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).

Popular posts from this blog

The 'Comfort Zone'

Image
  No one likes to be challenged out of their 'comfort zone'. You know - the place where you know you will succeed. Please note that I am not talking about real safety. There is a HUGE difference between challenging yourself to do something you are worried you will fail at, and putting yourself at risk of harm. I am not a 'risk-taker' by any means. I hate roller-coasters. I despise scary movies. I don't speed through yellow lights hoping to pass through. At the same time, I'm not superstitious. I will take some risks if I think that they are reasonable. I will apply for positions that I am not sure I will get. I will try drawing something that I have never tried before. I will (cautiously!) try new yoga positions to test my balance. At the same time, I very much dislike getting out of my comfort zone in certain situations. For example, I applied to a position a while ago, feeling nervous that I would not get it. I mean, how awful would it be if I did NOT get it? ...
Read more

Happy Mothers' Day!

Today is Mothers' Day! Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms, sisters, aunts, grandmas, cousins, etc all over the world! You deserve to be recognized everyday for your work, but today is a special day just for us to tell you how amazing and wonderful you all are! This day is certainly important for me, because my mom is my best friend. She is everything to me. I want her to know how much she means to me - and how much I appreciate her. Mom, this is for you! Last year on Mother's Day, I was dying in the ICU and could not breathe. I didn't even have enough breath to tell my mom, 'happy mothers' day'. And she didn't protest or complain. She stayed by my side and prayed, looking into my dull and tired eyes. She told me, 'don't worry, Marina. You will be okay. All I want for Mother's Day is for you to be alive and to come out of this healthy and well. That is the best and only gift I want'. I cried because I couldn't give her a proper ...
Read more

Yet another interview! Food and the Holiday Season

Image
I'm so blessed to have yet another opportunity to share my experiences and knowledge with the world. This time, I was asked by OCN (Orthodox Christian Network) to do an interview about food and the holiday season - a topic relevant to this time of the year! This interview topic is near and dear to my heart or several reasons. As a survivor of anorexia nervosa, I know all too well how it feels to be overwhelmed by food - especially at Christmas time, when everyone is talking about food! Last Christmas, I was still in recovery - but before that, I was struggling with ED. When I was ill, I tried my hardest to avoid food at all costs, but this became very hard to do during the holiday season. Being recovered now (thank God!), I realize how difficult this time was for me and how it stressed me out. As a recovered victim of an eating disorder, I understand how stressful food can become for many people - even those without eating disorders. We are bombarded during this time (all the t...
Read more