We all have it. That scale style. First thing in the morning, undressed, right foot first, two times for an average. It’s an extremely personal experience, and after 20 plus years in practice, I can confidently say that no two people are alike in how it’s done. However, we are almost all alike in our reactions.
Out of all the Jewish holidays, Pesach is the hardest one for those who struggle with an eating disorder. The obvious reason is because all of your foods become messed up, what is safe and reliable is being replaced with the unknown. Our minds become even noisier guessing our calories, our body dysmorphia seems to have gone into a higher gear.
Welcome, Home, my Winter Breakers! As I scrolled through everyone's reels, stories, posts, and tik toks-all I could say was YOWZA! You all looked like you had a blast! Fun in the sun. Dancing all night. Poolside selfies. Beach chair group shots. Even action-packed water sports! I love nothing more than seeing the teenagers of our communities having the times of their lives. Our parents work so hard to be able to take their families away, so for them to get to see the 'fruits of their labor,' so to speak, must feel amazing. And. End. Scene.
Same Trip. Same pics and reels, selfies, and tik-toks. Smiles and laughter. Just some differences. Some significant substantial, often unspoken differences. How often were those pictures taken and altered before they got the group's approval? How often while sitting on your beach chair did you watch others walk by and compare your body to theirs, wishing you could switch? How many meals did you skip? How often did you look in the mirror and put yourself down because you didn't like what you saw?
How did you feel at night during the parties when you weren't getting the attention you wanted and felt overlooked? Just imagine how many memories you have missed out on thinking about not being 'skinny' enough or obsessing over food and your weight.
Think of all the vacations, events, outings, and conversations with friends and family you were too checked out of because your mind was busy torturing yourself about what you ate or the workout you missed. Reminding yourself over and over again that you are NOT ENOUGH.
What is happening in our world is nothing short of a crisis.
Weeks before these school breaks, my patients throw away months of hard work and resort to unhealthy restrictive eating patterns for this "one week ." But it doesn't end there. Coming home and regrouping can easily take 6-8 weeks because our eating disorders remember how good it feels for them to be back in control. We have to start our fight all over again, only to bring us into Pesach break, where we repeat the cycle. And then again after the holidays, we have just enough time to do it all over again, to prepare for the Summer. It's a vicious never-ending cycle.
If anything said here resonates with you or someone you know, please do not hesitate to contact Dalia Abott and Associates for assistance.
Please understand you are never alone.
I am not suggesting we all incorporate excessive pie-eating into our daily food intake. Clearly, it is an indulgent food choice and it should be something you enjoy in moderation. However, learning to listen to your body is something I firmly believe in. Sometimes, my body will say let’s go out for a run. Other times it might say let’s sleep a little later today. And clearly, it may want to just be glutenous. To enjoy, without feeling like I am “out of control”. In fact, quite the opposite. I made a controlled decision and moved on. I knew W.T.F. – When to Fold.
Binge Eating Disorder typically begins in the late teens or early 20s and is seen in both men and women, with men having an onset more towards mid-life. Three out of ten individuals looking for weight loss treatment show signs of BED. As per the criteria, an episode of binge eating is described as eating an amount of food that is DEFINITELY LARGER than most people would eat in a similar period of time and under similar circumstances. It is marked by a strong sense of lack of control, eating at a rapid pace usually alone due to an increased sense of shame and guilt.
It is no secret that we are all influenced by the people we choose (or sometimes don’t choose) to have in our lives. That is by essence the very definition of peer pressure; the influence from members of one’s peer group. Sadly for today, we are all living in a very scary and unpredictable time- under ONE ROOF. Our food choices, sleep patterns, and overall energy level is constantly subject to the whims and patterns created by those around us.
