Binge Eating Newsletter: Health

Hi everyone,

Instead of a true newsletter, I have a big rant for you today.  As you know, there was something that I was very excited about that was coming up.  Well, that something hit the newsstands on May 20th and I couldn’t be more disappointed in it.

Let me back up.  In March I was contacted by a writer from Health magazine.  She told me that she was writing an article on binge eating disorder and she came across my website and thought I would be a “wonderful addition to the article”.  Naturally, you can imagine how excited I was about this.  First, someone contacted me by finding my website.  How huge is that?  Second, here was the beginning for me to have the chance to really get my name out there and help people.  Things were looking good!

The writer interviewed me first through email, which was fine with me because I was nervous.  After emailing back and forth several times, she told me that she wanted to finish up the interview on the phone.  I spent about 20 minutes on the phone with her.  She asked me why I started bingeing in the first place, she went over particular facts with me to see if I agreed, and we talked about what helped me finally overcome binge eating disorder.  As we ended the call, she asked me if she could have another email address to contact me.  I thought this was odd since she had my email address connected to this website, but I gave her one of my Yahoo email addresses too.

When we got off the phone, I realized that I had taken for granted that my website was going to be included, so I emailed to verify that it would.  She replied back that they have very strict guidelines for including websites.  She said that someone needed to be an expert on the subject and that she was only interviewing me as someone who had binge eating disorder and overcame it.

I then wondered, why am I not considered an expert?  Well, those who are viewed as "experts" out there are those with the PhD at the end of their name and/or are nutritionists who help people eat healthy foods.  Nearly 99% of the time they have not had to deal with Binge Eating Disorder themselves. 

Call me crazy, but wouldn't an expert be someone who had Binge Eating Disorder, learned how to overcome it themselves, then created a method that others could use to overcome it - and helps people do so every day?

I don't know about you, but I would only want to learn from someone who actually jumped from a plane themselves if I wanted to learn how to skydive - not from someone who just read about it and never really knew what it was like or what needed to be done.  To me, an expert is someone who has first-hand experience in a subject, they've read everything they could get their hands on, they know the subject like the back of their hand, they help others, and maybe they've even developed their own methods based on that information.

So to make sure that I'm taken a little more seriously for future magazines, I'm now offically an expert at overcoming Binge Eating Disorder.  And truly, I know more about it than just about anyone else out there.  So why not?  :)

I was very mad because I wouldn’t have overcome Binge Eating Disorder without my own help.  What infuriates me the most is that I know that not being considered an 'expert' in the magazine's eyes has something to do with the fact that I don’t have any initials after my name and that is just absolutely absurd.

Newsflash to people:  Just because there is an initial after a name does not mean that they know what it is like to struggle with Binge Eating Disorder.  They don’t know what it is like to hate your life and binge, all while trying to figure out how to get out of the mess that you are in. 

Perhaps I should have sent them some of the emails I get from people saying that it is so nice to finally have someone that knows what they are going through.  I may not have an initial after my name, but I do have one thing that most of the labeled “experts” don’t have:  personal struggle and experience with Binge Eating Disorder - and a true proven method on how to overcome it.

Anyway...

I got an email from the editor asking me to approve what was going to be written about me.  Guess what email address that went to?  If you guessed my Yahoo one, you are right.  I replied back to the editor saying that I would like my website to be included and I gave him the site.  Then I received an email from the writer saying that they would like 2 or 3 pictures of myself to include.  I sent her three pictures and was hopeful.

After looking for Health magazine on the shelves of every grocery store, bookstore, and drugstore, it finally hit the stands on May 20.  It has to be said that my expectations for the article were not high.  I’ve heard too many stories from people who have been extremely disappointed after being interviewed for an upcoming article.  I will admit – I was hopeful.  Extremely hopeful at the chance to get to help people.

Today I am at Barnes & Noble working and I couldn’t wait to pick up the magazine and take a look.  The article is five pages long and my name is mentioned a few times.  No website and no pictures. 

There are pictures of others with a quote from them.  Also, the writer says that what helped me most was therapy.  WHAT!?!?

Yes, therapy was a very important part of the puzzle, but therapy was never what got me to overcome binge eating unless you want to call it "self-therapy".  I overcame Binge Eating Disorder by improving myself and the way that I thought first.  It was by figuring myself out and coming up with a plan. It was changing all aspects of my life to better myself.  It was not solely therapy. 

Yes, I did speak to someone when I was first coming to terms with binge eating disorder.  Was it helpful?  Of course it was.  Talking to someone allowed me to get my feelings out and start to see what was really going on in my head.  It wasn't until months later that I finally came up with my own plan to overcome binge eating disorder.  But did it help me the most?  I'm sorry to say that no, it wasn't what helped me the most.

What helped me the most was ME.  For those of you who have read my eBook, you know what I'm talking about.  It all comes down to YOU when overcoming Binge Eating Disorder.  Yes, speaking to someone and others is a big stepping stone when first coming to terms with binge eating, but in the end... what helped me the most and what will help you the most is: YOU.

OK... are you ready for this?

Here’s my favorite part about the article (and I say this with much sarcasm):  At the end of the article there are some websites where people can go to get help.  Drum roll please…

There is a website for a nutritionist that runs a diet boot camp.  How fantastic is that? 

Not only are people not supposed to focus on dieting when they have Binge Eating Disorder, but now you can embark on a diet bootcamp which will sabotage you even more (in my opinion) and help to keep you living in this nightmare. 

Don’t you want to run out and join?  Also, bingers are labeled brain-dead (my own words) because we don’t have a clue on how we are supposed to eat.  Are you kidding me – chips, cookies, cake, bagels, hamburgers, and popcorn aren’t healthy?  How shocking.  You mean we are supposed to eat fruits, veggies, and whole grains because those are healthy items?  Thanks for educating us.

The problem with binge eating is that it stems from a more underlying issue – whether it’s stress, boredom, something emotional, loneliness, bad childhood, and the list goes on and on.  The problem is not that people don’t know what healthy foods they should eat.  The problem is that people don’t know how to stop bingeing and gain control over their life so that they can choose healthy foods. 

How was this highly important fact missed?

I always knew that I should have grabbed an apple instead of going to Taco Bell, but I also knew that I was not going to get the same satisfaction from an apple.  I knew that an apple wasn’t going to just put me in a trance so that I didn’t have to deal with a bad day at work, any kind of sadness, or being overwhelmed.  I wanted Taco Bell.

I am just so frustrated with this article on so many different levels… and the biggest thing is that it is so much more than just mentioning my name in the article.

It’s the fact that binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, according to a Harvard study.  It’s the fact that there are over 5 million people suffering from binge eating disorder and they desperately need help so that they can start living their life.  Now don't get me wrong, I am by far not bashing Health or any of the experts out there.  But what I am saying is that this is EXACTLY what made things worse for me when trying to overcome binge eating.

It was nearly impossible for me to find someone out there who actually had Binge Eating Disorder and found a way to overcome it.  And I know that's still true today based on all of the emails I receive everyday from you.  However, there were and still are many, many people who studied it, have PhD's in something, and focus on helping people overcome Binge Eating Disorder.  But they really truly don't know what it feels like when you are a binge eater.  And, like the suggested websites found at the end of the article in Health... many tell you to just go to a nutritionist.  Yeah... that works.  SUUUUUUUUURE.

As you know, I read every single book, report, study, and website on the planet when it comes to Binge Eating Disorder.  Doing so only made me more confused, depressed, and it only lead me to binge even more because I couldn't find a solution.  I learned all the fact, but no one ever told me a true step-by-step method on how to overcome binge eating.  That's why I created one that works and then wanted to share it with the world to help others like you.

But here's what REALLY upsets me about the article...

It’s the fact that people are being misguided by thinking that a diet or sticking to only 'good foods' is going to curb bingeing.  This is only going to make things worse for people because they will only end up getting more frustrated after it doesn't work.  And what do we do then?  We binge like crazy on bad foods because it makes us feel better - and after trying more things that don't work... we binge even more.

It's an endless cycle when you are trying to put an end to binge eating when you are following such advice.  I know all of you know exactly what I mean here.  We've all been through it over and over and over again!

This has kept me up ALL night thinking about this...

It makes me SO SAD to think that if I read that article back a few years ago and followed everything in there, I would end up right where I was before.  It hurts me so much to think about the millions of people who really need help just aren't getting it out there.  I know I can help all of these people.  I know for a fact that my plan to truly overcoming Binge Eating Disorder forever works because it did for me and so many of you reading this.

Please know that last night and this morning the article is all I can think about and it's really upsetting me.  And it's not for the fact that my photos didn't make it into the magazine, or for the fact that they didn't include my website, or even the fact that they didn't include everything that I said on the phone or via email - or even 5% of it.  Believe me - not at all. 

It really makes me feel sick for the fact that I had a chance to reach out to seven million people and scream, "I can really help you!  I know exactly how to overcome Binge Eating Disorder!  I believe in you!"  Here was the chance for us to help millions of people finally learn how to overcome binge eating disorder once and for all.  A chance to end their search and get their life back on track.  And, well... somehow my voice was not heard - or even some of the things I had said on the phone or via email mentioned.  Somehow the one solution that people needed - and are begging for out there, was never provided to them.

I've come to realize even more that it’s the sheer fact that people need a lot more education out there… and that’s where I need your help.

I’m not exactly sure what I am going to do about this, so if you have any ideas on how we can spread the word better please email me.  It’s my true desire to help as many people as I can and after reading this article, I’m frustrated and upset.  I’m so sad for the people who will continue to struggle with Binge Eating Disorder.

Mary Ann emailed me last night after she read the article in Health magazine and was just as disappointed in the article.  Here’s some of her email: 

“As a former binge eater, that article did nothing for me.  If I read it a few months ago, my heart would have just sunk if I bought the magazine just for that article, as a person needing help.  It was patronizing also.  It’s almost like they don't really even understand binge eating.  For those of us who have been there, that article is so far off the mark.  Now, don't forget that I will write to Health and let them know how disappointed I am.  I plan on including your website so they know where people who have Binge Eating Disorder need to go.”

If you happen to read the article and feel like MaryAnn does – maybe a good idea would be to write to them as well.  We just have to do whatever it takes to educate people with the right information of Binge Eating Disorder. 

Thanks for reading this “newsletter”.  I know it was anything but typical, but I just had to get out my frustrations and do what I can for all of you who are so appreciative of the things that I’m doing and trying to do.

Remember... I believe in you!

 P.S... Two things.  For one, if you missed my last newsletter, I'm getting ready to launch a new eBook.  For more information, please click here to learn how you can be the first to get it.  And second, I am almost finished with a brand new website that will be launching within the next week or two at the very most.  It's been VERY difficult to get this up and running and my boyfriend Rob and his programmer spent a week straight trying to get it to work.  Well, they finally did it and I'm working on it to get it ready to launch to you.  I can't wait for you to see it. :)