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Train Your Mind for Change

Break Free from Bulimia: 5 Steps for Lasting Change

Feeling frustrated [with yourself] and want to create a lasting change in your life? Here's inspiration for sharing the steps to lasting change... As I’m writing this I’ve just returned from volunteering for 5 days in Los Angeles at Tony…

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Nikki Dubose Recovered Bulimic Anorexic Interview

Interview With Fashion Model Nikki Dubose

I’ve been reading the recently released memoir of Nikki Dubose called Washed Away: From Darkness to Light. I sense so much hope from this woman and her life's message.  To read about what she’s been through and how she is…

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UCSD Eating Disorder Research Study (Participants Wanted)

I was recently contacted by Laura Greathouse (cool name!) from the UCSD Eating Disorder Center for Research. They are actively seeking participants for a study of eating disorder recovery and the brain.  Below are some of the details and please…

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Sometimes You Need to Distance Yourself To See Clearly

Breaking Addiction by Lance Dodes, MD: My Book Review

I’ve been reading the book Breaking Addiction: A 7-Step Handbook for Ending Any Addiction by Lance Dodes, MD recently. I have highlighted many parts of this book because there are lots of key insights about addiction that I want to…

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Happiness is Always a Choice

How Can I Be Happy? Ask Better Questions!

I want to use a personal example to demonstrate the power of asking questions to help you on your path to answering "how can I be happy?" I had this awesome ah-ha moment this morning that inspired this post. I…

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Binges Happen When You Feel Powerless

I recently bought a few more books on addiction and habits that I look forward to sharing insights with you about as I read them.  The one I'm studying now is called Breaking Addiction: A 7-Step Handbook for Ending Any…

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Without Belief There is No Lasting Change

I'm diving deeper into the study of habits - how they're created, what triggers them, how to change them and the like - so I was recently absorbed by the book The Power of Habits reading it from cover to…

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Start Each Day With A Positive Thought

What Would Polly Do?

As I enter my 10th year of bulimia recovery sometimes I forget how much it helps to share my life and experiences with people who are still struggling to find their way to lasting recovery. I had an opportunity to…

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3 Must Have’s For a Happy Life

I recorded a podcast with Alen Standish of ProgressNotPerfection.com last week and it was so much fun. Click here to listen from Alen's website to our 1 hour call on Creating Happiness! As I was preparing for the interview, I…

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An Insight into Eating Disorders in Men

A post from my friend and writer/blogger Laura Chapman. Like most people I had always associated eating disorders with women, but that was until two of my male friends disclosed to me that they were struggling with their relationship with…

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Tips for Creating New Meanings & More Happiness

Ever see yourself in the pit of despair or really upset about something and ask “How the hell did I get here?” or “why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?!” Boy, I sure have.…

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Tell a New Story & Create Your New Life

Last month I attended a week long workshop called Date with Destiny with Tony Robbins in Palm Springs, CA.  It was a wonderful program and Tony was definitely on his game.  I met so many wonderful new people from around…

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My Eating Disorder Recovery Pinterest Board

If you're a Pinterest lover like me, be sure to check out my Pinterest board of eating disorder recovery quotes and inspirations.  I was just reading my own pins and I'm inspired by how much love and hope and light…

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Bulimia Recovery Tip: Extreme Self Care

I'd like to share a bulimia recovery tip, but I think this advice applies to all women - whether you have bulimia, anorexia or no eating disorder at all. This is what I refer to as my "prescription for extreme…

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Best Eating Disorder Blogs of 2013 – Thank You!

I'm honored to share that this little bulimia recovery blog of mine was honored again this year to be awarded one of The Best Eating Disorder Blogs of 2013 by Healthline.com. I'm so grateful. I'm so hopeful. I'm freakin' motivated…

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Divorce and Bulimia – How Do I Cope?

I’m reminded of a few stories today that are carrying me through a transition period in my life.  Well, I guess one is really a quote and one is a story.  You see, I’m in the midst of separating from…

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Stop Binge Eating With A Personal Check In

A lot of the coaching clients I work with enjoy this technique I have to share with you today for your bulimia recovery. The Personal Check In The personal check in is an emotional status check with yourself.  Watch this…

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Share Your Eating Disorder Secret – It Helps!

If you're living with the secret of anorexia or bulimia, please understand your eating disorder behaviors thrive on your shame. The more you isolate yourself, the more you keep it a secret, the more it leads to suffering. If you…

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Bulimia Support Group & Coaching Calls

I'm in the midst of starting up what I hope will become a huge network of bulimia support group calls (and all ED's really).  If you're not on my newsletter, you may not have seen my message about these calls,…

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14 Ways to Love Your SELF More

Do you know how when you come across something and wish you had come up with it because it's awesome?! That's how I felt when I read my friend Julie Parker's post called "14 Ways to Love Yourself More (update:…

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Bulimia Support Group Calls – Are You Interested?

If you're not already on my email newsletter, you may not have heard that I'm putting together bulimia support group/coaching calls right now. I have not promoted them online or posted the dates/times yet because I'm still inviting people to…

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Empowerment Thinking: Choose Your Thoughts

What if I told you you were a meaning making machine? You go around through your day making meaning of all of the things you see and that come into your life. In every situation your mind is giving meaning…

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Here’s How You Can Overcome Bulimia Forever

I'm excited to share a few bulimia help tips in the form of my recommendations for 13 rituals for sustained bulimia recovery.  If that left you asking, "what do you mean by rituals?" Allow me to explain. You are your…

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Danielle’s Bulimia Recovery Story Update!

This is a follow up post from my friend and fellow recovered bulimic, Danielle from Texas.  Danielle shared her new-found bulimia recovery story a year ago.  She emailed me over the holidays to share an update.  I was so excited when…

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Eating Disorder Help: Ask Better Questions

I'm excited to share this eating disorder help idea I have for you. Early on in my bulimia recovery I learned about the process of manifestation which says our... Thoughts --> Feelings --> Actions --> Results I think this definition…

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3 Tips to Stop Worrying

Will this structured meal plan make me gain weight?  If I have dinner with a friend, will I be able to stop the urge to binge after we eat?  I've had this eating disorder for 15 years, what if I…

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Tell a New Story

It's time to tell a new story.I realize now that if you want recovery from anorexia or bulimia you can't keep telling a story of addiction, shame and not-good-enough.That ah-ha moment hit me yesterday as I hiked for three hours…

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I Relapsed. Now I Feel Like a Failure.

In the last week I'm not sure what's happening (Mercury retrograde or whatever) but a number of women shared with me that they're either at the end of their rope with their eating disorder or have relapsed - some after…

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Why Serotonin is Your Secret Weapon Against Bulimia

Today is all about one of my favorite [natural] secrets to overcoming bulimia and eating disorders. Serotonin. Now this isn't to say that you just need to pop a pill filled with serotonin and your bulimia or anorexia will disappear. …

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Best Eating Disorder Videos of 2012

Healthline.com recently announced their top 14 eating disorder recovery videos of 2012.  I haven't had a chance to watch them all yet, but I wanted to make sure you had a link to them right away so you could check…

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The 12 Steps of Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

It's been just over a year since I originally posted my series about the 12 Steps of Overeaters Anonymous in time for the holidays.Many years ago the 12 Steps of OA (akin to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous) was…

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Decide That You Are Worthy

I have a deck of affirmation cards I keep in my bathroom to remind me of uplifting and inspirational ideas.  The one I read today said, Decide that you are worthy. If you say you're worthy, you are. If you…

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What Are You Blessed With?

Today is the Thanksgiving Day holiday in the US and I have been reflecting on all of the things I'm thankful for. What makes it especially easy to notice what I'm thankful for is because of the fact that we…

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I AM ENOUGH

If you saw my last post on shame and vulnerability where I shared about Brene Brown's talk on TED, I just wanted to add a little more today after reading more about her books and her work. I just ordered…

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Understanding Shame and Vulnerability

I listened to this amazing TEDx Talk from a charming woman from Houston, Dr. Brene Brown, about the distinctions between shame and guilt and her study of vulnerability (embedded videos below). I highly recommend a listen to both of her…

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Insight From Recovered Bulimic – Live and Learn

This insight came about in sort of an unusual way for my bulimia recovery blog.  But I figure if "my life is my message", then whenever I have new insights about recovery I'll share them.  Whether my learnings about life…

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Bulimia Self Help Tip: Do Only What You Want to Do

If there’s anything I’ve learned about recovering from bulimia the past 7+ years it’s doing what makes me feel good.  I wasn’t always this way.  Well, sort of… I was an only child and I’m learning right now that I…

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SLO NEDA Walk Big Success!

Yesterday's NEDA Walk in San Luis Obispo was a huge success.  A huge thank you to Emily Marr, Cal Poly student who organized the event and invited me to speak. If it wasn't for your determination and commitment to spreading…

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Bulimia FAQ’s (aka Polly’s Ranting)

This post is about a reply I emailed to one of my newsletter subscribers when she asked some of the more common bulimia recovery FAQ's I receive (or see online in forums).  I am basically cutting and pasting the email…

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Eating Disorder TV Show – Casting Call

There is a new TV show in the works called "Breaking the Cycle" from Cineflix Productions. I received a memo this week from one of the casting directors looking for parents or people with eating disorders who would like to…

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Best Apps for Eating Disorders

I just read that HealthPoint announced their "Best Eating Disorder Apps of 2012".  The link takes you to all of the top 13 apps for eating disorders for both the iPhone and Android platforms. If you could do me a…

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NEDA Walk In San Luis Obispo, CA (Guest Post)

Hello, My name is Emily Marr and I am a third year nutrition major, Psychology minor at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo (SLO). I am hosting a National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) walk in SLO at Mitchell Park on…

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Bulimia Help: Stop A Binge With Grounding Techniques

I'm so inspired by the bulimia help exercises I've learned from Maira Holzmann, the eating disorder therapist and coach who's helping me co-facilitate my Spiritual Warrior Mentoring program this month.  The grounding techniques she's shared for how to stop a…

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Best Eating Disorder Blogs of 2012

My blog is one of the top 18 eating disorder blogs of 2012 according to Healthline.com. Wow - I didn't know there was an award for that! How awesome is that?! If you've ever found yourself with a writing project…

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Today is Bulimia Awareness Day

Recovery is Possible - Help Spread the Word! Welcome!  Today is Bulimia Awareness Day on my bulimia recovery blog and around the web. I’m celebrating this day in collaboration with a community of self-love and women’s empowerment bloggers.  We want…

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My Bulimia Recovery – Lessons Learned

I don’t know what you were doing back in 2005, but I was coming out about my big secret - my life with bulimia after two decades of misery.  I share my full bulimia recovery story in my ebook, so…

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Bulimia, Nutrition and Stimulants

This is an email I received from Meg who's a recovering bulimic and receives my bulimia recovery newsletter.  She had some great insights about her bulimia recovery, nutrition and stimulants.  Check out what working for her (and what she gave…

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Appreciation – Create a Shift in Your Life

Self-love is one of the keys to lasting eating disorder recovery in my opinion.   Yet I've come to realize recently that it is the feeling of appreciation (of anything, not just ourselves) that creates a shift in our lives. When…

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Bulimia Support – Never Ever Give Up Hope

I'm so inspired tonight as I write this.  About 2 hours ago I received an email from a woman who was on my blog and emailed me.  I'll call her "Z".  She emailed me needing bulimia support out of sheer…

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Your Bulimia Recovery Quest: Inspiration or Motivation?

A thought for you today...is your bulimia recovery quest based upon motivation or inspiration?  I couldn't have said for sure what the difference between the two was until I listened to an Abraham video recently that helped clarify things for…

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With Hope You Can Achieve Anything

Just want to share a powerful interaction I had tonight with a new friend.  Chloee reached out to me through an online forum I joined.  She shared that she's a bulimic struggling with purging twice a day (down from about…

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Bulimia Help: Escape the Diet & Exercise Mindset

I joined an online fitness community today just so I could post a bulimia help answer to a recovering bulimic's question about meal plans.  In her question she asked the community to share their food plans (how many times a…

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A Rampage of Appreciation for My Bulimia Recovery

I've been so touched and inspired by the bulimia recovery stories people have shared with me over the years.  Today, I'm moved to share a rampage of appreciation for all of the women who've shared their stories plus my recovery…

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Bulimia Support – The Stream of Well Being

While bulimia support can take many forms I think the best thing I can offer you today is to share what I've been noticing in my life over the past few days.  The more I come to understand Abraham's teachings…

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Three Feel Good Videos

My husband and I were spending time browsing some of our favorite videos and I'm inspired to share a few.  In recovery, bulimia support comes in many forms.  Doing what makes me feel good, raises my vibration or even moves me…

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Live and Learn

I was struck today by a new idea about my bulimia recovery journey.  What I realize and want to share is the notion that recovery is a live and learn process.  (Like all of life...really.) When we're young children we…

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The Bulimia Recovery Bug

How is bulimia recovery like a travel bug?  I’m not sure if we’re born with the bug to travel or if it’s something you get after your first big trip, but I’ve had the travel bug for as long as…

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Alternative Bulimia Treatments

Bulimia Recovery: Go With The Flow

Our Bali Trip in 2011 - Going With The Flow For those of you just starting your bulimia recovery journey, I want to help you understand that each day of life in recovery is a little different.  Just like when…

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Want Bulimia Recovery? Practice Being Happy

I've been wanting to share about how to be happy for a couple of days.  As you may have noticed, I love hiking.  I live in San Luis Obispo, CA, and we have some of the best hiking spots on…

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Find Bulimia Support Within – The Power of Focus

I was up late last night reading through a bulimia story that Hayley submitted on my eating disorder recovery website (GetBusyThriving.com).  Hayley's a sweet girl from England who is really struggling right now with her bulimia.  She's offered up her…

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You are a toaster

I know that's a strange headline, but it will become clear in a moment - trust me. Have you ever had one of those days you just knew you were in the flow?  Your life was naturally unfolding and every…

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What helped you overcome bulimia the most?

I'd like your input about what helped you the most to overcome bulimia...please read on if you're willing to help me here :) A few weeks ago I posted about the website Operation Beautiful (no longer live/active, sorry) and suggested…

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Things are about to change in a big way

I'm changing things up a bit here on my bulimia recovery blog.  I've enjoyed reading the blogs of many great bloggers for years and started to wonder what direction I wanted to go in with my blog to make it…

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New Bulimia Support Resource: NEDA Launches Website Proud2Bme

As reported on the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website, they've launched an interactive teen website, Proud2Bme.org, during their annual conference in the fall of 2011.  NEDA provides wonderful bulimia support resources and this new website will prove to be…

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Overcoming Bulimia – 5 Ways to Be a Happy Person

If overcoming bulimia is really important to you then what better way to change your focus from your overeating disorder and put it instead on something empowering and positive like being happy! If you’re a fan of Oprah and her…

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Eating Disorder Recovery Symbol Becomes Tattoo

  I was doing some research for my eating disorder recovery website and came across the recovery symbol from the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA).  I’m not sure if it’s just their logo or is actually a symbol they created…

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Bulimia Help: Positive Self Talk

I caught myself two weeks ago in some really negative and self-defeating self-talk.   Yes, even after nearly 7 years of eating disorder recovery, I still catch myself having moments of negative thoughts.  The key to recovery is catching or being…

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Bulimia Recovery Stories: Believe It Is Possible

I've been thinking a lot these days about women who are reading my blog and my articles around the web and wondering what life is like for them.  Bulimia finally seems like a far, distant thing for me.  Something that…

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