Abby Kelly - The Predatory Lies of Anorexia: A Survivors Story

TIMELINE of Abbys Eating Disorderfrom Onset to Recovery

Abby is 14 years old(1994)

April: Abby begins to feel the need for agreater sense of personal power, and thinking, Ill do this myway, she derives a sense of personal achievement from obsessivelycontrolling her weight through diet and exercise

May: Abby discovers a fat-free cookbook andbegins restricting her intake of high-calorie foods, and putherself on a regimen of extreme exercise

June: On a summer trip to visit an aunt andcousin, together they all weigh themselves on a daily basis

July: Abby is gone for most of the summerat camps; she loses significant weight and her menstrual cyclestops

August: On a visit to family doctor she istold she is dangerously thin and must consume 1800 caloriesdaily

Abby Is 15 (1995)

August: Abby begins seeing an eatingdisorder specialist on an outpatient basis

September: Now a sophomore in high school,Abby begins recording everything she eats

October: Restricting her food and extrememeasures of exercising morphs into a full-fledged case of AnorexiaNervosa

Abby is admitted to a psychiatric facilitywhere she stays for two weeks

Abby is 16 (1996)

February: Abby is admitted to a treatmentfacility for eating disorders for a period of two months

April: Abbys in-patient treatment programis extended because she has not gaining adequate weight

July: A junior, Abby meets her firstboyfriend; the relationship helps to anchor her, but her anorexiapersists

September: Abby has an active dating life,a waitressing job; and sinks deeper into the throes of anorexia

Abby turns 18 (1998)

February: Abby returns to in-patienttreatmentthis time at a transitional living facility foradults.

August: Abby starts college, continueswaitressing, lives alone and spirals into relapse

Abby is 20 (2000)

June: Abby attends a Passion One DayConference where she hears God speak to her of His love; she feelshope for permanent recovery.

December: Abby marries a career militarymanwho within months is deployed

Abby is 25 (2005)

Abby attends a Bible conference with hermother and renews her faithwhich she considers a vital link to herworking toward recovery in earnest

Abby is 26 (2006)

March: Abby and her husband move yet again.Abby begins long-distance running with a running club, and spiralsinto a drastic relapse

July: Abby discovers that her husband isdealing with his own addictions; their marriage begins tofalter

Abby is 28 (2008)

Abby and her husband move yet again, andbuy a home. Though on the verge of divorce, her faith isinstrumental in their decision to reconcile

Abbys faith in God is strengthened as shesees His faithfulness in her marriage. She also begins tounderstand her body and food in a different wayas gifts of God.With the encouragement of godly friendships and family, she beginsto gain weight without fear

Abby29 to present(2009-2014)

Abby continues a steady path of recovery.She remains happy and healthy, is married and close to her family.Her faith is center stage in her life

What Others Are Saying about ThisBook...

This beautifully written book paints anexacting picture of anorexia, one that is sure to help legions ofthose suffering from this most serious and life-threateningcondition. Amy Dardis, founder and editor ofHaven Journal

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This well-written book is an intimateportrayal of how anorexia claims its victim, and how it keeps onemired in deceptive claws. I believe Abbys book will help many whostruggle with this. Dale Coleman, aunt to a family membersuffering with an eating disorder

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Thank you for writing this enthralling book,Abby. There was much I identified with, although my battle is withdepression not anorexia. Your faith, particularly, encourages methat there is hope for me in my struggles, too. VeronicaHiggins, Former Associate Professor of Sociology and Psychology atSpartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, Georgia

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I found this a compelling read and hard toput down. Your book helped me to understand better how a personstruggles with anorexia as well as how the Lord can help a personregain health, and renew vitality. You bring the reader into thisstruggle through your personal narrative and make them feel a partof it. All is important to our understanding.

Ramsey Coutta, author ofLonging for Godliness

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Abby Kellys style of writing lures you intoexperiencing her story with her. You will feel the struggle, theheartache, and the competitive spirit that drove her eatingdisorder into high gear. Her honesty, vulnerability, andconversational style make her story captivating to read. Abby makesher way out of the darkness of anorexia into the place of freedomand hope that God provides for us all. Kimberly Bishop, LPC,NCC, LifeWorks Resource Group

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Abby Kelly is a freedom fighter. In ThePredatory Lies of Anorexia: A Survivors Story, her passion forcontrolling food and her body is powerfully redirected towardleading others to the truth that can set them free. I am gratefulfor Abby and the message she brings!

Constance Rhodes, founder and CEO,FINDINGbalanceand, author ofLife Inside the Thin Cage

The Predatory Lies ofAnorexia

A Survivors Story

Abby Kelly

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 by Abby Kelly

All rights reserved, including the right toreproduce this work in any form whatsoever, without permission inwriting from the publisher, except for brief passages in connectionwith a review.

Cover Design: Adrian Pitariu

Text Design: Jazmin Gomez Content Editor:Barry C. Blades

Photo of the Author: PortraitsInternational

If you are unable to order this book fromyour local bookseller, you may order directly from the publisher:

BETTIE YOUNGS BOOK PUBLISHERS

http://www.BettieYoungsBooks.com

Book ISBN:978-1-940784-17-5

Digital ISBN: 978-1-940784-18-2

Library of Congress Number Available UponRequest.

1. Kelly, Abby. 2. Bettie Youngs BookPublishers. 3. Eating Disorders. 4. Anorexia. 5. Anorexia Nervosa.6. Extreme Dieting. 7. Self-Image. 8. Self-esteem. 9. FamilyRelationships. 10. Family Order. 11. Self-Awareness. 12.Psychiatric Disorders. 13. Health Issues. 14. Wellness Issues. 15.Extreme Exercise.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This single page could prove to be the mostdifficult of any Ive written. Where do I start? And how do I endin thanking the infinite list of people who were instrumental inhelping me bring this book to life? Suffice to say, this list, iswoefully incomplete.

I must thank Jesus first. A simple phrasefrom Revelation 12:11 was the first gust of wind in my sails as Iundertook this project. And they have conquered [Satan] by theblood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Truly,my victory over anorexia has been solidified in this telling of mytestimony.

Paul the Apostle by the will of God, says in2 Corinthians 2:15, Our lives are a Christ-like fragrancerising up to God. Thank you for allowing me to be sweetperfume to you in the sharing of my story.

Thank you to my family for allowing me toshare their story as well; I love all of you more every day of mylife. Dad and Mom, thank you for your example of love in action. Tomy three sisters, thank you for your willingness to love me nomatter what, especially during those dark years when my eatingdisorder plagued our family. Dad, thank you as well for being anincomparable, patient and detailed editor. Mom, Ive always calledyou my hero. Thank you for being my sounding board, often theamplifier of the Holy Spirits voice. To my husband Patrick, thankyou for the good years of marriage to date, and for the many wehave left to share. No one in my life has challenged me the way youdo. Loving you, living with you, learning beside youall hasstrengthened me.