Function over form

I joined an outdoor club in my area and went to my first gathering, which was a mountain biking excursion, followed by dinner and beers. I've gotten pretty good at road cycling, and so I thought I would try it out both for the physical challenge and for the opportunity to meet people.

Let's just say that although I anticipated that this bike ride would be physically challenging, I in no way anticipated just how physically challenging it would be. My shoulders and biceps are sore because I was holding onto the handlebars for dear life. Several times, my legs just about gave out from exhaustion. I ate a slightly bigger afternoon snack than usual, but it wasn't quite enough.

But during the entire ride, I wasn't thinking about my fat ass or my jiggling thighs. All I was thinking was "Don't fall. Don'tfalldon'tfalldon'tfall." Or "Please, lungs, give me one more liter of air. Fine, a milliliter. Or even just a couple molecules of oxygen." I was stark bloody petrified and had to concentrate intensely on the path in front of me. It was sandy and there were tree roots everywhere- any lapsed attention would have meant that I ate a faceful of dirt.

It was, in short, an exercise in the function of my body over its "form." I'm not much for the adrenaline rush, but I did enjoy the challenge. And I met a very nice group of people who do this every other week.

Will I do it again? Probably. I know I prefer biking on a road (or at least packed dirt) compared to off-roading, but it's fun enough. And it was nice to totally not think of the ED for a while.

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5 comments:

Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul said...

Congrats on making it through. I've never really cycled and it always seems like the hardest thing in the world to me! Kudos to you for staying focused and kicking butt.

James Clayton said...

Whether you do it again or not, there's something in this about doing something different and giving something a go.

Pushing comfort zones and taking on challenges just don't happen when you're gripped by an eating disorder.

Having fun doing exercise and concentrating on something else besides the constrains of the ED? That's a definite win. Cool stuff to read Carrie!

Ari J. Brattkus said...

Any cute guys? ;)

Carrie Arnold said...

One... ;)

Anonymous said...

This comment is actually a question but I am not sure where to post it. Any tips on where/how to find an MD familiar with EDs? My PCP told me he is not comfortable being the main doctor for my ED. I don't know where to begin looking.

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I'm a science writer, a jewelry design artist, a bookworm, a complete geek, and mom to a wonderful kitty. I am also recovering from a decade-plus battle with anorexia nervosa. I believe that complete recovery is possible, and that the first step along that path is full nutrition.

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Have any questions or comments about this blog? Feel free to email me at carrie@edbites.com



nour·ish: (v); to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth; to cherish, foster, keep alive; to strengthen, build up, or promote



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