Eating disorder might be coming back :(

I lost 30 pounds when my eating disorder started more than a year ago, and got to 112lbs at 5'7''. Then I recovered and gained up to 127lbs. Now I'm around 121lbs -- weirdly lost weight without much effort, because I was taking fluoxetine and it took away my appetite. I was doing alright, happy with my body and eating what I wanted when I wanted it, stopped counting calories and everything was fine.

I don't take fluoxetine anymore. But now my brain wants to convince me that I can lose some more weight and not get all crazy and anorexic again -- which is very triggering. I know I'm at a healthy weight and that I don't need to lose, but something inside me wants me to.

I always support people on this site who want to recover and come to my inbox for help. But this time I may be the one who's needing some help. Can someone say some words of encouragement please? I don't want to get sick again. :(

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'Coming Out' Can Bring Health Benefits, Study Says

TUESDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Being open about their sexual orientation offers health benefits for lesbians, gays and bisexuals, according to a new study.

"Coming out is no longer a matter of popular debate but a matter of public health," said study lead author Robert-Paul Juster, of the Centre for Studies on Human Stress at the University of Montreal's Louis H. Lafontaine Hospital.

He and his colleagues looked at 87 men and women, about age 25, who had different sexual orientations (gay, lesbian, bisexual or heterosexual) and found that lesbians, gays and bisexuals who were out to others had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression and burnout.

When a person is under chronic stress, cortisol contributes to "wear and tear" on a number of the body's systems. Taken together, this strain is called allostatic load, the study said.

"Our goals were to determine if the mental and physical health of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals differs from heterosexuals and, if so, whether being out of the closet makes a difference. We used measures of psychiatric symptoms, cortisol levels throughout the day, and a battery of over 20 biological markers to assess allostatic load," Juster said in a university news release.

The researchers found that, contrary to their expectations, gay and bisexual men had lower depressive symptoms and allostatic load levels than heterosexual men. And, "lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals who were out to family and friends had lower levels of psychiatric symptoms and lower morning cortisol levels than those who were still in the closet," Juster added.

The findings, published Jan. 29 in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, highlight the positive effect that self-acceptance and being open about their sexual orientation can have on the health and well-being of lesbians, gays and bisexuals, the study authors said.

But that may only be the case in open and tolerant societies.

"Coming out might only be beneficial for health when there are tolerant social policies that facilitate the disclosure process," Juster said. On the other hand, he added, societal intolerance during the disclosure process generates increased distress and contributes to mental and physical health problems.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender health.

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Summer Is Coming!

Spring Break means summer is coming!

I’ve got good news and bad news.

Bad news is:  Spring Break is over.

Good news is:  Summer is Coming!

Being in Florida this past week has gotten me in the mood for summer!  I got up when I woke up (no alarm!).  I enjoyed my coffee while reading blogs and checking Facebook.  Then, I went out for a nice long workout every day.  After that, I spent some time in the sun, caught up on blogging, and truly enjoyed relaxation.

When Kristen and I were driving into Destin on Thursday, I was quickly reminded that in two short months, I would be back there at the beach with my family.  I would very much like to be wearing a new swimsuit and weigh less.

If I think, “I need to lose 12 pounds before summer, that is a bit overwhelming!”  If I break it down into weeks, it seems much more manageable.

I have 10 weeks until we leave for the beach.  If I want to lose 12 pounds before then, I need to lose 1.2 pounds a week.  1.2 pounds a week sounds much more do-able than losing 12 pounds before summer.

So, that’s my summer goal.  The last time I weighed in at Weight Watchers, I weighed 185.  By the time I leave for the beach, in 10 weeks, I would like to weigh 173.

I know what to do.  I just need to do it!

Do you have vacation plans for this summer?  How would you like to look out on the beach?  Set a goal, make a plan, and then break it down by pounds per week so it is more manageable.  Then, share it with us so we can all be accountable to one another!

Summer is Coming…will you be ready?

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