This is is a cross post that is on WATRD today.
I am lucky to be able to present to you today a guest post by the author of “goodbye ed, hello me”, Jenni Schaefer. As I posted before, this book was really life-changing for me in my recovery from my eating disorder. Read it through then check out the book giveaway at the end.
It’s My Body
by Jenni Schaefer
It’s my body. If I am overweight by societal standards or some height/weight chart, my body does not need to be starved in order to fit in. My body will be the size it is supposed to be if I am taking care of myself. I will not fight it.
It’s my body. If I go out on a date and a guy buys me dinner, I do not owe him a kiss or anything else. A simple, “thank you,” does the job just fine. Despite what society might say, my body is not my currency.
It’s my body. If I overeat at a party today, because the food is just so good, I do not need to restrict or over-exercise tomorrow. My body needs to be nourished, everyday, and never deserves to be punished.
It’s my body. If I have been abused, my body does not deserve to be hated. My body is not disgusting because of what someone else did to me. My body is not something to feel ashamed of or to hide. I cherish my body.
It’s my body. If I am sick, I need to give my body rest and do whatever it takes to get well. My body is not invincible. It is fragile. I must not abuse it with food, alcohol, drugs, or anything else. I must take care of it.
It’s my body. Today my organs are nourished and can function properly. I get enough sleep. I am strong. I do things that feel enjoyable like hiking, swimming, getting a massage, yoga, or even kissing my date — when I choose to do so.
It’s my body. I do not look like you or anyone else. You might be taller or thinner than me. By societal standards, you might be prettier than me. But you are not me. And I am not you.
It’s your body. Respect it. Nourish it. Love it.
Appointed to the Ambassador Council of the National Eating Disorders Association, Jenni Schaefer is a singer/songwriter, speaker, and author of Life Without Ed and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me. She is a consultant with the Center For Change in Orem, Utah. For more information, visit www.jennischaefer.com.
Jenni is kind enough to giveaway one “goodbye ed, hello me” book to you!
Two ways to enter for a free book…
1. please leave a comment
2. link back to this post from your blog, which will count as a second entry, and please leave in the comment section that you posted the link.
A random commenter will be chosen on Monday, May 3, and will be announced the following day.
One Day at a Time... Nurture myself... Awareness... Letting Go... Listen to my Body
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29 April 2010, 5:52 pm
What a totally awesome post & even more so because of the story behind it! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
No need to enter me as I know others need the book more but I just had to comment!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Better Health Giveaway! =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
thanks, jody! i really like this author, i think she has come such a long way and is a true inspiration to me.
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29 April 2010, 6:03 pm
I have heard so much about this book…her post is really amazing…such good points, even for those of us who don’t suffer from a traditional ED but still have problems with food.
I’m really glad you were able to find a book that you could relate to and that helped in your recovery!!
.-= Ameena´s last blog ..Bad Habits =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
i think she’s pretty amazing too, ameena and yes, it’s great when you find a book that really speaks to you.
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29 April 2010, 7:11 pm
That looks like a great book!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Fastest Run Yet! =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
it was awesome! it gave me the kick in the rear i needed to make the move to intuitive eating after weighing/measuring foods and counting calories for decades!
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29 April 2010, 7:18 pm
Those are some very positive words and encouragement. I hope that one day I can actually believe that about my body. I am really interested in this book!
.-= amanda´s last blog ..The Big Salad! =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
i was thrilled when she sent that guest post to me, i really thought most people could relate to it.
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29 April 2010, 7:38 pm
WOW! What an ahhh-mazing post. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. It’s so inspiring and uplifting. Very thought-provoking. I only wish I would’ve read these kinds of posts when I was younger. Years ago, my younger self was starving for such words of wisdom.
I’m definitely going to link to it in tomorrow’s post on Weightless.
No need to enter me in the giveaway, either. I’d love for someone who really needs it to win. I haven’t read it yet, but I hear only fantastic things about it.
.-= Margarita Tartakovsky´s last blog ..Recovering from Compulsive Eating: One Blogger’s Story =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
they are great self-affirmations. i hear ya, i wish i would have read something like this decades ago.
i’m excited you want to link it to “weightless”!
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29 April 2010, 7:48 pm
great! i just edited my post to include a link and blurb about it.
the post will be up tomorrow morning. have a great night!
.-= Margarita Tartakovsky´s last blog ..Recovering from Compulsive Eating: One Blogger’s Story =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
you’re the best! =)
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29 April 2010, 8:05 pm
hehe..thank you!
.-= Margarita Tartakovsky´s last blog ..Recovering from Compulsive Eating: One Blogger’s Story =-.
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29 April 2010, 8:56 pm
LOVE THIS POST!
.-= Lillian´s last blog ..My body will be the size it is supposed to be if I am taking care of myself =-.
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29 April 2010, 9:07 pm
Love the post! Especially I cherish my body and I must take care of it!
.-= Julie – Big Girl Bombshell´s last blog ..Excuses are Like Puzzle Pieces =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
amen!
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29 April 2010, 9:17 pm
Wow – this is SO inspiring! I feel like it’s something that one should recite in the mirror every morning to affirm how we should treat our bodies!
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
thanks! and i totally agree, brittany! =)
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29 April 2010, 9:54 pm
This post was not only inspiring but also holds a lot of truth for all of us – no matter where you are in your journey.
.-= Diane Fit to the Finish´s last blog ..Are You A Picky Eater? =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 29th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
so true. thanks, diane.
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29 April 2010, 10:33 pm
Beautiful. Thank you.
.-= Rita @ The Giggly Bits´s last blog ..They are Sponges =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 7:38 am
your welcome!
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29 April 2010, 11:30 pm
“My body will be the size it is supposed to be if I am taking care of myself.”
Wow… I would love to have this book.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 7:41 am
you are the second one who pulled out that fantastic quote! once you let it sink in, it really makes so much sense.
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30 April 2010, 7:28 am
Awesome giveaway!! I have been wanting to read that one.
.-= Christie {Honoring Health}´s last blog ..Using My Voice =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 7:41 am
thanks, christie! good luck!
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30 April 2010, 8:24 am
What a FANTASTIC post. So many times I have abused and treated my body poorly. I wonder why… I guess it’s all about realizing what you are doing. Thank you for posting this, it’s a wonderful reminder.
.-= Bobbie @Anonymous Fat Girl´s last blog ..Is it perfection you seek or a lifetime of health? =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 8:26 am
you’re welcome! i had never thought about it from that perspective either. it just never crossed my mind, it was just all about the food.
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30 April 2010, 9:14 am
Great post! I really want to read this book. It sounds like it has a lot of great points in it!
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 9:22 am
thanks! please know though, that this post is NOT directly from the book, though she does touch upon the items in the post. the book was awesome and life changing for a ED girl like me and i highly recommed it
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30 April 2010, 9:49 am
[...] of a Recovering Compulsive Eater today: Eating disorder advocate and author Jenni Schaefer guests posts, and love2eatinpa is giving away one copy of Goodbye ED, Hello Me. Like I said in the comments, [...]
30 April 2010, 12:15 pm
What a wonderful post! I will link to this on my blog. I have been wanting to read this book for a long time, I have heard that she is a very inspiring author.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
she is quite inspiring. someone who truly was an anorexic and bullimic, then recovered.
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30 April 2010, 1:12 pm
I love this: “My body will be the size it is supposed to be if I am taking care of myself.” So simple, wise and all encompassing.
I also love how she says your body shouldn’t be punished today if you messed up yesterday.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
i agree. it seems so simple, yet not so simple to do.
and yes, how many of us feel bad about ourselves if we overdo it. *sigh*
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30 April 2010, 2:20 pm
Love this post! Would love to read the book.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
thanks! and thanks for stopping by, beth!
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30 April 2010, 4:24 pm
Been reading your blog after you commented over at healthygirl.org. I am going to the store right now to buy beads… I will be making my own bracelet. It will only have 4 beads today, but I have to start somewhere! I would love to read this book too.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
good for you!!! i had four beads on mine at one point and now i have over two years worth. one day at a time!!
thanks for stopping by!
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30 April 2010, 4:44 pm
This sounds like a wonderful book! I’m almost finished with my current book, and I think the next book I want to read will have to be an ED/self-help book. There are just SO many out there to choose from! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
.-= Holly´s last blog ..Focusing on the Positive =-.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
what she wrote is not directly from the book, but she touches on a lot of this post in the book. i can definitely recommend some ED/self help books, this is definitely one of them!
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30 April 2010, 5:22 pm
Just got the book Leaving ED in the mail on recommendation of a friend, will follow up with Goodbye ED.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
sounds great! i know that reading books of this nature helps me A LOT. hope it does the same for you!
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30 April 2010, 10:34 pm
Great post. I’ve read Life Without Ed many times so I’d love to check this book out.
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love2eatinpa Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
ii’m sure you will find some great “nuggets” in there, just as i did! i don’t think i’d be where i am today had i not read her book.
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01 May 2010, 10:32 am
[...] RSS Confessions of a (Recovering) Compulsive Eater You are only as sick as your secrets « “It’s My Body” + Giveaway [...]
01 May 2010, 8:04 pm
Love love love this post!!! Great job
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02 May 2010, 9:23 am
Just found your site! Its great. Could I get your posts through email instead of RSS? Please email and let me know..looking fwd to your future posts..I don’t need the book but I just wanted to stop by and say HI!
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love2eatinpa Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
hi and thanks! yup, i have an email subscription… on the left hand side, a little ways down in green it says something about an email subscription, then you click on the orange writing below that to put in your email address. that should hook you up!
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03 May 2010, 12:48 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jenni Schaefer . Jenni Schaefer said: Check out this GREAT blog about compulsive overeating: http://confessionsofacompulsiveeater.com/its-my-body-giveaway/ [...]
03 May 2010, 2:37 pm
What an inspiring message! So many times I beat myself up over my ED. I am so happy to say after 8 years, I am finally in recovery!
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love2eatinpa Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:49 pm
thanks and congrats on being in recovery!!!
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04 May 2010, 11:13 am
Hi! I just found this blog and have found it so helpful! I’ve only been able to hint around about my disordered eating to loved ones but have been to afraid to say anything or seek help. I’m reaching the point where I’d like to find someone to talk to, and am finding so much encouragement in everything you’ve written. I feel motivated to finally change! I’d love to win this book! I’ve been hesitant to buy much literature since, as I said, no one else really knows what I’ve been dealing with, but I know reading about success stories really gives me hope!
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love2eatinpa Reply:
May 4th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
hi gaby and thanks for writing!
i completely understand about feeling funny telling people about your ED. i’m still the same way. i really encourage you to seek help though. i’m no doctor, but i would venture to guess that your ED comes from something in your childhood. imho, you need to dig into your past to really see what it’s all about before you will be able to move forward. you can so do this!!!
i’ve benfited a lot from reading. the books that were most helpful to me are on the right side of my blog if you have time to check it out.
good luck and stay in touch!
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10 May 2010, 10:48 am
[...] Respect your body! [...]
22 May 2010, 11:26 pm
[...] Respect your body! [...]