Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:51:12 -0500

With all the available "healthy" food options out there and all the diets to choose from, how do we know what to eat? Should I eat plant based or animal based? Keto or Paleo? Should I try "intermittent fasting" or Noom? Did you know that 80 to 95% of dieters gain back the weight they've fought so hard to lose? Similarly, chronic dieting can also cause our body's metabolism to slow down making it that much more difficult to lose weight. Our bodies are made for survival, when we starve ourselves our metabolism will slow to protect us. What if instead of trying a new diet, we went back to the basics of letting our bodies determine what to eat? What if we healed our relationship with food and our body? Intuitive Eating can help you. Intuitive eating is NOT a diet but a way of eating that is driven by hunger and fullness cues. It involves being mindful and positive about your food and body. It means understanding and responding to what your body wants and needs, without counting calories or points. It is a personalized and natural process.

Learn more about the 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating from RIH counselor Marie Celano.

Eating Disorders and disordered eating patterns impact people in a variety of ways. Some signs to look out for include:

Preoccupation with food, body weight and body shape

Skipping meals or refusing to eat

Eating more than you need

Strictly controlling what types of food you eat

Feeling out of control when you eat

Feeling anxious about eating and situations which involve eating around other people

Eating in secret

Excessive thoughts surrounding food, body image, and weight

If you are experiencing some of these symptoms you may need additional support. Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) can help you find the help you need. At RIH, the first step is to schedule an Initial Consultation call with one of our counselors. Schedule this appointment by visiting RIH, located in the Center for Well-Being, by calling our office at 410-455-2542, or by going to the myRetrieverCare patient portal and scheduling online.

RESOURCES

National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)

Sick Enough, Jennifer Gaudiani

The Wellness Trap: Break Free from Diet Culture, Disinformation, and Dubious Diagnoses, and Find Your True Well-Being, Chisty Harrison

The Eating Disorder Sourcebook : A Comprehensive Guide to the Causes, Treatments, and Prevention of Eating Disorders, Carolyn Costin

The Wisdom of Your Body, Hillary McBride

Intuitive Eating Book & Workbook, Evelyn Tribole, Elyse Resch