Eating Disorder Talk

My best friend passed on the following tip to me: a podcast (link) of CBC’s Quirks and Quarks where in Gary Taubes, author of Good Calories. Bad Calories. speaks of his research, experience and opinions about the past 30 years of obesity-related advice. He hypothesizes in his book that simple carbs, such as those found in white flour and sugar, are what is really causing the obesity epidemic, diabetes diagnosis increases and potentially, even cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Have a listen to the podcast and let me know what you think. If this is were just another attempt for low-carb love, then I’d be extremely adverse to the results of his life’s work. In fact, I wouldn’t be writing about it.

But the fact is that North American diets have changed so drastically in the past centuries. And there are large differences between rates of the previously-mentioned diseases in the developed countries vs. areas wherein diets are comprised of complex grains, protein and fats. Where convenient and well, lazy food, isn’t an option for both economic and availability reasons. Is this a random correlation? Maybe, or maybe it’s a simple act of evolution.

I’m on the far leftist opinion of our over-developed first-world countries. I’m generalizing, completely, but I personally feel that our days are spent stressing, reaching to attain some goal that will not necessarily bring us happiness so much as put us another rung up the ladder. We seem to be making choices based on the choices other people make and as a society, are very self-important. And with these 85-hour work weeks, luxury automobiles, 24" waistlines, breast implants, botox, designer clothing, Tiffany diamonds and diverse portfolios, what do we eat? Wonderbread sandwiches with processed cheese. Nutrigrain bars. Smoothies, from those little smoothy vendors at the mall. We are over-saturated and spreading ourselves too thin, to start with.

What I’d like to know is why it’s taken someone so long to say it?

Thin by Lauren Greenfield was the first book about eating disorders that I picked up in a long time. Truth be told, after my last commitment to “get better,” I left thirty-odd books at my father’s house, away from my prying hands and roving eyes. I was at Chapters when I saw the cover (marked with a 30% off sticker), buying things that struck my fancy in a manic hardcover jaunt. I realized that it was majorly a photographic book and the side of me that denies sought to buy it in the hopes of having something “taboo and artistic” in my house. I suppose I might have put it next to Generation S.L.U.T.

Honestly, I flipped through it’s pages, trying to be nonchalant. My boyfriend glanced at a few pages with me and gasped at the awkwardly thin senior, he piqued my competitive side when noticing one girl who was much thinner than he’d ever known me to be, and he made me proud when he asked why one girl was even in the book - I had been much thinner than her.

My friend saw it on my coffee table and mentioned seeing the documentary on Showcase. How intense and at some points disgusting and others scintillating it was. She said that from what she had seen, the patient on the cover had been very thin and unhealthy and nowhere near my size (then 5′6″ and about 105lbs.) - she was that thin. Now, this is one of my best friends, so I know that she did not intentionally mean to send me a message like that - but our continuing debate about it, where I may have even lied about the girl’s stats in order to deflate my own, lead me to a discovery.

It was beginning again and the book was a trigger for me. I returned it within the week.

There is an intro to the documentary, that I found on YouTube. You’re not me, so if you’re interested in picking it up, it’s available on many bookseller’s sites, such as Amazon.

youtube, thin, hbo, showcase, lauren greenfield, Renfrew Center, eating disorders, trigger, Generation S.L.U.T., relapse

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) affects about 4 million people in the United States; men account for 1.6 million of sufferers according to reports of the McLean Hospital-conducted first national study of eating disorders. Characteristics of the disease include:

The disease can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, multiple organ failures and/or diseases, further mental anguish in the form of depression or suicide and female reproductive complications. People suffering are urged to seek help as soon as possible as they may be in need of intensive therapy prior to losing any weight they may have picked up during binging periods.

One person who’s come forward in an effort to engage and educate is former model Ron Saxen. He’s recently released a book, The Good Eater, about his voyage from modelling to a 70 pound, six month weight gain. And back.

Saxen was recently interviewed by Joseph Planta, and - not to be feminist - he’s got perspective that I’ve rarely heard from a man regarding eating disorders. Chapter one of the book opens with his initial appointment and subsequent signing with his first modelling agency. You can find an excerp here. It strikes me as…odd, honestly, to read a man’s thoughts that have exactly matched mine in reference to whether he is too fat to be spoken to. And to see the mental tally of over-done and under nourished exercise.

I’ve never much used binging in my own history. It seemed too risky, when my goal was to become invisible. I suppose, mentally, suffering with BED would be just as effective at erasing yourself, as losing as much weight as is possible.

There’s a new book in town, ready to provide an essential way of life. If you want to be a skinny bitch, that is. Just ask Victoria Beckham.

The Skinny Bitch book’s sales went through the roof after size 0 Posh-Spice was seen buying it. The book, apparently a vegan diet with some attitude thrown in, was written by ex-model agent Rory Freedman and former model Kim Barnouin. In my opinion, word of mouth and North America’s passion for doing what the celebs do could make this book a very successful precursor for many young women’s flourishing eating disorders and low self esteem.

An excerpt from the book, as printed in The Sun,

YOU don’t need a degree in biology to get skinny. You don’t need to starve yourself to get skinny.
You don’t need to spend all day at the gym to get skinny.
You just need to smarten up and use your head.
The first thing you need to do is give up your gross vices.
Don’t act surprised! You cannot keep eating the same s**t and expect to get skinny.
Don’t even try some pathetic excuse like, “But if I quit smoking, I’ll gain weight.”
Cigarettes are for losers. They are so 1989 and uncool.
Of course it’s easier to socialize after you’ve had a few drinks.
But being a fat pig will hinder you, sober or drunk. And habitual drinking equals fat-pig syndrome. Fizzy drinks are liquid Satan.
There is nothing in soda that should be put in your body. Unless you are from Mars, you’ve heard about the “eight glasses of water a day” thing.
Water is vital for keeping your body clean and detoxified.
If the taste of water bores you, try jazzing up the flavour with a slice of lemon or lime. Say goodbye to soda and hello to sweet ass.
Think how widely accepted it has become that people need coffee to wake up.
If you can’t wake up without it, it’s because you are either addicted to caffeine, sleep deprived, or a generally unhealthy slob.
It may seem like the end of the world to give up your daily dose.
But it’s not heroin, girls, and you’ll learn to live without it. Use your head.
Candy bars, potato chips, and ice cream taste like heaven, of course. But they will pitch a tent on your hips and camp out all year.
Whenever you see the words “fat-free” or “low-fat”, think of the words “chemical s**t storm.”
Give up the notion that you can be sedentary and still lose weight.
Eating properly will dramatically improve your health, body and all aspects of your life.
But you’ve still gotta move your ass.

Yes, it does specifically say that you don’t need to starve yourself or overexercise…but how many people will actually listen to those words?