EATING DISORDER AWARENESS
Thanks for all the great comments and emails about the post on compulsive overeating yesterday. That was much scarier for me to admit to doing than emotional eating. Everyone emotionally eats a little bit (I firmly believe this) and it’s okay on a small scale. But food addiction? Compulsive overeating? Feeling voids with food? Scary to admit, scary to talk about. Why is it so scary? No one wants to be negatively judged. But when people who deal with it but never talk about it, it just makes others who deal with it feel alone. And that gets us nowhere.
And apparently this week (Feb 21 -27) is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (thanks to Jody for bringing this to my attention!). Cooly enough there theme is: It’s Time To Talk About It.
Their mission? “Our aim of NEDAwareness Week is to ultimately prevent eating disorders and body image issues while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses — not choices — and it’s important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder.” I agree with that. Eating disorders aren’t simply eating choices gone astray, they are a serious thing that you need to take seriously. There is no shame in them and there is no shame in reaching out and getting help. I wish someone would have told my 14 year old self that. So instead, my 23 year old self will tell you that. Don’t be ashamed and don’t be afraid. If you ever want to talk about it just send me an email through my contact page.
“RUNNING”
Wednesday’s workout was a short one and I’m so thankful for that. The weights part of the workout was less intense, but I still got on the treadmill to run.
On the treadmill for 15 minutes, 9 of which were spent running. I still can’t say I enjoy running.
But there is something about running I like. Usually within those two minute intervals of running there is about 30 seconds where it feels… easy. Where it feels like running is not hard at all and I could probably run forever. I like that feeling. It never lasts since my mind and body switch back to struggle mode, but it does happen. And when it happens I feel encouraged. I feel like maybe this time I will finish this. Maybe this time I won’t give up. Maybe this time I will transform myself into someone who can at least jog three miles without dying.
And then of course there is always the post run feeling where it’s like “OMG! I did it!” Regardless of how much I ran or how far, every time I get done I’m going to think that. I’m going to be proud of myself. Because progress builds upon itself and the more times I do this the further I will get. So I need to appreciate the small steps like this that are preparing me for the big picture.
But it’s hard!
It’s hard to see the small steps as successes. Both in running, in weight loss, in life.
I think we all have trouble with this. Even if mentally we know the small steps are leading us to our ultimate goal, it’s easy to lose focus. It’s easy to forget that the small successes are leading us somewhere. It’s much easier to look at them and say, “Oh, it’s not enough. I have SO far to go.”
But I’m celebrating small steps even if I have to force myself to do so. I’m also celebrating rest days like yesterday. Glorious!
WEEKEND
This weekend I’ve got BIG plans. Okay, just kidding. I’m babysitting a friends kids to pick up some extra money and working on the health blogging ebook (coming out in early March! Yay!). I’m also putting together my new scooter and will take pics for the blog. I do have some BIG announcements coming up soon, but if you read my other musings online you probably already know what I’m going to announce. Either way, life is good. Have a great weekend!
Related posts:
{ 30 comments }
I can’t wait to see your ebook! :)
And I know what you mean about the post-run-bliss. Granted, I don’t run, but if I work out hard, take a spin class or whatever, the endorphins are always soaring right after I’m finished. I like that.
.-= Jeremy Logsdon´s last blog ..And then there were seven… and a giveaway… and other stuff… =-.
Me either! Hehe. I’ve still gotta make it pretty.
I love post workout endorphins! :)
The more you run the longer that easy feeling lasts. And it’s great!
.-= AndrewENZ´s last blog ..One Hundred Push-ups in a Row =-.
That’s what I figure will happen. Which is cool…. I just have to push past the lame non fun feeling!
Good for you celebrating the small steps. That is a HUGE achievement. Don’t know if running itself will ever get easier, but if you can make it a habit, it will become second nature to just get on that treadmill and go, go, go! Have a great weekend!
Running does get easier. I know it does. Maybe not long runs, but the more you do it the easier it is feeling.
I hate running, but I love lifting. Post-lift-bliss is sweet!
Losing weight is extremely hard. Losing and keeping off one pound is easier said than done. Don’t underestimate the significance of your success. If you appreciate all of your successes, you are less likely to get discouraged.
Keep up the great work!
.-= Dr. Kal´s last blog ..Obese Children’s Parents Should Be Jailed =-.
Lifting is pretty sweet. I like it more than running currently but who knows if that will change.
Love your post! Don’t be ashamed & don’t be afraid!!! You are helping people Mary by telling your story!
Yes, small steps & big accomplishments.. celebrate each & every one! I do a lot of jogging/intervals & although I am a weight lifting lover and not so much a fan of cardio, I always celebrate the accomplishment of doing it!
I can’t wait to hear all the other news. I obviously missed something but what else is new with me! :-)
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Dieting & Life Help – Are you Whole or Hole =-.
Thanks Jody for all your support so far! I hope my story helps people besides myself.
Do you feel like running on an elliptical is different than running on a treadmill? How much harder is it than other forms of cardio?
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Oh Potato Skins… =-.
I don’t consider the elliptical “running” really. For me I think the elliptical is easier but other people have told me that they feel it is harder. It just depends on you and your coordination and how it feels when you are on the machine. It’s a little bit different feeling but I like it personally.
I can only imagine what your little secret might be! :) Good job on keeping up with the running!
Hehe. Shhhh! Secret!
So I didn’t have a chance to comment on your post from yesterday, but I wanted you to know how much it resonated with me. (And I even wrote about being obsessed with food on my blog yesterday, too!)
You can totally do the 5k! Go Mary, Go Mary!
Thanks Erin! I understand about the comments. I usually never have time to comment on stuff so I understand most people can’t either!
I’m sorry for not commenting on the previous post. I wasn’t sure I should as we’d discussed it before. But you are brave for sharing it, and as the comments showed, it’s a very relatable thing. Miz was right. You are helping people.
I love the runners high! I hate the walls! :D I need to get back into running! but you’re so right about celebrating the small successes. Even when you get to running longer distances, it gets hard. I feel bad about running my two laps now. I feel like I should be running at least 3, and if I can’t, it’s hard to tell myself I didn’t fail. It’s very hard, and making sure that you do that is fantastic, and I’m going to try to tell myself I should celebrate just being able to run at all, because it’s going to be hard getting back into it!
You don’t have to comment on every post.
I love the runners high too… I think. ;)
You inspired me! Going back several blogs to giving up sugar……Lately I’ve been way overdoing it on chocolate. Craving, addiction whatever you want to call it. So I tried the “I’ll give it up for one week.” I’m now into day 5 with NO chocolate. It’s OK and I know I’ll make it one week. My question is what happens after the week is over? Did you go nuts for sugar? I don’t want to go back to eating the whole bag of choco!!
.-= Sara´s last blog ..T.G.I.F. =-.
That’s cool that you decied to do!
I didn’t go nuts for sugar. I did have some more sugar when the week ended but not overboard. I did go out for Valentines day and had sweets but I had so much it made me sick … which wasn’t even as much as I would normally eat! And now I’m not “off” sugar, but I’m definitely not eating as much or craving it as much now.
It always pays to celebrate every little step taken, every little victory. Good luck and have a great weekend!
It totally does. Thanks!
Yeah I want to get to the point where I can fully embrace running. It’s tough. I do like how I feel afterward though, there’s a sense of accomplishment you get and the endorphins too which really help.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)
.-= Anonymous Fat Girl´s last blog ..Inspirational & funny personal trainer stuff =-.
It is tough. The post run feeling is nice, but I can’t quite embrace the act of running yet. I’m working on it!!
Oh, you will get there on the “enjoying running thing.”
There are absolutely times when I am running that I fell like— OMG I just have to stop, then I keep going and it gets better. And yes, there is a huge sense of accomplishment after I am done. This is of course in light of the fact that 2 years ago I weight 305 lbs.
Keep going. No time at all till you can do that 5K.
Rob—- your e-mail friend in Mississippi
.-= Rob Dyess´s last blog ..New York, New York- Good Morning America =-.
I’ve heard from other runners that it does get better. I’m still at the beginning stages so I hope that is true!
Maybe instead of looking at how far you are from your future goal, why not change perspective and look back at how much you’ve changed since you first began.
It may help to raise your motivation.
.-= Barry´s last blog ..Free Report – How To Conquer Food Cravings =-.
My motivation is actually really good. Nothing is ever going to motivate me to be super crazy excited about running.
There definitely is sort of a stigma on eating disorders. I had anorexia for a while (yrs ago) but I would never write about it openly on my blog the way you can with things, because I would not want my family to read it. And it would be hard even discussing it details in front of friends or strangers. So that’s why I think that its awesome you can do something like that.
I like running but only on the eliptical. (does eliptical count as running? It’s a running-like activity..hmm) it’s fun and mindless esp with music and you get that gym high…
.-= merri´s last blog ..San Diego Trip: Days 0 and 1: Getting our Bearings =-.
I think it is really great that you are discussing eating disorders and bringing an often neglected subject to life. Because I think that you are right, the least this topic is discussed, the lonelier those going through it feel, and we don’t want that! The faster way to getting over these disorders is to not feel alone in the process. :)
.-= Francis´s last blog ..Chef Knife Sets =-.