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As much as I’m disturbed the same way Lily Collins was, I am not surprised at all by the comments she received. After losing a noticeable amount of weight for a role she plays in a new movie — To The Bone — she faced encounters that solidify society has a long way to go when it comes to beauty standards. The movie is about anorexia, and, Lily Collins, happens to be a survivor of an eating disorder — as am I. The day I reported to preseason for my sophomore year of college soccer, I remember a comment made to me by an upperclassman thatRead More →

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It’s not often I get to watch morning television, though, it used to be one of my favorite things to do. And, even if I am home, and the television is on, it becomes background noise because I’m thinking of a hundred different things, or I’m not paying attention. But, this past Friday, my husband took my two older kids to run errands, leaving me home.. with just the baby.  While the baby laid on his play mat entertained by the hanging toys and lights, I scanned through the channels. I came upon Live with Kelly and Ryan. Within minutes, the conversation led to Ryan sharingRead More →

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“Let’s go on a diet,” my best friend suggested after we gained an unhealthy amount of weight in college. Something had changed. Buttoning my pants started becoming an exercise in itself, and I noticed this sound, “swish swish,” that was following me everywhere. It ended up being chub rub, otherwise known as my inner thighs rubbing together every time I took a step. Quickly, I declared, too, that I needed to go on a NONE-OF-MY-PANTS-FIT diet. To this day, when I hear the word “diet,” I immediately think of a structured attempt to lose weight. Though the reasons for dieting vary, the desired outcome is the same.Read More →

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On the first warm day of third grade, everyone wore shorts. All the girls in my class were excited to show off their new summer outfits, denim shorts and colored tank tops.  Dark complected, with dark features, I was aware that I had an unusual amount of body hair. My arms and legs were clearly hairier than everyone else’s–boys and girls. Scared that I would be made fun of at school, I opted to wear pants and long sleeves until the heat was no longer bearable.  The bell rang, and it was time for recess. My first day wearing shorts for the season, I wanderedRead More →

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Striving For The Ideal Body Can Result In Permanent Damage. It did for this reporter. I was a teenager, and my body was going through some major maturation changes. I seemed to take longer than most of my friends. You know, when it came to getting my first period and developing a “chest.” In fact, I had been made fun of by boys about my flat chest. “If you blindfolded me, I wouldn’t know which was your chest or which was your back,” was a line I vividly remember hearing on the school bus. As if I wasn’t insecure enough as a middle-schooler. Then, IRead More →

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There is a reason Purim occurs right before Passover on the calendar. Megillah readings, costumes, carnivals, games, and hamantaschen put smiles on faces and enjoyment in the eyes of observers. It is one of the most joyous and fun holidays Jews celebrate. Then comes Passover…a very important holiday with tremendous historical significance as Jews celebrate their freedom from slavery in Egypt thousands of years ago. However, the anxiety I feel leading up to Passover is real, as there are very strict laws and customs that we must follow as Jews; and, these rules are based around food. Matzo, the traditional unleavened cracker of fiber-free whiteRead More →

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It’s one thing having to deal with school functions, sporting events, and birthdays. But, as each holiday we observe nears, my anxiety level skyrockets. Growing up as a kid, nobody had food allergies. At least that’s how it seemed. The popular lunch sandwich sent to school was peanut butter and jelly, and birthday cakes were birthday cakes. None of this gluten free or nut free stuff. My only worry when traveling on an airplane was getting to our destination on-time and smoothly. Now, it’s whether or not my child will die from peanut exposure or ingestion.  We went to Tigers games, Pistons games, and RedRead More →

anorexia

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I could tell by her expression that she was in a trance. Through her glossed eyes, I felt as if she was holding on to every word I was saying. We made eye contact, and just by her sad look, she communicated she was focused and fascinated by my story. Speaking to young girls has given me quite a new perspective on this topic of eating disorders, body image, and exercise. It’s well beyond that. I have felt the connection to the innocent, yet inquisitive students when it has come to real life struggles that most do not discuss; or validate their adequate thoughts. ThisRead More →

Konheim Mandras - Seeing Your Loved One Suffer

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Sad. Frustrated.  Helpless. Painful. The common answers I was given when asking my loved ones how they felt when I was struggling with an eating disorder. The scary thing… I have been on the other side. Where I’ve watched first-hand someone battle this disease. The feedback I received was consistent in the way I felt when I tried helping someone I loved.  I tried to do everything to help. I was willing to do anything. To open their eyes, and yell at them to, “Snap out of it!” I wrote letters, sent emails, called incessantly, begged them to change, pleaded for them to take stepsRead More →

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I, along with many others, just spent fifteen minutes of my day waiting in a line that stretched from the cash register all the way back to the entrance. Not being a “regular,” I wondered what the appeal was, and why Starbucks has turned into a massively successful worldwide brand. Sparked with curiosity, I couldn’t help but listen to orders placed as I creeped up the line. I watched as each woman stepped forward with her phone in hand to scan and pay. Then, I heard these lengthy, detailed, and mastered orders all beginning with the word, “SKINNY.”  Not being a regular Starbucks consumer, IRead More →