A Journey Through Eating Disorders Support & Recovery

Movement and exercise play a complicated but important role in eating disorder treatment. Exercise, perhaps more than any other aspect of an eating disorder, has a very complicated and controversial relationship with recovery. So…can I exercise during my eating disorder recovery? The short answer is, “maybe.” The challenge is in recognizing how to reap the benefits of exercise without allowing…

For those living with an eating disorder, maybe 2020 can be the year you start to work toward recovery. No matter how long you’ve struggled, know that you can find health and wholeness. If entering a treatment program or fully committing to recovery seems intimidating, here are eight steps you can take right now. 1. Confide in a Trusted Person…

New year, new you? NOPE! It is the time of year when the airwaves are filled with messages of resolutions guaranteed to make our lives better, our bodies slimmer and our wallets fatter. But this year, instead of buying into the BS diet culture, what if we resolved to stop resolving? What if we embraced the thought that happiness lies…

As we celebrate the holidays, we are reunited with many family members and loved ones. We know from experience as we gather together, it doesn’t take long for negative food and body image talk to begin; sometimes it can even start at “hello.” Often our loved ones mean well, but these comments can hurt and can be a trigger for…

I’m sure we’ve all heard the song, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No matter what holiday(s) you celebrate in the coming weeks, the holiday season isn’t always as wonderful as all the songs and Hallmark movies make it out to be.  Living with an eating disorder is hard.  Navigating the holidays with an eating disorder.  Even harder.…

“I’m so disgusting. There’s no way I am going to this party tonight. All people are going to think about is how fat I’ve gotten and how boring I am.” Negative self-talk, stemming from beliefs about your self and your body, go hand-in-hand with eating disorder behaviors. Feelings such as shame, disgust, and anger often fuel these thoughts. In turn,…

Today, Southern Smash turns seven! I often get asked, “How did you start Southern Smash? How did you make it what it is today?" The answer is simple: I have no idea. Well, I have *some* idea. It all started with a silent promise I made eight years ago. March 2, 2011 I was a hot mess of tears and…

The beginning of fall is often associated with the start of a new school year and for many the transition to their first year of college. While this transition is usually an exciting time, it can also bring about increased levels of stress, anxiety, and overall unfamiliar territory. “Historically, September and October have been my busiest times as an eating…

Let’s keep it real, everyone wants to look good in whatever they’re wearing. Growing up, for others, affording a pair of jeans you liked meant devising a plan and coming correct to your parents for the coins. But for me, living in a larger body meant that I didn’t ask my mother for the money because the stores didn’t sell…

Not surprisingly, a major focus of therapy for people who have eating disorders is helping them to develop healthier ways of coping with and releasing negative emotions that do not “hurt” their bodies. Learning to give up these self-harming behaviors and live in ways that are consistent with their most cherished values is not easy, but it is doable, with…