Recovery Matters by Leslie E Murray

Not All Black Girls Know How To Eat: A Story of Bulimia...an exclusive with Stephanie Covington Armstrong

 

 It is only when we allow our old stereotypes of "eating disorder patient" to fall away that begin to entertain the prospect that men, and Americans of every cultural background are falling prey to eating disorders.  

As Stephanie Covington Armstrong states in her memoir; Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat: A Story of Bulimia, letting go of the strong black woman archetype gave her permission to seek help for the eating disorder that was causing her incredible pain.  Stephanie states hopes that by writing this book allows it helps others to come forward and discuss their eating disorder and begin to let go of the shame that is holding them back from seeking treatment.  She laments that too many people continue to look to food and diets for happiness. Many Mondays are filled with new diets that bring another set of false promises that are shortly broken.  

 

Despite the groundbreaking territory, this novel covers by being the first narrative from an African American woman with an eating disorder, Ms. Armstrong's story resonates with all.   She later learned that friends and family knew and part of healing was navigating these relationships. 

Some of Stephanie's words about her experience...

A break up with a boyfriend brought up all my abandonment issues with my mother and father.  I had returned to acting to pay for my writing.  I remember at times getting rejected jobs... My friends were a size XX and I was a size XX.  I had never been overweight, but I started to notice sizes more...  But then I broke up with another boyfriend.  After that, I decided to never feel vulnerable again.  I wanted to control everything in the world.  I felt deeply unlovable.  I think I was born with such a hunger, it was only a matter of time... I chose bulimia because it was hidden.  I could hide from the world my pain and I could look normal...It was so important to me that you thought I was okay.

In "Not all Black Girls," Ms. Armstrong speaks of the struggle that she faced in attempting to recovered without health insurance.  Health care reform and developing improved access to care for those with eating disorders has become an area of interest for her because of her personal journey.

Today, Ms. Armstrong is able to claim a life free of eating disorders and body image preoccupations.  She is enjoying being a mother and looks forward to speaking and touring.

Stephanie Covington Armstrong will be featured September 10-12, 2009 at the National Eating Disorders Association Annual Conference in Minneapolis.  

 

 

 

 

 

PETA wants to "Save the Whales"

I came across this image today and visited the PETA website.  This billboard is displayed in Jacksonville, Florida near the beach.  Few things render me speechless.  Astonished.  Simply astonished.  Have they no shame? 

The most inflammatory part of the entire campaign is their use of an overweight woman's frame and equating with a whale.  How does that NOT promote dieting and societal shame. On their website, they even have a links leading to A+ vegan lunches for back to school and offer vegetarian starter kits. 

PETA has a long history of using people to pose in the nude "instead of wearing fur," which is fine...the majority of people cannot even afford fur. 

A woman has a right to don beachwear and relax.  

To put an overweight woman on a billboard near the beach and call her whale is tacky and thoughtless. 

They also used just a frame of a woman, a tactic used when showing the overweight.  Never the face.  People realize that showing a face humanizes what they are doing.  Cowardice allows you to laugh at someone behind their back.

PETA is always quick to call "fowl" when they feel others have offended.  It is their turn to apologize.