Category: Eating Disorder Recovery
What is Weight Stigma
June 4th, 2019 by Sara Upson
Weight stigma is defined as negative thoughts, attitudes, devaluation and social rejection of a person because their body shape or size doesn’t comply with the cultural norms (from diet culture) about what a body “should” look like. Weight stigma also includes: stereotypes about people who live in larger bodies, bullying and teasing, nasty comments, being […]
Our culture (diet culture) makes food and eating so stressful! Diet culture has strict rules about what you should eat, but those rules are always changing. When you try to follow the rules from diet culture, it’s a guaranteed way to feel more stress, anxiety, guilt and shame around food. To truly feel at peace […]
Listening to the diet culture message about carbs? Here’s why you shouldn’t
March 15th, 2019 by Sara Upson
I’m not sure there’s a macronutrient with a worse reputation than carbs. Diet culture has labeled carbs as the root of all evil, the epitome of all illness, the thing that is going to make or break your health. Heck, even your life! The fear mongering around carbs is out of control! It’s unnecessary, and it couldn’t be […]
If candy’s haunting you, here’s what to do
October 22nd, 2018 by Sara Upson
I remember when I was 10 years old my 5thgrade English teacher was afraid of Halloween. She described it as the worst day of the year. I can vividly remember her saying that after school was over she’d rush home, hang up sheets over her windows and turn out all the lights so that no […]
Ending the Legacy of Dieting
October 8th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Several years ago I was at an eating disorder conference where one of the presenters showed a video clip from Oprah about a very young girl (I think 5 -6 years old) who had anorexia nervosa. They interviewed the mom in the video and she repeatedly stated that she had no idea where the daughter […]
The Legacy of Dieting
October 8th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Remember that part in the movie Forrest Gump where Lieutenant Dan is talking about how it’s a tradition in his family to die in combat? He describes how his father, and his father’s father, and his grandfather’s father (and on and on) were killed in war; that this is the legacy in his family. He […]
Sometimes people get really mad when I talk about orthorexia. Like shouting match loud and mad. “How can healthy eating be a problem? Next you’re going to say that it’s fine to eat fast food…” And the truth is- it’s fine to eat fast food. I’m not saying you should eat it every day […]
4 Truths About Binge Eating Disorder
April 23rd, 2018 by Sara Upson
Last month I attended the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals Conference in Orlando, Florida. I had a great time learning more about new findings in the treatment of eating disorders and connecting with other clinicians. During the conference there is also an exhibit hall where treatment centers and businesses related to the care of […]
Wondering what it’s like to intern with a weight neutral, eating disorder dietitian? Here’s what two interns had to say.
March 15th, 2018 by Sara Upson
This blog is written by two interns in the coordinated program at Stephen F. Austin State University. To become a dietitian you must complete a 1200 hour supervised internship and both interns spent two weeks with me fulfilling hours towards that time. At the end of their rotation I asked them to write a […]
If there’s one thing I’m tired of hearing people say it’s “that food has no nutritional value.” {facepalm} I do get it. You’re saying that food doesn’t offer a lot of nutrition, it doesn’t have a lot of vitamins and minerals, it’s “empty calories.” BUT you don’t eat calories. You don’t eat vitamins and […]
Are you focusing on these 4 areas and unintentionally promoting disordered eating?
March 5th, 2018 by Sara Upson
I would hope that no one would intentionally promote an eating disorder or disordered eating. I know it happens, but I’d like to believe that it’s ignorance- that someone just doesn’t understand how normalized disordered eating is, how common eating disorders are, or how they’re the deadliest mental illness. I see this all the time […]
Why Relapse Isn’t A Bad Thing. Hint: It’s Part of The Eating Disorder Recovery Process
February 25th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Eating Disorder recovery is a journey. It’s a process that takes time. It’s up and down and certainly not linear. When you’re living it, it feels like it will take forever. Sometimes you have those moments of hope, but then when a behavior creeps in or returns, that hope is quickly overshadowed by the shame […]
Confused About What Exactly Is An ‘Eating Disorder Behavior?’ Blame Diet Culture
February 16th, 2018 by Sara Upson
Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness. Per the National Institute on Mental Health, they have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. Sadly, the false beliefs about eating disorders are rampant and diet culture makes it more confusing by normalizing eating disorder behaviors. You could even go as far as calling diet culture […]
The Normalization of Disorder
February 1st, 2018 by Sara Upson
There are two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, morning boys, how’s the water? The two young fish swim on for a while and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, what the heck […]
Body Positive, Non-Diet Gift Ideas
December 22nd, 2017 by Sara Upson
When I was in college I dated a guy who never bought Christmas gifts until Christmas Eve. He then went to Walgreens/CVS or any store still open past 8pm on December 24th and purchased presents for everyone. His family found it endearing. Me, not so much… It might be a little late this year to […]
Is It Unusual to Trust Your Body?
August 24th, 2017 by Sara Upson
Do you think it’s unusual to trust your body, or more specifically, how about when it comes to eating? Do you eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and generally eat what you’re hungry for? A couple weeks ago on facebook I was sharing information about the Intuitive Eating Group starting in September […]
