EATING DISORDERS NOT
AN ISSUE ABOUT FOOD
BY ROXANNE HOOPER
METROVALLEY NEWS SERVICE
HEALTH: Counsellor deals with growing problem
______________________________________
It took courage and determination for
Kim to admit she had a problem, and
then to seek help in dealing with it.
That's exactly what the 35-year-old
mother of three did when she sought
help a year and a half ago for her eating
disorder known as anorexia nervosa - .a
problem that had slowly been destroying
Kim for more than half her life.
Eating disorders are not just about
food, Kim said. "I really thought food
was my enemy."
But while cultural pressures tell us being thin is important,
the illness is not
just about a person's shape or weight. It
is an expression of an underlying problem
that may have stemmed from biological
factors, psychological makeup or
family issues, said counsellor Lynn Redenbach.
The illness says something about the
person, and it's often an emotional journey
to find out the truths behind the eating
disorder, said Redenbach, a registered psychiatrist nurse who offers
counselling. Redenbach has been in the nursing
and counselling profession for 13 years,
and opened her own practise three years
ago. And one of her specialities is eating
disorders. Speaking from personal experience,
she said the healing process differs with
each person, although there are some
common traits leading to the illness including
triggers such as death, divorce, separation and sexual abuse.
The counsellor is impressed with the progress Kim has
made in the past 18 months
in dealing first with the eating
disorder and then delving into some of
the personal issues that lead to the problem.
"She (Redenbach) has helped me in
my recovery to unfold all the stuff behind
my eating disorder," Kim said, reluctant
to elaborate. Her eating disorder started in high
school. She lived through 18:years of
self-starvation, before the' disease
peaked in 1994 and she found herself in
the hospital. Looking back, she remembers thinking she was fat.
She began dieting, eating less and less.
She wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch and would nibble at dinner.
In her 20s, she would go days without eating.
Soon she was abusing laxatives.
People would comment that she was losing weight,
but no one could convince her.
"I wanted to feel and look pretty," Kim said.
"And all I had going for me was mythinness,so I figured."
But denying herself food caused constant
weakness, tiredness, and dizziness. She eventually started having chest
pains caused by the ongoing food deficiencies.
Finally, she went to her doctor pleading
for help and within a few days she
was in the hospital. Kim said the support
and encouragement that she has received so far has
been the key to the success of her recovery.
Even her children, ranging in age
from three to eight, are aware of her eating
problem and have played an crucial
role - Kim emphasized that she is recovering
and that there is no cure for eating
disorders. Both women say early intervention is
vital. People suffering with eating disorders,
such as anorexia, often deny there
is a problem. Redenbach said family and friends
can play an important role in detection
and intervention and the treatment must
often involve a number of different
health professionals. For those who have
eating disorders, Kim wants to give them some hope.
"Please don't give up," Kim said.
"There is help out there and there's a great
life ahead of you. Don't be ashamed
by having a disorder. "You can do it ... I'm living proof."
The Actual Article
This is the actual article that was written with us. I am not exactly sure when but I think its in the mid 1990's.
A FIGHT TO EAT RIGHT
BY ROXANNE HOOPER
____________________________________________
Again this was done I believe in the mid 1990's.
It took courage and determination for Kim to admitt she had a problem, and then to seek help in dealing with it. That's exactly what the 35 year old mother of three did when she sought help a year and a half ago for her eating disorder anorexia nervosa -- a problem that had slowly been destroying Kim for more than half of her life. Eating disorders are not just about food, Kim told The News “'I really thought Food was my enemy."
While cultural pressures tell us being thin is important, the illness is not just about a person's shape or weight, it is an expression of an underlying problem that may have stemmed from biological factors, psychological makeup or family issues, said counsellor Lynn Redenbach.
The illness says something about the person, and its often an emotional journey to find out the truths behind the problem, Redenbach explained. Redenbach is a registered psychiatrist nurse who offers counselling locally. She has been in the nursing and counselling profession for 13 years, opening her own practice three years ago. One of her specialities is eating disorders. And speaking from her own personal - experience, she said the healing process differs with each person, although there are some common triggers
leading to the illness including death, divorce, separation and sexual abuse.
The counsellor is impressed with the progress Kim has made in the
past 18 months in dealing first with the eating disorder, then delving into the personal issues that lead to the problem.
"She(Redenbach) has helped me in my recovery to unfold all the
stuff behind my eating disorder,” Kim said, reluctant to elaborate.
But for the Maple Ridge woman the eating disorder started in high
school. She lived through 18 years of self-starvation, before the disease peaked in 1994 and she found herself in the hospital.
Looking back, she remembers thinking she was fat. She began dieting, eating less and less. She wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch and would nibble at dinner. In her 20s, she would go days without eating. Soon she was abusing laxatives.
People would comment that she was losing weight, but no one could convince her. Denial of the eating disorder allowed her to deny the real problems. "I wanted to feel and look pretty," Kim said. "And all I had going for me was my thinness, so I figured."
But the starving techniques caused constant weakness, tiredness, and dizziness. Kim eventually started having chest pains caused by the food deficiencies. "Soon, I couldn't control anything. I couldn't eat anything. I continually had diarrhea and found myself crying uncontrollably. My body was talking to me but I wasn't listening. Now, I'm willing to listen."
Finally Kim went to her doctor pleading for help and within a few days Kim was in the hospital.Kim said the support and encouragement that she has received from Redenbach, as well as St Paul's nurse Linda Lauritzen, her doctor Patricia Howitt and members of her family has been the key to the success of her recovery. Even her children, ranging in age from three to eight, are aware of her eating problem and have played a crucial role in her recovery— and emphasized that she is recovering and that there is no cure for eating disorders. 'They (her children) don't know how much they've supported me and kept me going. To be able to sit down and eat with them still brings tears to my eyes," she said. 'I need food to live and they've taught me that."
Some people asked how her anorexia impacted her children Kim quickly clarified that they never went without food, even though she would starve herself. Today, Kim continues her fight but she's now enjoying a much fuller life with her husband and children. And she's even working full time in a retail store.
Lynn Redenbach has been counseling Kim (left), helping her to deal with her eating disorder for the past year and a half. "I never thought I could be anything. I was always listening and doing what other people wanted. I never took care of myself" Kim said. 'Now, I'm taking care of myself and its very empowering for my self esteem and self worth."
But both women say early intervention is vital. People suffering with eating disorders often deny there is a problem. Redenbach said family and friends can play an extremely important role in detection and intervention, and the treatment must often involve a number of different health professionals.
Whatever the reasons behind the eating disorder — whether it's anorexia, bulimia or binge eating — Kim wants people to realize the worst case scenario is death. But there are options. Looking back to where she was less than two years ago, Kim said she wanted to tell her story to prevent others from falling into the same pattern. And for those who already have eating disorders, she wanted to give them some hope. “Please don't give up," Kim said. "There is help out there and there's a heck of a life ahead of you. Don't be ashamed by having a disorder. "You can do it I’m living proof".
BY ROXANNE HOOPER
____________________________________________
Again this was done I believe in the mid 1990's.
It took courage and determination for Kim to admitt she had a problem, and then to seek help in dealing with it. That's exactly what the 35 year old mother of three did when she sought help a year and a half ago for her eating disorder anorexia nervosa -- a problem that had slowly been destroying Kim for more than half of her life. Eating disorders are not just about food, Kim told The News “'I really thought Food was my enemy."
While cultural pressures tell us being thin is important, the illness is not just about a person's shape or weight, it is an expression of an underlying problem that may have stemmed from biological factors, psychological makeup or family issues, said counsellor Lynn Redenbach.
The illness says something about the person, and its often an emotional journey to find out the truths behind the problem, Redenbach explained. Redenbach is a registered psychiatrist nurse who offers counselling locally. She has been in the nursing and counselling profession for 13 years, opening her own practice three years ago. One of her specialities is eating disorders. And speaking from her own personal - experience, she said the healing process differs with each person, although there are some common triggers
leading to the illness including death, divorce, separation and sexual abuse.
The counsellor is impressed with the progress Kim has made in the
past 18 months in dealing first with the eating disorder, then delving into the personal issues that lead to the problem.
"She(Redenbach) has helped me in my recovery to unfold all the
stuff behind my eating disorder,” Kim said, reluctant to elaborate.
But for the Maple Ridge woman the eating disorder started in high
school. She lived through 18 years of self-starvation, before the disease peaked in 1994 and she found herself in the hospital.
Looking back, she remembers thinking she was fat. She began dieting, eating less and less. She wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch and would nibble at dinner. In her 20s, she would go days without eating. Soon she was abusing laxatives.
People would comment that she was losing weight, but no one could convince her. Denial of the eating disorder allowed her to deny the real problems. "I wanted to feel and look pretty," Kim said. "And all I had going for me was my thinness, so I figured."
But the starving techniques caused constant weakness, tiredness, and dizziness. Kim eventually started having chest pains caused by the food deficiencies. "Soon, I couldn't control anything. I couldn't eat anything. I continually had diarrhea and found myself crying uncontrollably. My body was talking to me but I wasn't listening. Now, I'm willing to listen."
Finally Kim went to her doctor pleading for help and within a few days Kim was in the hospital.Kim said the support and encouragement that she has received from Redenbach, as well as St Paul's nurse Linda Lauritzen, her doctor Patricia Howitt and members of her family has been the key to the success of her recovery. Even her children, ranging in age from three to eight, are aware of her eating problem and have played a crucial role in her recovery— and emphasized that she is recovering and that there is no cure for eating disorders. 'They (her children) don't know how much they've supported me and kept me going. To be able to sit down and eat with them still brings tears to my eyes," she said. 'I need food to live and they've taught me that."
Some people asked how her anorexia impacted her children Kim quickly clarified that they never went without food, even though she would starve herself. Today, Kim continues her fight but she's now enjoying a much fuller life with her husband and children. And she's even working full time in a retail store.
Lynn Redenbach has been counseling Kim (left), helping her to deal with her eating disorder for the past year and a half. "I never thought I could be anything. I was always listening and doing what other people wanted. I never took care of myself" Kim said. 'Now, I'm taking care of myself and its very empowering for my self esteem and self worth."
But both women say early intervention is vital. People suffering with eating disorders often deny there is a problem. Redenbach said family and friends can play an extremely important role in detection and intervention, and the treatment must often involve a number of different health professionals.
Whatever the reasons behind the eating disorder — whether it's anorexia, bulimia or binge eating — Kim wants people to realize the worst case scenario is death. But there are options. Looking back to where she was less than two years ago, Kim said she wanted to tell her story to prevent others from falling into the same pattern. And for those who already have eating disorders, she wanted to give them some hope. “Please don't give up," Kim said. "There is help out there and there's a heck of a life ahead of you. Don't be ashamed by having a disorder. "You can do it I’m living proof".
The Actual Article
The article written, somewhere in the mid 1990's. The t-shirt I am wearing says "You Are More Then A Body"
Friday, January 26, 2001
SERVING MAPLE RIDGE AND PITT MEADOWS
The Times 9■
community
Forum to debunk myths about eating disorders
____________________________________________
JessicaWhiteside
TIMES STAFF REPORTER
____________________________________________
Eating disorders aren't necessarily a girl thing, or
a teenage thing. They can affect anyone of any age,
any sex, and any race. Kim DeNure knows first hand.
While she'd experienced periodic bouts of disordered eating since
she was in her mid-teens— she remembers "win-
ning" a contest with another girl in Grade 12 to see
who could weigh the least. DeNure was a mother
in her early 30s when anorexia landed her in the
hospital weighing a scant X pounds.
"What it was for me was when I woke up on my
son's fifth birthday in 1994, looked at myself in the
mirror, and said, `I'm fat. It's time to go on a diet,"'
said DeNure, noting that, in fact, she wasn't over-
weight at all. "Looking back, I can make sense of
it. I needed something in my life to be controlled.
We can control what we eat and what we don't eat.
There was so much out of control in my life at the
time that I didn't know what to do. Turning to
anorexia was `safe' for me. I knew I
could accompish it (the weight loss)."
When she first started losing weight, people com-
plimented her; when it became obvious she was
losing too much, and they expressed concern, she
denied for months that she had a problem. She started
out skipping breakfast, then not having any lunch,
and eventually was eating less than 100 calories a
day, no more than couple of crackers and pieces of
cheese. She'd also begun using laxatives as a form of
purging. Then the day came where her body was
so weakened, she lost control of her bowels, and she
knew she needed help. A couple of weeks later she
landed herself in the hospital.
You start out `in control,' but as time shifts, the
eating disorder takes over," she said. "There's
always that point where it finally takes control."
DeNure will be among the speakers at a free pub-
lic forum on eating disorders at the Hammond
Community Centre on Westfield Avenue on
Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. She'll join another
speaker who's recovering from an eating disorder, as
well as therapist Lynn Redenbach, personal train-
er Lela Dawson, and a nutritionist who will talk
about a non-dieting approach to nutrition. The
event, sponsored by the Adult Mental Health
Resource Centre at the Family Education and
Support Centre, is open to anyone, and is being held
as part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week which
takes place annually in the first full week of February.
DeNure credits a combination of therapy and med-
ical attention, including several months involvement in
the eating disorders program at St. Paul's Hospital,
for her success in reclaiming a normal life. The thera-
py and the program helped her learn tools she could
use to feel better about her-elf, and to deal with those
feelings of being fat. As part of her personal recovery,
she created a Web site at
www.eatingdisordersrecoveyspossible.weebly.com
to share her experiences with others. DeNure
describes herself now as "in
You start out
`in control,' but as
time shifts, the
eating disorder
takes over.
Kim DeNure
Speaker at
Upcoming Forum
recovery" from anorexia "Six years later, yes, I
have control of my life now, the eating disorder
hasn't got control of me, but there are still behav-
iours that will pop up for me, when I will still feel
fat. There are still times when I don't feel like eat-
ing," she said. "For me, it's a red flag. It's not about
food, it's about issues and inner-core stuff. When I
hear that stuff in my head, I think, 'What's bothering
me?' I used my body to speak for me (before)
because I felt I did not have a voice."
The two main eating disorders are anorexia
nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Both can result in
severe medical consequences.
People with anorexia have an intense fear of
gaining weight or becoming fat, and will try to lose
weight by refusing to eat food. They will have a dis-
turbed body image, claiming to feel fat even when
they are emaciated. People with bulimia have recur-
rent episodes of binge eating and regularly engage in
either self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or
diuretics, strict dieting or fasting, or vigorous exer-
cise in order to prevent weight gain.
The fitness industry, and some of the underlying
assumptions that might contribute to eating disor-
ders, weight preoccupation, and body image dis-
satisfaction, will be among the topics at the Feb. 6
forum at the Hammond Community Centre. The
forum will also look at the impacts of media and
advertising on body image. "People will overexer-
cise just for the sake of burning calories. People
can overexercise to the point where they're actual-
ly hurting their bodies rather than helping them,"
said Redenbach. The forum, she explained, "will
be looking at how can we help support people in a
way that is more health focused, more vitality
focused."
DeNure was my previous married name
Who are the role models in your child's life?
We used to say that the village raised our children. Today, the village is the media who makes heroes out of some of the worst role models in society...athletes and entertainers who expect constant adulation, endless money, and to live by a different set of laws. At our marital arts school, we take our position as role models for our younger students very seriously. That's why our instructors teach courtesy, respect, and self-confidence. Despite
what others may say, we are all role models, whether we choose to be or not.
We're sure you'll find some of the best role models for your children leading our classes. Our winter programs have begun. Give us a call...
Canadian Martial Arts Academy
467-2835
MEMBER: National Association of Professional Martial Artists
SERVING MAPLE RIDGE AND PITT MEADOWS
The Times 9■
community
Forum to debunk myths about eating disorders
____________________________________________
JessicaWhiteside
TIMES STAFF REPORTER
____________________________________________
Eating disorders aren't necessarily a girl thing, or
a teenage thing. They can affect anyone of any age,
any sex, and any race. Kim DeNure knows first hand.
While she'd experienced periodic bouts of disordered eating since
she was in her mid-teens— she remembers "win-
ning" a contest with another girl in Grade 12 to see
who could weigh the least. DeNure was a mother
in her early 30s when anorexia landed her in the
hospital weighing a scant X pounds.
"What it was for me was when I woke up on my
son's fifth birthday in 1994, looked at myself in the
mirror, and said, `I'm fat. It's time to go on a diet,"'
said DeNure, noting that, in fact, she wasn't over-
weight at all. "Looking back, I can make sense of
it. I needed something in my life to be controlled.
We can control what we eat and what we don't eat.
There was so much out of control in my life at the
time that I didn't know what to do. Turning to
anorexia was `safe' for me. I knew I
could accompish it (the weight loss)."
When she first started losing weight, people com-
plimented her; when it became obvious she was
losing too much, and they expressed concern, she
denied for months that she had a problem. She started
out skipping breakfast, then not having any lunch,
and eventually was eating less than 100 calories a
day, no more than couple of crackers and pieces of
cheese. She'd also begun using laxatives as a form of
purging. Then the day came where her body was
so weakened, she lost control of her bowels, and she
knew she needed help. A couple of weeks later she
landed herself in the hospital.
You start out `in control,' but as time shifts, the
eating disorder takes over," she said. "There's
always that point where it finally takes control."
DeNure will be among the speakers at a free pub-
lic forum on eating disorders at the Hammond
Community Centre on Westfield Avenue on
Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. She'll join another
speaker who's recovering from an eating disorder, as
well as therapist Lynn Redenbach, personal train-
er Lela Dawson, and a nutritionist who will talk
about a non-dieting approach to nutrition. The
event, sponsored by the Adult Mental Health
Resource Centre at the Family Education and
Support Centre, is open to anyone, and is being held
as part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week which
takes place annually in the first full week of February.
DeNure credits a combination of therapy and med-
ical attention, including several months involvement in
the eating disorders program at St. Paul's Hospital,
for her success in reclaiming a normal life. The thera-
py and the program helped her learn tools she could
use to feel better about her-elf, and to deal with those
feelings of being fat. As part of her personal recovery,
she created a Web site at
www.eatingdisordersrecoveyspossible.weebly.com
to share her experiences with others. DeNure
describes herself now as "in
You start out
`in control,' but as
time shifts, the
eating disorder
takes over.
Kim DeNure
Speaker at
Upcoming Forum
recovery" from anorexia "Six years later, yes, I
have control of my life now, the eating disorder
hasn't got control of me, but there are still behav-
iours that will pop up for me, when I will still feel
fat. There are still times when I don't feel like eat-
ing," she said. "For me, it's a red flag. It's not about
food, it's about issues and inner-core stuff. When I
hear that stuff in my head, I think, 'What's bothering
me?' I used my body to speak for me (before)
because I felt I did not have a voice."
The two main eating disorders are anorexia
nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Both can result in
severe medical consequences.
People with anorexia have an intense fear of
gaining weight or becoming fat, and will try to lose
weight by refusing to eat food. They will have a dis-
turbed body image, claiming to feel fat even when
they are emaciated. People with bulimia have recur-
rent episodes of binge eating and regularly engage in
either self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or
diuretics, strict dieting or fasting, or vigorous exer-
cise in order to prevent weight gain.
The fitness industry, and some of the underlying
assumptions that might contribute to eating disor-
ders, weight preoccupation, and body image dis-
satisfaction, will be among the topics at the Feb. 6
forum at the Hammond Community Centre. The
forum will also look at the impacts of media and
advertising on body image. "People will overexer-
cise just for the sake of burning calories. People
can overexercise to the point where they're actual-
ly hurting their bodies rather than helping them,"
said Redenbach. The forum, she explained, "will
be looking at how can we help support people in a
way that is more health focused, more vitality
focused."
DeNure was my previous married name
Who are the role models in your child's life?
We used to say that the village raised our children. Today, the village is the media who makes heroes out of some of the worst role models in society...athletes and entertainers who expect constant adulation, endless money, and to live by a different set of laws. At our marital arts school, we take our position as role models for our younger students very seriously. That's why our instructors teach courtesy, respect, and self-confidence. Despite
what others may say, we are all role models, whether we choose to be or not.
We're sure you'll find some of the best role models for your children leading our classes. Our winter programs have begun. Give us a call...
Canadian Martial Arts Academy
467-2835
MEMBER: National Association of Professional Martial Artists
The Actual Article
This is the actual article it was done on January 26, 2001
(its pretty small to read - sorry)
©KimRatcliffe