happy turkey day!! one of my favorite holidays for sure.
so the traveling went fine… I survived my flights without having any major freak outs 🙂 One of the parts of flying alone I like is the mystery of who I am going to sit next to. I LOVE making small talk with people on a plane… kinda weird, I know. I had an interesting conversation with a woman on my flight to Detroit. Do any of you enjoy small talk with strangers?
When I landed in Detroit it was time for some dinner so I made due with Wendy’s and ordered the mandarin chicken salad, used 1 packet of almonds and about half the dressing. I also was excited to find some soy crisps!!
I had never had the tangy salt n’ vinegar flavor but I really liked it. I was surprised, because I despise salt n’ vinegar chips.
It was sooo nice to finally be home and sleep in my own bed! & not to mention, have a KITCHEN to work with!
For a night time snack I had a large glass of chocolate soy milk, some almonds, & a sliced up pear.. it was the perfect snack
This morning for breakfast, I finally got my oatmeal fix!!
in this mix: 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup water, a banana, cinnamon raisin swirl, white chocolate wonderful, & some reduced sugar strawberry jelly. SOO good. I forgot how filling & delicious oatmeal is for breakfast. pb & j oats 🙂
I had a super busy day, starting witha facial and pedicure 🙂 hey, a girl can get pampered every now & then… it was fantasticc! & then I had two appointments (therapist/physician) which I will talk about later… so I was really busy! My mom & I ate lunch at Panera and I had the bbq chopped chicken salad with a whole grain baguette..it was delicious.
Dinner was sushi with my best guy friend from high school!
mine is everything except the 2 pieces of sashimi. It was all made with brown rice & one is a tuna roll & the other is california roll topped with salmon/avocado. I also had egg drop soup. & of course tonight I drank my ensure plus.
so as I mentioned, today was packed with doctor’s appointments. It was great to see my therapist from home. She is so understanding and really makes me feel like I am on the right track. She encouraged me and said that she thinks I can do this. The physician did some blood work and made sure I haven’t damaged my body with this, and fortunately everything was looking ok. Also, my weight is a bit up which is great. I really feel like I can do this. The physician told me that I shouldn’t exercise at all and this is really hard for me to swallow. I know that I shouldn’t, but exercising is such a part of my life- I feel happy, successful, & strong after a good run and I hate that I have to give that up for this period of my life.
But my dad gave me great advice.. he said “Shell, you have your whole life to be fit. Right now, get healthy… then you can work on your fitness.” & those words really resonated with me because I know he is right. It is just hard to let go.
But…I didn’t realize I had body image issues until recently but my problem is, I don’t see how skinny I look. It isn’t that I think i’m fat, but when I look at other girls, I don’t see that I am thinner and I just don’t see myself the way others see me. Today was mentally very challenging because I am struggling with doubting myself and believing that I have the ability to overcome this. I just hate how this has consumed me and I really hope I can achieve health.
Speaking of my Dad earlier, I wanted to dedicate this post to him (not that he reads this) and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’ve noticed lots of bloggers listing all hte things they are thankful for. I have so many things, but I am going to start right now & say I am extraordinarily thankful for my Dad.
My Dad is one of my greatest role models. He always has been. He lives a very balanced & successful life. He works hard in his career & he loves it, he has a very regular exercise schedule, he eats healthily but doesn’t obsess & is soo balanced, and he just seems happy. I strive to be like my Dad.
Hopefully I’ll write a post with more things i’m thankful for.
I hope you all have great holidays!! Hopefully I’ll be able to snap some shots of my thanksgiving dinner
xoxoxooxox
Shelley♥
Finding Happiness and Health 
ohhh i so have a weird late night craving for sushi haha
honestly, about those desserts, none are really tasty enough to buy. they are all just okay. nothing to write home about anyways. i wont be buying them in the future.
the sushi looks amazing!
hope you have a great time at home with the fam 🙂
great airport eats, sushi and oats! mmm! so nice to be home, huh? glad you’re enjoying it so far. ugh I know appointments are annoying but I’m so glad yours went well 🙂 your therapist is right, you CAN do this. have a great Turkey day!
Love,
Lexi
You are doing amazing girl!
I am so impressed with your enthusiam and positive motivation. You can do this, and I know you will.
Have an amazing thanksgiving filled with love and beauty. Your family is truly blessed to have you as a prominent part ❤
xox
Tat
Hey Shelly, I was in the same boat as your not too long ago. My doctor never told me not to exercise though. Actually they told me to try and do some strength training to increase my bone density. They didn’t think I didn’t to do more than 20 minutes of cardio. But it is VERY important to keep your heart and bones healthy. I would think that if you are gaining weight they wouldn’t be worried. If you were loosing or plateauing maybe I would take a look at if you are exercising too much.
Exersice for me lets my sperit soar. For the longest time and even a lot of my days now, I just go for walks! With my dog. It is great. You endorphins kick in, you get fresh air, and your heart pumps a little. : ) Stretching is also great. Doesn’t burn any calories too. However, It keeps you limber, also releases endorphins, and is relaxing.
I hope this doesn’t confuse you, and add stress. I would love to help you find a happy form of exercise!
xoxo, Happy holiday!
Kasondra : )
Hey sweetie! This is a lovely post…very uplifting to read:) What your dad said really hits the nail on the head, doesn’t it! It’s awesome that your dad is such a supportive person.
Glad to hear that you’ve safely arrived…and that you’re enjoying yourself! Hope the good things keep coming for you, lovie!
hey Shelley, i know exactly how you feel the exercise situation and self image. i really struggle when my Mom is always saying you don’t realize just how tiny you really are. I’m working at though, just like you! You can do this girl, we all believe in you. Your such an inspiration, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! =)
aww aabout your daddy! so sweet girl! i love hearing about loving familys.
SO great about your weight.. keep telling yourself that you are getting HEALTHY so you can live your life to the fullest..dont look back! please!
have an AWESOME DAY beautiful!
Glad your trip went well, I love small talk too:)
And girl: you won’t know how difficult it was for me to stop dancing. But I made the choice and I’m happy for that. Because there was something more important im my life: gaining and getting my life back. And you know what? The sooner you do it, the sooner you’re able to exercise again…
Happy Thanksgiving, xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
i am glad you made it home safely and you had great oats! the pb & j oatmeal look fab, i must give it a try sometime!
i am happy your appointments went well and i am the same way with my body image! it is a hard thing to overcome!
great idea of dedicating your post to your dad 🙂
jenna
happy thanksgiving dear! love that you chatted with your plane buddy, i’ve never actually flown by myself, but i think it would be fun 🙂
mm pb&j oats, one of my favorites!
i totally feel you on the exercise thing, but you’re dad is right, now is the time to get healthy and feel good about that. i used to run all the time, but made the choice to give it a rest in july when i realized that every run ended with a chest pain. it was hard and i beat myself up about it for a long time, but now i’m at the point where i know i will run again someday and not running does not make me less of a person. (and if you haven’t tried yoga girl, try it, it will change your life in the best way)
ahh sorry for the rambling 😉
ps–your positivity rocks my socks and is such a motivation today
xoxo
You are very lucky to have a father who supports you with his entire being, and KNOWS that you WILL achieve perfect health and that you ARE beautiful, no matter what. I know the exact feeling of doubt you feel… I still struggle today, but I know I have to stay strong.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Hi Shelley! Just found your blog and was reading a few posts and it seems like you are so strong and determined to beat this…you have an amaaaazing mindset and girl you seem like an awesome and fun person! just take it 1 day at a time and your dad was right…its a process and soon enough i know you will succeed!! keep up the amazing work and know that every day you are getting one step closer to health again. happy thanksgiving and keep it up!
aww what a great post!
-i ALWAYS make small talk with strangers!
-LOVE the oatmeal mess– im drooling here!
-LOVE glennys soy crisps– i’ve never tried that flavor but i will definitely take your word for it 🙂
your dad is so wise & so right! you can do this girl 🙂 xoxoxox happy thanksgiv
Shelley,
you are so amazing, so proud that you are doing so well you are a HUGE inspiration to me. love sushi, and i am so proud of you girly for recognizing that exersise can wait until you are healthy, i too struggle with that, and its so hard, but once we are at a healthy place we can be fit, and exersise healthfully 🙂 and your therapist sounds amazing, its so nice to have a supportive and understanding T, mine is amazing as well.
love you girl and happy thanksgiving, i hope your day is filled with joy, you deserve so much.
xx
Eliza
That’s so great that your dad is such a positive role model! That piece of advice is SO great. Health is what’s most important now!!
❤ jess
xoxo
I like making chit chat to, I usually do if Im in a lift with someone.
I know its so hard to cut out exercise, but thats part of your ed urging you to exercise, the sensible parts of us know the right thing to do is rest for a while. Its only temp, once your back up to a good weight you`ll be able to exercise away and you`ll have much more energy for it to.
I can totally understand what you mean about not seeing yourself as thin as others, I read in magazines peoples heights and weights and think gosh they look so skinny but I just dont realise that my weights similar. Just shows how much an ed can cloud our mind and judgement.
Thanks for your lovely words of support on my blog, they mean a huge amount to me.
Have a great day!
xoxo
Aw I love the words your dad used. So sweet and true! Also loving the sussshiiii. Mmm, we’d be great friends. 🙂
Have a great Thanksgiving Shelley- I truly believe you’re doing better and constantly improving it sounds like. xoxo
p.s. i love interactions with strangers. i’m not the one to initiate usually, but if someone does, i usually love it!
Happy Thanksgiving chica!!! I hope you’re having a fabulous day 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you can fully enjoy a great feast! I think your dad is totally right…work on gaining your health first, fitness can come later.
sweetie
i can totally relate the exercise issue and i know that the first few days it will be really hard. but trust me in the long run there is nothing better for your body than rest. i am telling you this after having gone through so much experience with that. you need to train your mind so that you know you do not always need to exercise. especially not when you are underweight! and your dad nailed it down really well. you have all your life to exercise BUT at a healthy weight. yor body will suffer so much if you exercise right now
i am here for you
xoxo
Hun, You don’t have to hope to achieve health. You CAN achieve health and you are on the right path! No matter how tough it gets, you can get through it! I know you can.
Ooh. And happy thanksgiving!! Enjoy your time with your family and enjoy their company because I’m sure they mean a lot to you. They sound amazing!!
xx
It depends on whether the stranger is a creepy person… if yes, then I absolutely don’t enjoy small talk!! 😉
Glad your appointments went well!
❤ ❤
Love the look of that sushi! I haven’t had sushi in way too long. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yay to your weight gain too! It was hard for me too when I was told not to exercise as well.
I don’t see myself as extremely thin as well; I mean, I see girls who’re thinner than me everywhere! It’s something I’m trying to overcome too. Let’s work hard on this together!
P/S: Our thinkings and challenges are really similar, hahaha!
xx Solange
Awww bella, I love the shout out to your dad, that is so wonderful! I just love my dad too….he is the bestest 🙂
I have not had sushi in a really long time! I just found out you can get brown rice sushi – sweet!!
Happy turkey day, love!
XXOO
ps – i hope the coffee thing isn’t true either….yikes!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I can’t wait to try pb and j oats.. but I can’t seem to stop with the maple syrup for now 😛
xo
Tat
Yum! Looks like a truly delicious bowl of oats there. And I absolutely adore salt & vinegar soy crisps but I love the tang of vinegar in most things so I suppose that’s no surprise.
It’s fantastic that you have such a great role model in your Dad ~ I hope the exercise woes are resolved for you as soon as possible…I don’t know how long this haitus from activity is supposed to last but getting back to running could be a great incentive to get healthy again?
Sorry you’re going through such a tough time, but please don’t doubt yourself: you’re doing fantastically well.
❤
xoxox
I love my home therapist so much more than my therapist at school. Luckily for me though I still get to see her weekly because I am so close but school still makes me see their therapist (who I cant stand).
As far as the body image stuff goes… I was talking to my therapist the other day about it and she says “I hear the same thing from all of my patients” Its really true though, no person I know with an ED thinks that they are thin even if they are dangerously so. I think we have to just learn how to trust others who have less critical views of ourselves.
That is so sweet that you are thankful for your dad. I am sure he would love to hear that!
Hope you day went well sweetie and hope today is fabulous as well.
Great bowl of oats!
You sound very determined and I think that makes all the difference. YOU have to be the one to want to change. Not everyone else. You are a fabulous young woman. Stay strong!
Oh my gosh I find small talk so incredibly awkward a lot of the time so I completely envy the fact that you can do it and that you love it!
Oh boy how I miss sushi. It’s been way too long since I’ve had any.
Sweetest tribute to your dad. I know you definitely CAN achieve health to keep strong girl, keep those positive thoughts up and keep those good role models like your dad in mind. You’re doing great.
Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Great blog – your father is a wise man.
Eat like me girl – like a horse ;)…there’s more to life than worry! Oh and I love soy chips – I have BBQ here…we’ll see! I have a blog too , add me to your roll if you care ‘to share’ haha !
Your dad sounds fantastic. It’s so great to hear how positive you’re being – it gives me hope that I can beat my ED too. Hang in there and don’t stop fighting.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi beautiful 🙂 Ahh that sushi just caught my eye – makes me crave it, one of the best foods ever, right?! Haha. I really like what your Dad had to say – it’s so true, and I’m so glad you have him there to support you, what a wonderful thing. I feel the same way about mine – family is awesome.
I hope you have a great Friday!
Meg
Hey Shelley!
I just wanted to let you know how much I love and appreciate all of the incredibly kind comments you leave on my blog. I just read up on your story and browsed through some of your past posts — wow, we are one in the same! I see so much of myself in you!
I am happy to hear you got home safe and sound.. there’s nothing like being in the comforts of your own house surrounded by your loved ones. Your dad sounds like such an incredible guy! It’s really difficult for men to understand the disease and how much of a struggle it can be to overcome, but it sounds like your father is incredibly compassionate and trying his hardest. You are so lucky to have him!
Glad to hear that the doctors appointments went well. It sounds like your on a great track! Keep on keepin on hun 🙂 always here for you!
lots and lots of love!
Jenny xo
What a sweet post!
I haven’t had sushi in so long.. yours is making me crave it!
What an amazing post. The parts about your dad made me smile–my dad told me something very similar. I’m glad your blood work came back okay! I think the hardest part of all of this is really seeing yourself in the process and learning who that is inside and out!
PS I also love the “suspense” of who I will be next to in flights–I met the nicest guy while flying to South Africa! Haha, but he was a talker and it was a LONG flight!
I really love your blog. And have you on my blogroll. Please visit mine and consider adding mine to yours.
hahah don’t be jealous! thanks for the compliment on my drawing. maybe i’ll do a giveaway adn peeps can try to win it!
Your dad has such good advice. It’s awesome that you have such a healthy role model!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving dinner!
i had no idea you were from Detroit!!! so am i!!!
I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving, and mucho love to your dad! 🙂
http://saladdiva.wordpress.com
i’m actually not from detroit! i’m from columbus, ohio but i go to school inmadison, wisconsin & my connecting flight was in detroit!
:)! Hehe I loveee small talk with strangers! You never know whats going to happen!
your dad seems like a very wise man:) Great words of advice! I’m gonna write that down because it is SO true! Those soy crisps sound yummy ❤
Hey Chica!! I hope your loving your time at home! The sushi looks delicious, and heck yes to getting your oatmeal fix! I hope you have a great weekend and safe travels back to school, only a few more weeks until christmas break!!! xoxo!
Aw, Shelley…I LOVEd this post…it warmed me up to my tippy toes…You have an incredible dad! You are so blessed!
And yes, I do love small talk with strangers..on my way to San Fran, I got into a long interesting discussion with my flight partner about learning foreign languages, and the differences between Asian and Latino students….it was fascinating!