I regularly feature Q&As with individuals who’ve recovered from eating disorders, binge eating, negative body image and any kind of disordered eating. If you’d like to share your story of recovery, I’d love to hear from you! You can email me at mtartakovsky@gmail.com.

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Here’s part two of my interview with Nina, who’s recovered from various eating disorders after an almost 10-year battle. Nina writes her own pro-recovery website, helpforeatingdisorder.com.

Below, she talks about the insights she’s gained from her struggles and seeking recovery, what recovery means to her, myths about eating disorders and more.

You can check out part one here.

Q: Do you still struggle with eating disordered thoughts and behaviors? If so, how do you overcome them?

A: My honest experience is that I do not have eating disordered thoughts and behaviors today. If thoughts arise – like that I should “lose a few pounds” – I have enough distance between my “recovered” self and the eating disorder to intercept the thoughts before I act on them.

What helps me the most is remembering my story and turning my focus onto helping someone else. This was one of the main reasons that I started my new web site: helpforeatingdisorder.com. It reminds me of where I came from and there is a powerful therapeutic value in helping someone else. It rids me of the self-obsession – a place where the eating disorder can manifest.

Q: Many people don’t realize the physical consequences of eating disorders, including electrolyte imbalances, irregular heartbeat, osteoporosis, severe tooth decay and digestive problems. Did you experience any health problems as a result of your eating disorder?

A: I had a lot of digestive problems as a result of the constant binge eating and purging, as well as years of daily laxative abuse. This was an area of huge concern for me, as I did not trust that my body could recover. I had to slowly wean myself off the laxatives and to my surprise my digestive system began to function normally in a short time span.

I also had severe tooth decay from the purging and had to have all of my front teeth replaced with veneers. A very expensive consequence of the eating disorder, but today I view each of these consequences as a gift – a reminder of where I came from and why I am determined to never go back.

Q: What insights have you taken away from your struggles and recovery?

A: The main insight that I have taken away from the struggle and the path to recovery is that anything is possible! It is possible to be recovered from eating disorders and to live with freedom.

Having been through that immense struggle and made my way back to healthy, sane living, I know that there is no challenge too great for me or anyone else in life. What you believe, you can achieve. Nothing in life is impossible.

Q: What can family members do to help a loved one with an eating disorder?

A: The best thing that family members can do is support their loved one and make them aware of treatment options and recovery paths. I believe that the process is a personal one, and it is not possible to force someone to recover.

However, when they are exposed to the message of recovery, a seed is planted and when the individual reaches their tipping point, they will do it for themselves.

Q: What resources (books, websites) do you recommend for individuals struggling with an eating disorder?

A: I mostly love books that pass on the message of hope. People who have been there and come out on the other side. For me personally, Jenni Schaefer’s book – Life Without Ed – was inspirational.

I also have recently read a great book about Intuitive Eating, by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. I believe that learning to reconnect with our bodies and change our relationship with food is essential to recovery.

Other websites and organizations that helped me were Overeaters Anonymous.

The NEDA site has a comprehensive list of resources, supporting many different recovery paths.

Q: What does recovery mean to you?

A: Recovery to me means living life with freedom from the mental obsession and physical compulsions of food and weight loss.

It means being able to be with friends, my partner and my puppy without constantly thinking about what I am going to eat or not eat, how much weight I need to lose and what diet I am going on next. It means seeing food as fuel and nothing else. It also means helping others to achieve this freedom.

Q: What are some misconceptions about eating disorders?

A: I think that one of the biggest misconceptions is that people struggling with eating disorders are somehow vain and selfish for desiring to lose weight and be thin. It is about so much more than that, and the sufferer is driven by an urge and power that is so much greater than them.

Also, I believe that eating disorders can manifest themselves in a number of ways. For a certain period of my eating disorder, I didn’t fit into the typical “eating disorder” image – in that I was slightly overweight, I wasn’t using compensatory behavior and I was consuming a massive amount of calories on a daily basis.

This was an eating disorder at its worst for me, but society does not see it as an eating disorder. There is a lot of stigma and shame attached to this state and it can be difficult to get help. You also view yourself as a “diet failure,” not realizing that it is still an eating disorder; it just has a different face.

Q: Anything else you’d like readers to know about eating disorders or your story?

A: I would like readers to know that complete recovery is possible! I have been recovered for several years and live with freedom from obsession about food and my weight. If it was possible for me, then it is possible for anyone.

Get help as soon as you can; every treatment and recovery path has its own benefits. There is no right or wrong way to recover. Find what works for you and never, ever give up!

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Thank you, Nina! I’m honored that you’ve shared your inspiring story here on Weightless.

P.S., I’ve found more helpful posts to survive the holiday season. Check out Andrea Roe’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at Key to Life and Kendra’s “Holiday Recovery Tips” at Voice In Recovery.

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    Last reviewed: 1 Dec 2010