bulimia nervosa
A Case of the Tuesdays
TRIGGER WARNING: Note that this post contains images which I feel obligated to warn may be triggering to some eating disordered individuals. If you are currently struggling, you might want to skip this one for now! I have a confession to make. It’s going to reveal a not-so-flattering facet of my personality. I’ll probably come off seeming selfish and resentful. Petty. Hateful even. But I have to come clean. I despise Tuesdays. Why not Mondays? You might be wondering. Mondays are actually second on the “most-dreaded days” list, but I fear Tuesdays the most. This is going to sound horrible, and I really have no excuse for what I am about to share… But, I don’t like Tuesdays because of… …
When it Rains…
When it rains, it pours, right? Or so the saying goes. It actually did finally rain a great deal this week, and the garden saw that it was good: Yep, that’s a real live pineapple you see right there, and I’ve got six of them. They are all the product of table scraps. Amazing, right? I will show you an easy how-to guide in an upcoming post so that you can grow your own pineapples at home. While I was working in the garden today, I had a few lucky ladybugs join me. Do you know why ladybugs are considered lucky? They are a farmer’s friend. They help keep away the destructive pests naturally. I was very busy yesterday transplanting all of my …
Dear Brené Brown
#LonelyShoeSighting October 6th & 7th, 2015 Dear Dr. Brené Brown (insert squeals of delight), You’ve been on my mind since the moment I heard you were coming to Mile Hi Church on October 27th. I just love Mile Hi. I’ve been wanting to tell you something for a long time. I just didn’t know how to reach you. It hit me last weekend and so I decided to write you a letter, then I vlogged my excitement. I’m very new at vlogging! The video part I created was a wee-bit emotional, in a good way, but emotional just the same, so I sort of fixed it, putting my own unique Whitney Gale spin on it. Tickets to your show in Denver sold out in 15 minutes and …
A Review of Amanda Palmer(“The Art of Asking” is NOW in Paperback)
#LonelyShoeSighting October 23rd, 2015 Dear Amanda Palmer (AFP), Wow. It’s YOU. It’s little ol’ ME writing to YOU. About a year ago, my cousin, April’s ex-girlfriend, Kennedy (one of your truest fans) gushed about you over homemade rice wraps served with individual ramekins filled to the brim with Toyko Joe’s Lemon Grass Basil sauce. Yumms. How I’d love to be able to someday make my culinary specialty for YOU! Perhaps on your next visit to the Mile Hi City. Mi Casa es Su Casa! I was intrigued by Kennedy’s tales. Who is this compelling AMANDA PALMER? I Ted Talk’ed you later that night before bed. I tingled. Electricity! Fire! Oh I see… x I agreed to meet Kennedy at Denver’s, Tattered Cover on Colfax Avenue- …
Changing the Way I Talk to Myself Takes Practice
It was two months ago, the first weekend in September, when I flipped over my handlebars at Winter Park. I rolled both ankles and hyperextended my elbow, at least this is the story I told people. I was actually on crutches two times in the past two months. When I was asked about my injuries I kept it short and sweet, “I hurt myself in a mountain biking accident.” In the past, I’ve carried massive shame around rolling my ankles. I’m learning to let that voice go. It started in middle school basketball. I rolled each ankle three times in two years. It was always the same diagnosis: torn ligaments and stretched tendons. The doctors weren’t telling me I needed to lose weight but I had …
November’s Real Life Book Club Wrap-Up
Our November Real Life Book Club Social took place on our first, snowy evening of the winter season. Many of us thought the event might be canceled or that we might have a smaller turnout, but as usual sixty women showed up ready to be inspired. We all crave hear the wisdom from our RLBC panelists. Every other month, three women are invited to sit in the hot seat and answer the kinds of questions that require courage and guts. They speak from their hearts until the love in the room feels tangible. I arrived early for set-up. I wasn’t in my usual, pre-event hustle mode. I was too busy rehearsing what I was going to say when it was my turn to speak. For …
January’s Real Life Book Club Wrap-Up
Susannah Campora, founder of Real Life Book Club (RLBC), created an authentic and affordable community of likeminded women. RLBC is for ladies who crave authenticity, wholeheartedness and connection. This tribe is about discovering who we really are, who we want to be and how we can live meaningful lives. Real Life Book Club is a place to connect with women on a deeper level. We don’t ask each other “What do you do for work? How many kids do you have? What have you been up to lately?” Instead, we dig deep. We discover the truth about how we feel, set intentions and hold each other accountable. It takes work to live purposefully. RLBC opens our hearts and allows us to pursue our dreams. The Book …
I was in a 24-year “Relationship” with Bulimia
Language has been important to me all of my life. I’m choosy with words and picky with what I say. I’m a big believer that our thoughts and our language directly affect the amount of joy and happiness we cultivate in our lives. I’ve spent over a decade studying personal development. Some people look at this field as “self-help B.S.” and these are typically the same people who refer to therapists as “shrinks”. Simply put, I’m probably not their cup of tea. I personally like all kinds of tea. It’s in my nature to examine my life, to foster a better sense of self and to learn tools on how to practice being ALL of ME as often as I can. I don’t believe …
I Want to Recover From My Eating Disorder- I just want to lose some weight first!
Hello Grace, Thank you for your letter. It’s the first time anyone has ever written me a question! I loved that when I asked about changing your name for this blog post, you said, “you can shout my real name from the roof tops! My illness is not my secret anymore.” Not having a secret anymore is what has kept me healed. I videotaped myself reading your email. I wanted you to be able to see my initial reaction to your words: x Here is my response. Dear Grace, Your letter melted my heart, a little love puddle of sorts. Thank you for taking the time to reach out and let me know that you FELT my words. I immediately feel connected to people who …
Healing My Relationship with Food
I was one of 17 Bloggers chosen to be part of Audrey Michel’s, Rewired Life Virtual Blog Tour. Sign up right HERE to receive all of this goodness in your inbox! Healing My Relationship with Food: Three snacks and two meals a day. Eat less and move more. It seems so simple, so commonsensical, but it’s not for people like me. Mealtimes used to be a savior and a nightmare wrapped up in the same dark cloak of shame. I no longer feel this way. I’m just shy of celebrating my third anniversary of healing a 24-year relationship with bulimia. For as long as I can remember, I’ve associated the words food and exercise with losing weight. I grew up in an era where dieting and weight loss …
Bulimia Recovery: Creating my CHOICES Plan
It’s been close to three years since I started healing my 24-year relationship with bulimia. I’m just now ready to take a stab at creating a formal meal plan. When you sign-up for in-patient eating disorder treatment, they do this for you. When you choose to heal on your own, you have listen to your body and respond to its needs. This takes lots of practice. No one is going to do it for you, except YOU. It’s not going to be easy. In fact, it’ll be the biggest commitment of your life. The words ‘meal plan’ and ‘food plan’ are triggering for me. They take me back to many years of food journaling for weight loss- tracking portions, food intake and calories. I wanted …
Complaining is a Choice
My husband, Mike, and I recently stopped by the biggest furniture store in Denver to price out a patio set. A couple of years back we had done the same thing and there was a plethora metal tables and cushioned chairs to choose from. This year options looked sparse. Mike stayed back to measure tables while I went on a mission to track down a customer service rep. After a minute or two of searching and waiting around, I found a gentleman wearing a red vest. I asked him about their limited patio furniture selection this season, “Is it too early in the year to be shopping for outdoor tables and chairs?” He looked at me, and without any hesitation responded, “I’ve only been here 6 …