What am I doing? An introduction to my blog and me

I have been encouraged the last few weeks by a couple of different people to start a blog. So, here it is!!

We shall see how this goes. I often have a lot of random thoughts that now I can share with readers without making Facebook posts that are too long☺❤In addition to that, I am... let us just say not a young person... and I have been working on myself hard the last couple of years.  I want people to learn about eating disorders and their prevalence and I hope to show the truth of these illnesses. In addition, I would like to create a page that is focused on overall mental wellness. As a nation, we are not doing very well at wellness. We are promoting "fit" in the name of thin and we still label healthy weight by an antiquated BMI chart. We need a big paradigm shift....from how we look to how we feel and we must learn the true measure of health.

I have been in "recovery mode" from Anorexia for over two years now. I have had had this mental illness though for a much longer time; I have had behaviors off and on since childhood (overexercising and restriction aka starvation)...about 10 yo. I also suffer with anxiety and depression.  I like and enjoy people but I also love being alone. It might surprise you if I say that I am a very happy and lighthearted person but also very serious (and clinically depressed). There is one thing consistent in me....I am a paradox which is really challenging in ED recovery. I want to recover, be healthy, run great, and also be underweight....that works right?? 

Recovery is far from over for me; recovery is really a life long project in my view. Eating disorders are sneaky and they are not always a result of intentional efforts at weight loss or fitness so set-backs are pretty common especially early in the recovery process. I was in starvation mode we estimate for about 6 years.  That is a long time to deprive your body.....every organ system from adequate nutrition.  I feel extraordinarily blessed to have been given a chance at recovery thanks to one very persistent and smart doctor. Now that I am thinking with a clear mind and a nourished brain, I wish so much that I had learned some of these life-lessons when I was much younger.

My thoughts here will not usually be focused on me (but this is an intro), they will be more focused on what I have learned about recovery and life and  how to persevere with recovery. This is not going to be a place to read my life-story, although I will share some of my stories. I have read a lot of fabulous books along my recovery path and I work with an amazing team and we operate in a very non-traditional way; so I hope to share some knowledge from my team and the books I have read. I have a custom-made team and I do not work with an Eating Disorder Recovery center. I work with my own doctors, a Registered Dietitian and and a Therapist specializing with Eating Disorders. I still meet weekly with my therapist as I still have work to do.

I have learned so much the last couple of years that I am passionate about trying to help others especially our young people.

I really don't know what else to expect here as I think about so much and sometimes it is hard to focus on what I need to say but as I said, here goes.......

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