The Citizen, 2012-12-20, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012. The holidays can be a time of
excess. For many there are a large
number of gifts under the tree and
many are welcomed into countless
feasts featuring dozens of different
options.
For someone with an eating
disorder, however, the holidays can
be the most challenging time of the
year.
Emily Wierenga, author of several
books and daughter of Blyth’s
Ernest Dow, pastor at Living Water
Christian Fellowship, has had her
struggles with eating disorders
(anorexia nervosa) and she confirms
that the holidays were a tough time
for her, but there are ways to handle
the temptation and not give in to
symptoms of an eating disorder.
Wierenga says the reason the
holidays are such a hard time for
those with eating disorders is simple.
It is a very emotional time of year,
coupled with the fact that there is
always plenty of food around during
the holidays.
“There is always a lot of food
combined with a lot of emotion,”
Wierenga said in an interview with
The Citizen from her Alberta home.
“The holidays can be joyous times,
but they can also be very lonely
times for some people.”
With large feasts around every
corner during the holidays,
Wierenga says, someone who has
struggled with food before has many
pitfalls they have to be aware of. She
says that portion control can be a
particular concern to some people,while others can go the completeother way and binge eat and purgelater.
“Portion size is easy for most
people to figure out,” Wierenga said,
“I still struggle with it, so in buffet
lines I don’t know what to put on my
plate so I’ll often copy the person in
front of me.”
Wierenga says that someone with
an eating disorder approaches food
differently, and therefore their
concept of food is warped.
She says that while most people
look at food as something to enjoy,
those with eating disorders approach
food as something that needs to be
controlled.
“You’re constantly evaluating how
what you eat is going to affect yourbody,” Wierenga said. “That’ssomething you need to combat andremember that food is something to
enjoy.”
She says that it’s a constant mental
battle that is ongoing for those with
eating disorders.
She says it’s also important to
remember the social aspect of
eating, especially during the
holidays.
She said that often meals are
served with family members and
friends as a way to connect and
communicate with one another, so
not running from the table as soon as
the meal is done is important for
someone who has struggled with
MS –The holidays are
synonymous with many things,
including get-togethers with family
and friends, shopping and, at the tail
end of the season, resolutions.
One of the more common New
Year’s resolutions is a commitment
to getting healthier. This year,
holiday shoppers can combine the
tradition of gift-giving with the
tradition of making New Year’s
resolutions by giving a loved one
who wants to improve personal
health a gift that can make keeping
that resolution that much easier.
When holiday shopping this
season, consider the following gift
ideas for that health-conscious
friend or family member who’s
looking to turn over a new leaf in the
new year by adopting a healthier
lifestyle.
• Gym membership:Fitness
centres tend to see a spike in
enrolment at the dawn of a new year,
as men and women who want to get
healthier take the first step by
signing up for a gym membership.
The holiday season can be a great
time to sign up for a membership, as
many fitness centres waive their
initiation fees in an effort to attract
more customers.
When trying to help a friend or
family member get back on a
healthy track, offer to pay a portion
of their membership fees or, if their
preferred club is charging an
initiation fee, offer to pay that
instead. Recipients might feel more
obligated to go to the gym if they
know a loved one helped pay for it.
• Cardiovascular machine:
Many people cite a lack of time as
the primary reason they don’t
exercise enough. Getting to and
from the gym takes time, but having
a cardiovascular machine, whether
it’s an elliptical machine, an exercise
bike or a treadmill, at home
Give health gifts for Christmas
Holidays challenging for those with eating disorders
A tough time
Noted author and public speaker Emily Wierenga, daughter
of Blyth’s Pastor Ernest Dow, explains that the holidays can
be a tough time for those with eating disorders. In a time
where food is bountiful and meals are many, it can be an
ongoing struggle for some to know how to handle meals.
(Photo submitted)
Constituency Offices
My staff and I would like to wish everyone
a very Merry Christmas
and all the best in the coming year.
QUEEN’S PARK
Room 430 Main Legislative Building,
Queen's Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A8
Phone: 416-325-3467
BLYTH OFFICE
408 Queen Street, PO Box 426
Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
Phone: 519-523-4251
KINCARDINE OFFICE
807 Queen Street, Unit 2
Kincardine, ON N2Z 2Y2
Phone: 519-396-3007
Lisa Thompson, M.P.P.
Huron-Bruce
Website: www.lisathompsonmpp.ca
Email: lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org
BLUE HORIZON POOLS
Landscape Design & Installation
Swimming Pools & Spas
Chemical Supplies
519-524-9804
2 miles E. of Goderich on Hwy. 8 OPEN: MON-FRI 9-6 & SAT 9-3
Have Yourself
A Merry Little Christmas!
With glad tidings to you and yours at this joyous time of year.
We value your business and thank you for all the goodwill
you’ve shown us.
From your friends at the
Blyth Masonic Lodge,
we wish you and your family
a Merry Christmas
and a safe & happy 2013.
Blyth Lodge #303, AF & AM
c/o Rick Elliott
P.O. Box 130,
Blyth, Ontario N0M 1H0
email: relliott@ezlink.ca
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
Continued on page 13
Continued on page 13