Eating Disorder Resources

Disordered Eating

Disordered eating is when a person’s attitudes about food, weight, and body size lead to very rigid eating and exercise habits that jeopardize one's health, happiness and safety. Disordered eating may begin as a way to lose a few pounds or get in shape, but these behaviors can quickly get out of control, become obsessions, and may even turn into an eating disorder.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Do I constantly calculate numbers of fat grams and calories?
  • Do I weigh myself often and find I am obsessed with the number on the scale?
  • Do I exercise just to burn calories and not for health and enjoyment?
  • Do I ever feel out of control when eating?
  • Do my eating patterns include extreme dieting, preferences for certain foods, withdrawn or ritualized behavior at mealtime or secretive bingeing?
  • Have weight loss, dieting, and or control of food become one of my major concerns?
  • Do I feel ashamed, disgusted or guilty after eating?
  • Do I constantly worry about the weight, shape or size of my body?
  • Do I feel like my identity and value is based on how I look or how much I weigh?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could be dealing with disordered eating. These attitudes and behaviors can take a toll on your mental, emotional and physical well being. It is important to deal with your attitudes and behaviors now, rather than waiting until your situation gets more serious than you can handle.

10 Ways to Love Your Body!!

  1. Create a list of all the things you like about WHO you are, read it and add to it often.
  2. Don’t let your weight or shape keep you from participating in activities that you enjoy.
  3. Become aware of what your body helps you do each day. Remember that it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.
  4. Think about all of the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently waste worrying about your appearance. Try one!
  5. Don’t exercise to lose weight or to fight your body. Do it to make your body healthy and strong and because it makes you feel good.
  6. Remind yourself: Life is too short to waste time hating your body!
  7. Consciously choose to avoid making comments about other people or yourself on the basis of body size or appearance.
  8. Enjoy your favorite meal without feelings of guilt or anxiety over calories and fat grams.
  9. Throw out the diet products in your house (e.g. fat-free cheese, diet pills, scales).
  10. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty. Get real.

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