Hey-hey-heyyyyyyyy everybody!!!

When it comes to health, I've been on one helllllll of a journey. And that journey never stops! It's about consistent progress towards optimal health, which is why I consider myself constantly on a journey 2 healthy ;)

...I haven't always been the picture of health. I have struggled with eating disorders(anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating) since I was 12 years old. I'm now 22 and am happy to say that after therapy and years of working towards healing, my eating habits are under control. I am FASCINATED by nutritional science and am constantly studying it. I am a writer but am planning on returning to school to study nutrition and hope to someday become a dietician.

I still currently suffer from anorexia-athletica, and although I'm still struggling with this problem - I am making steady steps towards recovery. WE NEED MORE AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ILLNESS!!!!!! Anorexia-Athletica, aka: Hypergymnasia, Over-Exercising, Compulsive Over-Exercising or Overactivity Disorder is a debilitating, life-altering disorder that I feel is often overlooked.

MY STORY:

I weighed about 190-200 lbs. at age 12 and was always a heavy child. I began a regimen of healthful eating and exercise, but it quickly turned into undereating and overexercising, and by doing this I dropped to 145 in a few months. I gained the weight back plus some in about a year, and then lost the weight again in a short period of time(age 14).

After that, I steadily put on weight and by the time I was 16 weighed 250 lbs. and I was miserable. I indulged in drugs and alcohol and was a very self-destructive teen.

By the time I was 18 I began adopting bulimic tendencies, and these behaviours increased in severity each year. It was a terrible few years...

At around age 20 I had started to lose weight again, and focused on a healthy lifestyle...But by the time I was 21 some events that occurred in my life had left me with post-traumatic stress disorder. I had started compulsively exercising again and had become fully bulimic. Bulimia was replaced by anorexia, and eventually I was so close to the edge that I needed help....And I got it, with therapy and a close relationship with my "recovery team" and of course, with the loving support of my family.

I am now 22 and a half, and consider myself "over" my EDs, and have been for the past 6 months or so. I have never been addicted to drugs, but I haven't touched any for the past 3 years(although I'm known to be partial to the very occasional doobie ok, i won't lie here!!!)

I'm holding steady about 130 lbs. at 5' 6" and I'm quite happy with myself for the first time in my life :) I continue making progress in therapy, and have my sights set on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and mindset...The journey 2 healthy continues...

I accredit my healing to studying nutritional science and doing meditation + yoga! I am a great believer that today's low-fat diets, misinformation about nutrition and obsession with dieting and weightloss are what cause people to fall into the traps of disordered eating. I believe in studying the glycemic index!!! I believe in a diet rich in EFAs(essential fatty acids) and balancing nutrients to not only LOOK good, but to FEEL great, not to mention help manage health problems. My overall message is: MAKE FRIENDS WITH FAT!!!!!!!!!

If you want to learn more, please send me a message and I'd be glad to talk nutritional science with you!!!!!!!!!

People with EDs, if you need some direction, guidance or just a sympathetic ear from somebody who understands and has been there: I love helping others, so don't hesitate to send a message!!!!!