As many of you know I founded Fed Up Inc. in 2009 to make a difference in the world.  It has been over 3 years since I brought this project to life and it has been one heck of a learning experience!  I have enjoyed every moment of bringing this idea to life and now know that I can definitely do anything I put my mind to.  I know I have impacted the lives of youth and adults alike and I know there is more to come.

I feel compelled to write this so you know that I actually work full time in a wonderful career.  Fed Up actually has zero employees and we run on a shoe-string budget (which I fundraise myself).  To clarify this is something I do in my free time because it is my passion.  I am also the proud pet parent to two dogs and two brand new rescue kittens.  Plus I have a social life and need down time!  I am 100% committed to this charity and will continue to get our programs out there.  But just know I haven’t just given up on blogging, doing events, teaching, etc..  Instead just like all of you I have to work hard to pay the bills!  And I REALLY love my career.

We will have some interns take over some of the blogging responsibilities and we are looking for volunteers to teach our programming in 2013.  I am still involved during my free time, as this is my #1 philanthropic endeavor, but remember this is a tiny non-profit working on a teeny tiny budget (that I fundraise myself!).

Thank you so much for sharing in this philanthropic organization.  Thank you for supporting us.  I look forward to teaching a few sessions on the weekends next year (or maybe I will get a day off and can devote that to teaching No Body Bashing™).  If you have any comments or questions please feel free to reach out!  I look forward to developing Fed Up Inc. into something that will continue to change and empower youth for years to come.  There is simply nothing more rewarding than giving back.

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

Lady Gaga

Earlier this year I wrote an article about Lady Gaga visiting Brentwood School (a tony private school in West LA) where she discussed her battle with eating disorders.  At the time it was my understanding that she had recovered (although I don’t think she said she actually went to treatment).  I was very surprised to see her recently reveal she has struggled with Anorexia and Bulimia since age 15.  She revealed this after receiving criticism for being too fat for her stage costumes and gaining weight.

I can’t seem to find out whether she is still struggling or has recovered.  However, I am happy to see she has launched the Body Revolution Project 2013 as part of her “Born This Way Foundation”.  It is amazing to see how quickly she put this together and launched in response to the criticism over her body.  I know she has the power and following to get the kind of attention that really matters to create positive change.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t want her to team up with Fed Up Inc. and The 2012 No Body Bashing™ Campaign.  So I figured I will just write her a very nice note asking her to possibly team up to work on this important matter together.  It can’t hurt!

I look forward to seeing how this project will develop.  And no matter what it’s a great day for everyone if we bring attention and change to the criticism and diet mentality that destroys so many people’s lives (albeit slowly) every single day.  So take some time to find some ways to love your body and yourself today.

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

Katie Couric

I am so pleased to see Katie Couric  do a show with Demi Lovato about body image and eating disorders.  Katie reveals that she battled with bulimia in college (shocking and thank you for sharing!) and Demi really opens up and shares the truth about her struggles.  I strongly suggest you watch the clip.  Demi is very honest and hopefully you will look at yourself and those around you to help them through similar struggles.  It is really important for you to watch this if you want to know what really goes on (and what can happen) with young children who begin struggling with body image and eating disorders at a young age.  I started Fed Up Inc. so I could help others avoid these struggles.  It hasn’t always been easy getting parents and teachers to understand how young a child can be when this starts, but Demi is a testimonial to the evidence and reality.  Eating disorders and body image issues can START EARLY.  Intervention is key to avoiding damage and suffering.  If you or someone you know is struggling feel free to email me bridget@fedupinc.org.

You can watch it HERE

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

What is your take on real food v. fake food?  I live in LA where a lot of people are “uber healthy” and we have access to some really great stuff.  So why choose fake food with a long list of artificial things if you can get something more nutritious and better tasting?  Clearly there are many reasons:  dieting, convenience, etc..  I mean I used to prefer things that were made with artificial sweetener!  I was watching Dr. Oz the other day and he explained that artificial sweeteners are so much sweeter than real sugar (or sources of natural sugar) that it essentially “blows out” your tastebuds, making you actually prefer stuff that is fake!

Fortunately, I have employed a ton of knowledge and techniques to get off a diet full of “fake food” and try some things that are more wholesome.  Before you hit the “snooze” button hear me out!  I really recommend you head to Trader Joe’s (or similar) and purchase Stevia and Agave Syrup.  Stevia is nature’s all natural sweetener, it is natural, good for you and free of extra calories.  You will love it!  I also love Agave Syrup, another natural sweetener that is both easy to use and yummy!  I recommend trying it in place of syrup on whole grain waggles or french toast.  Be creative!

My challenge is for you to try and replace one “fake food” with a real one.  Let me know how it goes.  And let me know how you like Stevia (unlike some products this one really is all natural).  Good luck and happy eating!

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

I recently wrote about using a media filter to help become more aware of the messages you receive on a daily basis that may be harmful to you.  We all know there are startling statistics that tell us about the amount of media ads and messages we are bombarded with on a daily basis.  We also know a good portion of this is designed to make us feel bad about ourselves or to feel like we need something.  Something a company will gladly sell us through their ad!

We also know that the messages we receive in the media can cause us harm.  People can develop poor body image or feel like losing weight will change their life (among many other things we talk about regularly on this blog).  A long time ago when I was in recovery from an eating disorder I was taught to create a media filter plan.  The steps are pretty simple, but it is hard!

How to create a Media Filter:

1.  Stop reading magazines, internet, etc. for a full day (either choose a day you aren’t working or if you are working do not go on any non-essential websites).

2.  Re-introduce magazines, internet, etc. very gradually.  Take a few minutes before choosing to go on site, open magazine, etc. to identify what you are going to look at.  Once on the page be hyper aware of what you see.  Note ads, words, pictures, etc.  I recommend keeping a notebook nearby to jot down your thoughts.  Pretend you are going to explain the content to a small child.  Be very specific and notice every detail.  Note how you feel when you take in different media messages (i.e. underwear ad makes you feel bad about your stomach, diet article makes you want to try new diet, skinny pic of model makes you want to look like her, etc.).

3.  Go over your notes and decide what media filter is best for you and your well being.  When I first did this I banned any and all articles on weight loss, diets, celebrity beach bodies, etc..  It was so tough to do, but I literally tore covers off of magazines if they had such articles inside.  Be brutal and diligent.  You are guarding yourself against negative feelings and that is okay.

As you learn and grow you will be able to handle these messages in a different light.  I can now read a weight loss article and not feel inclined to try the diet, lose weight or change.  But usually I am reading them so I can blog about it or laugh about how fake some of the advice is (remember the things we read and see are created as part of a business in most cases- so they can make things look pretty if they have to or want to).

Email me and let me know if you have any feedback or ideas of how to improve this process!  Good luck!

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

Recently I was reading an article in Seventeen Magazine which featured Jordin Sparks’ story about losing weight.  While, I encourage you to use your own media filter to avoid messages that can be triggering or harmful to your health (you must be the judge of that and I will help you do that in another blog soon) I liked some components of this article.

Jordin shares myths about weight loss.  I like her first one:  It will change your life.  This is something we ask students in our pre-workshop survey and we bring it up a lot in our workshops.  Do you think losing weight will change your life?  The answer is resoundingly:  YES.  People think losing weight (or being a different size, shape, color, etc.) will change their life.  But why do we think this?  Well we have been conditioned to think so by the media and ads we consume on a daily basis.  So before we but the myth we must remember we are only human!  The first step is recognizing the truth!

Weight loss (or being a different size, shape, etc.) won’t erase your problems or make you instantly confident.  Don’t believe me?  Ask some people.  Or just listen to Jordin.  She is 100% right it doesn’t change your life.  And if you think it will land you a boyfriend, new job or make you instantly popular trust me it won’t.

She has a few other myths in her article, but I liked this one the best.  Look for my blog about filtering media in your life next.  We may not be able to change the media and ads in an instant (it is going to take a LONG time to make small changes), but we can be smarter about what we consume.  Being aware is your best defense against getting sucked into a world of wanting to be thinner, smaller, different.  Trust me!

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

Many years ago when I was freshly recovered from my long battle with an eating disorder I was invited to come on the Oprah & Friend’s- Marianne Williamson Radio Show.   I knew of Marianne Williamson’s books and work because she lived in the same town (Grosse Pointe, MI) I grew up in.  In my mid 20s I began to read the books myself and when I worked with my life coach I identified her as the person I most looked up to and wanted to emulate.

I took my struggle with an eating disorder and turned it into something positive by developing an organization to help prevent eating disorders in youth.  I wrote a book about my struggle to serve as hope to others looking for recovery.   And I started a coaching practice to help people heal from eating issues and get in touch with their spirituality.  I am still at the beginning of my path, but I still look to Marianne for hope, wisdom and direction.

This morning I asked for a miracle and I asked my inner guide (spirit) to show me I am headed in the right direction.  I have some big goals and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  For some reason I got up from my desk and got out a box of pictures, which I started looking through.  Shortly after I began to scold myself for being undisciplined.   I had to get back to my desk there was work to do!  Then I saw a disc that said Oprah Clip on it.  And I immediately remembered that interview.  I don’t remember ever having a recording of it though, and while I have thought about it for years, I had given up on ever finding one.

I put the disc into my laptop and I ended up crying listening to the discussion.  I was crying because I can’t believe how far I have come since then.   And I can’t believe how brave I was to finally get help, recover and get to speak with someone who inspired me so much.  I want to share that clip with you here and I hope you get something powerful from it.

You can download interview and listen by CLICKING HERE.

If you don’t know about Marianne Williamson, I strongly suggest you CLICK HERE and get a book asap.  My favorite is called A Return to Love.

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

Diets don't work!!!

Diets don’t work!!!

Diets don’t work!!!

Diets don’t work!!!

Diets don’t work!!!

Recently I was hanging out with a friend who does one of those pre-packaged diet plans.  After recovering from an 18 year battle with eating disorders I find it hard to hang out with people who diet.  I practice conscious eating (a.k.a. intuitive or mindful eating) and eat all foods in moderation.  I teach youth that there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” food.  And I exercise because I like it, not because I need to change something about my body.

This individual sticks to the strict meal plan during the week and then has a “free cheat weekend”.  I was really concerned when I saw this meant binge eating every food in sight.  Clearly after the eating disorder I am also concerned when I see someone binge.  It is a lot different from overeating at one meal. Many statistics are available to tell us what we already know-  Dieting and restriction can lead to overeating.  Most diets don’t work because the person gains the weight back (and in most cases even more).  It creates an unnatural relationship with food that breaks your own body’s ability to regulate how much to eat and when.

Conscious (intuitive or mindful) eating uses your body’s own natural hunger signals to satiate itself.  It is the best way to live a healthy and balanced life.  One where you can enjoy food in moderation and never worry about overdoing it because your body is a pretty cool machine.  It has ways to manage your weight naturally.

Unfortunately diets can wreak havok on your body.  Restricting and binging harm the body’s metabolism, heart, mind and much more.  It can also lead to an eating disorder.  People who restrict are prone to binge.  And the DSM-V will soon introduce Binge Eating Disorder *(more info below).  This is the MOST common eating disorder and most often overlooked because it doesn’t fit the “stereotype” of Anorexia.  But this disorder is VERY real and just as deadly as the other more commonly KNOWN eds (Anorexia and Bulimia).  If someone you know is dieting and you notice they are starting to binge on a regular basis.  Encourage them to learn more about Binge Eating Disorder.  It is a dangerous and real consequence.  A great way to “undo” the damage is to seek the help of a nutrition who has experience working with eating disorders.  This person can help you break the diet cycle and begin living a healthier happier life.  I recommend working with LA based Nutritionist Eve Stanley a.k.a. Vitamineve.

Do your best to avoid diets and learn more about conscious eating.  One of my favorite authors on this topic is Geneen Roth.  Her books changed my life!  I highly recommend everybody read her books.  They are AMAZING!  As always email me with questions, comments or concerns!

*More info on Binge Eating Disorder

The DSM-V will soon come out and will list Binge Eating Disorder as the following:
1.    Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by BOTH of the following:
a.    Eating in a discrete amount of time (within a 2 hour period), an amount that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar time period.
b.    Sense of lack of control over eating during an episode.

2.    Binge eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
a.    Eating much more rapidly than normal.
b.    Eating until uncomfortably full.
c.    Eating large amounts of food when not hungry.
d.    Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating.
e.    Feeling disgust with oneself, depressed, or guilty after overeating.

3.    Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.
4.    The binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months.
5.    The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g. purging, fasting, compulsive exercising).

I must admit I am a fan or reality tv, particularly Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise.  After years of watching the New Jersey cast I have grown to like the Manzo family and I have been privy to their weight loss efforts (both Caroline and her husband had lap-band surgery to lose weight).  I was really disappointed this season to see Caroline say really disparaging comments about their daughter, Lauren Manzo.  Essentially calling her fat and hoping she could lose weight to have a better life.  It was kind of unreal that a mother would speak like that about her child and on tv to boot.

This past week I read an article about Lauren that was featured in US Weekly.  It was so unsettling that I seriously couldn’t help but run home and blog about it right away.  Lauren not only admits to the weight “bullying” from her family, but says it doesn’t even bother her.  Her mom once said she is “8 pounds of sausage in a 5 pound bag”.  And her response is her mom has to be blunt with her to get to where she needs to be.  WOW.

The article really paints a picture of someone who is really struggling with their body image and their family does things to worsen it.  The idea that they got her the Lap-Band is supposed to be celebrated, but when she details her diet it is clear she has eating disorder behavior.  A Day in her Diet reveals she is essentially starving herself and she lists one of her foods as coffee.

I really feel for Lauren and wonder how many other beautiful and intelligent people are living in families who are “helping” them by making disparaging remarks about their weight and appearance.  And furthermore those who turn to eating disorder behavior (a slippery slope) to live out the motto “nothing tastes as good as thin feels”.

I truly hope Lauren sees this and has her own awakening.  I think she is funny and fabulous just exactly as she is.  I don’t care if she loses 30 pounds or not.  If you know of a family or friends “helping” in a similar fashion step in and say something.  Nothing tastes as good as being an activist.  Nobody should have to live on coffee just to make other people happy.

Finally Free,

Bridget Loves

Coconut Oil is great!

Recently I read Fed Up Inc.’s Advisory Board Member and contributing nutritionist Christine Avanti’s new book Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food.  Christine is a wonderful Nutritionist who focuses on balance and balancing blood sugar to learn to live a nice life without yo-yo dieting.  Her new book is truly amazing.  Prior to reading it, while focused on eating balanced foods, I wasn’t doing a great job of avoiding Processed foods.  It is something I know I am “supposed” to do, but I got caught up in my busy life.  And I was doing a good job of staying healthy and balanced.  But I read her book and realized I can do a much better job to keep my body and mind healthy!

One of her major recommendations is to consume 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil every day.  She cites a study from McGill University (1998) that says the medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) actually use up energy when they are metabolized.  This means the body burns more calories ingesting the coconut oil than you actually get from eating it!  Plus it has a thermogenic effect, meaning it raises your body temperature (metabolism and energy level).

She recommends dissolving it in tea each morning and evening, but you can also add to smoothies, eat straight from the measuring spoon or cook with it!  The benefits are amazing.  I really recommend you look into this.  Since I started doing this my hair, nail and skin are much nicer and I think it is really a great addition to living a healthier life.

You can find it at your local store and find more info on it HERE.

Good luck!