Confessions of a Recovered Individual
There’s no tension when I eat
around my family
around my family
I no longer weigh myself anymore
I no longer live my life
in fear or with self-hatred and sadness
in fear or with self-hatred and sadness
I no longer have my
mood or actions dictated by a number on a scale or the amount I exercised
mood or actions dictated by a number on a scale or the amount I exercised
I exercise to feel good, not for
punishment
punishment
I feel comfortable in my own
body
body
The way that I feel about myself no
longer stops me from doing things that I love
longer stops me from doing things that I love
I’m now able to
enthusiastically engage in study, work, and voluntary activities
enthusiastically engage in study, work, and voluntary activities
I have energy to do
the things that I love
the things that I love
I’m no longer obsessed
with calories, recipes, cooking, etc.
And I now have other interests!
with calories, recipes, cooking, etc.
And I now have other interests!
I no longer have to live a
‘secret life’
‘secret life’
I’m able to rejoin the world
(emotionally, psychologically, physically) and leave behind the feelings of
isolation
(emotionally, psychologically, physically) and leave behind the feelings of
isolation
I feel good and have a
feeling of peace that accompanies it, which has me smiling to myself in moments
I would least expect
feeling of peace that accompanies it, which has me smiling to myself in moments
I would least expect
I now look at myself in the mirror
and think I look good
and think I look good
I believe
that my life has worth again
I am able to unburden my mind and
focus on something-anything- other than food
focus on something-anything- other than food
I can enjoy
my time with friends and family and not be so distracted
I am able to eat spontaneously and not need to
plan everything in advance
plan everything in advance
I have so much more
energy and concentration
energy and concentration
I actually enjoy food
I can enjoy myself in public
without feeling as though everyone’s looking at me
without feeling as though everyone’s looking at me
I feel I am a much a
better girlfriend/friend/daughter/sister
better girlfriend/friend/daughter/sister
I have my personality back
My identity is no longer of the
eating disorder
eating disorder
I have energy to do the things I
used to enjoy
used to enjoy
I no longer
feel worthless
My mood isn’t
determined by what the scale says
I can eat a chocolate bar and enjoy
it
it
I can go to a restaurant
and eat food without being concerned about the calories
and eat food without being concerned about the calories
I know I always look amazing
regardless of what I ate that day
regardless of what I ate that day
I can wear clothes
that I like, not baggy clothes to cover up my body
that I like, not baggy clothes to cover up my body
I now focus on things that
matter in life
matter in life
I am able to eat and enjoy flavors
and not worry about my waist and thighs
and not worry about my waist and thighs
I am able to
look at holidays and get-togethers as a time to socialize with friends and
family.
I can face the mirror with a smile
everytime
everytime
Food no longer controls my life
I am able to eat in
groups and not feel I am being judged
groups and not feel I am being judged
I no longer compare
myself to others
myself to others
My mind is set free!
I am able to be at a
healthy weight and still feel like I deserve love
healthy weight and still feel like I deserve love
When I smile, I truly mean it
I can FEEL my feelings
now!
now!
I have the ability to
love and let others love me
love and let others love me
I no longer feel guilty
when I eat
when I eat
I discovered I have a fantastic
personality!
personality!
I can laugh again!
I am much more confident
now
now
My
hair is healthy and shiny, and my skin now has a healthy glow to it
hair is healthy and shiny, and my skin now has a healthy glow to it
I can
eat a handful of food, put it away, and not have the bag calling me from the
cupboard to finish it
eat a handful of food, put it away, and not have the bag calling me from the
cupboard to finish it
Something to keep in mind…
The most important thing to know and
remember about recovery is that it is possible – not just for everyone except
you, but for everyone including you. It takes an enormous amount of persistence and
courage, but it is possible and is definitely worth it!
remember about recovery is that it is possible – not just for everyone except
you, but for everyone including you. It takes an enormous amount of persistence and
courage, but it is possible and is definitely worth it!