“Life doesn’t begin at a certain weight” Interview with Lee Blum about Eating Disorder Awareness
February 27, 2011 by MaggieY
Filed under Body Image, CL ExCLusives!, CL on your Campus, Freshman 15, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Nutrition and Health Interviews, University of Kansas, What We Love, Womens Health
Eating disorders are defined as “a group of serious conditions in which you’re so preoccupied with food and weight than you can often focus on little else,” according to mayoclinic.com. The primary eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Unfortunately many co-eds suffer from one of these conditions and it disrupts their quality of life in college. It is important to be aware of eating disorders so that you can take precautions to keep you and your friends happy, healthy, and eager to enjoy life!
Recently Lee Wolfe Blum, an eating disorder survivor and speaker, came to the University of Kansas and delivered an empowering and informational lecture. Blum works as a health educator and has a mission to raise awareness about eating disorders. I was so intrigued by her speech that I decided to interview this amazing lady.
What is the best way for girls to let a friend know that they are concerned their friend might have an eating disorder?
Blum: “The best way is to always ask instead of pretending nothing is wrong, you are better off talking about the elephant in the room. Start with ‘I noticed you…’ and describe what you see. Then say something similar to ‘I’m concerned, would you be willing to go talk to somebody?’ Also let them know that you will accompany them to the dietician or counselor and make sure that you hold them accountable.”
What are signs to look for if you are concerned a friend has an eating disorder?
Blum: “One of the biggest red flags is when they talk about food, exercise, and their body all of the time. Many people will isolate themselves, say that they already ate, or pick at their foods.”
What are the first steps a girl should take if she thinks she has an eating disorder?
Blum: “Go and see a counselor or a dietician and ask a close friend if she has noticed anything.”
What would you tell people that don’t understand why people with eating disorders ‘just can’t eat’?
Blum: “Don’t try and use rational thought for something irrational. It is a paralyzing disease and addiction and you have to have help to stop. It’s a beast that takes over.”
What is the most important lesson that you learned from working through an eating disorder yourself?
Blum: “For myself, knowing that when I was in a dark place that there was hope and I could live a normal life. Never give up because life can always change and hope and life are on the other side of the yucky disease. I have to be mindful of my choices and how they relate to me, not what others are doing.”
What helped you with recovery the most?
Blum: “7 things”:
- Powerlessness: ‘Admit that you have it’
- Support group: ‘You need people that speak the same language’
- Community: ‘Be around people who make you better. People who are doing fun things and really living life’
- Counselor
- Dietician
- Spiritual Food: ‘Think of the body like a banana. The peel is your appearance and the banana is your soul. Feed the banana and fill your spiritual place, your soul’
- Volunteering: ‘It helps you get out of yourself. Ask yourself how much time you spend on your banana peel and how much time you spend on the banana. You should be spending more time feeding the banana, your soul, but they are interactive. The spirit, body and soul work together’
What is the most fulfilling aspect of working with individuals with eating disorders?
Blum: “Seeing them in a dark place and watching them come back to life. They start to talk about their passions, and dreams. I can give hope to people when they think there is none.”
What inner qualities represent beauty to you?
Blum: “Honesty and living mindfully. People who are what they are, accept it, and show it to the world. That is so much more beautiful.”
If you could tell college girls that are concerned with their body image anything you wanted, what would you want to tell them?
Blum: “Life doesn’t begin at a certain weight, at what weight does life begin? Start celebrating who you are, not a certain weight. Accept your body the way it is and trust it. If I could go back to college I would dance, have fun, and live it up. Four years is short!”
“Participate in life because it’s messy, full of emotion, and beautiful. I would take that any day over an eating disorder.” -Blum
I hope that this information creates awareness about eating disorders so that all classy co-eds can live fabulous lives during their college years and beyond. Thank you to Lee Blum for the insightful information.
Blum has an up and coming book titled ‘Accidental Peace.’ It is the story of her recovery with a message of hope! Keep an eye out for this memoir.
Lee’s Blog: http://www.eatingdisordersblogs.com/you_me_and_ed/
National Eating Disorders Assocation: http://nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Maggie Young is a sophomore at the University of Kansas majoring in Journalism. She hopes that this article provided a message of eating disorder awareness and a positive message that inner beauty is what matters the most!
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Blum: “Don’t try and use rational thought for something irrational. It is a paralyzing disease and addiction and you have to have help to stop. It’s a beast that takes over.”
Sorry to disagree. The only way people can solve problems is by rational thought. Step one: State the problem. Step 2. Look at which principles are relevant. Etc. Check your work. Here are two books discussing this:
“Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better”. This discusses the “What’s the problem?” approach to thinking.
“Rational Thinking, Government Policies, Science, and Living”. Rational thinking starts with clearly stated principles, continues with logical deductions, and then examines empirical evidence to possibly modify the principles.
P.S. I am a university math professor.