My battle with anorexia

by Rachel
(Wisconsin)

My looks never brought me contentment or happiness…

Striving to be noticed was a big part of my life. I am competitive and I wanted perfection, especially when it came to my appearance. Unfortunately I was bombarded by what the media would tell us is beautiful...super skinny.

I became overly sensitive when it came to body image…believing I was fat. I wanted to impress others so I lost weight. At first I was just thin. Then I took it too far and dropped too much weight. I was below a healthy BMI for my height.

I looked tired and my hair and nails were dull and lifeless. I had no zest for life the way I used to. I simply lacked energy.

Being honest with myself is what pulled me out of my eating disorder. I knew I needed help. My first step was to ask God.

Searching scripture helped me realize that my body is a temple that I need to respect. By denying myself proper nutrients I am destroying an important tool God gave me, my body! Confiding in family and friends also assisted me in recovery.

Now days I am so enthusiastic about sharing with girls that they don’t need to fit society’s idea of the perfect body. I am married now and when I have children of my own I want to instill in them pride for what their body’s can do rather then their outward appearance. My goal is to raise children who know how to serve God with their body’s rather then be overwhelmingly concerned by how their body’s look to others.

"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27