In Anne Lamott’s personal essay called “Hunger”, she describes her battles with food, weight issues, bulimia, depression, and negative sense of self. Her struggles pushed her to face her issues head on even though there were so many women trying to help her get over her condition. According to Lamott, her problems began when at 13, she realized she was heavy at 100 lbs and even reached 130 lbs at the tender age of 14. This, coupled with the discovery that her father had cancer exacerbated her desires to stay lean and thin. Although she looked healthy, happy, and always smiling on the outside, Lamott later on reveals that she felt low and anxious most of the time because of her physical appearance. She suffered from binge eating and bulimia, which are both eating disorders that allows an individual to experience the joys of eating, but pushes the person to purge everything that he or she just ate. It also comes from the belief that when one eats, food makes one fat and gain weight easily. Lamott’s personal experience is admirable considering her journey towards self appreciation and acceptance, which positively changed her view of food and its benefits to one’s health.
Overcoming her eating disorder helped Lamott change her mental focus. Lamott’s discovery of bulimia made her believe that she “has discovered the secret to life” (Lamott 222) as she realized that she could indulge in eating everything she wants without having to gain a single pound. This is a common reaction of bulimics who are self-conscious and who always want to be able to conform to the requirements of society when it comes to self-image. However, as Lamott changed her concentration away from her body and instead, focused on the feelings of emotional satisfaction and happiness, she began changing her attitude about food. She realized that she was becoming healthier and can now appreciate the little gifts of life in her everyday living, including “beautiful little fish and dreamy underwater plants, and shells lying in the sand” (Lamott 222). By changing her mental focus and her thought processes, Lamott began seeing the brighter side of life. She eliminated her thoughts of darkness and gloom that only shadowed her view of life. Likewise, as she opened herself up, she realized she had so many things to share to fellow women. The best part of it all is that she realized she can be comfortable in her own skin and that “she could get along [with herself] pretty well” (Lamott 222).
Lamott’s journey also teaches about improving eating habits and eating healthy. While the beginning of the process is always a constant battle between one’s newfound beliefs and old eating habits, changes in the way one sees food helps in decreasing the power of binge eating and bulimic tendencies, thus, the individual gains more control of one’s thoughts and body. By slowly paying attention to the idea of food and how the body reacts to the presence or absence of food, Lamott slowly enjoyed the experience of food. In addition, she began to understand subtle signals on how her body reacts to lack of food in the stomach. She also began accepting that she should not just throw out food or wet the food in order to make the food unpalatable (Lamott 225). Whenever she felt the urge to eat, she would feel her stomach and respond according to what her stomach dictates. But never again did she allow herself to go back to her previous reality.
Finally, Lamott’s experiences teach about trust, even those who are not members of the immediate family. In her case, she may have met women who shared the same experiences as hers when it came to food and becoming a bulimic as she listened to others’ stories as well (Lamott 222). While she acted pleasant and appeared to tell others about her deepest secrets, one thing she never really shared was her 10-year battle with bulimia, until she met a specialist in eating disorders. With the help of Rita Groszmann, Lamott was able to slowly rebuild her sense of self-worth and self-love by addressing her food issues slowly rather than abruptly. In time, she has experienced a sense of freedom knowing that despite sharing her problems about bulimia and binge-eating, there is someone who neither hates nor judges her. She also developed an appreciation to food and taste. She enjoys the feeling of food coming down her throat and actually liking how it tastes and welcoming the idea of a filling food experience (Lamott 226). By learning to trust another individual with her problems, Lamott also learned to trust and appreciate herself more. She admits that she never got firm body despite overcoming bulimia. However, the more important thing is that she now has a healthier sense of self and does not have to level herself with the dictates of society when it comes to women and body size.
Bulimia and binge eating are disorders that affect thousands of women. They are aware that they have this condition, but are just too afraid to share their secret to family members and friends for fear of ridicule or rejection. Because of the secrecy involved, the individual’s condition may go unnoticed and could even turn worse, leading to more health issues. Therefore, women should be taught that self-appreciation and self-love are not tied to one’s physical beauty, but rather to the joy, love, and care that one receives from people, including being able to maintain a healthy body and a sound mind.
Works Cited
Lamott, Anne. “Hunger.” N.d. Web. Obsessions and Transformations. 23 May 2014. PDF.
