24 Nov, 2024
5 mins read

Weight stigma alert: What media coverage about Prince’s death is missing, and why it matters to anyone with a body

By Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, BEDA Director of Events & Membership I am sad, so sad, to hear about the passing of music legend Prince. He was one of the icons of my youth – the first musical rebellion of my pre-teen years. It was all of Prince; his style, his dance, his androgynous dress and hyper sexual lyrics that made playing his music so much fun while watching for my parents’ stunned expressions. The fact that he’s gone makes me sad, but the way his death is being reported is making me furious. As a weight stigma prevention advocate, and a Health At Every Size (HAES®) proponent, not to mention an active member of the eating disorders community, I am frustrated at the fact that every …

7 mins read

Binge Eating Disorder & Perfectionism: Finding Center

By Hilda Dulin Lee, BA, DMD, MLA, and author of In the Labyrinth of Binge Eating I am in recovery from binge eating disorder (BED). I have seen my enemy, and its name is perfectionism! Perfectionism is a two-edged sword A perfectionist sets high goals and strives to achieve them. That is not a bad thing. The human race, as well as the individual, benefits from the basic desire to always aim higher and higher, and has kept humanity moving forward for thousands of years. Robert Browning said it best: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” If that were all, I’d be happy to call myself a perfectionist. Unfortunately, like so many others, I sometimes confuse the …

2 mins read

toethefinishline: Binge Free Challenge! This is my full BED…

toethefinishline: Binge Free Challenge! This is my full BED challenge. Each of the links below links to to the daily post for additional details on the daily challenge!   Make a journal How did you wind up here?  Re-evaluate your goals. Be proud of your accomplishments! Does society influence you to be a certain way? Stop restricting! Track your food! Research! Tell someone!  Do you believe recovery is possible? Do you skip meals? Make a list about what you love about yourself (write it in your journal)! What does your pantry look like? Make plans! Who is your inspiration?  Are you a late night snacker? Make a jar of alternatives! Plan what to do next time you binge! Find some healthy but delicious recipes! Find a book …

1 min read

Allowing Life To Unfold

I took the picture above yesterday while I walked and took some time for silence at the beach. So beautiful, the waves alive and somewhat predictable making walking in the surf fun and easy. This evening when I went to the very same spot -well tried to go to the very same spot I could not even enter the beach! The hard crashing waves made the narrow entry to the beach completely off limits. Yesterday I had thoughts of the waves being like situations in life with my desire being to know what to do in the waves or circumstances. I knew in my heart I could not really predict what the waves or life could be nor could I resist or manipulate them effectively. Tonight when …

2 mins read

Is Food Your Distraction?

Eating beyond full takes us into the vague place where food is no longer about nourishment or need. We enter the milieu of wants and desires and usually it is not food we are wanting or desiring. To be physically satisfied by our food is a wonderful feeling -one that allows us to enjoy a variety of foods with or with out the company of others. When we learn to eat to satiety and then stop, we can trust ourselves with any type of food or in any type of situation –celebratory or not– for we know from experience that we stop when we are physically full. For many this season of glitter and glee is veiled with distrust of the body and its desires. If…

2 mins read

Creating Personal Space

Creating Personal Space Recently I have come to realize that normal online activity leaves many individuals overextended (spiritually, socially, energetically) this includes myself. If you find you are a little more stressed than usual or that you do not have as much freedom and ease as usual (or as you would like), it may be time to create some space for yourself, both online and off. For an example, today I clicked “Leave Group” on two Facebook groups I had recently joined. I had grown accustomed to reading the posts and comments in these groups and for a while enjoyed some interaction with other group members. With the groups growing rapidly (one to over 3,000 members) the enjoyment soon turned into frustration and I sometimes felt overwhelmed trying…

1 min read

Peace, Purpose and Prosperity

Aloha! I’ve formed a new group on Face Book  Peace, Purpose and Prosperity  to offer a safe place to share inspiration, explore ideas and offer support as we build our lives and businesses based on: inner peace rooted purpose and extraordinary prosperity I believe as we live from a place of awareness we change not only ourselves with ease and grace but also the world around us. Special days of attention at the group Tuesday: “Pride and Joy” share, toot your horn or outright boast about that special moment! Wednesday: “Gratitude” give us your gratefulness, praise or things you are most thankful for! Thursday: “Desire” open up to your ambitions, wishes and yearnings and tell us what you want to attract! It’s…

4 mins read

Soothing Stress and Anxiety

Soothing Stress and Anxiety When it comes to a stressful life we are often led to believe it’s just the way things are or we are somehow not enough if we cannot handle the stressful lifestyle. What’s really going sometimes feels like the frog in the pot metaphor. If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will of course frantically try to clamber out. But if you place it gently in a pot of tepid water and turn the heat on low, it will float there quite placidly. As the water gradually heats up, the frog will sink into a tranquil stupor, exactly like one of us in a hot bath, and before long, with a smile on its face, it…

8 mins read

How to Heal Fear and Anxiety with Bach Flower Remedies

How to Heal Fear and Anxiety with Bach Flower Remedies ?: This is my FAVORITE way to find which Bach Flower Remedy is right for you! Some of the lists and charts are over complicated an it is frustration finding what you need. In this listing Bach Remedies are broken into 7 emotional categories. Once you resonate with a category you can drill down into a more specific feeling and find the remedy that suits you at the moment. To make your personal combination: Place 2 drops of each of your current remedies in a 20 ml blue or amber dropper bottle. Fill the bottle with still mineral water. Label your bottle Take 4 drops up to 4 times per day. Keep combinations for up to 2 weeks. I highly suggest using 3 and 4 at…

3 mins read

A Guide To Thriving Over The Holidays

This is the time of the year that we are bombarded with messages of the holidays. Besides being a time of joy, it can be a time of resentment and frustration. There are many messages that we can carry regarding expectations for the season. Messages such as: “I have to spend time with my family, I have to buy many gifts, and I am too busy.” I want to encourage you to make this the holiday season that fits for you. It can be hard to change patterns that are “the way it has always been” and make this your season. Whatever your beliefs, many people have an expectation to enjoy the holidays and, sadly, this is not necessarily the outcome for many. Here are some…