‘J FEEL fat.’ What woman
— or man, for that matter —
can say she has never uttered
these three loaded words at
one point in time?

STYLE NOTES

To Marie Cochrane, founder of
NICE, National Institute for
Compulsive Eaters, these are code
words that should raise a red flag
about poor body image.

“Wher a woman talks about
being fat, she is saying ‘I feel unac-
ceptable,’ ” says Cochrane, who is
tall, slim and blonde, a “ barbie-doll
type” by her own admission.

But she too has “fat days.”

The 45-year-old registered nurse
was working as a nutritionist at a
weight-loss clinic when she had the
idea to form a support group for
compulsive eaters. The owner of the
clinic refused to help; Cochrane quit
and formed NICE. Now she coun-
sels people who have eating disor-
ders on a one-on-one basis at her
Vancouver practice.

“A lot of people who come to me
are not overweight,” says Cochrane,
explaining that a society “intolerant
of variations,” has created a false set
of norms by which we judge our-
selves.

“Men. women — all people —
have a basic need for acceptance,”
she says. For some, the focus is on
body image. If their body can be
“perfect,” or “media acceptable,”
then they feel they are acceptable.

The solution? Recognizing that at
the root of the problem is poor body
image. Promoting body acceptance
and positive self-image is the
answer, not embarking on a never-
ending cycle of diet and binge.

To this end, North Shore Family
Services (NSFS) has started a sup-
port group, Wednesdays from 7:30
to 9:30 p.m., for compulsive
overeaters. Facilitated by nutritionist
Karen Reeve, who has been trained
by Cochrane, the group will work to

. foster understanding, acceptance and
learning as it covers topics ranging
from stress reduction and anger
management to self-identity and
boundary setting. The cost is $10;
phone NSFS at 988-528] to register.

ooo

On Tuesday, Oct. 4 North Shore
Health sponsors a “train the trainer”
session for school counsellors, peer
counsellors, nurses and other mem-
bers of the North Shore community
interested in becoming involved in
Beauty from the Inside Out, a
smoking prevention workshop for
adolescent girls. The session takes
place from 4 to 9 p.m. at KathyChan
Hair Studio on Lonsdale Avenue.
The workshop is free; preregistration
is required (983-6710). Phone 926-
7560 for more information.

NEWS photo Terry Petern
“IE ONLY | could be thin...” Positive body image is enjoying what
you have instead of focusing on what you could have.

Breaking the spell

NICE, THE National Institute for Compulsive Eaters, offers the following
suggestions to help build self-esteem:.

? Trust your ability to learn, and to falter and pick yourself up. View mis-
takes. as learning; set strategies to avoid future errors. Take on new pro-
jects or beliefs, believing that with consistent practice asd experience you
will master them.

@ Accept praise from others and from yourself, Give yourself credit or
the benefit of the doubt. Self-criticism is devastating to self-esteem. Notice
when you begin berating yourself, and despite your negative thoughts,
refrain from tolerating them.

© Embark on self-encouragement. Such phrases as “I am tikable,” “Iam

good at my job,” and “I am fun to be with," help reinforce your strong

points and remind yourself that you are worthwhile.

® Fecus on how to succeed or on what you really want for yourself, rather
than worrying. Worrying is like a negative wish — when you put all your
energies into not failing rather than into getting what you want, you are
destined to fail.

@ Know your own worth. Ask for what you want and ask for help to
achieve it.

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