Erin Konheim Mandras Blog Eating Disorders

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We were waiting to hear back the results from my 14-month-old’s endoscopy. The pediatric gastroenterologist who was caring for and treating my son had us prepared for what she anticipated the biopsy would reveal. History The prior 14 months had been exhausting, challenging, and extremely difficult as a mother and parent. The issues we faced daily since his birth included spitting up, vomiting, difficulty bottle feeding, and then refusal to eat solid foods at the time we were instructed to introduce them. Though he had struggled to initially gain weight, he somehow made it out of the “red,” and his growth became a nonissue. TheRead More →

sports-illustrated-three-covers

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Sports Illustrated Made Monumental Statement; but, it is not the answer. I have often dreamed of.. …having long, skinny legs. …not having my inner thighs touch. …fitting in a size double zero. …owning long, wavy hair. …being sized in a double “D” bra. …possessing a flat stomach. …having narrow shoulders. …having zero fat on my body. When I think of a Hollywood “model” and “beauty,” I think of all the above qualities. The standard of beauty has been illustrated in a way where, as a society, we all have the same vision of beauty and of the perfect body. As somebody who suffered terribly fromRead More →

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As someone who was significantly affected by media, attaining the ideal body type, dieting and exercising to lose weight, and taking it to the extreme, I know how celebrities influence millions of people. Whether it be through behaviors, public statements, or even photographs, they are followed and aped so closely. However, when a person, like myself, is replicating similar actions to that of a celebrity, and has a genetic predisposition and a particular personality, then one becomes susceptible to developing an eating disorder. According to an article in Huffington Post, “Dying to be thin in our celebrity-driven culture has become prevalent not only with yourRead More →

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Immediately following my blog post, Destined for Food to be the Focal Point, I was contacted by a friend on Facebook, who I had been connected to by a mutual friend. She expressed an uneasy concern about how my description of Austin’s symptoms and issues matched that of her, at the time, six-month-old son. We spoke in detail over the phone and through text messaging, and we both concurred that all signs pointed toward food allergies. However, pediatricians do not advise testing until babies reach the one year old mark. She, a Rutgers University graduate with a psychology degree, and I, a Michigan State University graduate withRead More →

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I had the pleasure of connecting with and interviewing Stacey M. Rosenfeld, Ph.D. Dr. Rosenfeld is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York, California, and Florida. She is an eating disorder and addiction specialist, also focusing on sport and exercise psychology. She is, also, the author of Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder? Challenging Our Nation’s Fixation with Food and Weight (June, 2014). You wrote a book on “Every woman has an eating disorder.” Obviously every woman is not receiving therapy or help. At what point does someone need interventional assistance and support? Not every woman has an eating disorder but my point was to highlight howRead More →

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I had the amazing opportunity to visit my old stomping grounds, alma mater, and meet with the critical people who played a major role in my maturation process, provided support, and guided me to become the best person I could possibly be at the time I walked across the stage to receive my college diploma from Michigan State University. I expressed to these leaders, administrators, and, now, colleagues that by the end of my college journey and enduring the most challenging obstacle I had ever faced, I was forced to quickly acquire qualities that I had been lacking. Prior to that experience, I had beenRead More →

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Over two feet of snow. Storm Jonas. Blizzard of the century. All highlighted stories we, in Baltimore, Maryland, have heard leading up to this horrific snow storm. Though the news stations, weather channels, and meteorologists have done a superb job at preparing us for this dreadful weekend, it was very hard to believe it would actually happen. That, or I was just in such denial in an effort to block the thought of being locked in my house for two full days with our 4 and 2-year-old sons.  For a rigid and routined person, the thought of not having the ability to plan my dayRead More →

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As I approach the 12th anniversary of my Rock Bottom Car Accident AND a historic snow storm expected to bring “crippling conditions” to Baltimore, I reflect back on my journey of developing anorexia nervosa, and living with it. I try to recall the vivid thoughts that floated through my mind at the most critical points of my disorder. People often ask what helped most in my recovery process. I don’t believe there is a clear, definitive answer to this question, but I can tell you that multiple aspects contributed to the change of my attitude, thoughts, and motives. The first, and probably most significant, aspect that drove me in the direction of recoveryRead More →

Erin Konheim Mandras - Kick the Scale

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After battling and overcoming an eating disorder of my own, I am now comfortable, content, and confident with my exercise regime and body image – though, still at times, I do have self-doubt, but need to bring myself back to reality. After experiencing an excessive exercise issue, as well, which typically goes hand-in-hand with an eating disorder, I am now conscious of these ever-so prevalent issues, and how they may affect others. I had just finished my workout. As I walked down the steps to arrive in the health club lobby, I collided with a group of women who had seemed to just finish aRead More →

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Originally published at Kveller.com It was an unusual couple of months for me. I had committed to taking a group fitness class for several weeks straight. It involved spinning combined with insanity. As we adjusted the settings on our individual bikes, my friend shouted out something that stuck with me. After just delivering her second baby only weeks before, and being on maternity leave during this particular class, she yelled, “I told my husband last night that if he lets me quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom, I promise to lose all my weight and look like a gorgeous, skinny model.” When itRead More →