“Here’s a picture of me in my favorite dress from 3 years ago,” she wrote, noting that it’s a size two and “doesn’t even come close” to zipping up anymore.
“Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my body image and health, after a ‘friend’ told me that I’ve let myself go and should stop eating so much bread,” she continued. “I don’t really talk about this much (or ever publicly) but I struggled with an eating disorder all throughout high school and college and was in and out of different therapies and centers.”
A post shared by lucy litman (@lucialitman) on May 7, 2017 at 5:43pm PDT
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Lucia says she used to weigh herself five times a day and the weight she saw would determine how happy she felt and the activities she “allowed” herself to do, which impacted a lot of her friendships and relationships. She’s now trying to channel her new love of food into her work. “I’m hoping to show a more playful side to what we eat and get people thinking about colors, shapes, and textures instead of calories or how much exercise they’ll have to do to burn it off.”
Lucia says she now has the healthiest relationship with food that she’s ever had—and she had this message for others struggling with an eating disorder: “Know that you’re more than a number and that having a thigh gap is irrelevant (and physically impossible for some people’s bone structure), but most importantly that you are not alone and are loved.”
Your body can do some really amazing things—this video is proof:
According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Lucia isn’t alone: At least 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from an eating disorder.
Her post has resonated with thousands of people, with many praising her honesty and sharing their own stories. “Thank you, Luci, I have struggled my whole life also, and your message is amazing,” one wrote. “So much of what you said rang true for me….and I am more than old enough to know better,” another said. “The number on my scale dictates how good of a day or week I am having and what social activities I engage in as well. THANK YOU for being brave enough to put this out there!”
Lucia is a photographer and food stylist, according to her website, and she’s taken her newfound appreciation for food and channeled it into fun photos she posts on her Instagram page (which everyone should definitely follow!):
A post shared by lucy litman (@lucialitman) on May 8, 2017 at 6:28am PDT
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A post shared by lucy litman (@lucialitman) on May 2, 2017 at 7:55pm PDT
Lucia’s built up a following online—and it’s easy to see why. We’re willing to bet that she’s going to continue to inspire with her online presence.