Eating Disorders, COVID-19 and the Holidays – OH MY!  2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, and especially for those in recovery from eating disorders. Eating disorders happen in isolation, and recovery happens in connection with others. So, what happens to those in recovery from eating disorders, when we are supposed to avoid travel and not gather together? A variety of emotions can surface, I find that I’m using a specific Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ worksheet with most of my clients (see below).

Many of my clients in recovery from eating disorders are expressing emotions such as anxiety, depression, frustration, sadness, grief, irritability – to name a few! There are specific aspects of relief which eating disorder behaviors can provide. For example, when feeling stressed, eating can offer a calming effect. Binge eating can increase that effect, at least initially. Then, feelings of guilt and shame can ensue, which can lead to purging behaviors for some people with eating disorders. When emotions feel out of control, other people dealing with eating disorders may find themselves attempting to feel in control through restrictive eating, meal skipping, or fasting.

All of these emotions can be exacerbated for people with eating disorders, as they attempt to cope with the Holidays and COVID-19 restrictions. What specific emotions are people with eating disorders feeling? What purpose are the eating disorder behaviors serving? What alternatives to the eating disorder behaviors can be considered, as a means of meeting ones true needs?

As people with eating disorders cope with COVID-19 during the Holidays, this worksheets is an excellent resource. You can click on the worksheet below, to view and print. This EDIT™ Worksheet has tips to help your clients better manage their emotions and access their true needs, instead of using eating disorder behaviors as a means of coping.

This EDIT™ Worksheet can be a great tool for YOUR clients – whether you’re an EDIT™ Certified Eating Disorder Peer Mentor, EDIT™ Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, or EDIT™ Certified Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician.

If you’re NOT EDIT™ Certified, now is a great time to get started, with 50% OFF EDIT™ Certified Level I thru December 31st, 2020. YOU might need something to focus on if YOU’RE feeling isolated right now. YOU can make a unique difference for people with eating disorders need YOUR help, especially during this challenging time of the Holidays amidst COVID-19. CLICK HERE & GET CERTIFIED for only $245!

Article may be reprinted with the author bio below.

©2020 by Dr. Dorie McCubbrey. Dr. Dorie is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Licensed Addiction Counselor who is passionate about training professionals to effectively guide clients in recovery from eating disorders, through her Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ Certified program. During COVID-19, Dr. Dorie offers sessions by ZOOM for people in recovery from eating disorders. Learn more at: https://www.drdorie.com

*****

Want more that this “taste” of EDIT™? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE – GET CERTIFIED

The post Eating Disorders, COVID-19 & Holiday Coping Skills appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

This year’s theme may have different meanings for different people in recovery from eating disorders, as well as Clinicians and Recovery Coaches who with with eating disorders. As someone who has overcome Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder – and who has been a Clinician for more than 25 years – I find the message this year to be very empowering.

I used to feel so much guilt and shame about having an eating disorder, and it took me years of suffering in silence before I finally reached out for help. Without that essential assistance, I’d probably still be suffering, would never have become a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist who also provides training and certification in Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ – in fact, I’d probably be dead.

Once I was attending support groups, therapy groups, and participating in individual therapy, I began to feel less guilt and shame – but I had many regrets about the past, which I wished I could go back and change. I can now have compassion for myself, and have forgiven myself for any “mistakes” in my past. Instead of looking back, I continue to look forward, to the infinite possibilities in my life. I say that I have “2020 Vision!”

I also appreciate the theme, “Come As You Are.” I used to believe that I had to achieve and maintain perfection, and then I wouldn’t need my eating disorder any more. However, the opposite was true – the more attached I was to perfection, the worse my eating disorder became. I finally leaned how to Love My Self (which is the first EDIT™ Principle), and to “show up in life” exactly as I am, “imperfections” and all.

I’d like to share an EDIT™ Worksheet with you, to help re-frame the criticisms of the “voice of the Eating Disorder” (ED) into compassionate perspectives, revealed through the “voice of the Intuitive Therapist” (IT), which is the healing wisdom within us all.

CLICK IMAGE
to download & print

PS – As a special GIFT during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, you’ll receive up to $200 OFF certification thru 3/1/20. Whether you’re a Clinician, Health Coach, or just a friend or family member who is struggling, there are certification options for you! Use the Discount Code NEDAW at checkout and receive $50 OFF Level I, $100 OFF Level II, $150 OFF Level II (Mentoring), and $200 OFF Level III (Retreat). ENROLL NOW AND SAVE $$

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Article may be reprinted with the author bio below.

©2020 by Dr. Dorie McCubbrey. Dr. Dorie is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Licensed Addiction Counselor who is passionate about training professionals to effectively guide clients in recovery from eating disorders. She is the President of the EDIT™ Training Institute LLC, which provides training and certification in her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™.  She also provides sessions for clients who struggle with these issues, either in person or by phone. Learn more at: https://www.drdorie.com

*****

Want more that this “taste” of EDIT™? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized programs for people in recovery from eating disorders and who struggle with weight issues, and  EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE – GET CERTIFIED

The post National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2020 appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

Today is “International No Diet Day.” This is an opportunity to say NO to diet-deprivation, NO to scale-stepping, and NO to weight-worries! 

Just for today, what would it be like to give yourself permission to have a “forbidden food,” in a safe and enjoyable way? Think of a food that you truly love, but try not to eat, because you tell yourself, “I can’t stop once I start eating ______, so I’ll just stop eating it.” The next thing you know, the food that you consider OK to eat is very limited, and most of it you dislike, but you tell yourself, “It’s worth it to keep eating this way, because I don’t overeat now, and I’m losing weight!” Until you realize you can’t eat “this way” any longer, and you “give in” to your food cravings, over-indulging in all of the foods that you’ve deprived yourself of. We always want what we “can’t have.” Then, one cookie becomes too many, because 100 is not enough. However, if you CHOOSE to have a cookie, and pick out ONE from a local bakery that is your FAVORITE, and then you sit with a friend who is also enjoying her delectable delight – suddenly you experience the freedom with food that you truly yearn for!

Just for today, what would it be like to NOT step on the bathroom scale? Or, if you have already checked that number, what would happen if you didn’t allow it to define you? You are so much more than a number! If you stop and really think about it, does the scale ever let you have a good day? If the number states the same (or Heaven forbid goes up), then you berate yourself, and vow to be even more disciplined with your diet. Even if the number goes down, you might feel a moment of success, which quickly fades way as you shift into panic about how you’ll be able to keep losing weight, and eventually maintain the weight you lose. So, no matter what you weigh, you don’t have a good day. And eventually, you become like 95% of dieters, who regain weight they lose, usually ending up weighing more than when they started the latest diet. This is a phenomenon known as “diet-induced obesity,” caused by rebound weight gain in response to chronic dieting. 

Just for today, what would it be like to let go of your weight worries? Maybe your Mother keeps telling you that you should lose weight (sorry to point fingers, all of you Moms out there). Or your doctor (see Mom? It’s not all your fault!) – or SOCIETY’S STANDARDS. Who set these anyway? Who decided that fashion models, actresses, or media stars portray ideal beauty? From curvy Marilyn Monroe to stick-thin Twiggy, how should women look? What if the way each of us looks RIGHT NOW it exactly the way we “should” look? We each can set our own “ideals,” based on being our True Self! And, for the doctors out there, who set the BMI (Body Mass Index), and decided that patients “should” be a “normal” weight as determined by the BMI standard? There can be “Health At Every Size” (HAES®) – and for the science behind this, LEARN MORE HERE

I hope that my diet-free message inspires you to LIVE FREE – even if it’s just for today! If you’re HUNGRY for MORE of my “DON’T DIET DITTIES,” join me for these special events and offers: 

• May 6th @ 2:15pm (EASTERN time):  FACEBOOK LIVE
  Did you miss it? Click the link to watch the recording!
• May 6th @ 8-9pm (EASTERN time): FREE GROUP CALL
  Did you miss it? Click the link to get the recording!
• 50% OFF Dr. Dorie’s UnDiet™ ORDER NOW
  Downloadable Self-Help Program – SPECIAL PRICE TODAY ONLY
• FREE with any EDIT™ Certified Registration SIGNUP NOW
  Get Dr. Dorie’s UnDiet™ download – FREE GIFT TODAY ONLY

The post International No Diet Day appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

Binge Eating Disorder and weight loss goals tend to surface with New Year’s Resolutions. However, your therapist tells you, “Trying to lose weight can trigger binge eating.” And, your dietitian tells you, “Cutting calories too much can trigger binge eating.” But you’re wondering,”I’ve gained so much weight because of binge eating, so how can I lose this excess weight in a healthy way?”

Based on my 20+ years of clinical experience in the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity, as well as my own personal experience overcoming these issues, I have some Binge Eating Disorder and Weight Loss Success Strategies to share with you.

1. Stop Trying to Lose Weight. You’re probably thinking, “But I want to lose weight!” As strange as it may seem, weight loss happens when you stop trying so hard to make it happen. Allow weight loss to be an outcome of other goals, such as reducing or eliminating binge eating.
2. Don’t Diet or Forbid Food. Many people with Binge Eating Disorder attempt to restrict or forbid certain foods (usually the foods they tend to binge eat). However, deprivation eventually triggers binge eating. The key is to have “permission to have” all foods in moderate amounts.
3. Learn Mindfulness Meal Skills. Binge Eating Disorder typically involves rapidly eating large quantities of food. Incorporating mindfulness skills at mealtimes can help to restore balance to the quantity and quality of food consumed. There are many books about mindful eating – and our therapists and dietitians at Positive Pathways can give you 1-on-1 guidance.
4. Incorporate Intuitive Eating Practices. Intuitive eating is NOT eating whatever you want, whenever you want – that’s impulsive eating, which is common in Binge Eating Disorder. Intuitive eating involves tuning in to your body’s feedback before, during and after eating. With practice, you will discover a “way of eating” which allows your body to have enhanced energy, heathy digestion, and weight loss as a natural outcome.
5. Enjoy Meaningful Movement. Forget about exercise to burn calories. Focus on moving your body in ways that feel good to you, so that you’ll actually want to move more. Consider gentle movements, such as stretching, walking, and yoga. Look for beginner yoga classes in your local area – and watch for classes coming soon to Positive Pathways!

You can overcome Binge Eating Disorder and weight loss can be a natural outcome. Keep your focus on Binge Eating Disorder recovery, and trust your body to find its way to a healthy weight.

*****

Article may be reprinted with the author bio below.

©2019 by Dr. Dorie McCubbrey. Dr. Dorie is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Licensed Addiction Counselor who is passionate about training professionals to effectively guide clients in recovery from eating disorders, through her Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ Certified program. She also meets with clients at her treatment center, Positive Pathways PLLC, located in Evergreen Colorado. Learn more at: https://www.drdorie.com

*****

Want more that this “taste” of EDIT™? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE – GET CERTIFIED

The post Binge Eating Disorder and Weight Loss appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

Trick or Treat? If you struggle with Binge Eating Disorder or Food Addiction, then Halloween can be a tricky time of year. You have to pass by all of those bags of candy in the aisles at the store, and you have to overcome the urge to buy several bags of candy “for trick-or-treaters.” Who would know all of that candy was just binge food for you?

Tricky Treats. Perhaps you actually do buy candy with the real intention to give it to the children who come by your home on Halloween. What do you do with the candy until that night? Do you hide it, so it’s out of sight, and hopefully out of mind? Do you wait until the day of Halloween to buy the candy, so that it’s not around, tempting you? Even if you wait until that day, how do you keep your own hand out of the candy bowl that night?

It’s Such a Trick. People with Binge Eating Disorder and Food Addiction often have to work very hard to fight off cravings for sweets. It’s a game of all-or-nothing — where many people with eating disorders can’t stop eating binge foods once they start, so they try to abstain from any trigger foods. But doesn’t this leave you feeling deprived? Don’t you wish you could have a few pieces of candy and stop?

It Can Be a Treat. What would happen if you really could have 3 or 4 mini-packets of candy, without binge eating? Here’s how you can make peace with Halloween candy. Try these steps for sweet success:

1. Carefully choose 3 or 4 small pieces of candy — select a few of your favorites!
2. Set them aside, and notice your thoughts and feelings as you anticipate eating the candy
3. Use an affirmation, “Food has no power over me. I am making peace with food.”
4. Plan a time when you won’t feel rushed or distracted to enjoy your candy
5. Invite a friend to have some treats with you, if you’d like extra support in this process
6. Try the “Beginners Mind” technique as you sample your first piece — tap into all of your senses
7. Notice how the candy looks, smells, and feels in your hand before you put it in your mouth
8. Lick the candy, and notice how it tastes — taste as if you are having this item for the first time
9. As you put the candy in your mouth, notice how it feels as it melts, and as you swallow
10. Notice your thoughts and feelings, and proceed in a similar way with your other 2 or 3 pieces

Trick into Treat! You can stop binge eating and make peace with food!

*****

Article may be reprinted with the author bio below.

©2018 by Dr. Dorie McCubbrey. Dr. Dorie is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Licensed Addiction Counselor who is passionate about training professionals to effectively guide clients in recovery from eating disorders, through her Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ Certified program. She also meets with clients at her treatment center, Positive Pathways PLLC, located in Evergreen Colorado. Learn more at: https://www.drdorie.com

*****

Want more that this “taste” of EDIT™? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE – GET CERTIFIED

The post 10 Steps to Stop Binge Eating appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

I’d like to introduce you to Janelle Hunt, who is a Registered Dietitian and an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician. Janelle worked with me at my previous office location in Denver, Colorado. She is a knowledgeable and compassionate clinician, who specializes in nutritional counseling for people in recovery from eating disorders. She guides her clients to learn the real facts about nutrition – in this article, you’ll learn the facts about fats. If you’re “hungry for more,” please contact Janelle about becoming a client (see bottom of article).
– Dr. Dorie

Sugar addiction – a behavior of binge eating sugary foods – is a problem reported by many people, especially at this time of year, when Halloween candy is so prevalent! Some “sugar addicts” attempt to abstain from sugar, only to find that restriction can trigger binge eating. As I discussed in a previous blog, carbohydrates are essential for health, and sufficient carbohydrate consumption can reduce cravings for sweets.

Now, let’s look at the importance of protein. I find very few of my clients are fearful of protein, which seems to stem from the messages from the media telling us that if we consume lots of protein, that means we will lose weight and fit into society’s view of perfection. I specifically just read an article saying protein can help us lose belly fat. Honestly? Let’s think about that a minute. How can eating a chicken breast cause fat in our belly to shrink?

Keep in mind that everything we eat breaks down into calories. If we over consume calories, we gain weight; if we restrict calories, we’ll lose weight. We should consume a variety of nutrients from all food groups. We do not gain or lose weight from certain foods, but rather from calories. For example – if we eat fat, it does not immediately turn into fat in the body, nor does protein foods immediately turn into muscle in the body. All food breaks down to calories and the body uses them where they’re needed or burns off what isn’t needed.

To better explain this, let’s say you overall eat a balanced diet and your weight is maintaining. If you all of a sudden decide to eat an additional 500 calories of protein each day for a week and the next week decide to switch that and instead consume an extra 500 calories of butter; you will still gain the same amount of weight both weeks because you over-consumed calories. You won’t gain muscle weight when eating the protein and weight in fat when you consume the fat. That’s not how our body works.

Foods containing protein are broken down to smaller molecules in our body called amino acids. Examples of a few protein-rich foods are meat, dairy products, eggs, nuts, lentils, soy, tofu and tempeh. Protein is essential for our body to build muscle, since muscle is made up of amino acids. We have to be physically active, though, in order to use protein we eat to make muscle. This can include walking or light activity.

The other essential reason we need to consume protein is that it is needed to send the signal to your brain that you’ve eaten and help you feel satisfied. This is why diets push consuming more protein. If you eat toast for breakfast, it has very little protein, so your brain is not told you’ve eaten and that’s when clients start to notice sugar cravings and overeat the rest of the day. However, if you had a couple of eggs or Greek yogurt with your toast, the brain gets the signal that you’ve eaten and less cravings tend to happen, which means decreased over-consumption of calories.

So if you find that you never feel satisfied during the day or constantly crave sugar as in a “sugar addiction,” try to have a bit more protein for breakfast and see if this helps!

*****

Looking for guidance with NUTRITION? Contact Janelle Hunt, MS, RD – the author of this blog article. She is an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician, and has a specialty in nutritional counseling for eating disorders. – EMAIL JANELLE

Interested in a FREE consultation with Dr. Dorie? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE

The post Sugar Addiction: Eat More Protein and Crave Less Sugar appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

I’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Sculley, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor and an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician. I supervised Rebecca while she was working towards licensure, and co-facilitated some of her first DBT Skills Groups. She is a knowledgeable and compassionate therapist, who is passionate about helping people thrive during life transitions. Rebecca currently meets with clients at her offices in Boulder and Denver, Colorado. To contact Rebecca, please see the bottom of article.
– Dr. Dorie

Eating disorders and DBT skills can go hand-in-hand – to find a new relationship with food. We often think of spring as a time for new growth – flowers are blooming, trees are blossoming, and life begins anew. We can relate this to our relationship to food – making new choices, feeling rejuvenated and getting a fresh start in recovery. However, every so often we’ll be in the midst of powerful changes with a spring-like attitude – then a massive snow storm will occur, and we feel discouraged and set back! Exploring eating disorders and DBT skills – with the DBT skill called Radical Acceptance – you can accept where you are, change your attitude, and move forward in a healthy and powerful way!

Radical Acceptance means to look at your life in a new way. Instead of striving for perfectionism, why not strive for being healthy and giving yourself permission to feel the way you feel, even on a gloomy day. Let’s say you have been making healthy eating choices and making changes in your relationship with food, then something stressful happens, or it’s snowing out, or you feel sad or lonely and you decide to binge eat. DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP! Instead try these four Radical Acceptance steps:

1. What was your role in what happened?
2. What was another person or situation’s role in what happened?
3. Accept what happened, even if you don’t like it, but realize that you can’t change the past.
4. Find a healthy coping skill to combat the pain.

Also, realize that you have the POWER to make a new choice next time and it does not do any good to punish yourself for something you may have done differently. When you beat yourself up the chances are high that you will repeat the same pattern over and over again.

Here’s an example of how eating disorders and DBT skills may work. Christine was feeling healthy and strong for a few weeks, she had been eating healthy foods while still giving herself permission to enjoy the foods that she loved. She had not over eaten or binged in 3 weeks, this was a huge success! She loves the spring time and was sick of being cold this winter, she realized that she had some symptoms of seasonal depression and often coped by over eating until the point that she was physically sick. So, when it snowed last time after having beautiful weather for weeks she became sad, lonely and felt hopeless. She turned to binging again for comfort and relief. However what really happened was that Christine beat herself up and the binge eating made it worse. She then thought of Radical Acceptance. She told herself that she knows the signs when she could be tempted to binge, in this case it was snowy weather. She then thought of three healthy choices she could have made instead to cope with sadness; call a friend, watch a funny movie or take a hot bath with lots of bubbles. She knows that in the moment it may not be as an instantly gratifying as over eating, but that in the long run the other three choices were much better for her physical and emotionally health. The accepted that she had had a slight set back, but that doesn’t stop her from still trying and moving forward. She did not punish herself. She accepted that she is not always “perfect” and loves herself either way.

Don’t let the spring snow (or rain or hail) get you down. Find your own eating disorders and DBT skills application, and accept yourself in whatever stage you are in!

*****

Looking for guidance with DBT SKILLS? Contact Rebecca Sculley, MA, NCC, LPC – the author of this blog article. She is an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician, and has a specialty in DBT Skills. Rebecca has office locations in Boulder and Denver, Colorado. – EMAIL REBECCA 

Interested in a FREE consultation with Dr. Dorie? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE

The post Eating Disorders and DBT: A New Relationship with Food appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

I’d like to introduce you to Janelle Hunt, who is a Registered Dietitian and an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician. Janelle worked with me at my previous office location in Denver, Colorado. She is a knowledgeable and compassionate clinician, who specializes in nutritional counseling for people in recovery from eating disorders. She guides her clients to learn the real facts about nutrition – in this article, you’ll learn the facts about fats. If you’re “hungry for more,” please contact Janelle about becoming a client (see bottom of article).
– Dr. Dorie

Do you constantly crave sweets?
Do you try to avoid sugar, but eventually binge?
Do you wonder if you have a sugar addiction?

We are constantly bombarded with conflicting nutrition messages; “Eat only foods that are fat-free or low-fat,” “Consume high fat food and lots of protein,” “Avoid all carbohydrates,” “Everyone should follow a Paleo diet,” etc. Let’s step away from the fad diet band wagon for a moment, and consider why it’s important to consume all nutrients in moderation – including carbohydrates.

Foods containing carbohydrates are broken down to glucose in your body, which is the key nutrient. Examples of a few carbohydrate-rich sources are foods containing sugar like desserts or candy – as well as bread, rice, grains, lentils, potatoes, pasta, juice and fruit.

Carbohydrates are an important energy source for your body, which you likely are aware of already. Not only are they important to provide energy for your body but they also provide fuel for your brain to function. Glucose is the only nutrient that can cross into your brain to be used as fuel to allow you to concentrate and think clearly.

What is often not talked about is how important carbohydrates are for the production of making the messenger’s in your brain, specifically serotonin, which is responsible for functions such as making you feel happy and relaxed, as well as helping you sleep, regulate your blood pressure properly, have pain sensitivity and control your mood.

Have you put carbohydrates into a “bad food” category? Especially sugar – have you told yourself that you should never eat sugar, because you have a “sugar addiction”? If so, do you find you restrict sugar and then binge on sugary foods or other carbohydrates, which can often lead to a feeling of being out of control? Your brain knows you will feel better, think more clearly and sleep better if you eat carbohydrates – therefore, if you avoid them, your brain will keep reminding you to eat them until it often becomes an overwhelming need to over consume them (often snack foods, like chips, crackers, pastries, candy or dessert). This tendency of using food as if it were a drug to help you feel better, can lead to weight gain which then reiterates your belief that carbohydrates are “bad.”

Have you ever been on an Atkins diet? Most people describe they get incredibly irritable and can’t think clearly when they follow a low carbohydrate diet, such as Atkins. This is because their carbohydrate intake is so low that they have no fuel for their brain to function properly nor can they make serotonin effectively.

What if you practice getting away from the thought that “carbohydrates are bad” and “sugar is addicting,” and instead focus on telling yourself carbohydrates are essential to consume throughout the day to help you decrease binges, think more clearly, and provide you with a more stable weight. Practice getting away labeling food as good and bad and instead work on incorporating everything in moderation – including sugar!

*****

Looking for guidance with NUTRITION? Contact Janelle Hunt, MS, RD – the author of this blog article. She is an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician, and has a specialty in nutritional counseling for eating disorders. – EMAIL JANELLE

Interested in a FREE consultation with Dr. Dorie? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE

The post Sugar Craving: Why Am I Constantly Eating Sweets? appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.

I’d like to introduce you to Erica Faulhaber, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate and an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician. I supervised Erica while she was working with me at my previous office location in Denver. She is a knowledgeable and compassionate therapist, who specializes in trauma recovery. You can contact Erica with any comments or questions, including how to get started with individual sessions (see bottom of article).
– Dr. Dorie

Laundry – the necessary evil to get out dirt, grime, stains and unwanted stench.   A task resulting in revitalized, fresh and clean garments to go forth into the world. Doing laundry for most involves time, sorting, detergent, water and folding skills. Manufacturers provide labels that suggest hot or cold water, low or high heat and “lay flat to dry” or the fan favorite “dry clean only.”

Who really likes doing laundry? There may be a few folks out there that enjoy this task, but for the most part it is just something that needs to get done. Like laundry, therapy is an option to get out the gunk – it may take longer than the standard seventy-minute wash cycle, but it will be well worth it!

I think of coming to therapy (including eating disorders therapy) like coming into a laundromat. You bring a bag or two or three, and we will start to work on the pieces together. YOU pick the order in which we proceed. Whether you want to start with:

• The “most odiferous” piece – you think nobody is ready for or can stand
• The “wine stain” – you have tried repeatedly to get out or get rid of
• The “easiest” to clean with a small blemish – you might feel safest dealing with this first to build our rapport

No matter what you pick, we will look at cycle speed (delicate vs. normal – meeting weekly or more/less often), H₂0 temperature (cold vs. warm – maintenance or deeper/targeted/specific topic sessions) and load size (small, medium, large – weight of the struggles you are feeling). When you are ready to get some laundry done, it may not be fun all the time, but together we can make the task not as daunting!

© Erica Faulhaber 2016 – this blog article may be shared in its entirety, including copyright and contact information. Reprint only with permission from the author. Article adapted and reprinted by Positive Pathways, Ltd with permission.

*****

Want to explore trauma recovery? Contact Erica Faulhaber, MA, LPCC – the author of this blog article. Erica is an EDIT™ Certified III – Eating Disorder Treatment Clinician, and has a specialty in trauma recovery at her office in Lakewood, Colorado. EMAIL ERICA

Interested in a FREE consultation with Dr. Dorie? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE

The post Eating Disorders Therapy: How Is It Like Doing Laundry? appeared first on INTUITIVE THERAPY™ | Healthy Weight Loss | Eating Disorder Recovery Coach.