Anne’s Blog
Food Is Not The Enemy
“I work with women trapped in a cycle of obsessing about food and weight. I help them make friends with food and peace with their body.”
I know you are working toward full healing from disordered eating and body image and I’m very proud of you for that! It takes courage to change. It also takes courage to acknowledge and feel those emotions you may have been pushing away for a very long time!
For me, last week, courage came in the form of expressing myself despite the possible criticism that would come. I have been doing that more the past week, and I’m very proud of myself for that!
I hope you, also, found courage within yourself to move toward your goals… whatever they may be. My message to you is that… your emotions matter a lot! Let yourself acknowledge them and give them the voice and expression they need.
Food For Thought
“The Negative Voice of Your Clothes”
Is your closet full of clothes you don’t like, that don’t fit, that just bore you?
Get rid of them!
I know, easier said than done. If you are keeping clothes that don’t fit, you may be afraid of weight gain or loss and don’t want to go naked due to lack of cover. I understand.
Yet keeping these clothes in your closet is like telling yourself every time you go closet diving that your body isn’t okay as it is. It’s like a closet full of criticism and low self-worth.
When you let go of clothes that don’t fit or you don’t love, you learn to accept yourself just as you are. You get to remember that you are worth looking and feeling great… even if you have to fake-it-till-you-make-it a bit!
“Food For Thought”
Expert advice and in-depth talks on how food really is not the enemy!
A Week and a Lifetime of Emotions
Last Wednesday I wrote and sent out a newsletter article sharing my feelings about that day’s events. Knowing that many others were having feelings like mine, I
Reduce the chance of eating disorders in children
I'm sure many of you could tell me at least one story about your mother, father or siblings doing or saying something that contributed to your poor
Food for Thought – The Real Enemy is Shame
Food is not the enemy, shame is. Shame is believing that you are rotten to your core. Dieting and eating perfect are
Critically Think Your Way to Feeling Good about Yourself
An acquaintance of mine, who knows what I do for a living and partially understands it, likes to tell me what he knows about the study of
Rules of the Dinner Table
I remember when sugar was the worst food you could eat. Then, fat was making all the "bad food" headlines. Now, it seems carbohydrates are the culprit
Size is Not the Enemy
A colleague, Tina Gilbertson, and I were talking about the support groups we have been attempting to start. My group is a process group for those struggling
Look fantastic on the outside, feel beautiful on the inside; no weight loss required
Pants, dresses, shorts, skirts, t-shirts, blouses, bras, lingerie, socks, tights, leggings... oh my! Silk, linen, wool, cashmere, cotton, denim, leather... exquisite! Patterns, prints, flowers, solids, sunny colors,
Understanding Your Family
As the holidays approach, you may feel excited and/or anxious about seeing your family. Or, perhaps you avoid your family and feel relief at not spending time
Self Criticism: The Very Loud Killer of Souls, Part 2
A few weeks ago I wrote about your critical voice. I talked about how it is probably the most harmful little voice you have in your head.
Three Stages of Recovery from Abuse: Beyond Survivor
Written by: Rachel Grant, Trauma Recovery Coach I grew up in a fairly small town in Oklahoma, and when I was five years old, my grandfather came
Tips for eating Thanksgiving Dinner, not your feelings
For this month’s newsletter, I am borrowing from my last year’s newsletter, “Thanksgiving, i.e. National Overeater’s Day”. It seems appropriate to talk once again about this day
The Holiday Binge Blues: How to Finally End the Cycle
I was recently listening to a Brené Brown lecture on CD. You’ve likely heard of her. She does research and speaks on a very popular (not!) topic
I admit it, I’m a Grinch this time of year
I was recently sitting in a restaurant, enjoying the conversation and the person I was with when suddenly my attention tuned into the happy, joyful Christmas music
More love in 2014
Last week I sent you an article talking about the lack of love in my life and how I needed to find it for myself. I talked
When comments about your body trigger you
Living in a weight obsessed society is no picnic. You don’t need to have an eating disorder to feel the effects of it. It is very difficult
“Fat!” Say it Loud, Say it Proud
My intern Tina and I were recently discussing the word FAT. She couldn't imagine herself saying the word, believing it to be filled with shame, stereotypes and
Food is Not the Enemy, Shame is
Shame. Likely the emotion you hate to feel the most. It gets pushed down and is often felt at the core of your struggles. Shame about food.
More of Me to Love on the Inside
I used to be a lone business owner. For years, I worked on my business all by myself. This is what I was taught after all. I
Does Food Addiction Really Exist
People love to make food the enemy. They blame food for giving them a big butt, tummy and thighs. They blame food for breaking up marriages and
Food for Thought – A Case for Emotions
I’m often asked, “Why do I need to feel my feelings… what good will it do?” My response is: How can you
Put Your Hunger on the Scale
Take a moment to contemplate the follow: Do you eat before you get hungry? Do you eat way after you're past being too hungry? Both are about
Stop the Diet Madness
I remember what it was like to feel so desperate to lose weight that I would do anything and try anything! I remember what it was like
Do You Suffer from Exercise Resistance?
You know you're supposed to exercise. You know it's good for you. You know you should like it and want to do it. But...You. Don't. Seem. To. Be.
Put Your Hunger on the Scale
Lately, I find myself saying to people, "Your weight isn't about what you eat, it is about how much you eat." It is easy to find people
Food for Thought – What’s in a Number… Nothing!
Food for Thought – Body image is a Tough One
Food for Thought – Is it Hunger or Emotions?
Eating Disorders Newsletter with Anne Cuthber MA, LPC, LMHC
Eat Well. Live Well.
Life is not only about exercise, it’s about an entire lifestyle change.
It is about emotions! Your emotions, my emotions. Because the emotions of our parents/children/neighbors/partner/friends and YOURS are all important! Being able to listen to those you care about… to really listen… is based in your ability to hear their emotions… the feelings that go with what that person is stating in words.
As well, your ability to cope with life’s challenges and with all your relationships has to do with how well you deal with your own emotions!
That’s what recovery from an eating disorder is all about… being able to tolerate your emotions, and the emotions of others!
One of the most important elements of that is to forgive yourself for not doing it perfectly! After all, perfection may be a big part of why you have disordered eating! Thus, giving you permission to eat to cope was my way of saying… it’s not about perfection but about working toward.