Alli Spotts-De Lazzer - MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues

MeaningFULL: 23 Life-ChangingStories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body ImageIssues

Copyright 2021 Allison (Alli)Spotts-De Lazzer LMFT 49842, LPCC 844, CEDS 3106

All Rights Reserved.

Printed in the United States ofAmerica.

First Edition, 2021.

Published by UnsolicitedPress.

ISBN: 978-1-950730-69-8

No part of this book may be used orreproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permissionexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in criticalarticles or reviews.

Unsolicited Press

Portland, Oregon

www.unsolicitedpress.com

orders@unsolicitedpress.com

619-354-8005

Cover Design: KathrynGerhardt

Editor: S.R. Stewart

THE FINE PRINT

Medical/Mental Health: Nothing in this book should be considered asubstitute for professional therapy ormedical guidance. Its your responsibility to seekprofessional help.

Non-therapeuticRelationship : Reading of this book doesnot establish a therapeutic relationship between the reader and theauthor.

Recollection Accuracy: These are true-life stories, to the best ofrecollection. Memories can be subjective. Experiences have may beencondensed, and selected dialogue may have been recreated, neitheraffecting the heart of the story.

Privacy: Some names and identifying details (those that are not vitalto the stories) have been changed or combined to protect theprivacy of individuals.

Non-endorsement: Any trademarks, service marks, or copyrightsmentioned in this book are the property of their respective ownersand do not indicate any endorsement or sponsorship. Also, unlessstated, our Storytellers are not representing any brand and aresharing their own experiences.

Information Accuracy: Throughout time, information on health may evolveand change.

Disclaimer of Liability: Although the author and publisher have made everyeffort to ensure that the information in this book was correct atpress time, the author and publisher do not assume and herebydisclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, ordisruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors oromissions result from negligence, accident, or any othercause.

Dont eat this food; eatthat food. Dont give up; work harder. Avoid this; add that. Goodfood; bad food. Good fat ; badfat . Good weight ;bad weight . Healthy; nothealthy . Do. Dont. Do.Dont .

Been there, done that? Areyou ready for honest, uncomplicated, and doable solutions to yourfood, weight , and body image struggles? If you want to experience morecontentment in life and to triumph overyour eating and body battles, then read on.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist and specialist ineating and body image issues, Ive been teaming with people toresolve their dieting, weight, and body image problems for over adecade. Previously, and like many of us, I also spent yearsstruggling with dieting, healthy eating, and pushing my body tomake it look different. I know that this helpful, motivationalguide has been long overdue.

Both my personal andprofessional experience shape the contentof MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Storiesof Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body ImageIssues . In these pages, youll findrelatable, honest, and inspiring stories of people who found keysto conquering:

• failed dieting;

• binge eating;

• emotional eating;

• unhealthy/healthy food choices;

• body dissatisfaction and body hate;

• yo-yo dieting (weight cycling);

• eating disorders; and

• related challenges (e.g., stressing aboutexercising, clean eating, or muscling up).

Each contributor shares therealizations and paths they followed that changed their food,dieting , weight ,and body image problems intolife-enhancing perspectives, practices, and skills. Im pleased tooffer you their discoveries, insights, and hope .

Following each narrative andmajor section in the book, Ive inserted a Note from Alli. Thetherapist in me wants you to have an additional view, aclarification, a useful exercise , or thescience behind something discussed. For topics you may want toexplore beyond these stories, Ive provided supplemental, easilyaccessible online articles. My commentaries are intended to supportyou and broaden your options as you consider your path to finallyconquering your issues.

Aware that eating and bodyimage problems exist on a wide spectrum(from slight food and body-related frustrations to severe clinicaleating disorders ), Ive made sure toinclude several stories about whats usually considered the mostextremeeating disorder recovery. Hereswhy: if someones methods helped them to overcome a serious disorder,imagine how those methods might help you to overcome your issues, whereverthey fall in the range from mild to intense.

Think of this book asvisiting a store where everything in it relates to triumphing overdieting , weight ,and body image issues. Each chapter islike an aisle thats both dedicated to your shopping experience andfilled with relevant items. You get to pick and try out whateverinterests you and leave anything on the shelf thatdoesnt.

As you read, youll probablyrecognize parts of yourself in someone elses circumstances. Youllknow that youre not alone in trying to manage (or master) theseissues.

Each persons journey,solutions, and salvation are unique. Yours will be too. Throughthese diverse short stories, youll discover useful ways to live amore fulfilled lifeone freer from food, weight , and body image stresses and withimproved wellness, too.

How the Heck Did We GetHere?

When were babies and young children, we typicallyeat when were hungry, stop eating when were full, and let ourbellies happily hang out with ever breath we take. For many of us,as we age, this natural connection with food and body getsdistorted for various reasons. Consequently, terms that describedisordered relationships with eating and body are numerous: yo-yodieting, binge eating, emotional eating, food obsession, bodydissatisfaction, and more. Healthy lifestyle plans, weight-lossprograms, and specific diets aimed at improving our relationshipwith food, weight, and body number even more so. (Which titles andbrands quickly come to mind? The Paleo Diet, Keto Diet, WeightWatchers, intermittent fasting, Atkins Diet, HCG Diet, low-carbdiet, low-fat diet) Yet there are often unexpected, undesiredbyproducts of engaging in these remedies.

When we eat by following someone elses planfor how we should eat, we can diminish or lose our innate,internal connection with cravings, hunger, and fullness. Thatdisconnection often leads people into tormenting food patterns andcan bleed into questioning other areas of life too. If Icanttrust myself about when Im hungry, what I crave, orif Im full, how can I trust the rest of my internal guidancesystem? My gut-instinct? My decisions? My emotions? And so on.Doubting ones internal guidance system tends to result inconfusion, insecurity, missed opportunities, a lack of trust inself, unreliable decisions, and unwanted consequences; these thenaffect our relationships to our safety.

Even ordinary eventsfrequently get complicated when we approach eating in manipulatedways. Think about the last time you attended a party while on adiet. Instead of focusing on the festivities and socialinteractions, you probably thought about the food (what youcould/couldnt eat, the calories, the tastes, the food that otherswere consuming), right? In place of eating from automatichunger and fullness cues that don't takemuch thought, our food rules requireeffort to maintain. In turn, this distracts us and tends to drainour energy.