The “I Feel Fat” Spell By Andrea Wachter, LMFT

Millions of people have been struck by the “I Feel Fat” Spell. While the incantations of the spell vary, they often sound something like this:
"You must be thinner.”
“If you are thin, you will be admired.”
“You must burn calories and fat.”
“You will eat only good foods.” 
“You must avoid bad foods.” 
“You don’t measure up.”
“Do not feel uncomfortable emotions, just lose weight to feel better.”

We are not born with all these rules. We learn them. We learn them from our culture, through the media, and from others who already learned it through the culture, media and others. 
In the previous generation, most people didn’t catch the “I Feel Fat” Spell until they were in their teens. That’s when it started for me. And once it hit, I spent decades lost in feelings of self-hatred, fearful of fats or carbs and, consequently, binging on fats and carbs and then hating myself even more. It was both an addictive and agonizing path.

It took me many years and tears to break the “I Feel Fat” Spell and unlearn all the cultural insanity. And after upgrading my internal programming, it seemed only natural that I would become a psychotherapist, specializing in eating disorders and body image issues. It has been my passion and honor to pass on what I was taught and to help others who are susceptible to or caught in “The I Feel Fat” Spell.

For the past 25 years, I have treated mostly adults, young adults and teens. But, alarmingly, a few years ago, the age range of my clients began getting even younger. I started getting calls from concerned parents, colleagues and doctors about kids with severe body image disturbances. I found it shocking to hear about six, seven and eight-year-old kids who were feeling “fat” and eleven or twelve-year-olds refusing to eat carbs or desperately wanting six-pack abs. 

I knew it was time to revise my teachings for a younger set of ears. I wanted to help kids break their “I Feel Fat” Spells before they turned into full-blown eating and body image disorders. I asked my co-author, Marsea Marcus, to join me and we wrote, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Breaking the “I Feel Fat” Spell. This book is written for kids, 12 and under, who struggle with body image issues. It is filled with “Spell Breakers” that teach kids (and adults) how to talk back to their “Unkind Mind” and “Retrain their Brain.” If you love, work with or know a young person who has been struck by the “I Feel Fat” Spell, please check out Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Breaking the “I Feel Fat” Spell. 

To purchase Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Breaking the “I Feel Fat” Spell click here: http://amzn.com/1513707175
Andrea Wachter is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and co-author of Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Breaking the “I Feel Fat” Spell as well as The Don’t Diet, Live-It Workbook. She is also author of the soon to be released, Getting Over Overeating for Teens. Andrea is an inspirational counselor, author and speaker who uses professional expertise, humor, and personal recovery to help others. For more information on her books, blogs and other services, please visit: www.andreawachter.com or www.innersolutions.net

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