Words of a Strength Coach

So I chatted with a strength coach today that works at my university. Before he was a strength coach he was a personal trainer for 10 years and we had a pretty good conversation and I’d like to share some of what he said.
In terms of motivation and the desire for working out

• for athletes, like the ones he trains, the reasons for working out are different. Athletes are mainly training to better themselves at their sport by gaining muscle and endurance and whatever is needed. Most athletes don’t have extended periods of “lack of motivation” because they are always training for a goal. That right there is what he was getting at: a goal. His opinion is that for people who aren’t training for something specific (i.e. a race, a marathon, a competition, a game, etc.) then they’re more likely to a) lose motivation along the way but also b) focus more on aesthetics. Let me point out that there is NOTHING wrong with wanting to look good and change your body, but if that’s all you focus on then you’re more likely to run into some trouble. So set yourselves some goals, even if they’re small!
• he saw the picture I put on the board about the “thigh-gap” and he said he had never heard of it. As I was explaining it to him I could see by the look on his face exactly what he thought of it. Not only was he confused, he was shocked and put off. He literally couldn’t believe that a “thigh-gap” is what some people are working for and measuring themselves by. He even immediately pointed out how they are mostly determined by genetics. Honestly girls, coming from someone who was OBSESSED with the thigh-gap, it really holds no meaning or relevance when it comes to your health.
• Another we talked about was very brief but IMPORTANT. We were talking about how many people are working out misinformed. Specifically he mentioned how he meets a lot of people who are obsessed with cardio and think that’s the only way they’ll get results. The trainer got his point across by saying people need to learn to lose fat not weight. Yes, losing weight will lower that number on the scale, but essentially all you’re doing is becoming, as he put it, a “skinnier fat person.” Unless you are doing some form of strength training, toning, and building muscle, you won’t really see the results your looking for. Burning fat is what fuels the metabolism and helps in the process of gaining muscle.
• The last thing we talked about I found SUPER important. It’s all about questioning information. All the time we hear people say “well, they said this” and “they say that.” Who is they? I’m serious. Question the information you’re being given. Is it backed up by research? Where did “they” hear it? Do “they” have credentials. When it comes to your body and your health you have every right to be inquisitive so get as much info as you can!

The point of this was to just give you guys the opinion of a professional in the field. I’m not saying he’s correct and has all the answers but I definitely think there’s importance to what he’s saying. This is just to plant the seed for some things. If there’s anything you want to add just let me know!

10 Phases of Eating Disorder Recovery

I came across this through twitter. Carolyn Costin and Gwen Grabb wrote a book called "8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder" and in the book they include 10 phases of eating disorder recovery. I think these phases are on point and they also to other addictions besides eating disorders. If you or someone you know is struggling you should take a look. It's really important to understand that when you enter recovery you don't get better overnight. It's a process and EVERYONE has their own pace so don't get discouraged. Keep fighting an keep speaking!
1. I DON'T THINK I HAVE A PROBLEM.
-It's my body so leave me alone.
-There are people who are a lot thinner (worse) than I am.

2. I MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM BUT IT'S NOT THAT BAD.
-I only throw up once in a while.
-My physical didn't show anything wrong so I am OK.

3. I HAVE A PROBLEM BUT I DON'T CARE.
-I know throwing up isn't good for me, but it's working for me so I don't care.
-I could change if I wanted to, but I don't.

4. I WANT TO CHANGE BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW AND I'M SCARED.
-I want to eat normally, but I am afraid I will get fat (gain weight).
-I want to stop bingeing, but I can't figure out where to start.

5. I TRIED TO CHANGE BUT I COULDN'T.
-I told myself that I would not (fill in the blank) but I found myself doing it again.
-I don't feel like I can really ever (change) get well, so why keep trying?

6. I CAN STOP SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
-I could stop purging, but I will not be able to eat more.
-My eating has gotten better, but my exercise is out of control.

7. I CAN STOP THE BEHAVIORS, BUT NOT MY THOUGHTS.
-I can't stop thinking about food and bingeing all the time.
-I keep counting calories over and over in my head and still want to lose weight.

8. I AM OFTEN FREE FROM BEHAVIORS AND THOUGHTS, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.
-I feel fine all day, but under stress I revert back to my unhealthy behaviors.
-I was fine, but wearing a bathing suit triggered my eating disorder thoughts, and with it some related behaviors.

9. I AM FREE FROM BEHAVIORS AND THOUGHTS.
-I feel mostly OK in my body and am able to eat things I want and not feel guilty or anxious afterwards.
-Once I had stopped the behaviors for a period of time, at some point I realized that I was no longer having the thoughts or urges.

10. I AM RECOVERED.
-For a long time now, I no longer have thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to my eating disorder.
-I accept my body's natural size. My eating disorder is a thing of the past.

Not So Uncommon

This first blog post is going to be very brief, just to dip our toes into the waters of mental illness. Many people have the idea that mental illnesses are rare, unique, and are often seen as a personality deformity. I'm here to tell you, that's not the case whatsoever. In fact, more adults in the United States are sufferers of mental illness than they are smokers! According to the CDC, 18.1% of adults 18 and older in the United States are current smokers. That's a lot! The NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) states that 26.2% of the US adult population is currently suffering from a mental illness. An additional 46.3% of children aged 13-18 also suffer. That's a decent chunk of the population. In reality, everywhere you go, you will most likely be in the presence of someone suffering from a mental illness. With so many people suffering, it is honestly shocking that mental illnesses are such taboo topics. That's one of my goals for this blog. To educate people about the plethora of mental illnesses, allow them to learn, use, and spread the information, and slowly but surely defeat the stigma associated with mental illnesses.

Welcome!

Hello! Thank you so much for your interest in this blog. I’ll start with a brief introduction. My name is Amanda. I am 20 years young and am from Long Island, New York. I (will) have a BA in Psychology and am in the process of getting my law degree and social work degree. During a majority of my life I have struggled with mental illness. I’ve dealt with depression for about 10 years now and have also struggled with an eating disorder. I’ve spent a lot of time hating who I am. I tried to damage and change the things on the outside so that I could match how I was feeling on the inside. But with the help of therapy, self-learning, and a lot of hard work I am making strides every single day to love who I am. That is my goal. Not only to love myself but to help other people learn to love themselves. Our lives are such precious things and should not be spent unhappy. Along with my training in psychology and concentration in mental illness (specifically eating disorders) I also have a passion for fitness. I have been an athlete my entire life and I truly believe that has given much more than physical strength. The way I see it, we are not just our bodies and we are not just our minds. We are combinations of both. I call that “wellness.” I hope to help people achieve their optimum wellness by establishing and working towards both their physical and mental health. If you have any questions or requests about blog posts, please feel free to message me with them. Join me on the path of learning to love ourselves!