Lifestyle Management Blog. Making space for a healthy lifestyle

Lack of Oxygen

2012-02-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

As we complete month 1 of this New Year I am reminded that each of us has great potential. We all have new opportunities for health, wealth and happiness. In making space for my own personal opportunities, I was struck by an article in my University of Colorado alumni bulletin about the 1996 Mount Everest climb gone awry. You might recall the expedition of seasoned climbers who had well laid plans for making it safely to the summit. Eight climbers died on that tragic day. Of 3300 climbers who have ever made it to the top of the highest peak in the world, 220 have died. That is less than 1%. Don’t forget that 10-15% of people with eating disorders die. Eating disorders are way more risky than climbing Mount Everest…

Years later, one of the survivors of that climb, Neal Beidleman, a CU grad, returned to the mountain and had this to say: “A lot of people have burdened Scott and Rob (two seasoned guides who perished) and others up there after the fact with all the things they should have done. But the reality is, once you are out of oxygen, your world becomes very small and you are capable of becoming very limited. I was reminded of that.”

Oxygen is fuel. HEALTHY FOOD is also fuel. Without both, our world can become very small, and all our potential is lost and we ourselves become very small and limited. No one chooses to get an eating disorder. And you CAN CHOOSE to have, or not have eating disorder behaviors. The thoughts linger, ED’s voice can be very strong at times, and each person has the choice to say NO to behaviors, and YES to life!

Neal also had this to say: “…You can come to terms with accepting what your limitations are. Just allowing yourself to appreciate that you maybe did everything you could under the circumstances is really powerful.”

So, today, work on accepting yourself, make space for goodness and new opportunities, and BREATHE!

Ann Hull, LISW, MBA

The Hull Institute, LLC

http://www.hullinstitute.com/. PLease feel free to comment on our blogs and contact us on Facebook and Twitter

A Christmas Carol

2011-12-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

"He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle*, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us Every One! "
From "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens, 1843
Most of us have seen this movie and play. The story about Scrooge may remind you of yourself today, or in the past, or as you fear your future. The spirits of Christmas past, future and present remind us to live in the now and enjoy what we have now. If we are lamenting the past or fretting the future, we cannot be present and grateful for what we have and who we are right now.
The Total Abstinence Principle is worth considering. Please ponder this statement:* The Total Abstinence Principle has nothing to do with teetotaling or the avoidance of other ordinary vices; instead it is abstinence from being bitter, mean-spirited, angry, dour, greedy, grasping, self-centered, and unforgiving. Especially dour.
http://goatcentral.blogspot.com/2008/12/total-abstinence-principle.html
In the eating disorders world, abstinence means abstinence from ED behaviors, or NOT straying from the meal plan. Can you, can anyone, have abstinence from dour feelings without first having abstinence from your eating disorder behaviors?
How can you make this holiday season what YOU want it to be? Will it include ED and other abusive voices in your head or in real life? Can you have both: your eating disorder and a season of health, a healthy relationship with yourself or loving relationships with others? Please share your thoughts, feelings and ideas with us and others who want to hear from you.
It is your choice. We at The Hull Institute hope you choose health and love and we wish you a joyous holiday season and a fabulous 2012!

2011-11-21T17:31:00.000-08:00

As we share Thanksgiving with family and friends, we acknowledge it is a time of gratitude and thankfulness. We also know it is a time of great anxiety to those experiencing an eating disorder—either personally or as witness to someone we care about. The following may sound familiar…
So much trepidation. So much deceit. Everyone is seated around the table. So much food. To her, disgusting amounts of food. She may secretly want to dive in head first. But, she can’t. She would never. She is frozen. She feels that all eyes are on her again. Another holiday. No matter where she is in her eating disorder, she’s never quite sure how to play it. This head game. She tries to be normal. They know she’s not. They are worried: waiting anxiously to see a change, an improvement, a sign that she’s ”over it”. They try not to let her see their glances. She sees. To her, it feels like judgment day.
She should not make a scene right now. Or should she? What does it matter? They are all watching her anyway. Anticipating her cry for attention. Or maybe willing her to plea for help... But, if she pulls off “normal”, they will rest assured that (if only) for the time being, she’s better. They’ll move on to other things. She will escape their scrutiny (if only) for today.
They are all so judgmental. Nagging her. Concerning themselves with her health. Wanting to help fix this battle she deals with all day—every day. Hoping she will experience joy and fully engage in life. Praying she will conquer and move on. They, too, deal with this all day. Every day.
She has a choice to make today, on this holiday. And every day is a new day.
While seeking help may be difficult for some, offering help may be difficult for others. With family and friends around, be gentle with one another. Count your blessings, hug your loved ones and be grateful for these times. The Hull Institute wishes you all a very peaceful and happy Thanksgiving.

Appetite For Thought

2011-11-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Appetite: 1. desire for food 2. any strong desire; craving

These, according to Webster, are the plain and simple definitions of appetite. Appetite is something we deal with every day. Plain and simple? Hardly. To some, appetite means a raging void, never to be filled, whether it is food, exercise, money, sex, drugs, material things or love.

To others, appetite is misplaced- a passive thought- never really given the respect it deserves. Appetite can be big and intrusive or small and ignored. Think about your appetite. What do you crave? Is it normal? How much craving is acceptable and justifiable?

Whether you have an eating disorder, disordered eating or are eating well, your appetite is worth your attention.

Jill Brown, RD, LD
11-13-11

The Hull Institute Introductory Blog

2011-10-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Following Directions Now: Getting Started
Welcome to The Hull Institute Blog: Following Directions Now. As we go, we will provide more information about acceptance that sometimes, we need to ask for help and follow the directions of others. We appreciate your interest and participation.

About us: The Hull Institute is a counseling practice for eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and food addictions. We've been around Cleveland, OH for 7 years. To learn more about us, check out our website at http://www.hullinstitute.com/.

We will offer our professional thoughts on recovery and ways to make positive changes in your life. We welcome your posts on what has worked for you and what has not. Please keep reading, take an active role in your own recovery, and help others at the same time.

We will add a new post to the blog at least weekly, so come along with us on our recovery journey!

We look forward to hearing from you

Ann Hull and The Hull Institute Staff