The Pressures That Kept Me From Loving Soccer

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From the time I was a little girl, I strived to please others. I thrived on praise and attention, and put all my efforts into being recognized and acknowledged. It was something I felt internally, but was never able to look inside, and see that was where my troubles were brewing. I happened to have gravitated toward soccer at the age of four. Not only did I enjoy it, but I stood out, and it came more natural to me than it did to others. It provided me a sense of accomplishment. It was clear from the start that soccer was my sport, and wasRead More →

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We all have a hero. Someone we look up to, place on a pedestal, and see as invincible. Heroes depict true success; lacking imperfections, and attaining triumph and prosperity. We may have an array of role models.  Heroes usually transpire based on our personal interests. Specifically, a young soccer player may idolize Mia Hamm; a little singer may worship Mariah Carey; while, an emerging actor may see Julianne Moore as the end all be all. But, these heroes all represent the intangible star, one of who we see on televisions, magazine covers, or on the Internet. Other heroes we inherently admire, appreciate, and respect areRead More →

Erin Mandras Kick the Scale

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I had received an instant message from him almost immediately after plugging in my laptop, turning it on, and signing into instant messenger. I had just arrived in Georgia to take a nine-day coaching course, with plans to travel to Michigan before heading back to Baltimore a couple weeks later. He introduced himself as, “Jon,” like I was supposed to have known who Jon was at the time. He then explained he was a friend of Jon’s — a guy I had recently gone on a date, having enjoyed his company, but knowing he wasn’t the “one.” Confused, frustrated, and annoyed at that point fromRead More →

Athlete's Anxieties When Eligibility Expires

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I spent countless hours in the weight room as a college athlete. Each session, I entered through the double doors, opened the drawer, and routinely pulled out the sheet of paper with my name at the top. There it listed each exercise, and the goal for the amount of repetitions I perform on each one. I embraced the challenges, and felt satisfaction from the pain I endured throughout each lift. I pushed with all my might as my arms trembled from the bench press, and watched through the mirror as my legs shook uncontrollably; true signs of strength, muscle gain, and resilience. The feelings were bothRead More →

Erin Konheim Mandras

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It’s like signing up for a race, not really preparing or training for it, and setting out and finishing with an unbelievable time. If you don’t beat that time the next race, do you feel as accomplished? Or, it’s like setting a personal record in collections in one week’s time. The following week, if not matched or beaten, do you feel like a failure? For me, I have a tendency to set a goal, and once reached, anything less feels unfulfilling. According to Entrepreneur and Online Marketing Expert, Neil Patel, in Entrepreneur, “When we don’t get fulfillment, our psychological response is anxiety or tension.” Based on myRead More →

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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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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I recently had the opportunity to e-meet Stacey Rosenfeld, PhD, who is the author of “Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder: Challenging Our Nation’s Fixation with Food and Weight.” She is a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders and body image issues. Dr. Rosenfeld was formerly a staff psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City and at the UCLA Counseling Center in Los Angeles. She was excited to interview me to learn more regarding a patient’s perspective on recovery. In addition, she published the interview on her blog, Every Woman has an Eating Disorder, which has just been named a top eating disorder blog ofRead More →

A Letter from Priscilla to Max - From Mother to Daughter

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Just this morning, I was sitting in the office of one of my biggest role models. He is a man of many trades; but most notorious for being a Rabbi, entrepreneur, writer/blogger, technology guru, husband, and father to three kids. Every conversation with him sparks ingenious ideas. We were discussing this ever so popular Mark Zuckerberg story that has blown up all over social media. Before I go any further, I would like to, first, congratulate him and Priscilla on their baby girl, Max. Having a child is the most amazing, wonderful, exhausting, scary, stressful, and exciting endeavor one can imagine.  Rabbi Jason Miller wasRead More →