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Restoring Our Bodies, Reclaiming Our Lives: Guidance and Reflections on Recovery from Eating Disorders
Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Despite what you may have been led to believe, most people with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder are able to completely restore their health and well-being. But how does this happen?
Author Aimee Liu has woven together dozens of first-person accounts of recovery to create a break-through roadmap for healing from an eating disorder. Restoring Our Bodies, Reclaiming Our Lives answers key questions including: How does healing begin? What does it feel like? What supports and accelerates it? Will I ever be free of worry about a relapse?
Throughout the book are informative sidebars written by leading professionals in the field, addressing essential topics such as finding the right therapist, the use of medications, exploring complementary treatments, and how family members can help.
Learn more at the author's website: www.aimeeliu.net.
Author Aimee Liu has woven together dozens of first-person accounts of recovery to create a break-through roadmap for healing from an eating disorder. Restoring Our Bodies, Reclaiming Our Lives answers key questions including: How does healing begin? What does it feel like? What supports and accelerates it? Will I ever be free of worry about a relapse?
Throughout the book are informative sidebars written by leading professionals in the field, addressing essential topics such as finding the right therapist, the use of medications, exploring complementary treatments, and how family members can help.
Learn more at the author's website: www.aimeeliu.net.
206 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2011
16 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Aimee Liu
24 books95 followersAimee Liu is a best-selling novelist, essayist, and nonfiction author based in Los Angeles.
Her 2020 novel GLORIOUS BOY, published by Red Hen Press, has received rave endorsements:
"The most memorable and original novel I've read in ages. Aimee Liu… evokes every side in a multi-cultural conversation with sympathy and rare understanding."
– Pico Iyer
“A riveting amalgam of history, family epic, anticolonial/antiwar treatise, cultural crossroads, and more, this latest from best-selling author Liu is a fascinating, irresistible marvel.” — Library Journal, starred review
”This fascinating novel examines the many dimensions of war, from the tragedy of loss to the unexpected relationships formed during conflict. The Andamans are a lush and unusual setting, a sacred home to all kinds of cultures and people, and Liu’s prose is masterful. A good choice for book groups and for readers who are unafraid to be swept away.” — Booklist, starred review
Glorious Boy is a tale of family devotion, war, and survival. Set on India's remote Andaman Islands before and during WWII , the story revolves around a mysteriously mute 4-year-old who vanishes on the eve of Japanese Occupation. Little Ty's parents, Shep and Claire, will go to any lengths to rescue him, but neither is prepared for the brutal odyssey that awaits them.
Aimee is also the author of GAINING: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders, published by Warner Books, February, 2007. Drawing on her own history of anorexia as well as interviews with more than forty other former anorexics and bulimics, Liu picks up her exploration of recovery where she ended her acclaimed memoir of anorexia nervosa, SOLITAIRE (Harper & Row, 1979), at age twenty-five. Back then, she thought recovery meant eating well. Gaining proves that healthy nutrition is only a first step. True recovery requires a new understanding of the role that genetics, personality, relationships, and anxiety play in these disorders. Liu uses cutting edge research to dispel the myth that fashion is to blame. She examines the real reasons eating disorders -- at all ages -- are on the rise, and how they can be prevented in future generations.
Aimee has three previous novels. FLASH HOUSE (Warner Books, 2003) is a tale of suspense and Cold War intrigue set in Central Asia. CLOUD MOUNTAIN (Warner Books, 1997) is based on the true story of her American grandmother and Chinese revolutionary grandfather. Liu’s first novel, FACE (Warner Books, 1994), deals with mixed-race identity. These books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Before turning to writing fulltime, Aimee edited business and trade publications and worked as an associate producer for NBC's TODAY show. She has co-authored seven books on medical and psychological topics. Her articles, essays, and short stories have appeared in anthologies and periodicals such as Cosmopolitan, Self, Glamour, and Good Housekeeping.
Aimee Liu was born in 1953 and raised in Connecticut, received her B.A. from Yale University in 1975 and her MFA from Bennington College in 2006. She lives in Los Angeles with her family; teaches creative writing in Goddard College’s MFA program; and is a past president of the national writers’ organization PEN USA.
Her 2020 novel GLORIOUS BOY, published by Red Hen Press, has received rave endorsements:
"The most memorable and original novel I've read in ages. Aimee Liu… evokes every side in a multi-cultural conversation with sympathy and rare understanding."
– Pico Iyer
“A riveting amalgam of history, family epic, anticolonial/antiwar treatise, cultural crossroads, and more, this latest from best-selling author Liu is a fascinating, irresistible marvel.” — Library Journal, starred review
”This fascinating novel examines the many dimensions of war, from the tragedy of loss to the unexpected relationships formed during conflict. The Andamans are a lush and unusual setting, a sacred home to all kinds of cultures and people, and Liu’s prose is masterful. A good choice for book groups and for readers who are unafraid to be swept away.” — Booklist, starred review
Glorious Boy is a tale of family devotion, war, and survival. Set on India's remote Andaman Islands before and during WWII , the story revolves around a mysteriously mute 4-year-old who vanishes on the eve of Japanese Occupation. Little Ty's parents, Shep and Claire, will go to any lengths to rescue him, but neither is prepared for the brutal odyssey that awaits them.
Aimee is also the author of GAINING: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders, published by Warner Books, February, 2007. Drawing on her own history of anorexia as well as interviews with more than forty other former anorexics and bulimics, Liu picks up her exploration of recovery where she ended her acclaimed memoir of anorexia nervosa, SOLITAIRE (Harper & Row, 1979), at age twenty-five. Back then, she thought recovery meant eating well. Gaining proves that healthy nutrition is only a first step. True recovery requires a new understanding of the role that genetics, personality, relationships, and anxiety play in these disorders. Liu uses cutting edge research to dispel the myth that fashion is to blame. She examines the real reasons eating disorders -- at all ages -- are on the rise, and how they can be prevented in future generations.
Aimee has three previous novels. FLASH HOUSE (Warner Books, 2003) is a tale of suspense and Cold War intrigue set in Central Asia. CLOUD MOUNTAIN (Warner Books, 1997) is based on the true story of her American grandmother and Chinese revolutionary grandfather. Liu’s first novel, FACE (Warner Books, 1994), deals with mixed-race identity. These books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Before turning to writing fulltime, Aimee edited business and trade publications and worked as an associate producer for NBC's TODAY show. She has co-authored seven books on medical and psychological topics. Her articles, essays, and short stories have appeared in anthologies and periodicals such as Cosmopolitan, Self, Glamour, and Good Housekeeping.
Aimee Liu was born in 1953 and raised in Connecticut, received her B.A. from Yale University in 1975 and her MFA from Bennington College in 2006. She lives in Los Angeles with her family; teaches creative writing in Goddard College’s MFA program; and is a past president of the national writers’ organization PEN USA.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 29, 2020
One of the best ED Recovery books out there!
August 29, 2021
My therapist suggested this book and, to be honest, it was triggering to me. Before I get into why, I will say that I was engaged with the book, it was helpful to see positive stories of recovery, and I liked the sections written by professionals interspersed between the letters. I am going to talk about my ED because I hope it might be helpful.
The majority of stories were by women with anorexia/bulimia. I had anorexia that has turned into BED. I just felt guilty that I wasn’t “as sick” as the people in the book. I know this weird competitiveness is common in the ED community. I feel that this book is more for people with those disorders to inspire them pursue recovery.
The majority of stories were by women with anorexia/bulimia. I had anorexia that has turned into BED. I just felt guilty that I wasn’t “as sick” as the people in the book. I know this weird competitiveness is common in the ED community. I feel that this book is more for people with those disorders to inspire them pursue recovery.
June 28, 2022
This book is by far the best ED (Eating Disorder) recovery book I've read in the past year of my research on Eating Disorder Treatment practices. Hearing stories from different people with different ED experiences really sheds some light on what works for one may not work for others. Also there are so many testimonies in this book that the reader is likely to relate to someone's story or find an answer to a question that was lost on them.
I definitely received a lot of helpful information from this book as well as inspiration on my journey to helping others dealing with Eating Disorders.
I definitely received a lot of helpful information from this book as well as inspiration on my journey to helping others dealing with Eating Disorders.
January 9, 2013
A most useful book both for therapists and for the people they help. There are lots of contributions from people who have experienced an eating disorder, as well as information on the types of treatments available, how to choose a therapist, and the role of external support mechanisms.
For a person with an eating disorder, this book provides recognition and hope; for therapists, this book provides valuable insight into the perspective and feelings of a person with eating disorder.
For a person with an eating disorder, this book provides recognition and hope; for therapists, this book provides valuable insight into the perspective and feelings of a person with eating disorder.
June 21, 2015
One of the best books on recovery I have read, all POSITIVE,no stories seeking pity or lament but all stories focusing on the future without ed,and I even recognised some behaviours I need to address and intend to act upon them, this book is NOT triggering in any way
May 28, 2014
I like Aimee Liu and I'm interested to read Solitaire and see how much it differs in tone from this book and Gaining, which are two of my favorite recovery books
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May 14, 2016Very good book!
January 13, 2017
Good book. it had a little of everything in it
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews