When I started this blog it was a way for me to experiment with food, to learn to love myself, and to really just grapple with my eating disorder issues.
Thankfully, I no longer feel that this is the purpose of CollegeGirlCooking.
I’m writing this post to address the fact that I have changed and grown so much in the past year, and likewise, my blog has changed and grown as well. I will continue to write about my eating disorder experiences, advocate for the destigmatization of mental illness, and support those of you who are still on your journey to recovery.
However, I want to make it explicit that I now consider CollegeGirlCooking to be a healthy living blog.
I’ve recently been met with some disapproval by some of my more recent posts describing the foods I eat or my recent return to regular exercise. Some people believe that no one ever truly recovers from an eating disorder. Along with this belief comes the opinion that people with histories of eating disorders cannot actually embrace a healthy lifestyle because any approach towards “health” is necessarily fueled by restrictive/obsessive habits or is a manifestation of the eating disorder itself.
I can only speak from my own personal experience. When I was recovering and when I first considered myself recovered, I completely avoided exercise. I wasn’t in the mindset to approach it healthfully, meaning that I couldn’t exercise without using it as a tool to lose weight or burn calories. Furthermore, in the beginning, I had to completely disregard the nutritional content of my food and just eat.
Now though, I am able to approach “healthy living” with an open, positive, and flexible mindset. Yes I eat yogurt, oatmeal, cottage cheese, apples, grilled chicken, and other so called “healthy” foods, but that is because I like them! In addition to these “healthy” foods I eat my fair share of “unhealthy” foods<—-Most notably, ice cream and Biscoff Spread. Oh how I love you Biscoff Spread!
Furthermore, I am able to exercise purely because it makes me feel good. I love the endorphins and I love devoting a chunk of time completely to myself.
Healthy living to me is not about food or exercise. It’s about fully embracing your life and loving yourself fiercely. I believe I am doing just that.
(Darren and I after our first, and only, 5k!).
Also, I registered for a half-marathon in August. WHOA!
XOXO,
Jamie
I bought some Yogurt. Some Greek kind. Kinda Yum. That is all. Bye
I dont know if this is even supposed to go here.
I opened the post thinking it was more running related because of the title and use of the word pace, but nonetheless I am glad that you are at complete and utter comfort with your journey and the progress you have made! Remember that you are the most important factor in determining your success. And best of luck with your first half-marathon, if you need tips on training I have quite a few – I recommend Hal Higdon’s Training Guides (:
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Good luck with your half marathon! I am also trying to approach exercising with a more healthy mindset – to love myself and really enjoy moving my body, rather than to burn off calories. I try not to work out too hard when I’m not feeling like it, and learning to “listen to my body”.
Hi,
regarding the thought that you never get rid complety of an eating disorder, there may be some truth in it… I recovered like 2 or 3 years ago, but some insane thoughts never go out of my mind. It’s like, I can eat normally, almost everything as a “normal” person, but there is always like the echo of a voice telling me, “you shouldn’t have eaten that piece of chocolate, you’re gonna get fat…”, you know, although I know for sure it is out of all reason, it’s stuck deep in my head…
That was beautifully written post. You know nothing is impossible in life when you have the confidence and courage then you can defeat the toughest problem in your life.
Girls should take up this good advice and learn to make themselves healthier for their life.
Good luck.