Category: Making peace with your body

Why Must Fat Shaming Stop?

~ Julie de Rohan, eatonomy® ~ 49 Comments

“A final message Ellen wanted to share was about the fat shaming she endured from the medical profession. Over the past few years of feeling unwell she sought out medical intervention and no one offered any support or suggestions beyond weight loss. Ellen’s dying wish was that women of size make her death matter by advocating strongly for their health and not accepting that fat is the only relevant health issue.”

This is an excerpt from the obituary of Ellen Bennett who died on May 11th this year, aged 64. Shortly before, Ellen had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and was given just a few days to live. According to her family, she was “an unforgettable character” who enjoyed careers in politics, film and TV.

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How Can Fear Make Us Fat?

~ Julie de Rohan, eatonomy® ~ 16 Comments

Trigger warning: abuse, trauma.

Let’s say you’ve managed to heal your relationship with food and have found autonomy.

You’ve been eating in tune with your body for a while – you’re eating when you’re hungry, you’re eating exactly what you feel like, and you’re stopping when you’re satisfied. In addition, you’re getting better at acknowledging your feelings and you’re finding ways to meet your emotional needs directly. Now that you’re no longer overeating, you’re really beginning to work with your metabolism and, whaddaya know, you’re starting to lose some weight.

All good.

Or is it?

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What’s The Big Deal About Exercise?

~ Julie de Rohan, eatonomy® ~ 25 Comments

“I’m just one of those people who hates exercise”.

That’s what I used to say. And I believed it.

Man, did I hate exercise.

I felt angry (and guilty and ashamed) at the mention of the word and I’m worried you may stop reading for the very same reason, but I hope not.

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What Does Dieting Do To Us?

~ Julie de Rohan, eatonomy® ~ 7 Comments

Uh-oh, it’s January.

The time of year when, even if you’ve been doing really well finding autonomy with food, you can suddenly find yourself bingeing again.

Why? Because in January it’s impossible to escape the barrage of adverts for slimming clubs, weight-reduction schemes and meal replacement products. Social media is abuzz with the latest celebrity eating plans, while endless newspaper and magazine articles try to convince us of the new wonder diet “that really works”.

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Who Are You?

~ Julie de Rohan, eatonomy® ~ 9 Comments

Excluding how you look, who are you?

Take a minute to think about it – even if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Are you drawing a blank? If so, you’re not alone.

Generally, people with overeating issues have little or no idea who they really are. They’re so focused on what’s outside of them – their appearance – that they rarely consider what’s going on inside. They’re also very quick to dismiss their positive qualities and yet are world champions at identifying their supposed “defects”.

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Why Is It Usual To Feel Conflicted?

~ Julie de Rohan, eatonomy®

“I just want to lose weight”.

If you’re struggling with binge eating you might hear yourself say that a lot. Sometimes it can feel like the extended dance mix is playing on a loop in your head with repeated choruses of “I hate myself, I’m so disgusting”.

With such conscious thoughts, it’s easy to believe that all you want is just to lose weight and if you could do that (ideally instantly) then everything would be OK.

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