5/17/11 Katie's Healthy Eating Journal: Tuesday

It's that time of year again for high school students...prom season.  I had experiences throughout my childhood that definitely led me down the path to an eating disorder coupled with a slow metabolism.  As I've said in previous blogs, I was always an avid exerciser.  I played soccer year around most of my child and teen years.  I think high school was an extra reinforcer that helped me over the "cliff" so to speak.  It had never occurred to me to starve myself even though I was much heavier than all my peers.  But, once high school hit, especially events such as prom or homecoming, I noticed some girls only drank a diet pop at lunch.  Other girls had a bag of pretzels and pop.  I started thinking, "Is this what I should do to lose weight?  These girls are smaller than me and are not eating anything."  My group of friends looked down on girls that didn't eat and we discussed this at lunch.  But, internally, I was digesting everything those "other" girls were doing and taking some serious notes.  College gave me the freedom to skip as many meals as I wanted...which I did regularly.  Schedules were so crazy that my friends weren't always around me for meals.  It was easy to hide.  I know that in high school many girls still do this.  I'm already hearing girls in fourth and fifth grade start to say they're fat.  It makes my heart break.  I wish and hope they don't have to endure the same struggles I did.  The MayClinic lists some ways that disorders develop:

• social pressure
• low self-esteem
• family stress
• sports that promote thin bodies
• genetics; learned behaviors from family

The MayoClinic recommends to be:

• be open and honest with your teen about messages from the media
• promote healthy eating habits
• encourage being active
• discuss the dangers of an eating disorder
• be a good example

Breakfast -

JC Breakfast Scramble

Banana

1 cup coffee with 2 tsp. fat-free creamer