In honor of Binge Eating Disorder Week, I’m republishing posts that focus on dispelling pervasive myths about binge eating disorder (BED) and tools for overcoming this common disorder.

Remember that BED is a real disorder, and it’s highly treatable.

Learn more about the online campaign here. Also, check out these valuable posts from eating disorder experts, including Amy Pershing and Cynthia Bulik.

In honor of Binge Eating Disorder Week, I’m republishing posts that focus on dispelling pervasive myths about binge eating disorder (BED) and tools for overcoming this common disorder.

Learn more about this campaign here. Also, check out these valuable posts from eating disorder experts such as Amy Pershing and Cynthia Bulik.

Today marks the first day of Binge Eating Disorder Week, an online campaign to educate people about what binge eating disorder really is (and what it isn’t).

This week I’m republishing Weightless posts that focus on dispelling common (and damaging) myths about BED, along with information on treatment and recovery. (I’ve edited these pieces and combined the interviews.)

Please learn more about this campaign here.

Also, today, is Memorial Day here in the U.S. It honors the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our country. I’m incredibly grateful to our military. And I’m incredibly grateful to this country.

{Quote featured in the book The Power of Starting Something Stupid}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

It might not be about confidence.

20 ways to unwind.

Yesterday, in our interview, eating disorder expert Karen Trevithick revealed key facts about binge eating disorder (BED), including common myths and why dieting doesn’t help (in fact, it exacerbates the disorder).

Today, Bonnie Brennan, MA, LPC, clinical director at Eating Recovery Center’s Adult Partial Hospitalization Program, delves into what causes BED (dieting is a common trigger) and how to effectively treat it.

Q: What do we know about what causes BED?

A: Although the exact causes for binge eating disorder are unknown, there are some potential triggers that, for individuals genetically predisposed to eating disorders, could cause BED behaviors.

After all, eating disorders, such as BED, are biologically based illnesses and do run in families. Individuals with an immediate family member who has struggled with disordered eating behaviors are more likely to face their own eating disorders struggles.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is finally becoming an official diagnosis in the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental health professionals (DSM 5). So this is a good time to highlight facts about the disorder, because, unfortunately, it’s still misunderstood (and not talked about much). 

For starters, you might be surprised to learn that BED is actually the most common eating disorder. It affects 3.5 percent of American women and 2 percent of American men.

Most importantly, BED is highly treatable. Effective treatments are available, and recovery is absolutely possible. You can have a healthy and peaceful relationship with food, weight and yourself.

Below, Karen Trevithick, PsyD, CEDS, clinical director for Eating Recovery Center’s Outpatient Services, reveals the biggest myths about BED, why it’s so misunderstood, why dieting doesn’t work and signs you can watch out for.

{via etsy by ColorMeLucky}

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 your 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!

Are you sure you should eat that? Think your hips have gotten bigger? Maybe you need to work out a little more? Looking particularly large in that outfit, aren’t we? I can’t believe you couldn’t finish that workout. Everyone else did. Your stomach looks enormous today. What else is new. 

Yep, these kinds of thoughts still swirl in my head. Some days, they’re mere whispers. Other days, they start slow but swiftly seem to hijack my brain.

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Vivienne reveals her creative process and the power of self-portraiture in our interview.

{via etsy by Katie Daisy}

I’m not much for clever planners, productivity apps or special efficiency software. I live by to-do lists. I love jotting down what I need to do on stationary or even a napkin (clearly, whatever is handy). I also love my paper planner. And, on some days, I get spontaneous and type in a text file.

While they’re helpful, sometimes, to-do lists have a way of obscuring everything else. We get so focused on checking off tasks — big or small — that we forget to look around us. We forget to savor. And breathe in what’s right in front of our eyes (ears, nose, hands).

{via etsy by BLintonPhotography}

We’ve all had those days when one look in the mirror spikes our stress levels. (I still do.) For many of us, that’s when the inner critic starts ranting and raving. Before we know it we’re bashing our bodies and berating our qualities as a whole.

But it doesn’t have to escalate to an all-out brawl between you and your body. Here are several ways to cope without fueling those negative thoughts and sinking your self-esteem. Some of these can be done in the moment; others can be done later in the day.