Intuitive Eating, Intuitive Living Workshop

I am thrilled to announce the first Intuitive Eating, Intuitive Living Workshop that I will be facilitating with Amber Barke LICSW, RYT. On a day to day basis I am reminded of the number of people struggling with food, exercise, and their bodies. Amber and I have developed a workshop to address these very challenges. 

Registration and workshop details can be found on the Event Brite page. If you have any additional questions don't hesitate to send us an email or give us a call! Registration is limited to 12 and the early bird rate of $250 is only available until September 21st. After September 21st the rate will increase to $300.

I am really looking forward to joining with Amber to work with you on finding peace in the process of better self-care.

Marci marci at marcird dot com

Amber bodyandself at gmail dot com

#ENDED Twitter Chat with EDN Maryland Recap

Thank you to all that joined us last night for the #ENDED twitter chat with Eating Disorder Network of Maryland.  For those of you that missed it here's a quick recap

Q1. Eating disorders are incredibly complex- can we start by listing as many risk factors for developing an ED that we can think of? 

PrjectED A1. Eating Disordered family members, #endED  
liberonetwork A1 Comorbid psychiatric conditions such as anxiety + depression; painful life events. "Biology loads gun, environment pulls trigger" 
liberonetwork @EDNMaryland Genetic contributors that are passed on and also modeling patterns of food learned from parents perhaps  

EDNMaryland A1. Dieting can trigger someone into developing an e/d but we know it is not dieting alone that causes ed's. 

Q2. Sharon, you often talk about a person's ED "traits." What is that compromised of? #endED  

EDNMaryland We've learned is that many with ed/s have very strong traits. Esp perfectionism. Society pushes for thinness so eds can develop. 

   
EDNMaryland Personality traits: blk-white thinking, strong-willed, rigidity, impulsive, slow to change, perfectionism. #endED  
@EDNMaryland: A2. We also know that most people with eds have at least one of the following: anxiety, depression, or OCD #endED - 
PrjectED As clients we noticed that really common trait is either being really impulsive or the exact opposite...depending on the disorder #endED  
EDNMaryland A2. Food is an easy thing to use and manipulate. You can't get a DUI, it isn't illegal, it comes in all types of flavors... 
liberonetwork A2 Shame, people-pleasing, weak sense of self 
EDNMaryland A2. Another big one is perfectionism. You have to learn and accept that not everything is going to be perfect nor should it be

MarciRD A2 As a #dietitian, I find food is the perfect play dough for practicing flexibility.#endED  As people practice flexibility with food choices- what, what, where, how, why they eat, it dominoes into other areas of their life 

Q3. Carolyn Costin says- we can take our traits to the light or dark. How can people with EDs use those traits for recovery? 
EDNMaryland One of the common sayings for those with eds is that "they can't see the forest for the trees." Do you know why? 
PrjectED A3. With rigidity, it can help when trying to stand your ground against those who can possibly hurt your recovery 
liberonetwork: A3 Jenni Schaefer says turn perfectionism into excellency- and use healthy, balanced determination to beat ED! 
EDNMaryland When you're anxious it is hard to be emotionally flexible. It is important to really push yourself to see the bigger picture.  
MarciRD A3 My clients have amazing drive and commitment that can really support their recovery when channeled!

liberonetwork: A3 A lot of people with EDs are very empathetic towards others. Learn to turn that empathy inward to themselves

EDNMaryland Another grt tool is to make yourself order something diff when you go to a restaurant and not the usual "safe" food

MarciRD: A3 I really see stubbornness transformed into commitment. And perfectionism, when softened can lead to positive action. 

Q4 What are tips to dealing with these risk factors of family history including mental illness and substance abuse?#endED  
EDNMaryland A4 One important thing to do is to acknowledge that your family has a hx of addiction. Don't be in denial of it. 
PrjectED A4. I think it is important to recognize what risk factors your family has. If you fail to see them then you can't deal with them #endED  
EDNMaryland A4 Many with family hx of addiction need to focus on doing things in moderation. Not overdoing (food, $, exercise...) 
MarciRD A4 Looking for areas of extreme behavior, including drugs, alcohol, emotions, money, exercise, shopping, gambling, etc. #endED - 
EDNMaryland A4 Talk openly with family and your tx about the hx of addiction in the family.#endED  
ElizabethEats @MarciRD @EDNMaryland I find pt w/ fam hx of addiction like to view food as all or nothing. on or off. No carbs or all carbs. agree? #ended  
EDNMaryland @ElizabethEats Also important to find another color besides blk or white. Even if it's only 1 shade over it's a start! 
MarciRD A4 With my clients we are often developing new "traditions" or "guidelines" to live by- establishing new patterns that break from old #endED 

Thank you to Sharon of EDN Maryland for sharing her wisdom and to all that joined!Be sure to join us on August 22nd at 8:30 pm EST for a twitter chat on Beauty Pageants and body image with Nicole Ortiz @MissDEIntl2012

#ENDED Twitter Chat with Eating Disorder Network of Maryland

We have a very exciting Twitter chat coming your way this month! We are honored to have Sharon Peterson, the director of  Eating Disorder Network of Maryland (EDN Maryland) talk with us about the genetic component of eating disorders as well as how clients and therapists can learn to manage personality traits that may be hindering recovery.  

More about Sharon Peterson: Sharon has been an outpatient therapist providing individual, family, and group therapy since 1995. She has worked for numerous community mental health agencies and school systems in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Maryland. In June of 2007 Sharon founded and is currently director of: Eating Disorder Network of Maryland (EDN Maryland), a community-based program made up of professionals, parents & family volunteers who are dedicated to spreading eating disorder awareness and education throughout Maryland.

Boston Local Food Festival

Save the date!  On Saturday, October 2nd Boston will be celebrating local food.  Check out the festival's website for details.

"The Boston Local Food Festival, presented by Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston (SBN), is a delicious outdoor celebration of the many benefits of local food. Located on the historic Boston waterfront, along Fort Point Channel, the festival showcases affordable and scrumptious food grown and produced in the Boston area, Massachusetts, and New England. Festival-goers can engage with farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs, learn from exhibits and demonstrations, and enjoy activities and local music. Boston Local Food Festival is an entertaining, fun way to purchase healthy local food and support local businesses and organizations, learn about healthier, more sustainable choices and embrace cultural variety of food, music and art. Join us on October 2, 2010, and enjoy luscious local food and support our farmers and food entrepreneurs. This exciting event is easily accessible via the MBTA Silver Line, Court House Station, and a short walk from South Station off the Red Line."

Hope to see you there!
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Free Renfrew Workshop for Those in Recovery

Are you or is someone you know working on recovery from an eating disorder?  The Renfrew Center is offering an excellent (and might I add free!) workshop/webinar.  Topics include goal setting, body image concerns during the summer, and coping with the challenges of vacations. 

Here's a link for more info.
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Nutritious Eating on a Budget

Today I'm appearing on the Money Matters Network Radio Program at 2:00.  You can tune in live here or listen at WBNW AM 1120 Boston.

I will be mentioning a handout: Nutritious Eating on a Budget. Click here to access the handout.  And to those of you who tuned in and listened- thank you!

Feel free to call in and ask me an easy question. :) 888-205-2263.
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Marci RD on the Radio

Hey Friends,
I will be making my first radio appearance this Friday at 2:00 on the Money Matters Radio Network.  You can tune in live here or listen at WBNW AM 1120 Boston.

I'll be talking about nutrition myths and facts relating to eating healthy on a budget, dieting, and metabolism.  So get your questions ready!  You can call in to  888-205-2263.  I'd love to hear a friend on the other end of the line. :)

Wish me luck!
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Beyond Calorie Counting

Yesterday I gave a nutrition seminar for a group of women at Get in Shape for Women at Central Square in Cambridge. One of the themes that developed during my seminar is that many women simply don't trust themselves with food! They want to be told exactly what and how much to eat, since they obviously "aren't don't it right."

My goal in the work I do with my clients is to teach them they don't have to spend their days counting calories or following rigid rules (we have better things to do!). More important than following some strict plan is beginning to tune in to what your body is telling you. Your body has the wisdom, you just need to listen.

One of the tools I encourage my clients to utilize in on our work is a food journal. And when used properly, it can foster awareness and help you listen to your body in a way you might never have before.

I ask my clients to keep a food journal that is a bit of a pain in the rear end because it's somewhat involved. It includes a place to record time of day, hunger/fullness ratings, what and how much they are eating, feelings/ emotions they are experiencing, what triggered or caused them to eat, where they are eating, and who they are eating with. Phew! That's a lot of information.

While that might seem a little over the top, I find that gathering this sort of data points us in a very useful direction. We start to observe patterns and discover together what specific things trip them up and prevent them from feeding their bodies well. Instead of focusing too narrowly on the "what and how much" category (which is often the case when people are trying to eat healthier), my clients become tuned into the many components which affect food choice. Instead of only working superficially with eating, we begin getting down to the root of the problem.

My hope is that through this food journaling, my clients begin to listen to and trust themselves around food, rather than looking for validation outside of themselves (ie a calorie count, point plan, number on the scale). Is it important to consider food and it's nutritional value? Of course! But it's simply one piece of the puzzle.

I recently received this article from a client and think you may enjoy reading it. Many of the author's points reflect the importance of paying attention to the many factors which affect food choice, not just the calorie count on the back of the nutrition label.
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Check Out My Newsletter

Disclaimer: Self-Promotion

For those of you who haven't subscribed to my newsletter, now would be a good opportunity!  I send a bi-monthly newsletter filled with nutrition info, recipes, and upcoming announcements.  The May/June issue will be on "Summer Season Nutrition Controversies" like Vitamin D and BPA.  Expect to have it in your inbox by the end of the month!

Marci E. Anderson
Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
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Advocacy and Eating Disorders

I spent the weekend attending the 2010 MEDA Conference: Getting Unstuck: Revitalizing the Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders.  The closing keynote speaker was Kitty Westin, a woman who's daughter commit suicide as a consequence of her eating disorder.  Kitty has turned her grief into activism and has committed her life to advocacy for the research, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders.

She informed us that on 4/27/10 a monumental bill called the FREED Act was introduced into legislation. The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act is the first comprehensive legislative effort introduced in the Senate to confront the seriousness of these diseases by:
*expanding research
*improving training and education of treatment providers
*improving surveillance and data collection to track prevalence and severity of eating disorders
*facilitating eating disorders prevention through grants
*providing more opportunities for affordable care.

Eating disorders are devastating illness.  Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses and the suicide mortality rate of people suffering from anorexia and bulimia is 23 times that of the general population. As a dietitian who works almost exclusively with eating disorders, I urge you to contact your local congressman and advocate for their support of this bill. I did so and it took approximately 5 minutes.  Those 5 minutes may result in the passing of a law that radically opens doors for better research and treatment of these debilitating illnesses.


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