Marci’s Annual Book Round-Up for 2022
Typically, each January, I do a roundup of my favorite books from the previous year. Since I was out on leave this past January, I thought today was the PERFECT day to share my recap because here in the U.S., it’s National Book Day! Below are some of the books on the top of my [...]
Ready for an Eating Disorder Conference that is Very Different?
It’s spring here in the USA, which means conference season is in full force!! As someone who is borderline obsessed with ongoing learning and professional development, this is both exciting and overwhelming. There are so many compelling learning opportunities, yet we all have to operate within the limits of time and money. (I am still [...]
What Makes You Incredibly Happy?
Today, March 20th, is International Day of Happiness! It’s Marci! I’m kind of, sort of, back! As many of you know, I have been on maternity leave since October when my second son, Henri, was born. The last several months have been a pretty unbelievable whirlwind of emotions and sleep deprivation. Writing this feels like [...]
Celebrating International No Diet Day!! [May 6, 2022]
I Have TWO Reasons to Celebrate today, which is International No Diet Day. It’s just never going to get old that a worldwide celebration of NOT DIETING also falls on my birthday. So, you better believe I have two very solid reasons to celebrate. But I also want to share, in case you didn’t know, [...]
What Does Equality Have to Do With Your Body?
Today is Women’s Equality Day here in the United States. This is a day which commemorates “the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits...denying the right to vote...on the basis of sex.1” I am so grateful that so many people have fought tirelessly and continue to fight for the [...]
What does body image healing mean?
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog posts. It always surprises and delights me to get your feedback and appreciation. I always write from the heart and hope that at least one sentence will feel meaningful for at least one person...well let’s be honest, my bar is a bit higher than [...]
I Have Two Reasons to Celebrate!
I wanted to share a special message with you on International No Diet Day. And you'll learn why I find this day extra special. ;) I hope you'll join me in celebrating! Sneak Peek! I wanted to share this other special information with you too! “The Gut Brain Connection: Cutting Edge Research & Future Directions [...]
COVID Weight Gain & What It Really Means
I’d venture a guess that I am not alone in feeling awfully tired of the fear mongering headlines related to COVID weight gain. And I’m also not alone in saying that, given what this past year has cost us, some extra weight really shouldn’t be the biggest worry on our minds. But as more people [...]
A Little Dose of Gratitude
Holy smokes, it is November. How have we made it to the end of 2020? To be honest, I’m not quite sure. But I do know that this year has been hard. And I also know that my brain (well, all human brains) tends to dwell more on what’s not going well rather than what […]
Digestive Disorders and Eating Disorders: A Complicated Mix
Several years into my work as a nutrition therapist I found myself really grappling with a clinical dilemma. Many of my clients were not only suffering from an eating disorder but they were also suffering from pretty severe digestive issues. And these digestive issues were not only complicating their recovery but they were seriously impacting […]
My Musings on National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Come as You Are. Think on that phrase for just a moment. Come. As. You. Are. What if we felt able to show up in all facets of our life exactly as we are? Not as we pretend to be. Not as we believe others want us to be. Not as external expectations demand we […]
Welcoming a New RD to the Team!
I opened the doors to my private practice exactly 11 years ago this month. It seems impossible that so much time has passed! And in those 11 years, I have welcomed 5 dietitians to my team. All of them compassionate, smart, hardworking, and fun! I have been truly blessed to be surrounded by women I […]
Feeling disconnected from your body?
Do you feel disconnected from your body? Wanting to reintroduce movement back into your life in a gentle and mindful way? Feeling in need of support, guidance, and compassion as you re-engage with your body? Yoga can be the answer! Sarah Patten is one of our clinicians on the Marci RD Nutrition team. She is […]
Some Personal Maternity Leave Musings from Marci
I am a planner. Always have been. So when I suddenly became very sick during my pregnancy and delivered my son nearly two months early, some of my well thought-out plans had to be tossed out the window. I had plans for how I would use those last two months, preparing both myself and my […]
An update from Marci
I’m happy to be sending you a quick hello from my maternity leave. I’ve been reflecting on some of the principles I’ve taught my clients over the years and how they have been immensely helpful to me as I’ve transitioned into this new and very busy role as a parent. And what I love about […]
Calories In = Calories Out is BS
I posted an image on social media a few weeks ago stating “Calories In = Calories Out is Bullsh*t” and it was met with a massive response. I had a sense it’d strike a chord and it sure did. One of the dominant themes I heard from students and professionals was, “It is BS, BUT […]
The Body Image Tour: Lessons Learned
Traveling across the United States, training clinicians on body image work with my Aussie side-kick, Fiona Sutherland, was not something I ever envisioned for myself. In fact, just about everything I’ve done in my career thus far fits under the category of “things I never envisioned.” But the process of developing and giving this training […]
Let’s Get Real
Monday marked the start of the annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) and I thought long and hard about what I could say that might feel meaningful to each of you. Many of you know an awful lot about eating disorders because you treat them or have suffered from one. An eating disorder has touched you in some […]
What a Fat Person Needs – A Life Lesson
You guys have seen me write A LOT about the problems of weight stigma. I even developed a free short guide for practitioners on how to provide non-stigmatizing care. But I understand that terms are often thrown around and their true meaning can seem vague or unclear. You may have even asked yourself, “What does […]
But I Hate My Body…Cracking the Code on Body Acceptance
Are you considering the notion of body acceptance. Or perhaps someone in your life is urging you to consider body acceptance. Maybe you have heard the word body acceptance and thought to yourself, “Why in the world would I accept THIS body?” Body acceptance is a super challenging idea for nearly everyone. We have been […]
Your Values – Your Key to Contentment
I’m a registered dietitian by training but so many of my clients tell me “You’re more than my nutritionist Marci, you’re like my life coach!” I take that feedback seriously!! My clients trust me to join with them on their life journeys and that is a privilege. There are a couple of reasons my clients […]
Defining Self-Acceptance… Or At Least My Definition
My client, whom we’ll call Sally, was telling me how she’s been reading up on all sorts of positive body image blogs. You know, blogs that encourage you to love yourself and accept yourself as you are right now. And that was just all too far from reality for her to be able to swallow. […]
Practice Taking a Pause
By Sarah Patten, RD LDN One of my favorite routines after getting out of bed in the morning involves making a steaming hot cup of coffee and taking a moment before taking my first sip to pause, gaze out my kitchen window, and set an intention for my day ahead. This ritual started a couple […]
Healing the Hate: A Better Body Image in the New Year
I originally wrote this video blog for Recovery Warriors which is a phenomenal community and resource for anyone looking for additional support in their eating disorder recovery. But you don’t have to have an eating disorder to have crappy body image. So if you’d like to feel better about your body, this one’s for you. […]
Amy’s Journey- A Guest Blog Post About Recovery
Many of you will identify with some of what Amy has to share about her journey to making peace with food and her body. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it. I know I did! I’m a pretty impatient person. I don’t really understand people who enjoy the journey… I just want to get to the […]
How Do I Know if I’m Hungry?
How do you know you’re hungry? I know it sounds like an odd question but I’m always amazed at the answers I get to this seemingly simple question. Think about it a moment. Imagine I just asked you “how do you know you’re hungry?” What would you say? I talk about hunger a fair amount. […]
NEW Online Eating Disorder Training for Dietitians and Dietetic Students
10% off until August 1st! <br /> I am incredibly excited to announce the launch of my Eating Disorders Online Training today! Whether you’ve been practicing for 20 years, or you’re a dietetic student or intern, the chances are high that you’ve received zero training on how to counsel people with eating disorders. Given […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2016 & Sarah Patten
Sarah Patten is a passionate eating disorder specialist who works with me in my practice. She is going to close out National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2016 by sharing with each of you “The One Thing She Wishes People Knew About Eating Disorders.” Take it away Sarah! Picture Source Typically, when a person finds […]
#4- Societal & Cultural Norms Fuel the Fire
A client in recovery wishes you knew: There are so many things that I wish people knew about EDs – and primarily because people don’t talk about them as much as they should given their prevalence and our society’s warped perspective on women’s bodies. No one who has an eating disorder wants it; they affect […]
#3- The Judgments Really Hurt
A client in recovery wishes you knew: 1. I’m not lazy (even though I’m fat) 2. Your judgement hurts- a lot. (I’m probably more judgmental of myself than you are of me anyway, I constantly have to content with “negative voices”.) 3. You can help by valuing me as a person for my ideas and […]
#2- Eating Disorders Come In All Shapes and Sizes
A client in recovery wishes you knew: Bodies really do come in all shapes and sizes, and we don’t teach kids that it’s OK to follow your own genetic blueprint. For me, eating disorder recovery means accepting that plus-sized is my body’s healthy setting. Another client in recovery wishes you knew: Eating disorders come in […]
#1- You Can’t Always See The Pain
A client in recovery wishes you knew: I wish that people knew that even though you are eating and smiling again and look better on the outside, you can still be suffering on the inside. Rebecca Scritchfield wishes you knew: You can’t always see the suffering. Most people assume that “harmless” occasional body bashing, or […]
Product Showcase: Building Your Anti-Dieting Community
Image Source In this Product Showcase I provide you with four resources to build your anti-diet community. And if you are trying to get off the dieting train, you know it takes fortitutde and a lot of positive reinforcement in this toxic and obsessed culture we live in. I review the book “The Gluten Lie” […]
Marci’s Top 5 Tips for Detoxing in 2016
As we get ready to ring in the New Year, I wanted to share with you my top 5 tips for detoxing in 2016. I’m going to do this David Letterman style so starting backwards with: 5.) Detox your closet by ditching clothes you can only fit into when starving and overexercising […]
Big Butts, Burgers, & Weight Stigma
Are you interested in hearing my take on weight stigma? Check out my video below! In honor of weight stigma awareness week I tackle some tough topics and share with you some important research. But in addition to this video, there are some absolutely amazing blog posts I’d encourage you to read. I have been blown […]
TBM: My Own Body Image Journey
Is Thowback Monday a thing? I’m making it a thing with a republishing of this blog post I originally wrote in the summer of 2011. I think you’ll enjoy it. A client asked me a question recently. It was a semi-personal question and I felt that it was something worthy of sharing here. To be […]
The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act
Hey Readers, It’s not often that I talk politics on this blog. But after hearing Lizabeth speak at the MEDA conference a couple of weeks ago, I realized that I needed to have her write about this very important issue. Please, please take the time to read this. And if you have experience with this […]
21 Day Fix from a Passover Perspective
Rachel shared her blog post with me and I wanted to share it with EVERYONE as quickly as possible. She addresses a universally important topic- how we as women speak about our bodies and the damaging domino effect- that is relevant whether you celebrate Passover or not. Read it, re-read it, and share it. The […]
Lent: Supporting or Derailing Your Health?
This post is written by Sarah Patten, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Marci RD. I hesitate to type these words for fear of jinxing what I’m about to say, but after being pummeled with blizzards for the past few months and experiencing the official snowiest winter in Boston’s history, it seems as though the worst […]
Intuitive Eating, Obesity, Weight, and Dieting
It’s National Nutrition Month and in celebration, I wanted to share some important research about Intuitive Eating, Obesity, Weight, and Dieting. Intuitive Eating shaped my life and my career so it only felt appropriate to bring it to light during National Nutrition Month. Enjoy the vlog! And below I have included the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 […]
EDAW 2015: The Invisible Eating Disorder
I’m very grateful to a client of mine who agreed to write this post for Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Since this week is all about generating greater understanding and myth busting, I felt that my client’s perspective and story was incredibly important to share. It’s important because what she has to say is profound and […]
A Love Letter to Me
Happy Valentine’s Day! I love having any excuse for celebrating. And Valentine’s Day, which may be a reminder to some of you of your single status, is really all about love. And the MOST important love you can have is love for yourself. While it may sound cheezy, why not honor today by writing yourself […]
Fat Fashion Part 3 & Marci’s Musings
Picture Source I’m excited to share with you the final post in my series on larger lady fashion. While the first to posts were quite practical, this one provides you with some excellent points to ponder as well as some handy tips. Her writing is in response to the New York Times Article Plus-Sized Fashion […]
Fat Fashion: Part 2
Wowee- I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback about this fat fashion series. Thanks everyone! But most of all, big thank you to the wisdom of the women who shared their thoughts and experiences. So without further ado, here is more fashion advice for larger ladies. Enjoy! And if you missed the first post, […]
Fat Fashion: A 3-Part Blog Series
***Disclaimer: This post is not just for fat women. This post is for everyone because we all need to learn to check our weight bias at the door and evaluate our own internalized stigma about size. I hope this 3-part blog series will increase your capacity for compassion around weight. A couple of months ago […]
Guest Blog: 4 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays in Recovery
Image by Kirsten Skiles By Emma Balek Many people look forward to the holiday season, but for people struggling with eating disorders or going through recovery, this season can cause a lot of anxiety and stress. Here are some tips for not letting your eating disorder get in the way of enjoying the holidays. 1. […]
Guest Blog: How I Stopped Counting Calories
By Emma Balek How Calorie Counters Deceive Us Calorie counting may seem like the solution to all your problems. You want to lose those five pounds or be able to fit into that dress, so you download a calorie counting app on your phone, and expect the pounds to come off just like that. But […]
Body Imagine, Self-Talk, & Neuroscience
I found this 7 1/2 minute story from NPR fascinating! If you have body image issues and/or an eating disorder, take 10 minutes to read this post and list to this podcast. The thing I find so fascinating about this story is that introduces neuroscience research that explains why the way we speak to ourselves […]
Guest Blog Post: What is Health?
By Emma Balek I cannot remember the last time I went an entire day without hearing a conversation about weight loss or calories. At restaurants and cafes, when I’m hanging out with friends, and even when I’m passing people on the street or studying at the library, I hear people talking about their calorie budget […]
Meghan Trainor, All About That Bass, & My 2 Cents
A couple of weeks ago I was driving and listening to the radio. I had just changed the radio station when a catchy beat caused me to pause my surfing. And that’s when I heard it. The lyrics that literally made me laugh out loud. Yeah, it’s pretty clear, I ain’t no size two But […]
Guest Post: A Comfy Inner Home
Below is a guest post from a close and trusted friend and colleague, Alex Amorosi. He is a brilliant and thoughtful yoga teacher and trainer. I truly love his blog and found this post to resonate with the eating disorder work I do. While Alex writes from the perspective of a gay man, his words […]
Bad Body Image, Clothes, & Shopping
Alright everyone, let’s talk clothes and shopping. It seems to be one of the biggest topics for me at work right now. The seasons have changed and thankfully, warmer weather is here! This means more shorts, tanks tops, and even…swimsuits. I thought it might be helpful if I passed along some tricks of the trade […]
The Body Image Movement
Women are tired of feeling crappy about their bodies. I know you are. If you are like most women, you feel bad about your body and then guilty that you feel so bad about it. Taryn Brumfitt was in that exact place until she decided to make a change. Please please take 5 minutes to […]
Guest Blog Post: Thine Own Self
The following post is written by my dear friend and colleague Alex Amorosi. He is a registered yoga teacher and all around amazing human being. He maintains a phenomenal blog here. Enjoy this post he wrote about the art of listening to and responding to the core of your authentic self. And if you love […]
New Years Tips
New Year’s is often a time of self-reflection and goal setting. So I thought I’d share a couple of tips for you to consider in anticipation of the new year that is upon us. Tip #1 Consider accepting yourself as you are right now. I can hear all of your objections as you read that […]
Weight Stigma Awareness Week
Weight Stigma is judgment or stereotyping based on one’s weight, shape and/or size. If you don’t think that weight stigma has anything to do with you, please keep reading. It’s the number one form of bullying and discrimination in the United States today. A scientific study of 170,000 people showed that feeling fat is worse […]
Guest Post: Obesity as a Disease
This article was written by Joanne Sauer, LCSW. She currently is taking graduate classes at Plymouth State University to further her knowledge and work to help patients diagnosed with Eating Disorders. She works as a Social Worker at the Albany NY VA Hospital. She also works part time for a managed care company as a […]
DIY Vision Boards
By Elizabeth Jarrard- Registered Dietitian at Marci RD Nutriton Do you surround yourself with inspiration? Are reminders of your goals staring you in the face when you wake up, when you head out the door? What would happen if they were that close? What would happen if you were constantly reminded of where you want […]
The Biggest Loser & Why I Can’t Support It
It should come as no surprise to anyone who reads my blog that I do not support or agree with the show “The Biggest Loser” (TBL). I recently shard this article on my personal Facebook wall and it generated a discussion about the show. I decided to write a more thoughtful response here on my […]
Part 1: My Hollywood Experience
Over the Thanksgiving holiday I was talking with a family member about her experience working in PR and Marketing in Los Angeles. I immediately asked her to share her experiences with all of you. She has generously agreed to talk about what she learned and how it influenced her feelings about her weight, body image, […]
Bully Calls News Anchor Fat: When it’s Worse than Bullying
The virtual world of tweeting and blogging was all a flutter when a man called news anchor Jennifer Livinston fat. Many of us applauded Jennifer’s direct and powerful response. I appreciated the fact that this issue (which is pervasive in our culture) got some air time! So I posted it on my facebook page to […]
Yoga &/or Meditation: Why She’s in Love with It
Today we have the very good fortune to hear from guest blogger, Amber Barke, therapist and yoga instructor extra-ordinaire. While she has been a long-time lover of yoga and mindfulness practice, I am very much a newbie. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. For those who know me, either personally or […]
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. […]
“I’m No Longer Trying to be Airbrushed in Real Life”… So take THAT Shape Magazine
Blast Burn Sculpt Flatten Tone Tighten Shrink Change Drop Lose Banish Zap Kick Firm Better Perfect I did a google image search for Shape magazine. And the words above grace the cover. Read through the list. Think of those words being directed at you and your body. Think of those words being directed at your […]
#ENDED with Nicole Ortiz
Someone tell me how it is already the end of August?? We are so excited to wrap up the summer with a fantastic #ENDED Twitter chat with a pageant queen and eating disorder awareness advocate Nicole Ortiz! Nicole Ortiz is an entrepreneur, pageant queen and eating disorders awareness advocate. Having overcoming anorexia and bulimia, educating the community […]
Exposure Therapy: A Guest Post from Casey Becker
There is not one approach to treating food and body image issues. I have seen first hand the importance of incorporating of variety of tools to treat these chronic problems. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of eating lunch with Casey and was excited to hear about how she utilizes exposure therapy in […]
#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. […]
Top 10 Signs You Have A Healthy Relationship with Food
When you have a healthy relationship with food then… How would you finish this sentence? Kaleigh, from HugStronger asked me this question and given the culture of eating in the U.S. it’s a really important one. We live in a society that conflates health with morality, size with success, and appearance with identity. This takes a […]
#ENDED Twitter Chat with Dr Deah Recap
Thank you to all the participants for our Twitter Chat last night! We helped to ring in a body positive summer by participating with Dr Deah-Expressive Arts Therapist and Health at Every Size Expert . Missed the chat? We saved a recap here for you! Q1. What does the term expressive therapy mean? What are […]
#ENDED Twitter Chat with Dr. Deah
Help us ring in a body positive summer by participating in our #EndED twitter chat on Wednesday, June 27th 2012. I’m honored that Dr. Deah will be joining us to talk about body image, self/size acceptance and Expressive Arts Therapies. Dr. Deah Schwartz has more than 30 years of experience using therapeutic expressive arts in psychiatric […]
Summer Diet Plans?
As the temperatures warm up, you might be considering a new diet plan to get yourself “beach body ready.” If that’s the case, check this article and think again. *Note: a version of this article originally appeared in the Summer 2011 issue of The Massachusetts Dietetic Association Newsletter. As the […]
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2012: #endED Twitter Chat Re-Cap
Thank you to all that joined February’s #endED twitter chat with National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) before Eating Disorders Awareness Week. NEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Elizabeth Saviteer ( @NEDAStaff )and Marci Anderson ( @MarciRD ) lead the chat and some wonderful comments were […]
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
During my sophomore year of college I learned about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. At the time, it didn’t interest me all that much. In fact, the whole theory seemed like a no-brainer to me. And as for that whole notion of “self-actualization”… let’s just say it didn’t really speak to my 20 year old self. […]
#endED Chat with Rosie Molinary- Embracing Intentional Wellness
Help us ring in a body positive 2012 by participating in our #EndED twitter chat on Wednesday, January 25th. I’m honored that writer Rosie Molinary will be there to talk about kicking off our year in a way that deliberately embraces intentional wellness. If you’re new to Twitter, here’s a primer on how to participate. It’s […]
Understanding Body Image: Part 2
This post is part 2 of what will likely be a 5 part series on understanding bod image. My first post in the series can be found here. To reiterate, body image is actually really complex. The series is aimed to help you understand more completely what the phrase “body image” actually means in order […]
Holiday Treats
In the spirit of the holidays, I wanted to share with you two little “treats” I’ve recently discovered. Treat #1 XO Jane: Check out this article “Suck It, Food Guilt Season.” I had trouble choosing a favorite quote to share with you, but here’s one to give you the flavor: “You don’t need to titter […]
Understanding Body Image: Part 1
When you read the words “body image” what does that mean to you? Body image is actually a pretty complicated topic. I google searched a definition and there were over 4 million results and quite the variety of definitions. For our conversation, I decided to select my favorite definition: A term that refers to […]
Fat Talk Free Week: Who’s With Me?
This week is Fat Talk Free Week. Yup, you’ve read that right folks. The one week out of the year that is dedicated to banning fat talk and body bashing. We women have come a long way over the past couple hundred years. But we are stuck in the dark ages when it comes […]
The War on Obesity: A War Worth Fighting?
A few days after the FNCE (the American Dietetic Association’s annual conference) dust has settled, I still find my emotions riled up about the very first session I attended. John Foreyt, renowned obesity research and Linda Bacon, Health At Every Size (HAES) clinical researcher and advocate stood head to head to duke out their views […]
#endED Recap with @BEDAorg
Thanks to all that joined our #endED Twitter chat this Wednesday with @BEDAorg as we talked about weight stigma. For those of you that missed it, here were some of the “highlights.” (If you don’t know about Twitter, the @ symbol is the way a username is signified on Twitter. The # before a word […]
#EndED Twitter Chat: Weight Stigma with BEDA
Our next #endED Twitter chat is Wed, September 21st at 8:30pm EST with @BEDAorg to talk about about weight stigma. You might be asking what exactly is weight stigma? Weight stigma is bullying, teasing, negative body language, harsh comments, discrimination, or prejudice based upon a person’s body size. Weight Stigma is something that shames and […]
Grateful
Today marks a tragic day in America’s history. However, 9/11 is also a day that causes me to think about gratitude. So I felt inspired to share a piece of gratitude from a client of mine. I’ll be honest, when I’m in a sad or downright rotten mood, making a list of things I’m grateful […]
Connecting to Ourselves: Tuning out the Shoulds
First off, I want to say that tuning out the shoulds and tuning into our body’s needs when it comes to fuel is a process and journey. There will be some ups and downs along the way, but the longer that you tune out what you “should” be doing and view eating in a self-care, […]
Guest Post: A Letter to my Hair
Elizabeth is a RD-to-be who hopes to change the world-one self-loving thought at a time! She loves spreading this message in person, through social media, and on her blog Guiltless.Dear Hair, Thanks for covering my not-attractive-when-bald head. Thanks for blowing in the breeze, keeping my head warm in the snow, and obeying when I pull […]
#endED Twitter Chat with Andrea Owen
Save the date! Wednesday, August 17th I’ll be tweeting with my guest expert Andrea Owen. We’ll be talking about practical solutions to staying sane and maintaing a positive body image in the summer months! Andrea is a professional life coach and speaker. She is passionate about empowering women and girls to value their character and feel beautiful […]
Does This Uterus Make Me Look Fat?
How many advertisements and articles have you seen in your lifetime that sell you the idea of getting a “flat belly?” I’ve seen a zillion and I’m sick of it. In fact, I was brewing up a blog post about it and telling one of my clients about it. We were talking about the female […]
Client Spotlight: Happiness Starts Now, Not in 10 Pounds
I talk about body image and weight a lot. Our culture values thinness (sometimes under the guise of health) and places one image of beauty on a pedestal (thin, lean, blonde, Caucasian). Consequently, a lot of women find themselves lost in self-loathing as they don’t seem to measure up. Rather than putting their energy into […]
Be Big
*Note: the post below is written by a client of mine, who happens to be extremely passionate about swimming. This article (in a longer form) appeared in the July/August 2011 New England Masters newsletter. She shared it with me and I was extremely eager to share it with you. Enjoy. Recently at the pool I admired […]
Harnessing the Power of Social Media: Tools for Eating Disorder Recovery and Positive Body Image
*Please note, the article originally appeared in the Summer 2011 Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group newsletter. We live in a world where thin is glorified and unrealistic images of feminine beauty are plastered online, in print, and on TV. These images are hard to avoid and they present serious challenges for clients struggling with […]
My Own Body Image Journey
A client asked me a question recently. It was a semi-personal question and I felt that it was something worthy of sharing here. To be quite honest, this is a bit unusual for me as I don’t talk in a personal way very often on this blog. I hesitate to do so for a number […]
#endED Twitter Chat Re-Cap with Ashley Solomon, PsyD
On Wednesday I was joined by other positive body image activitists to talk with Dr. Ashley Solomon of @nourishthesoul about Body Image for the #ended twitter chat. We discussed a lot of key things, and some great points were made. I couldn’t not share them with you! (If you are not familiar with Twitter, the […]
Good-Bye Jeans
I learn a lot from my clients. In fact, that’s one of the things I love about my work. A few weeks ago, I got an email from a client who wanted to bring in some old jeans to our next session. These were jeans she wore when her eating disorder was pretty darn bad. […]
Boosting Body & Self-Esteem with a Little Homework
This past weekend I was chatting with a group of therapist buddies. We were discussing the number of “perfect body” and pro-dieting messages we are all exposed to on a given day. These “perfect body” messages are not only unrealistic and false but also self-esteem crushing. Let’s face it, we live in a world that […]
My Declaration about Eating Disorder Recovery
Recovery from an eating disorder has been an extremely hot topic lately. A recent New York Times article has created a firestorm in the eating disorder community (from clinicians, people suffering from an eating disorder, as well as their families). In fact, “recovery” is a highly debated topic as there is no consensus currently as […]
International No Diet Day
I just saw this fabulous post by Ashley Solomon, PsyD. She is one of my favorite writers on topics like body image, self-acceptance, self-esteem, disordered eating, and eating disorders. I had to share it with you, as I can think of no better day to share my birthday with than “International No Diet Day.” Enjoy. […]
Why a “Summer Body?”
Or a “beach” body, or a “bikini” body? Why not a “rake-the-leaves” body or a “shovel-the-snow-then-go-cross-country-skiing” body? While we’re at it, how about a “clean-the-house-then-go-grocery-shopping-and-carry-the-case-of-water-yourself-’cause-you’re-just-that-strong” body? And just how IS a summer body supposed to look when compared to a winter body? Assuming you even have a “winter” body in the first place (whatever that […]
Guest Blogger: IAmGuiltless on Body Image
Today’s blog is brought to us by Elizabeth Jarrard, social media diva and co-owner of the blog “Guiltless”, my favorite positive body image blog out there! When was the last time you looked in the mirror and loved every part of your reflection? Who among us has not compared themselves to our peers? Can you […]
Product No Case: HCG Supplements
January 16-22 is Health Weight Week. I love their 3-fold mission:1. Celebrate diet-free habits2. Prevent eating & weight problems3. Work towards being accepting, happy, and healthy at our natural weights On the Healthy Weight Week website, they name their 2010 “Slim Chance Award Winners” for the worst weight products of the year. These horrible weight […]
Fat-Free Talk Week Part 2: Marci’s Rant
Over a week ago I blogged about Fat-Free Talk week, which many of you were inspired by. And a conversation I had with a client actually sparked a memory of a recent talk I wanted to blog about! The intelligent, vivacious, and inspiring Naomi Wolf (see here and here) gave the keynote address at […]
The F Word
I feel that this NY Times article is too important to pass by. We live in a society that values thin and derides fat. We live in a society where a woman shows her strength and ability by shrinking herself. We live in a society where fat embodies all that is wrong and thin embodies […]
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.
Book Review: Goodbye Ed, Hello Me
I just finished reading “Good-bye Ed, Hello Me” by Jenni Schaefer and I am a HUGE fan. Jenni wrote about being “in recovery” in her first book “Life Without Ed” (which is also a phenomenal book that I highly recommend). But in this follow-up book, she talks about what life is like and what life […]
Oprah: Says She’ll Never Diet Again
In March I wrote a blog post about Oprah’s interview with Geneen Roth. And just last week, she had Ms. Roth on her show. Unfortunately I missed the show but have been thinking a lot about her vow to never diet again. And several questions came to mind: * How many billions of dollars will […]
All Women Worry About Getting Fat
So my Dad sent me this article from Yahoo! News. A recent research study shows that women who have a normal perception of body image based on psychological screening tests still have brain scans that reveal they are concerned about getting fat. In fact their brain scans are similar to women with full blown eating disorders. […]