Male eating disorder
My son’s pediatrician recommended Lori Lieberman & Associates for my son who was diagnosed with an eating disorder. To say my husband and I were overwhelmed with his diagnosis, is an understatement. I had no idea what to expect when we first met with Emma Falconer. My son was extremely nervous and my emotions were all over the place. However, my son immediately clicked with her. She was kind, understanding, and very knowledgeable.
My son left that first appointment with HOPE! It was the first time in a long time that he felt like it was possible for him to get better! We have been seeing Emma for the last few months and he continues to improve each week and I credit a lot of that success to Emma. I think Emma is fantastic and she has made a very difficult situation easier. She is a huge asset to Lori Lieberman & Associates. I am so grateful for all she has done for my child.
Adolescent eating disorder
Thank you so much for all your help. I truly believe that without your help it would have taken me considerably longer to get on the road to recovery. You gave me a big scare but I think that was just what I needed to realize the severity of my problem. Since coming back home I have made a conscious effort to eat more and get my weight back up. My BMI is now 20.3 and I am feeling like me old self again. I no longer see food as my enemy and can have chocolate and other treats without worrying about it. When I look at myself in the mirror, instead of seeing a fatter me, I see a healthier me. There is no comparison to my personality during last year and now. I am happy and find joy in doing the things I used to love such as basketball. I have recently taken up the guitar and I am really enjoying it. I am focused on building muscle and I know that that takes a lot of food to do. I also know that in order for me to function correctly I must fuel my body properly.
I didn’t comprehend how much of a negative effect on your personality starving yourself has but I am now aware that a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand. I can see muscles in my arms that I have never seen before and this is a great incentive to keep eating enough to build muscle. Last year I was affected terribly by the cold winter and I was always freezing but now I don’t feel the cold as much because I have some insulation.
My self-confidence is sky high compared to last year. I can walk up to people and initiate a conversation without any hesitation. My family is also very pleased and relieved with my progress. I was not aware how concerned everyone was about me but I fully understand why they did worry about my health. My Mother and Father were very concerned about me but they now think I look healthy and happy again.
I will be forever grateful to you for helping me to break this harmful cycle — you may very well have saved my life. I wish you and your sons all the best in the future. I will never forget what you did for me.
Male eating disorder
My 16-year-old son has had an eating disorder for approximately a year; it started in August, getting progressively worse. We live in Ireland where resources in this specialty are very limited to non-existent. We have a wonderful GP but he just doesn’t have the expertise to deal with my son’s problem.
We spent 3 ½ weeks in Boston in July, 2009. My niece had researched on line and found Lori. We saw Lori twice a week while here. I can say with absolute certainty that Lori has turned our lives around. I feel she may actually have saved my son’s life. He was on a very slippery slope when we met Lori; the change in him is already dramatic.
I can’t find words to explain my gratitude to her. I am a registered nurse, but I have absolutely no experience in eating disorders. It is imperative that people see specialists when there’s a serious problem- and we had a serious problem. I realize we have a long road ahead, but I feel Lori has given us the tools to deal with whatever comes up in the future. I only wish we had someone of her professional caliber in Ireland; she’s literally a lifesaver. We will never forget her, she’s a professional, she is also a warm and compassionate person. Our sessions with her were very emotional at times; she always provided emotional support and kept us focused.
We will miss you Lori, I’ll keep in touch and let you know how my son is doing. Consider this one of your great success stories. I hope!!
Sincerely,
Support and tools for eating disorder recovery
Lori Lieberman has provided much more than nutrition counseling, she’s provided support and encouragement, creative approaches and coping skills. In the world of eating disorders she provides a safe and comfortable place to learn how to cope, for patients and families, and gives them the tools for success.
Overcoming bingeing and restricting
I had been struggling with an eating disorder (binge eating and restrictive eating) for the past 12 years. I had come to a point over the past year and half where I would eat normally and then would binge for a period of time.
I began to binge everyday and literally got to the point that I didn’t think I could pull myself out of it. Then I saw a tag line from Lori on Twitter which led me to her website and a quote that still reminds me to this day how far I’ve come…it was “You will have a normal relationship with food.” I never thought that would happen. I had been dealing with food issues since I was 18 and was about to turn 30 and still couldn’t kick it. I finally decided that this was the time to get help and truly get help, however there was one problem – I live in New York City and Lori is in Massachusetts.
Thankfully this was not an issue. Lori had an opening for a Skype patient. I started Skyping with Lori about 4 months ago to treat my binge and restrictive eating disorder. To actually have it diagnosed was huge. No one ever said I had an eating disorder…it was always oh you have ‘eating issues’. However her labeling my eating disorder helped me to further heal and get better.
Lori is an amazing person and an amazing nutritionist…she helped me trust myself and learn to love cooking more than eating out. I didn’t feel any difference Skyping vs. talking in person. She was still there with me every step of the way. I realized what I had been doing all these years and am here to say that I am on the other side of it. I beat it! I beat my eating disorder! I know there will be bumps in the road but I have such a confidence in myself and trust myself to know how to cope and deal with my emotions and eating. I now truly enjoy eating and everything that comes with it.
Thank you Lori for everything!
Counseling via Internet and the road to recovery
I remember that one of the first things I asked you when I emailed to see if we could work together was how you managed the delicate balance between nutrition counseling and therapy. Could you get close enough to my emotional issues without trying to do therapy? I was skeptical and worried since I know I carry an ample armload of baggage. I can’t fully express my amazement at your ability to point out really sensitive issues that are tripping me up and then coming to a full stop as you say, “so, take that one to therapy.” You don’t even know what all of those issues are, but we’re still managing to work with them and create positive change in my life.
Your approach is compassionate – how many times do you interrupt rather than reinforce self-blame, guilt and shame in each session? But your approach is also so respectful. I really have come to trust that you will treat me with respect. This makes it possible for me to let you see, and to help me change, behavior that shames me.
I have personal experience, through a good friend’s struggle with anorexia, of “support professionals” who regard the women they work with with barely hidden irritation and contempt. I’ve never heard a whiff of that from you, about me or about any other person who struggles with food and eating.
Your capacity to know where the painful parts are without overexposing me, prying, or offering solutions to those problems is truly unique. It makes our work together unbelievably safe. I’m learning so much about myself on this journey we’re on together that our sessions feel rich, interesting and meaningful. That’s something I never imagined I’d say about an RD!
My kids have a knack for expressing things in short, apt, phrases. When I told my eldest child that I was considering contacting you, she turned to me and said, “and what information is it that you will get that you don’t have now?” It’s true. I’ve read myself silly and could easily lay out many different theories about weight gain and loss. I’m a good and enthusiastic cook. What would I get from you?
This clarity about how my emotional challenges and patterns interact with my eating patterns is what I am getting from our work. I’m learning about self-care (and my own tendency to be harsh with myself) in a clear and tangible way. This learning is already carrying over to other parts of my life as I become more aware of how harshness undermines my ability to pursue my goals just as it undermines my ability to enjoy my dinner.
It’s hard for me to believe that we have managed to create this full and rewarding relationship about my eating patterns when I don’t even live in the United States! Our Skype sessions have been lively, connected and real. It’s a real gift to be able to benefit from your expertise even at this distance.
With great appreciation,