Comments on: 10 Things You Should Know About Orthorexia

By: Frederique

Frederique — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 18:22:42 +0000

Hi jourdan,
Since my 14th, I developed an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. I was underweight, my period stopped, and my life was basically me and my diet. When i was 16, I did realise i took it to the extreme and we went to a dietitian. She wanted me to eat lots of oil and fatty foods and candy bars and soon i refused to stick to it. I didnt want to gain weight anymore and I went back to my own habits. This caused me to lose a bit of weight again. My GP sent me to an ED outpatient centre where they diagnosed me with anorexia. I refused treatment. I feel like it really wasnt anorexia. I did maintain an unhealthy low weight and I refused to gain weight, but it was because i wanted to stick to my extreme healthy diet. It was more about the fact i needed to eat healthy. I really feel like they misdiagnosed me and therefore I started my own journey. My question to you is, how did you found out you had orthorexia?x

By: Cassie

Cassie — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 15:10:52 +0000

Orthorexia also comes in all shapes and sizes. You cannot look at a skinny woman and say she has an eating disorder, nor can you look at a plus sized woman and say she doesn’t. Eating disorders are NOT solely physical problems, and it breaks my heart when people are so narrow-minded about these aspects.

By: Kerri Mcgrail

Kerri Mcgrail — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 03:04:01 +0000

First off- shut the front door- you met Carrie Underwood???? I am obsessed with her- she is my idol!!! Gosh I wish I could have been at that event. Also, I think it is nice that orthorexia is coming more to the fore front in the eating disorder realm these days. I didn’t even think I had a problem/ realize that orthorexia existed until I cam across an article written about it online. I was shocked. I fit every single category. It was hard to deal with it because most people do not consider it a “real eating disorder”. I still deal with these issues on the daily but far less often. I think it is something that will linger for a while, but the voice in my head fighting against it gets stronger each day.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 00:00:15 +0000

I love this post and really think this is something that needs to be talked more about. I think more and more, as fitness, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles are so overly posted on Instagram, Facebook, etc, things like Orthorexia are more prominent, especially for young girls.

I am currently seeing signs of nutrition obsession with a coworker. She went from the extreme to binge drinking and fast food eating to a couple weeks ago deciding she wanted to lose 5 lbs, not eat sugar, and started eating strict Paleo. Her roommate is a close friend of mine and I have been trying to tread lightly (as has she) to figure out how to get her to a healthy place.

On the flip side, I am not perfect either. I recently had to re-assess my gym routine because I would feel guilty if I didn’t get to the gym 6 – 7 times a week. It’s scary how easy anyone can fall into these obsessions with health. I can’t wait to read your book and really respect the journey you’ve gone through! Thank you for being so open and vulnerable!

By: Jordan Younger

Jordan Younger — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 19:00:48 +0000

In reply to Liz S.. Thank you so much Liz!!! So excited for you to read it!!! Xo

By: Jordan Younger

Jordan Younger — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 19:00:28 +0000

In reply to sara. Yes, that is absolutely a part of orthorexia. I was addicted to eating the same exact thing every day, and scared to stray from that!

By: Avery

Avery — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 23:24:38 +0000

Jordan!

Have you heard of Brené Brown? If you haven’t, please look her up because she’s awesome, but she said this quote once:

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

Basically, thank you for sharing your story and being an advocate daily for those suffering/who have suffered from disordered eating on any end of the spectrum. I finally found recovery 3 years ago after struggling for 10 years because I simply did not know what was wrong with me. It can be easy to get lost in the definitions and diagnoses! But seeing others coming out and sharing their experiences opens up the dialogue and gives others encouragement + hope. While I shared bits and pieces of my own journey here and there, I finally just yesterday actually posted my story on my blog + was met with an overwhelming response- everything from encouragement to emails of private battles. It is truly amazing the impact of one’s story on the world! Thank you for continuing to fight the good fight!

And if you’re interested, here’s my post on my health+healing journey: avery-johnson.com/why-i-choose-to-rock-the-crop-top-my-journey-of-health-healing/

Can’t wait to read the book!

In love + encouragement– Avery

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:15:26 +0000

This is so important – so many people think of orthorexia or other eating disorders as just a “phase” or something to “snap out of”, when in reality it is so much more complex than that. Thanks for posting such an informative and thoughtful piece! Hope to see you at yoga soon xoxo

By: Jules @wandering around

Jules @wandering around — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 04:17:16 +0000

I learned about you blog through your very public struggle with orthorexia, and I really applaud you for everything you’ve accomplished. A long time ago when I was in college (ok, 2003-ish), I went through something very similar except nobody back hen understood what orthorexia was. So I got sent to a residential treatment facility that had no idea what to do with me, because I didn’t fit any of the pre-established categories (not even Ed-nos). Eventually I too gave up being vegan and I totally get how difficult that is, and going to acupuncture school was what ultimately saved me. I have a hard time talking about that part of my life, because it was very painful, so I am very grateful that you have been so up front about what you are going through. They say “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but human connection”, and that is one of the reasons the blog world is so fantastic. Sending love from San Francisco xox

By: sara

sara — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 01:10:16 +0000

From your experience would you say a symptom or part of orthorexia would be eating the same thing every day, or would that be more of a restrictive disorder?

By: Liz S.

Liz S. — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:24:57 +0000

Wonderful video with vital information, Jordan. SO excited for your book (duh, haha).