Bloom Book Club - Winter Selection
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to mental health wellness and recovery.
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to mental health wellness and recovery.
For our Winter selection, we'll be reading You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap) How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can, Too.
About the book…
Once, Tammy Strobel and her husband were living a normal middle-class lifestyle: driving two cars, commuting long distances, and living well beyond their means. Now they are living the voluntary downsizing — or smart-sizing — dream. In this book Strobel combines research on well-being with numerous real-world examples to offer practical inspiration. Her fresh take on our things, our work, and our relationships spells out micro-actions that anyone can take to step into a life that’s more conscious and connected, sustainable and sustaining, heartfelt and happy.
~~~~~~~~
A message from Amber ~
“I chose this title for our Winter selection because more than ever, I’m feeling like this year has been a time of reflection and introspection. We have all had our own challenges with 2020 and I know I am looking forward to new beginnings for 2021. However, this life of quiet isolation and being at home has definitely not passed me by as a special time. That said, I am looking for new ways to bring happiness into my life and one of the best ways is to live with less.” ~ Amber
Join Us!
Interested in becoming a Bloom Book Club member? We read a book every quarter with themes advocating Intuitive Eating, HAES, positive body image and more. Check out some of the benefits:
The Book Club includes:
LIVE discussions of the current selection members can attend as a group.
Action challenges and homework assignments emailed directly to you to help you implement the material of the reading.
The ability to vote and recommend upcoming selections.
A separate, private Facebook group with weekly discussions, live videos and lively debate about the current selection.
A way to improve your learning, continue your recovery and promote positive change without attending sessions or webinars.
You can join us for free or just $5 a month (billed annually).
Bloom Book Club - Summer Selection
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to eating disorder recovery.
For our Summer selection, we'll be reading Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, by Linda Bacon, Ph. D.
Bloom Book Club is a recovery community focused on reading and discussing books as they related to eating disorder recovery.
For our Summer selection, we'll be reading Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, by Linda Bacon, Ph. D.
Begins May 15! (but feel free to join in anytime)
The excerpt about the book from Amazon:
Fat isn’t the problem. Dieting is the problem. A society that rejects anyone whose body shape or size doesn’t match an impossible ideal is the problem. A medical establishment that equates “thin” with “healthy” is the problem.
The solution?
Health at Every Size.
Tune in to your body’s expert guidance. Find the joy in movement. Eat what you want, when you want, choosing pleasurable foods that help you to feel good. You too can feel great in your body right now—and Health at Every Size will show you how.
Health at Every Size has been scientifically proven to boost health and self-esteem. The program was evaluated in a government-funded academic study, its data published in well-respected scientific journals.
Updated with the latest scientific research and even more powerful messages, Health at Every Size is not a diet book, and after reading it, you will be convinced the best way to win the war against fat is to give up the fight.
Join Us!
Interested in becoming a Bloom Book Club member? We read a book every quarter with themes advocating Intuitive Eating, HAES, positive body image and more. Check out some of the benefits:
The Book Club includes:
LIVE discussions of the current selection members can attend as a group.
Action challenges and homework assignments emailed directly to you to help you implement the material of the reading.
The ability to vote and recommend upcoming selections.
A separate, private Facebook group with weekly discussions, live videos and lively debate about the current selection.
A way to improve your learning, continue your recovery and promote positive change without attending sessions or webinars.
For a limited time, you can get membership access to the Bloom Book Club fora LIFETIME for just $25.00. Click the link below to learn more.
Setting Your Non-Diet Resolutions
I love the feel that a New Year brings. I know some are completely against setting New Year's Resolutions, and if that's you, I totally understand. Resolutions have gotten a bad rep in a lot of ways because some view them as standards they set for themselves and then are unable to keep.
I love the feel that a New Year brings. I know some are completely against setting New Year's Resolutions, and if that's you, I totally understand. Resolutions have gotten a bad rep in a lot of ways because some view them as standards they set for themselves and then are unable to keep.
I view New Year's resolutions as a way to reset for the next year to come. Resolutions help provide me with a framework for the intentional life I want to lead. During this time, I can shape a plan with both short and long term goals about whatever way that I want to make the most out of the next year.
I think another reason New Year's resolutions have grown to be a bit of a punch line for a bad joke is because most setting goals for the new year will almost always include some type of fitness or weight loss goal. The health and fitness industry experiences a boom in marketing this time of year. Participate in any gym and you're likely to have difficulty finding an open treadmill until March.
So for all of us who are exposed to these messages, this push to change our body - this message is for you. You can say no. You can make a decision to NOT participate or set diet and weight loss goals this year. Research indicates that 95% of diets will fail and of those 5% that succeed, it's likely those individuals have had to shape their entire lives around being a certain size or shape (i.e. meal planning, working out, counting calories, skipping social outings, etc.).
If you're in recovery, or newly embracing the intuitive eating message, you may find it especially difficult during this time of year. Promotions and advertising are centered around weight loss and the office becomes a place where diet-talk and trading New Year's resolutions intentions will be constant. It's likely you'll feel a pull to engage and participate with everyone else and that's okay. Use this as an exercise to not get sucked back into the diet culture. Use this as an opportunity to share with others why you're not setting diet resolutions this year. Challenge others to share resolutions that have nothing to do with changing their appearance.
Here are some non-diet resolutions you can consider instead:
- Learn to play an instrument (it's never too late!)
- Set a number of books you wish to read this year. (Have you joined the Bloom Book Club? #shamelessplug)
- Aim to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and nature daily.
- Plan quarterly home projects with monthly financial plans to make those projects happen.
- Write in a journal daily.
- Develop a bedtime routine that will allow you to have better rest and sleep.
- Treat yourself at least once a month to a massage, a day at the spa, or just a lunch out alone.
- Catch up with an old friend at least once a quarter.
- Join a recovery related support group via online or in person. (Bloom has a free Facebook Group!)
- Plan a destination vacation trip, even if it's just for the weekend. Set monthly goals to make it happen.
- Try one new recipe a week or a month, whichever fits your schedule better.
- Take one day a week to totally relax and recharge (i.e. stay in your comfy clothes, wear no makeup, etc.)
- Learn about a new subject. Read one blog post or article about the subject every morning to get your day started.
- Schedule a date night with your significant other at least once a week, even if it's just a movie together at home.
I would love to hear any other non-diet ways that you plan to be more intentional for this upcoming year. Feel free to share in the comments!
An online community supporting your non diet journey.
Grab your seat!
Resource Roundup - Support for ED Recovery
Some of my favorite eating disorder recovery resources I've seen from around the web during the past month and I wanted to share them here with you. I hope you find something inspiring, encouraging and something you love. :)
Some of my favorite eating disorder recovery resources I've seen from around the web during the past month and I wanted to share them here with you. I hope you find something inspiring, encouraging and something you love. :)
Articles
To The Person Who Isn't Sure If They Should Stop Dieting
Disproportionate and Rapid Weight Gain During Recovery
Physical and Mental Signs of Starvation in Anorexia
Can I Call Myself Fat If I'm Just Chubby?
Blogs
Can You Want To Change Your Body and Still Exercise Intuitively? - Thereallife-rd.com
Why I Won't Be Losing Weight For My Wedding - The Healthy Maven
Defining What Really Matters - Rachel Hartley Nutrition
The Closet Clean Out Guide for Body Acceptance
I have been putting off going through my old clothes for what feels like a lifetime, and quite honestly, has been at least a decade. Sure, I've sold/given away a few items here and there over the years, but there are so many more items I've been hanging onto for "when I can wear them again," or "when I lose the weight."
It has been slowly eating away at me. Calling and screaming at me from inside the walls of my house. Months that have added up to over a decade of failed promises and vows. A purple, spaghetti strap shirt I wore while dating my boyfriend, now husband (the straps didn't fit right then either.) A college sweatshirt that I've been hanging onto because it reminds me of a time long ago. A skirt I once loved and brings back a time of tan legs, tousled hair of humid summer nights and a time when I believed how I looked in that skirt would make all the difference.
I have been putting off going through my old clothes for what feels like a lifetime, and quite honestly, has been at least a decade. Sure, I've sold/given away a few items here and there over the years, but there are so many more items I've been hanging onto for "when I can wear them again," or "when I lose the weight."
Well, my newfound mission to accept my body for the size it is intended to be has also spurred me to a total closet clean out. That and... well, the husband is "tired of looking at the boxes." So, this past week I finally made an effort to go through ever article of clothing. Here's how it all went down AND how I would suggest any person who has been unwilling/not wanting to get rid of clothing that no longer fits can make the process as smooth as possible.
Step 1 - MAYBE pour a glass of wine. Why not make this process a fun occasion, right? For some, this may be an emotional experience that will bring up ALL KINDS of memories. Find a way to make this process "fun" if possible. Pour a glass of wine, put on your favorite playlist, or pop in Runaway Bride. This process doesn't have to be the torturous event you've probably made it out to be.
Step 2 - Decide on what "piles" you're going to need. You may want to try to sell some items that are a little less worn or name brand clothing, as well as donate some items you maybe feel aren't worth the time to make out the price tags for the next yard sale. My piles included: Donate, Sell, Sell to Ebay or Threadup, Try-On-And-Decide, Keep, Trash. For my "try-on" pile, I knew there were some items that looked like I might need to try them on and decide whether or not they would be kept. My nicer and more expensive items I either decided to sell in the yard sale or sell on Ebay or Threadup (if they were barely worn/still had tags). I also had a Trash pile for those that were beyond salvaging (looking at you shorts with paint stains).
Step 3 - Gather supplies. Boxes for packing items up for the next Garage sale, stickers for pricing, etc. Pretty straight forward here and not sure what else I need to say about this... I mean, you don't want to have to get up over and over again!
Step 4 - Reflect and reminisce. Take a few moments before you begin and accept the fact that this is a process. You're going to be going through clothing that is perhaps decades old. Some of this clothing may represent a different time in your life - a different person even. It's OK to feel uneasy about it. It's OK to feel sad that the clothing doesn't fit anymore. But more than anything, recognize that you're going through this process as a means of moving forward - to the person you are today and to honor the person that you are now.
Step 5 - Do the thing. Nothing left at this point but diving in. When memories come to the surface, take a few moments to let those wash over you. Cherish the memories that were formed and then move on. You can always have the memory and the clothing item cannot take that away. When you find item that no longer fit the body you're in now, remember that bodies change constantly throughout a lifetime. We ARE NOT MEANT to be in the same body for our entire lives! You don't expect to fit into the onesie that you wore as a baby and you shouldn't expect to fit into the mini skirt your wore in your teens. It's OK.
Step 6 - Take breaks. For some this may be an all day thing. Make sure you take breaks, get some fresh air, stretch your legs and take care of yourself. This process doesn't have to be a miserable one and don't make it so by forcing yourself to sit in one spot all day long.
Step 7 - Pack everything up. Decide what you're going to do to finish the process and remove the items from your home. A community yard sale? Thredup? Ebay? Goodwill? All are options.
Step 8 - Reward yourself with new items! Now might be a good time to invest in some new items for your revamped closet. It may be that you've been wearing the same 5-6 items over and over again because they're the only items you've had that have fit the body you're in now. If you were able to sell some items, I definitely suggest reinvesting the money you earned into a new wardrobe. Some other options might be to try some rental companies. Le Tote and NY&C both offer services to rent items for one price per month. They are GREAT options for dabbling with a new wardrobe, new style and perhaps new sizes without spending a ton of money.
Step 9. - Reach out for support. Did this process take an emotional toll? Perhaps it left you feeling drained and even doubting the process of Intuitive Eating or accepting the new body you're in now. You may want to reach out to support for some feedback on your experiences and to reassure you that you've made the best decision.
Step 10 - Is mostly for the love of having an even 10 number of items on the list! Pour yourself an extra glass of wine and celebrate! And if I were you, I would hit up the online shopping to replenish that wardrobe with items that you'll truly love and feel comfortable in!
Ongoing Support for Your Non-Diet Journey
Recovery work for body image and binge eating can be riddled with lots of up's and down's along the way. It will be helpful for you to have supportive resources to turn to in times you're feeling the struggle a bit more.
(This page is continously updated. Be sure to bookmark it and visit again!)
Recovery work for body image and binge eating can be riddled with lots of up's and down's along the way. It will be helpful for you to have supportive resources to turn to in times you're feeling the struggle a bit more.
Directions: Challenge yourself to engage DAILY for at least 20 - 30 minutes in some type of helpful resource outlet. Below you will find a list of different methods and outlets for resources.
Podcasts
The Food Psych Podcast - Chrissy Harreleson, RD
Nutrition Matters - Paige Smathers, RDN, CD
The BodyLove Project - Jessi Haggerty
Life. Unrestricted. - Meret Boxler
The Love, Food Podcast - Julie Duffy Dillon
Body Kindness - Rebeccas Scritchfield, RDN
Books
Intuitive Eating - Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FA, DA
Body Respect - Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor
Body Kindness - Rebecca Scritchfield
Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight - Linda Bacon
Blogs
Immaeatthat.com - Kylie Mitchell, MPH, RDN
Thereallife-rd.com - Robyn Nohling, RD, NP
The Joy of Eating - Raychel Hartley, RD
Instagram Feeds
The Body Love Society - @thebodylovesociety
Beating Eating Disorders - @beatingeatingdisorders
Project HEAL - @projectheal
The Moderation Movement - @moderationmovement
Facebook Groups
Bloom Nutrition - Disordered Eating Support
Food Psych Podcast Listener Crew
Intuitive Eating Support Group
Dear Diet - A Journaling Activity
Dear Weight Watchers,
You were my first introduction into the dieting world. At only 12 years old, I was introduced to you SO YOUNG. Perhaps probably most messed up of all, was the fact that I didn't even join you because I wanted to lose weight, but because I wanted to be "in the club."
Below is a journaling activity we complete in Beat the Binge. I challenge you to write your own letter to your diet(s) and see what comes up.
Dear Weight Watchers,
You were my first introduction into the dieting world. At only 12 years old, I was introduced to you SO YOUNG. Perhaps probably most messed up of all, was the fact that I didn't even join you because I wanted to lose weight, but because I wanted to be "in the club." I wanted to be part of this adult world and feel included with my mom when she went to meetings. I wanted to "weigh-in" with others and feel like I belonged. However, the fun was over when I began having to take tuna fish sandwiches to school and watch my other friends eating their normal lunches. You set me up for my first experience binge eating when every week we would "celebrate" weigh-in day by going out to eat afterwards. Because I knew I would be faced with another week of tuna fish sandwiches, I would feel compelled to eat as much as possible during these meals. I remember I would leave feeling stuffed, sick and guilty for eating so much. Weight Watchers, you did nothing for my life but make me feel like being on a diet was a mandatory passage into adulthood.
Dear YM Magazine (and others)
This particular issue in this magazine became a "diet bible" for me. It introduced me to over 100 diet tips that became a way of eating for me. In addition, YM Magazine, your publications brainwashed me into believing I would never be loved, never feel like I belong and never find happiness unless my body looked a certain way.
YM Magazine Cover
Dear Suzanne Somers,
I found your diet book in a box of yard sale items in a family yard sale. I remember sitting down and reading it from cover to cover. Your weird diet of combining different food pairings had me taking the bread off my sandwiches at school some days and eating only the meat and cheese on others. Dear Ms. Somers, you were my first introduction to "fear foods" many of which I sometimes still feel slight discomfort when eating even today. For nearly 6 years, I avoided white pasta, white bread, potatoes, potato chips, white rice and even carrots, peas and corn.
Dear Food Rules,
I spent the better part of my college years not allowing myself to have an enjoyable meal more than once a week. I usually would "splurge" on breakfast once a week, and the rest of the week I would stick to strictly "healthy" items. In addition, I also only allowed myself to have one dessert a week and three cans of soda a week. My friends marveled at how disciplined I was, but you only provided a false sense of security. For any deviation from you, including going out with friends for pizza, would send my guilt into a downward spiral. I would then feel compelled to run miles and miles afterward. I missed out on so much of the college experience because of you.
Dear Calorie King
I can't even remember where I found your book, but I remember it was my first introduction into counting calories. After discovering your book I could no longer go out to eat without first methodically looking up each meal and item of food in the book to see if it "fit" into my daily calorie intake. Mr. Calorie King you sucked all the fun out of dining out and taught me an entirely new approach to obsessively controlling my food.
Dear Weird Hot Dog Diet,
My coworkers first introduced me to you and I thought you sounded silly, but then I witnessed them losing weight. It sounded disgusting that I was to subsist on hotdogs, tuna fish, bananas, eggs and other weird items. But I gave you a try anyway. Dear Weird Hot Dog Diet you did nothing but make me hate feeding myself for a total of about 2 weeks. I definitely did not look forward to meal time during this 2 weeks, but maybe that was the point.
Dear MyFitness Pal,
When I first discovered you, I thought you were the greatest thing to have happened in my "health" journey. When I first computed my goals into your system, you told me I needed to eat 1100 calories a day to reach them. I began eating this amount calories and did in fact lose a considerable amount of weight. However, I also lost energy, became hyper focused on food because my body was actually slowly starving. Over time, my body adjusted to this low calorie intake and began to actually start gaining weight, despite the low calorie intake. I became more and more focused on you and more and more depressed and confused that I didn't understand why you were no longer working. Over time, this low calorie intake caused many other physiological responses in my body, including depression, loss of my cycle and even hair loss. Dear MyFitness Pal, I understand you are useful for some, but for me you're just another diet that causes me to feel crazy around food.
Dear "Clean Eating"
Once again I was fooled into thinking this was THEY way to be eating and the epitomy of health. Your philosophy of avoiding all foods that were processed and not naturally from the Earth were somehow evil to my body. You convinced me that foods such as chocolate, cheese and even cereal should be avoided. I believe you masquerade as healthy, but you're actually just another diet. You imply restriction and define the moral code of "good" and "bad" foods.
Dear Intermittent Fasting,
You almost had me again. After reading some "research" that seemed to indicate you might, indeed, be the solution to weight loss I believed that maybe I should give you a try. In order to make you work it meant giving up my favorite meal of the day, breakfast. I would spend the better half of the morning tired and lethargic because I had no energy from not eating anything. After the designated window of eating time opened, I would be so starved that I would sometimes overeat at lunchtime, which would leave me feeling stuffed, sick and leave my stomach upset for the rest of the day.
Dear Atkins,
You came into my life during a time when I was really trying to work on not dieting. However, after witnessing and overhearing my coworkers having success from following your plan, I almost decided to try you, too. I felt more and more confused about your way of eating because how could vegetables ever be considered "bad" for you. But on your plan I was only "allowed" so many ounces of vegetables on meals. On another note, I was to exist on literally no carbohydrates, an important source of energy for any human body to live on. I hated how I was having to focus on every meal and it seemed like I was having to relearn how to eat, when eating should be a natural thing.
Dear MyFitness Pal,
You continued to lurk in the background during my visits with the diets in between. I have spent years having an affair with you from the other diets. When I was engaging in another diet, you were always there in the background, whispering to me and telling me lies like, You know I worked before, I can work again. You know you've been eating more than 1200 calories on some days. You know this is the REAL reason you haven't lost weight. You know if you just would focus on every little item and put it into the plan it would work. MyFitnessPal, I finally decided to get rid of you once and for all and delete you from my phone. You bring me nothing but constant reminders of a time that I have moved away from now because I'm doing something different.
My Fitness Pal Delete Screen
Dear Diets, All of You,
You have been there overshadowing some of the most important moments in my life. No matter how happy of occasion or amazing it should've been, you've been there to partly ruin it. Dear Diets you suck. And you do nothing but suck the joy out of my life. No. More.
Different Types of Diets - From Break the Mold Course
What would you say to your diet(s)?
If this type of post resonates with you, then I invite you to check out my online courses Break the Mold: Building Body Positivity or Beat the Binge.
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Bloom Book Club
A supportive reading community for individuals and professionals.