faulker053

Call me crazy, but I’m tempted to respond to a doctor’s closed-ended questions in ways that would knock his socks off. When he asks me about alcohol, for instance, he frames it something like this “you don’t drink much, right?” Or perhaps to assess risk of STDs he suggests “just one partner—you’re married, right?” Well, yes, he’s right, but would I ever say anything other than what he’s led me to believe is the only acceptable answer possible? Isn't it time to get the support you need? This brings me to the important topic of educating your healthcare team, your doctor, in particular, about how to truly support you. In honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDAW) (here in the States) I thought that health care providers could use a bit of awareness, to hopefully make your visits, and your life, a bit less stressful. Please consider adding your own two cents to the comments—then pass it on to others—and your providers! While this is prompted by NEDAW, I’ve included recom...

A Response to the Mayo Clinic's Press Release on Overeating and MCI UPDATE! Read the response in "comments" from the primary investigator! Yes I'm distressed! I'm pretty worked up right now. Could be because the media is suggesting I should eat less, and I don't like it when I'm told to eat less—particularly for no good reason. And maybe it's because I take my mental function seriously, particularly living with Multiple Sclerosis, which can impact cognitive function. So best not to make unsubstantiated claims about what's gonna impact things like my memory unless it comes from good, solid science. I'm perplexed. Could I really be the only one who sees the great irony in the opening statement of this Mayo Clinic press release stating that higher calorie intake, as self-reported by those with memory loss, ages 70-89, is associated with greater mild cognitive impairment (MCI)? Under the title Overeating May Double The Risk Of Memory Loss   the au...

I’m working on a project relating to practical steps for recovery, and I need your input. If you are recovering from an eating disorder, please take a moment to send me your thoughts about the following: What are the safest foods for you to eat?  Please respond with a particular food item(s), category of foods, or nutrients. And feel free to address the type of preparation, if it contributes to the ease of eating What are the characteristics of a food that makes it easy to get in?  Ready made?  All-in-one-dish recipes?  Low Fat? High Fiber? Whole grain?  The flavor or lack thereof? Portion size? Calorie-dense or low calorie density?  Trusting because someone else has been able to eat it? Trusting because you believe it to be good for you? Which of the following, if any do you own? Do you use? Crock pot/slow cooker? Rice cooker? Panini/sandwich maker? Microwave Telephone (to have someone else bring you food?) Thanks so much for contributin...

Shifting Toward Mindfulness Can I argue with today’s NY Times article on mindful eating and its benefits? Me, this blog writer, who’s promoted a non-diet approach to eating with a mindfulness focus for the past 25 years of practice? Of course I fully endorse the contents of their piece! Yet I’m left wondering—why is this news ? Overweight and underweight alike have been guided and supported by me to mindfully eat through: Separating eating from distractions Sitting while eating Plating food, putting packages away Setting a pleasant table to encourage sitting at it Removing visual cues to eat (so that eating is an intentional act), including keeping food in the cupboards, not on the counters, and avoiding family-style serving Acting as if our car is brand new—or has just been cleaned; keep food out of it Delaying second helpings by more than the useless 20 minute rule, as it takes way longer for true satiety or fullness to hit, to discourage overeating Focusing on eating ...

Her binging and purging has abated at last, only now she’s restricting. He’s finally increased his food intake, meeting the goals we had set. Only now he’s taken up running—with a passion. She’s adhering to her meal plan, eating all that her body desperately needs. But at present her self-injurious behaviors have flared up. Carnival photos courtesy of Cate (see link below) As I sit with my patients I feel a bit like Temple Grandin, the autistic woman depicted in the movie by the same name , who visualized most everything she heard. Whack A Mole comes to mind quite frequently as I hear their stories. No, nothing too sophisticated or deep—just Whack a Mole. You know, that carnival game where you have a mallet and the goal is to hit as many of those furry rodents as possible that pop up out of their holes. It goes like this—you hit one, and just when you’re feeling pretty good about it, rather accomplished in fact, another rears its head, causing you to pounce on that one, too. And so...