Weight loss seminars sell dreams: Pretty promises packaged in fast, easy to use vials, bottles and boxes, wrapped in colorful celophane and offering quick weight loss and a life of friendship, career advancement, love and romance. Eat, drink, massage and vibrate your way to slim beauty. Please be aware and recognize the shiny magic lantern that promises to grant your wishes but delivers dissipating smoke.

People with a history of eating disorders have a history of not recognizing or being able to create necessary boundaries. Have you learned to appreciate boundaries? 

For the past two nights I've been watching Michael Jackson videos on youtube. Here are a few.

• Beat It
• Billy Jean
• Thriller
• Michael Jackson & Brittany Spears live
• From New York Times: great interactive timeline of Michael Jackson's life.

I've always loved his music and his distinctive and electrifying dance moves. But I had never watched his career unfold chronologically before my eyes from first appearance as a dynamic little boy in the Jackson Five to the creative genius behind Thriller and beyond. His "We are the world" raised millions for starving children in Africa.

Yet at a low Michael was 91 pounds on a five 5'11" frame.

Carrie Arnold wrote a warm and beautiful blog post about living through and beyond eating disorders.  She calls for and hopes for essays about eating disorder treatment that are filled with hope.  She also implies that it’s hard to hold on to hope when the news spreads gloom and doom stories about eating disorders.

Challenges to effective recovery treatment

Carrie raises the two great challenges that face the person who needs effective treatment and the clinician who offers it.