Instead of my usual body image booster, today, I’d like to talk bout dieting. That’s because, today, is International No Diet Day (INDD).

INDD was started by Mary Evans Young, the director of the British anti-diet campaign “Diet Breakers” and author of the best-selling book Diet Breaking: Having It All Without Having To Diet.

Today, it’s celebrated all over the world.

This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The goal is to increase awareness and education about eating disorders.

Eating disorders are serious illnesses. But, sadly, in our society, they’re both belittled and deeply misunderstood. That’s why, today, I’d like to focus on dispelling several common myths about EDs.

Below, two experts from the Eating Recovery Center share the truth behind the misconceptions.

{via etsy by Elle Moss}

As a partner, family member or friend, you might be unsure about how to help your loved one during the holidays. You want to support them through this potentially tough time. But you just don’t know how to go about doing that.

Here’s some insight from the experts at Eating Recovery Center that might help.

{via etsy by ara133photography}

The holidays can be a difficult time for people recovering from eating disorders. There’s the abundance of food and the potential for family conflict. There’s the addition of tons of tasks to your list. It can be overwhelming, no doubt.

That’s why I’m pleased to share some insight from experts at the Eating Recovery Center on how to overcome these kinds of obstacles and stay healthy.

Today, in the last part of our interview, author Shani Raviv shares more insights about her recovery from anorexia, including how critical it is to follow your meal plan.

Shani is the author of the award-winning book Being Ana: A Memoir of Anorexia Nervosa. In it, she writes about her 10-year struggle with anorexia, drugs, alcohol and exercise. She writes about trying to figure out exactly who she is — without anorexia, which had consumed her life for so long.

It’s amazing — and often difficult — to read the harrowing things Shani experienced. But it’s another powerful story — fortunately, one of very many — that reminds us that full recovery is possible, even after enduring countless dark moments.

It might not feel like it when you’re in the depths of your eating disorder, when you’re starting treatment or, some days, really at any point in your treatment.

But one step at a time, as you immerse yourself in your treatment, you’ll get better. Stories like Shani’s remind us that this is absolutely true.

I’m grateful to Shani for sharing her story (and really her heart) here on Weightless.

This is part two of my interview with Shani Raviv, author of the award-winning book Being Ana: A Memoir of Anorexia Nervosa.

In part one, she discussed her inspiration for writing Being Ana and how she was able to separate anorexia from her identity.

Below, Shani reveals what helped her recover from a 10-year struggle with anorexia, the powerful role yoga played and what full recovery means to her. I especially love what she says about being full recovered.

I’m honored to present my interview with Shani Raviv, author of the award-winning book Being Ana: A Memoir of Anorexia Nervosa. Shani began struggling with anorexia at 14 years old when she started dieting. She’d continue to struggle for 10 years.

In her memoir, which is riveting, raw and beautifully written, Shani recounts how anorexia became her identity, and really her whole world. She also reveals her struggles with drugs, alcohol and cutting — along with trying to find self-worth in all the wrong places, with exercise, and with men.

Today, Shani is fully recovered from anorexia and, a year ago, gave birth to her son.

Below, she shares why she wrote Being Ana and how she finally embraced her identity — separate from anorexia.

Tomorrow, in part two, Shani reveals what helped her recover and what recovery means to her.

{by Julia from Feed Me Daily}

 Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts the week on a positive note!

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

Sometimes, when you’re knee-deep in negative thoughts about your body, trying to change those thoughts can seem impossible. This can be especially true for individuals with eating disorders. Fleeting thoughts can etch into your mind, becoming more permanent fixtures.

“They become obsessions and it can often feel as though they are out of our control,” according to Julia, who struggled with an eating disorder and writes the blog Feed Me Daily.

{via etsy by Elizabeth Urquhart}

A few weeks ago a reader asked a question that many parents and caregivers struggle with when it comes to eating disorders (and other illnesses):

What do you do when your adult child doesn’t want to seek treatment for their eating disorder anymore?

Specifically, here’s the comment:

Hi there, I am a mum of 22yo daughter who has after 6 1/2 yrs told us she is BN. We had our suspicions & have confronted her in the past but to no avail. She has lived away from us for the past 4 years but now living with us & we have been going to Eating Disorder Clinic seeing Specialists but now she has said that she doesn’t want to go as feels that all talk and not actually helping and that too expensive. How can I get her to keep going as hard at her age – very independent. She is talking to me off and on but obviously only when she is ready. Very moody, distant etc. Any assistance would be appreciated.

I turned to eating disorder experts Amy Pershing, Dr. Ashley Solomon and Dr. Sarah Ravin for insight. They raised excellent questions and offered valuable ideas, everything from talking to your child about what’s not working in treatment to seeking family therapy to working together on her (or his) eating.

Here’s part two of my interview with Jenn Lawlor, who talks more about her recovery from an eating disorder. She also shares the lessons she’s learned from her struggles with and recovery from anorexia along with her wise advice for families — and much more.

Check out part one of our interview here.

Also, if you’d like to share your story of recovery, please email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com.