200 people have already registered to attend next Sunday’s event, and its created a lot of intuitive eating buzz here in Baltimore.  In case you don’t know what all the excitement is about, Evelyn agreed to answer some of our general questions about Intuitive Eating in advance of  her presentation.  Consider this a sneak peak, come back tomorrow for Part II, and then join us for the main event…Intuitive Eating: Making Peace With Food on Nov. 21st.  

Q &A with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD (Part I)

What is Intuitive Eating, and what are some of the general benefits for individuals?  For families?

Intuitive Eating is an approach that teaches you how to create a healthy relationship with your food, mind, and body–where you ultimately become the expert of your own body.   You learn how to distinguish between physical and emotional feelings, and gain a sense of body wisdom.  It’s a process of making peace with food–so you no longer have constant “food worry” thoughts.  This means that meals are not a moral dilemma resulting in feelings of guilt and shame, but rather a place to practice tuning into one’s inner needs and fulfilling those needs in a healthy, nurturing way. While there are many ways of incorporating the process of Intuitive Eating, there are three core characteristics:

  • Unconditional permission to eat.
  • Reliance on internal hunger and satiety cues.
  • Eating for physical, rather than emotional reasons.

There are many benefits for individuals and families who eat intuitively. Unfortunately, one of the myths or misconceptions about intuitive eating is that it is unhealthy because people often fear that if you allow yourself to eat whatever you want, you’ll just a eat lot of “junk food” and you won’t be able to stop.  The truth is, there are studies that show Intuitive Eaters are actually healthier, both physically and mentally.  Here are two that illustrate these conclusions:

In 2006, Dr. Stephen Hawk, from Brigham Young University evaluated 343 college students and found that Intuitive Eating does not lead to poor nutritional food choices.  To the contrary, he found that Intuitive Eaters consume a greater diversity of foods, take greater pleasure in eating and have healthy body weights.

A larger study on nearly 1300 college women by Tracy Tylka*, from Ohio State University, found that Intuitive Eaters are more optimistic, have better self-esteem, and a lower body mass index (BMI), but without internalizing culture’s unrealistic thin ideal.  (That part is important, because if you desire or value an unrealistically thin body, it increases your risk for eating disorders).

How does Intuitive Eating compare to our current societal norms and cultural messages around food/eating?

The pleasure of eating has become a lost art in the USA. Instead, eating is commonly viewed as something that will kill you, cure you, or make you fat. This is where we can take a lesson in the pleasure principle from France. An international study found that Americans worry the most about their health and enjoy eating the least. In contrast, the French are the most food-pleasure-oriented and least food-health-oriented. [1] Notably, France has nearly half the obesity rate compared to the USA, for both adults and children [2].

When food restrictions are placed on a chronic dieter, or on a person who chronically feels guilty about eating, it increases the “forbidden food” burden. Consequently, rigid food rules interfere with the individual’s ability to “hear” or be attuned to the eating experience of his or her body.

Can you briefly explain the “diet mentality” you refer to in your book?  From a nutrition perspective, how do diets affect weight and health?

Many times, “healthy eating” or “better nutrition” is code for dieting. Consequently, if you focus solely on these factors, without considering your internal body cues or what would best satisfy hunger, you can easily feel deprived. This in turn may increase cravings and thoughts of food, overeating, dieting, and heighten anxiety around snacks and meals.

There are compelling studies, which indicate that dieting actually predicts weight gain (and often binge eating). While most people know that diets don’t work, not many are aware of the weight-gain hazard. For example, a team of UCLA scientists reviewed 31 long term studies on dieting and concluded that [1]:

  • Dieting is a consistent predictor of weight gain.
  • Up to two-thirds of the people regained more weight than they lost.
  • Diets do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits for the majority of people.

A prospective study on nearly 17,000 kids ages 9-14 years old, found that dieting predicted binge eating behavior and concluded that, “…in the long term, dieting to control weight is not only ineffective, it may actually promote weight gain” [2]. Recently, a five-year study on teens, found that dieters had twice the risk of becoming overweight, compared to non-dieting teens [3]. (Notably, at baseline, the dieters did not weigh more than their non-dieting peers.)

I consider dieting a form of “nutritional trauma”. It might sound a bit dramatic, but once your body experiences the biological and psychological deprivation from dieting, your body gets smarter. Consequently, it gets harder to stick with each new diet, because your cells know what to do. When dieting, hunger becomes a feared sensation, rather than a natural process that gears up and down, depending on when, and how much you ate. And if you eat just until the hunger goes away, you will likely be hungry sooner, which sets up a cycle of constantly thinking about food and what to eat. This is a big part of the “diet mentality”. Conversely, if you learn to eat intuitively and feed your body on a regular, consistent basis, by honoring your hunger, it will help build “body-trust”.

…part 2 is now available here:  “Body Image, Eating Disorders & Intuitive Eating”…A Special Pre-Event Q&A with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD

In Part II of this Q & A, Evelyn answers questions about body image and eating disorders as they relate to Intuitive Eating.  Follow CED on Facebook for additional updates about our blog and upcoming events.  You can also visit our Events Page for more details on how to register for the Intuitive Eating event on November 21, 2010.

In addition to co-authoring the groundbreaking bestseller, Intuitive Eating, Evelyn is also an award-winning registered dietitian in private practice in California and a nationally recognized nutrition consultant;  She has appeared on hundreds of interviews, including: CNN, Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News, USA Today and the Wall St. Journal.  For more info about Evelyn Tribole, click on her picture above or visit her website at www.evelyntribole.com.

Published by Kate Clemmer
November 15th, 2010 in CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, Editor's Picks, Glossary Definitions, Nutrition, Professional Education, Q & A, Recovery
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