Meet the Women of #WeAreWeCan: McCall Nate
In our new blog series, meet the women behind our #WeAreWeCan campaign. We asked these brave and inspiring women to tell us about some of the challenges and struggles they've faced, and share their stories with us. Our hope is that by talking about our experiences as women, we'll recognize that we are not alone and we can help others who might be struggling with similar issues. WE ARE strong, and together WE CAN overcome anything.
For our #WeAreWeCan campaign, we sat down with McCall Nate, age 23, to hear her story. McCall is a wife and a mother who has struggled with an eating disorder—she was diagnosed with anorexia three years ago. Today, she has found support and healing through therapy, self love, and becoming a mother. She hopes to inspire other women who are struggling with eating disorders, and wants to help change the conversation surrounding harmful diet culture. Below, read our conversation with McCall and watch her video to learn more about her inspiring journey.
You told us about your struggle with anorexia and body image—could you share your story with us and some of the challenges that you've faced?
Eating disorders are not a choice—they are a mental illness. My experience with anorexia lasted for about a year before I looked for help. It all started when I began dieting due to poor body image and a desire to lose weight. That year was hard! I was tired, cold, starving, weak, consumed with thoughts of food, and still very insecure no matter how much weight I lost. Accepting the fact that I needed help and getting into therapy/seeing doctors was the best thing I ever did not only for myself but also for those around me.
How have you worked to overcome your struggle with anorexia and to heal your mind + body?
Thanks to therapy and a desire to heal, I have been able to overcome my eating disorder. It took a ton of work, spiked a lot of anxiety, and was harder than I ever imagined, but it was so worth it. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t still struggle with body image. Some days I love and appreciate my body for all the incredible things it does, while other days I am very critical of myself. It’s a constant work in progress and that’s okay! I am continuously working to make peace with my body and mind, but it’s a journey I am willing to take and I hope to help others through it as well.
How did you find strength and hope during your struggle with anorexia?
I was very motivated to overcome my eating disorder. Not only was I completely miserable, but I told my therapist that I felt like I was going crazy. No one wants to feel that way and would do anything to change it! That doesn’t mean it’s easy since mental illness is very real and hard to deal with. I found strength through therapy, amazing doctors, supportive Instagram accounts, my husband, and other family members. My biggest motivator to become healthy and take care of myself was the desire to become a mother. I knew I would need to make some changes in my life if I wanted to become pregnant. I now have a little girl and a son on the way, and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world!
What advice would you offer other women who are struggling with an eating disorder or body image issues?
Do not hesitate to get help! It’s hard to accept and come to terms with the fact that there may be a problem, but I promise it is so worth it! Talking with a therapist and taking medications to help with mental illness is the best thing I ever did for myself. Don’t be ashamed. I would also encourage people to unfollow anyone on social media who makes you feel like you aren't enough or you need to buy a bunch of new stuff to feel pretty or your life isn’t put together. Everyone has their struggles but many don’t show them.
Who is a woman that inspires you and why?
It’s hard to narrow down who inspired me because I have so many amazing women in my life. However, my incredible therapist is someone who changed my life—she inspired me to be better and continues to help me work through my struggles. She was always there for me when I was having a hard day and knew exactly what to say to help me stay on the path to recovery. I will forever be grateful for her!
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your teenage self?
Like many women out there, I’m sure there are a lot of things we wish we knew back when we were teenagers. But if I were to give my teenage self one piece of advice today, it would be to reject diet culture and work to have a positive relationship with food and my body. Although my struggle with anorexia was the hardest thing I have ever been through, I am grateful for it because it taught me so much. One thing it taught me that I wish everyone could know and believe is that diets don’t work.
To date, there has not been a single study that shows that diets are sustainable. But it’s no wonder we have a desire to diet and lose weight! We are bombarded with messages from society about our bodies, the newest weight loss plan, the meals we should be making, etc. Society works so hard and unfortunately succeeds in having us believe that we will be prettier and better people if we diet. I hope to just be one voice in changing diet culture and spreading the word about the negative side effects of dieting! Instead, people should put that energy towards gaining a positive relationship with themselves and food.
What do you love about your Fawn Design bags?
I love my Fawn Design bags because they simply help me be a mom! I am able to carry around all the things I need for my little one in such a cute bag without looking like we’re moving every time we leave the house. Plus, who doesn’t love a bag that’s easy to carry around and doesn’t break your back all while looking good?
Photos: Lizzyography