See how we grow (and I don't mean width ways)

I've commented on this before and I'll comment again (you just see if I don't), but it's so warming (and refreshing) to hear about the increasing number of women out there who are taking on board 'non-dieting' principles and looking for a life outside of the 'prison' of food control.

Lisa Jane describes herself as a 'former diet addict' and a current Eating Disorder sufferer, and her new blog is her own journey (for better or worse, she says) in looking for a life as a diet survivor.

I have to say, the last few weeks - though I have had some struggles whenever I've felt my belt getting tighter (and it's inevitably looser again within days, so I need to learn not to panic) - have been very freeing for me, so I hope Lisa finds the same freedoms as I'm experiencing now (I've added her blog to my diet-dumping blogs page).

One of the most obvious is that I no longer see the weekend as some kind of binge occasion because Monday will be the start of a diet, which means generally I'm less liable to stuff myself on things I wouldn't normally eat in the week. It's not always easy to see what the freedoms are though, but this is something to work on.

Yesterday I did overeat at a family do and I did have a few pangs of guilt, but the food wasn't forbidden food (it was actually very healthy and straight form the Cranks' cookbook!) and so it wasn't quite the same as overdoing it on things I felt I 'shouldn't' be eating. I basically just got into the party mood a bit and I'm sure I'll live through it.

I think it's very important to maintain that 'tomorrow is another day mentality'. With anything you're trying to change about yourself, old habits are hard to break and there will be times you will need to learn from, and times when you can congratulate yourself.

Comments

[lisa jane]

I am an obsessive blogchecker and was so excited just to see a new post this morning.And then I saw this and cried.You don't know how much it means to me to have my journey validated in this way.I have been worried that because I had changed my path people would reject my blog.

It is so important for me that this idea catches on, for me and every female in my life that has tortured themselves mentally and physically in the past through dieting.I believe as the non dieting movement grows in strength that other women will feel safe to end the quest for the perfect '10', That women will reject societie's standard measure of a woman's worth,her waist size.

I am so glad to find you

[lisa jane]

oh, and that would be society, lord knows how they let me into university?

[Andrea Wren]

You don't need to have other people validate your journey Lisa - you can do that for yourself! You've made a strong and wise choice already so keep up the good work, accept it won't all be an easy ride and keep on looking for support whenever you need it.