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I receive Dr. Michelle May’s e-newsletter regularly, and in the latest issue she recounted a story I knew I had to share with you guys because it’s definitely a perspective-adjuster – in a vital way.

Dr. May and her husband went to Italy for their 25th anniversary and the best way, she writes, to describe her trip was as “sensuous.” Sensuous is, according to Dr. May:

1. Relating to or derived from the senses.
2. Appealing to or gratifying the senses.
3. Readily affected through the senses.
4. Highly appreciative of the pleasures of sensation.

For her, eating in Italy was exciting. Her senses perked up any time she had pizza or pasta or any other delectable Italian dish.

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As I said yesterday, sadly, people with binge eating disorder (BED) can feel a lot of shame and embarrassment about having the disorder. They feel totally out of control and blame themselves for their wilting willpower. They beat themselves up because they think they should be able to stop bingeing on their own or that binge eating somehow makes them a bad person.

But please know a few things: that the above are myths, that you’re not alone in struggling with BED and that, with treatment, recovery is absolutely possible.

I’m grateful to Amy Pershing, who in part two of our interview, shares her own struggles with BED and how she recovered. She also offers several tips to help readers.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out yesterday’s first part.

Again, Amy is the executive director at PershingTurner Centers and clinical director for The Center for Eating Disorders in Ann Arbor, MI. Amy specializes in treating binge eating disorder (BED) and is an advocate of Health At Every Size and intuitive eating. (I’ve included her bio below.)

Today, I’m thrilled to present my interview with Amy Pershing, the executive director at PershingTurner Centers and clinical director for The Center for Eating Disorders in Ann Arbor, MI. Amy isn’t only an expert in treating binge eating disorder (BED) but she’s also an advocate for Health At Every Size and intuitive eating. (Read more about Amy below.)

Binge eating is a topic I keep returning to because like other eating disorders, it’s terribly misunderstood, and myths run rampant in the media and public overall. Misinformation not only creates stigma but it means that individuals struggling with binge eating are left confused and ashamed – and may not seek treatment.

Remember that BED is a real disorder that is highly treatable!

Here, Amy talks about the biggest myths about BED from several standpoints along with the common challenges that impede recovery and how to navigate those obstacles.

Her words aren’t just thoughtful and accurate but they’re also inspiring and eye-opening. I think you’ll find the same.

Self-compassion is not easy to come by for many of us. Instead, our default reaction is to blame ourselves, lash out (again at ourselves) and possibly keep asking, “what is wrong with me?”

But cultivating self-compassion is exactly what we need, especially when it comes to facing tough times – and my not-so favorite activity of feeling your feelings.

When we’re unable to cope healthfully with emotions, we stuff them down. We might stuff them down with food or excessive exercise or other unhealthy habits.

Dieting is not only unhealthy, but it makes us deeply distrust ourselves. Which I think is one of the saddest consequences.

That’s why I’m thrilled to highlight International No Diet Day – which is today!  It was started in 1992 by Mary Evans Young in England. And now is celebrated all over the world.

Sharon Haywood, co-editor of Adios Barbie, has a fantastic post on the site about this day. It gives readers more details about the day and what it means – and why dieting is damaging.

She writes:

Since 1992, May 6th has been designated International No Diet Day (INDD). This body-loving campaign is associated with combating eating disorders and honoring the people who have suffered because of one. For this day, we can thank Mary Evans Young, a UK feminist, the founder of the British anti-diet movement, Diet Breakers, and author of the best-selling book, Diet Breaking: Having It All Without Having To Diet (Hodder & Stoughton, 1995).  She started INDD after recovering from anorexia, although the day isn’t just about eating disorders. This movement draws attention to the fact that a great many of us suffer from disordered thinking regarding food and our bodies, not just those afflicted with anorexia and bulimia.

INDD is more about not depriving yourself for a 24-hour period. It beckons you to make peace with your body and your relationship with food. And not only for your mental health. Various studies show that yo-yo dieting has been found to be damaging to one’s physical health in conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, and clogged arteries.[1] What’s more is that investigators have evidence that illustrate a significant correlation between thinness and shorter lives.[2]

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After my dad’s passing in August of ’09, I’d say that for the most part, I’m OK.

I go about my day just fine. Create a to-do list. Happily check items off. Take breaks. Go work out. Run errands. Hang with loved ones. And live life.

But sometimes the grief breaks through.

And I have to tell myself to save it because I can’t fall apart right now. I have things to do.

We’ve talked before on Weightless about the importance of feeling our feelings. That we emerge liberated, relieved and unstuck. Unburdened. The overwhelming release from your brain and body.

Here’s part two of my interview with Katie, from one of my favorite blogs Health for the Whole Self. Katie has written an e-book called Taking Action: 30 Specific Strategies About Overcoming Emotional Eating. It’s truly a must-read! (Here’s more about the book and how to get it.)

In part one, we talked about her own struggles with emotional eating, what helped her get better, her favorite tools and more.

In part two, Katie discusses a major trigger for her emotional eating, myths about emotional eating, the toughest part of recovery for her and having hope.

I also just want to reiterate that if you’re struggling with emotional eating or binge eating, you can absolutely get better – regardless of how long you’ve been struggling. Binge eating is highly treatable. For instance, Katie saw a therapist and uses the tools in her e-book.

Seeing a therapist who specializes in binge eating is key for getting better. Creating a healthy toolbox also helps tremendously, whether that’s through Katie’s e-book (which I really do highly recommend) or another resource.

Don’t forget that Katie is giving away one free copy! Enter to win by commenting below. You have ’til next Monday at 12 a.m. EST to comment. I’ll pick the winner randomly and let you know who won next week.

Thanks so much for all the thoughtful comments so far!

Thank you so much for all your thoughtful comments on the post introducing Karen’s book about weight loss, weight gain and weightlessness! Remember you can still comment and be eligible to win a copy of her book until this Sunday, 12 a.m. EST.

Today, we not only have another giveaway, but a fantastic interview with Katie from Health for the Whole Self. Katie is also a good friend and a blogger I’ve admired for a long time! She always writes eloquently and honestly about issues like body image, the culture of thinness and intuitive eating.

Recently, Katie has written an e-book that provides 30 strategies to overcome emotional eating. I purchased the e-book, and absolutely loved it. Not only is it well written, relatable and thoughtful, but it’s packed with valuable tools. It’s a book that you’ll return to regularly. You can learn more about the book and how to get it here.

Below, Katie talks about her own struggles, what helped her to overcome emotional eating, her favorite tools and more. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow!

The details on the giveaway: Katie is giving one e-copy away! Just comment below on today’s post or tomorrow’s post (for part two). You have ’til next Monday at 12 a.m. EST to comment. I’ll pick the winner randomly and let you know who won next week. I’ll also email the winner.

Here’s part two of my interview with Sunny Sea Gold, author of the blog HealthyGirl.org and the newly released book Food: The Good Girl’s Drug: How to Stop Using Food to Control Your Feelings.

Like I said yesterday, I highly recommend this book, because it provides accurate info about binge eating disorder (BED), shatters the stigma, debunks common myths, features interviews with women who’ve recovered and experts in the eating disorder field and offers recovery tools. It’s also very honest and hopeful.

Yesterday, in part one, we talked about BED myths, what helped Sunny recover and the hardest thing about writing Food: The Good Girl’s Drug. (Check it out here!)

In part two below, Sunny discusses how she was able to overcome her insecurities and perfectionism, her take on working in the magazine industry, what recovery means to her and more!

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a topic that’s rarely talked about. Not only that, but there are so many myths and so much stigma attached to this serious disorder.

That’s why I’m thrilled to present today’s interview with Sunny Sea Gold. Sunny is the author of the recently published (just yesterday!) book Food: The Good Girl’s Drug: How to Stop Using Food to Control Your Feelings. She’s not only written a fantastic book, but she also shatters the stigma surrounding BED.

The book is half memoir, half self help. In it, Sunny shares her struggles with and recovery from binge eating disorder. Plus, she busts a lot of pervasive myths, provides accurate info about BED and offers a variety of tools for recovery.

She also features interviews with other women who’ve struggled with BED and experts who provide insight into the disorder.

I’ve read the book and highly recommend it. (Check out my review of it here.) It’s powerful, accurate, well-written, incredibly relatable and inspiring.

Sunny also writes the blog Healthy Girl, which has become an entire website with resources on disordered eating and body image; and serves as deputy editor at Redbook magazine.

In part one of our interview, Sunny talks about BED myths, what helped her recover, the toughest thing about writing Food: The Good Girl’s Drug and more!

If you’d like to learn more about Sunny’s story, check out her video. Also, check out the trailer for her book. (It’s powerful.)