Rachel Quast, M.A. • Counselor • 414-303-1134 • rachelquast@9shed.com • www.9shed.com
Exposing the Storm
Within
By Rachel Quast, M.A., CPT
www.9shed.com Vol. 3, Issue 8 April 1, 2011
Anorexia Athletica
I'd like to address on area of eating disorders which is often overlooked. It is called "anorexia
athletica." This is not the name which the DSM-IV gives, so technically, it would fall under
EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified). Despite the technicality, it is a real issue of
which many of us need to become aware. It is quite easy to overlook it, thinking the person is
simply athletic or training for a sport. That may be the case, but it is vital to look deeper into the
issue. Why? Because any addiction steals a person's quality of life in multiple of ways. Exercise
is something society encourages us to do, so it is very easy to hide this addiction. When I was
addicted, I had many people tell me, "Well, if you have to be addicted, it is the best thing to be
addicted to." No one was scared for me, alarmed by it or discouraged me. However, I can
honestly say, it stole my quality life just as anorexia did. Only one example is I didn't go on
vacations unless I worked out on vacation or did two workouts in one day to "make up" for it. It
controlled my life! That is not quality life. It isn't a big life. I included an article below which further
explains anorexia athletica.
Compulsive exercise is alternatively referred to as "anorexia athletica," "obligatory exercise," and
"exercise addiction." The person with anorexia athletica no longer enjoys exercising, but feels
obligated to do so.
Rachel Quast, M.A. • Counselor • 414-303-1134 • rachelquast@9shed.com • www.9shed.com
Treatment is usually required for this and other forms of anorexia because the conditon is very
difficult to overcome and worsens over time.
People who suffer from this condition–most prominently females between the ages of 12 and
19–may experience a sense of guilt and anxiety when missing a workout
and not even sickness or injury can stop them from fulfilling their perceived need for exercise.
Individuals with anorexia athletica may:
Repeatedly exercise beyond the requirements for good health.
Be fanatical about weight and diet.
Steal time from work, school, and relationships to exercise.
Strive to achieve and master ever more difficult challenges
Forget that physical activity can be fun.
Define self-worth in terms of performance.
Rarely be satisfied with athletic achievements. Small satisfactions are fleeting and they
do not savor victory; they push on to the next challenge immediately.
Justify excessive behavior by defining themselves as a "special" or "elite" athlete.
The Female Athlete Triad
The American College of Sports Medicine offers helpful resources on the female athlete triad.
The female athlete triad refers specifically to three related health problems often found in
women athletes:
Low energy availability (eating disorders)
Menstrual irregularities (amenorrhea)
Weak bones (increased risk of stress fractures and osteoporosis)
(Taken from http://www.eatingdisordersonline.com/explain/anorathletica.php)
Many blessings to you and those you work with,
Rachel Quast, M.A., CPT
SHED founder & president
Shed’s Resources &
Updates:
Rachel Quast, M.A. • Counselor • 414-303-1134 • rachelquast@9shed.com • www.9shed.com
”a shelter from the
storm”
FILM PRODUCTION IS COMPLETE! "BEAUTY REDEFINED: EATING
DISORDER & OBESITY RECOVERY" FILM IS AVAILIBLE FOR PURCHASE!
So many hours, tears and stories have gone into the making of this film. It is a 30 MINUTE
movie comprised of over 8 peoples' struggles and recovery from an eating disorder. The
film shows RAW truth of the pain of eating disorders, the underlying reasons why each
person developed an eating disorder and advice to those fighting for recovery from an eating
disorder. The film also defines true beauty in order to dismantle the myths that an "ideal"
body will provide an "ideal" life. The film is ideal for students 5th grade through college,
counselors in schools and in the community, eating disorder treatment centers, families and
those struggling with eating disorders.
Price: $25.00 plus $2.50 for shipping
A 1-hr MP3 presentation on “The Role of Group Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery” is
available. It includes the reasons why group is essential to recovery, guidelines to leading a
healthy group, leader qualifications, group format, the 9-steps to eating disorders and specific
examples of group activities. Copies are $15.00 (plus $2.50 for shipping).
MARCH & APRIL SPECIAL: "The Role of Group Therapy in Eating Disorder
Recovery" is only $12.00, and FREE shipping.
“Conflict and Communication” MP3 is now available. It is 35 minutes long and addresses
why conflict exists, how to personally resolve conflict and how to listen to support others in
working through personal issues. This presentation does contain spiritual references.
CLOSE OUT PRICE: $5.00 + $2.50 shipping
DVD: “Exposing the Storm Within”: A 10-minute video on DVD is a great way to capture
students’ attention within counseling and group sessions or while teaching in the classroom.
It covers a brief synopsis of Rachel’s presentations, including pictures of her teeth and when
she weighed 54 pounds. Portions of the media and body image presentation are also included.
The DVD is $10.00 (plus $2.50 for shipping).
* Journey from the Storm Within: 9 steps to eating disorder recovery is a workbook with
over 60 activities to work through each of the 9 steps. It includes part of Rachel Quast's
personal struggle with anorexia, journal entries and activities to work through underlying
issues which drive the eating disorder. It is a useful tool for teachers, counselors, social
workers and individuals. Activities are easy to photo copy and give to students and a
counselor's clients. It also is very appropriate for a person to use to further her/his own
recovery. The copies are $25.00 (plus shipping of $4.50/1st copy and $3.00 additional
copies). Orders of 5 or more are only $17.95 per copy, plus shipping.
Rachel Quast, M.A. • Counselor • 414-303-1134 • rachelquast@9shed.com • www.9shed.com
MARCH, APRIL & MAY SPECIAL: Journey from the Storm Within: 9 steps to
eating disorder recovery are only $17.95 each, plus shipping.
* Journey from the Storm Within: Support Group Training Manuals are now available for
$18.00 (plus shipping of $4.50/1st copy and $3.00 for additional copies). It includes step by
step outline on how to lead a support group. The group lasts 9 weeks and the actual activities
are included for the entire group. Group guidelines, confidentiality form, member screening
guidelines are some of the aspects covered in this manual.
Additional Products:
POSTERS!!!
"Eating Disorder Language" Posters. They are in color and discuss the hidden code (feelings
and thoughts) underneath eating disorder behavior. The poster will break false stereo-types of
eating disorders being only "about food" and "wanting to lose weight." Those are only the
outer symptoms. Help educate others on the true, underlying causes by ordering this poster
today. They are on a promotional sale for $8.00 + $2.50 shipping.
Presentations/trainings:
*PRESENTATIONS for staff, students, parents, churches, corporations and communities are
available on topics such as addictions, eating disorders, obesity, emotional eating, wellness
and unhealthy patterns. Presentations for students and school staff do address all AODA
issues as well as topics like bullying, self-injurious behavior and gangs. As a reminder,
schools may use drug and alcohol grant money since the presentations do address all
addictions. NCAA is also offering $500 grant toward SHED’s presentations. Presentations
using this grant must be booked by the college’s athletic department. Applications for this
grant money are due March 15 and Jan. 15, depending on the semester you are planning the
presentation.
The grant applications can be downloaded off of their website at:
http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/health-
safety/drug_ed_progs/speakers.htm It is possible to contact your local college
(athletic dept) and coordinate a joining presentation to help reduce costs. Contact us for
further support on how to meet finances to book a presentation.
*To also help with costs SHED encourages schools to pool funds together to book full-days.
This allows Rachel to speak to 3 different schools in one day (if they are within a ½ hour
from each other). This means that 3 schools will share the full-day price, which is a $300
savings from a half-day price, per school. If you include a college (and the $500 grant), the
savings only increases!
*PRESENTATIONS WITHIN THE MILWAUKEE AREA ARE 50% OFF!
Rachel Quast, M.A. • Counselor • 414-303-1134 • rachelquast@9shed.com • www.9shed.com
YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A $100 DISCOUNT FOR A REFERRAL WHICH LEADS
TO A BOOKING.
* SHED offers services for schools, the community, corporations, churches and individuals.
For example, SHED offers workshops called “Relationships with Food and Your Body.” We
would be able to offer such a workshop at your workplace. The cost is $80 per person or
SHED offers a set fee for the entire workshop.
Groups/Counseling:
* SHED now offers two on-going groups for all three disorders (anorexia, bulimia and
binge eating) and all recovery levels. They are on Monday at 6pm and Wednesday at 6pm.
New members may join at any time. One group is for those who are in the beginning stages
of recovery and the second is for those who are more experienced with recovery. Group
creates a safe place to break thinking and behavioral patterns of the eating disorder during
challenging times. Topics such as food symbolism, reframing thoughts, eating disorder
language and emotional discharge (through art and processing time) will be discussed and
experienced.
*For those seeking long distance counseling, phone counseling is available.
*For individual counseling, there is an office located in the 3rd Ward (just south of
downtown Milwaukee). It is available for anyone wanting to work through issues like: eating
disorders, obesity, emotional eating and wellness goals. SHED works on a “fee for service”
basis, which means insurance companies are not involved. This ensures optimal
confidentiality. For this reason, our fees are much lower than other therapists.
*Consultations are available for therapists and agencies needing support in understanding
their clients with eating disorders. SHED offers consultations for individual cases and at
agency supervision meetings. Contact Rachel at SHED for further information.
For additional information, counseling, groups, book orders, presentation
bookings or personal training, contact:
SHED
414-303-1134
www.9shed.com
rachelquast@9shed.com