Published again - the Season at NEDIC

Although this is a little late, I am blessed to AGAIN say that my work has been published at NEDIC. I noticed that some of you beat me to it and already left comments there - so thank you for being ahead of the game and for your support!

This post is about the holiday season and how to survive with all the food. I think that this topic is important for all people, not only those with ED. Although the holidays is a great time to eat delicious food, we often get caught up with the food and forget about all the other amazing things about this season. There is the music, happiness. celebration of Jesus' birth, bringing in the new year, spending time with friends and family, and laughing from the heart. Please take a look at the post: http://www.nedic.ca/blog/.

Though it may seem that the Christmas season is over, I want to wish all my Orthodox friends and family a Merry Christmas, as we celebrate Christmas on January 7. I know you have all been fasting and waiting for this day to come, so please enjoy your time. However, in the process of eating and spending time with loved ones, please remember that the true reason for the season is Jesus' birth!

For all those who already celebrated Christmas and the New Year, I want to again remind you that it is the time of year when the media goes absolutely crazy with weight loss commercials, diet resolutions, etc. It is no wrong to make a resolution to become more fit or even lose weight if medically necessary. However, I DO want you to be aware of what you hear on the TV or radio, or what you read in magazines. The media tends to make weight loss and fitness seem more important than it really is. While it is critical to be healthy, the scale should not dictate your mood, happiness, or life. There are many other resolutions that you can make for this year, and weight loss does not always to be one of them.

Also, if you are medically in need of losing weight, try to reframe the issue: it is not weight loss or a diet because you need to 'look good' or 'fit into that dress' - it is something that your health requires. The media makes us believe that weight loss is the only commendable New Year's resolution, and that if you can lose weight, you are successful and strong. And, the media can intelligently send us this message without us even noticing that we are falling victim to it!

This holiday season, as most of you alluded to, was very different for me. I am fully recovered and am enjoying life to the maximum. Is it easy? Not always. But at least I don't have to worry about the food anymore! I do not have to worry about lying that I already ate, or trying to hide my food. I know when it is time to eat, and I do. This year is a new year - 2014. I am excited to see what it will bring, being the first full year that I have recovered from anorexia nervosa. And although the last eight years of my life have been challenging, painful, and tiresome, I know that life now will be different. Will there be obstacles? Of course. But now, ED is no longer one of them. I couldn't have asked for a better gift. Thank God, and thank you all for supporting me this far. God bless all of you!

"No temptation [or challenge] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [or obstacle] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [overcome] it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).

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