THE ACTORS DIET: Lynn - In Frozen Desserts We Trust

What is The Actors Diet?

Let's make it clear. We're not calling this "The Actors Diet" to tell you how to eat so you end up looking like a certain celebrity. We know that like all people, actors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and their diets vary accordingly. But unlike most people, actors have unique circumstances that center around their bodies. Sometimes we need to get strong for an action movie, lose weight to look sick, tone up for a bathing suit scene, figure out how to fit into the same costume for reshoots.

How to deal with all this in the healthiest way possible? Especially when confronted with the crafts service table on set?

"The Actors Diet" will show you how we attempt to navigate these unique challenges.

Christy's Story

Food has always been an important part of my world. My parents were always insistent that we eat healthy - lots of vegetables, limit the sweets - you know the drill. My grandfather had a huge garden while I was growing up and we spent countless hours helping him tend to his plants and ate mostly the food that he grew.

When I moved to NYC and began working as an actor, I developed a different relationship to food. Because an actor's body is their instrument and they often need to change it to fit a role, eating disorders are rampant. Every actor you meet is on a different diet of some sort. In an effort to preempt an eating disorder for myself, I went to school and studied nutrition.

During that time, I really got to know my body and how it wanted to be fed. I started to see food as a tool (a yummy tool!) that could help me do the things I wanted to do and see the results I wanted to see. From there, it became easy to understand how to change my body healthfully and stay creative and energized. Now, in addition to working as an actor, I counsel other people around their health and nutrition! (Take a look at my new website - How to Chow)

My hope is that this blog will dispel the crazy diets you hear about in celebrity magazines and tabloids. That we can talk openly about what we eat and what works for us and our bodies. And that it will encourage you to try some new things and see what works for you.

Lynn's Story

Ugh. I kinda hate talking about my history with food because it’s been such a roller coaster. I’ve been a binge eater my entire life and have spent the last six years balancing it out with anorexia.

In 2003 I had literally worked my butt off to play a ballet dancer. When I stopped the dieting, I naturally gained the weight back. But my managers weren’t happy. My fans called me chubby. My relatives commented. And since I wasn’t booking, I figured it must be because of the weight. I looked for examples of women who were about my size but I wasn’t even sure what I saw anymore; the bingeing and anorexia were taking over every aspect of my life.

In an attempt to get my life under control in a healthful way, I tried to do what I thought other actors did. I went on the zone, did cleanses, ate macrobiotic, got hypnosis, hired a personal trainer, had private pilates sessions, ate specially delivered/overpriced meals, went vegetarian, all while seeing an eating disorders specialist. I would scour magazine interviews with actors, stopping when they described anything having to do with food. “She ate a hamburger and fries,” I would read, and think, “And then what? How much of it did she eat? Did she have anything else the rest of the day? What about the next day?” I couldn’t figure out how other actors did it, why it was so difficult for me to stay as small as everyone else around me without counting every calorie.

I took a year off from show business to come to terms with my disordered eating. I’ve been doing well,and now I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, both mentally and physically.

Now that I’ve reentered the acting world, I want to hold myself accountable. The same pressures are going to be there and I don’t want to fall back into abusive behaviors. I’m hoping this food blog will present an honest look into this actor’s diet, burgers and fries and all.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Lynn - In Frozen Desserts We Trust

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Though since I don't have a real job, I feel a little silly saying that....

Today's breakfast and lunch were a lot like yesterday's, so I didn't bother taking pix. I went to the gym in the morning and for some reason had a lot more trouble running this time so I did a walk/run combo.

Before I went to go do some errands, I locked myself out of the house. Woops.

Luckily my landlady lives down the street and had a spare key. I went to Whole Foods, where I spent more money on a single bag of groceries than I do on four at Trader Joe's. But I did get some goods I can't get at TJ's -

Quorn Chik'n Patties. We had these for dinner - baked for 20 minutes in the toaster oven.

With Ezekiel bread, mustard, spinach, and frozen brussels sprouts (nuked and tossed with honey mustard dressing, salt, and pepper)

Abe and I were so excited to watch this tonight -

It was the Throwdown with Bobby Flay against the restaurant owner of Mama Testa Taqueria, where Abe and I ate last month in San Diego.

I won't tell you who won...but you can watch for yourself this week - I believe the show is rerunning....

A red plum. I like my plums firm. Dunno why.

Then: fish oil, calcium, and ginger chew.

I was satisfied, but my mind kept thinking of my other Whole Foods purchases:

365-Brand Passion Fruit Sorbet and Stonyfield Farm's Organic After Dark Chocolate Frozen Yogurt.

Ordinarily, I would say to myself, "You're not hungry, so...no." But in light of The Special K Treatment's Trust Yourself project, I decided to reevaluate. Why was I depriving myself of something I wanted? Afraid of gaining weight? Leading to a binge? No, I trust myself enough to know I can "handle" the "consequences" of "giving in" to my desires.

(Sorry for the obnoxious amount of air quotes.)

So I had a scoop of each, topped with some Zoe's Granola.

Really really really really really really good stuff.

Another peanut ginger chew later and I'm feeling groovy.

Check out the NY Times Consults Blog for free eating disorder advice this week! I may ask a question of my own....

Giveaways: Danica's Daily, Health Happiness and Hope, Yogiclarebear and The Actors Diet (that's us!)

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25 comments:

insideiamdancingJuly 15, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Love quorn!

Going to check out the blog post now...
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heartswholefoodsJuly 15, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I love that you are taking on Special K's challenge, and wonderfully too :)

LOL I get 2 full bags at TJ's for a quarter of the price for 2 bags at Whole Foods. Sigh, but I still do love the place.
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JanethaJuly 15, 2009 at 11:26 PM
i saw the first part of that throwdown! but i didn't catch the end. the food looked bangin. i will have to catch the rerun, i am sure it will be on a zillion times!
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mamasweedsJuly 16, 2009 at 3:09 AM
I buy those chik'n patties for my kids and they L.O.V.E. them. And I like that they aren't chicken. They are pretty tasty too, I have to admit.
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Christie @ Quit Your DietJuly 16, 2009 at 3:11 AM
I really needed this post, thanks for sharing.
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JennyJuly 16, 2009 at 3:59 AM
I loved the realization about the ice cream!!! Way to go!! So truth! It looks so yummy!!!

I love Bobby Flay!!!

Have another greay day!! :) dont forget your keys.... ;)
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EmilyJuly 16, 2009 at 4:50 AM
That Stoneyfield frozen yogurt looks delicious! I'm a huge fan of anything dark chocolate.

I just entered your giveaway. :-)
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healthymadisonJuly 16, 2009 at 4:53 AM
I love the dark chocolate! I had that a few weeks ago and it was gone in 2 days. Eeeeeek.
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SusanJuly 16, 2009 at 4:56 AM
I always feel bad for the restaurant owners when they get beat out by Bobby Flay. It seems so embarrassing!

I like the thought process behind the ice cream choice. When I start debating stuff like that I always say to myself "I didn't gain weight by having a piece of chocolate after dinner, I gained weight by having half a chocolate bar, after a dinner of nachos, then followed it with three beer." Then I realize how silly I'm being and have the damn dessert! :P
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Daria (Summer of the CSAs)July 16, 2009 at 5:22 AM
Kudos on the dessert decision! And thanks for the link to the NY Times blog!
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brandiJuly 16, 2009 at 5:40 AM
that was a good throwdown, huh? We watched it, too. I really wanted some fish tacos last night after seeing that!
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ChristinaJuly 16, 2009 at 5:47 AM
I served my boyfriend one of those "chicken" patties for dinner once and didn't tell him it was fake chicken. He never even noticed!
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ErinJuly 16, 2009 at 5:56 AM
I love Ezekial bread. Yum!
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Andrea@WellnessNotesJuly 16, 2009 at 6:38 AM
I'll have to try the Chik'n Patties. Looks like a great dinner!
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HollyJuly 16, 2009 at 7:21 AM
ya just can't deny yourself a bit o' the ice cream - looks soooo good! love me some throwdown, quorn and ezek bread - good eats dear!
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Jenn@slim-shoppinJuly 16, 2009 at 8:14 AM
I'm lucky enough to have a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in my town (in fact they are only a block from each other!) I do agree, you can buy TONS more at Trader Joe's, but I still like going to Whole Foods for special stuff. I haven't tried a few of the things you mentioned, so thanks for posting that!
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FaithJuly 16, 2009 at 8:50 AM
Quorn patties are the best! I've gotta try that dark chocolate froyo, it sounds amazing!
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Danica's DailyJuly 16, 2009 at 9:14 AM
YUM to dinner and dessert! I definitley think you should have cool desserts in the summer and you picked healthy ones to boot :)

Thanks for the Annie's contest shout out and for twittering it - it all counts! Good luck!
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Cait (Cait's Plate)July 16, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Oh yay! I love qorn products! and that dessert looks so yummy!
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Hallie (Healthy Twists)July 16, 2009 at 10:10 AM
They filmed the Throwdown right near my work but I didn't go over to check it out! I'm kicking myself now...so fun to see the hometown food represented! Although my BF was yelling that Mama Testa's fish tacos wasn't "authentic" enough for him and he's such a snob that I don't think I'll get him to take me there...which is a shame because as you know it's SO GOOD! I'll have to just go by myself ;-)
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imdianeJuly 16, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Dude your ice cream always looks so good and I think it's awesome that you always venture out and diversify. I wanna try all of them now too!

Also I think it's great that you're so open about your past with eating disorder and how you're dealing with it nowadays! Such a great example for many! Hope they've gotten a chance to land on this blog!
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AlisonJuly 16, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Thanks for the blog link. I really want to check it out.
And lovethe sorbet/ice cream combo. Have you ever had real passion fruit? I tried it recently and loved it.
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SarahJuly 16, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Mmm, what a yummy dessert. I'm so glad you listened to your craving. We all need a little ice cream now and again!
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Peanut Butter SwirlJuly 16, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Ughh Whole Foods price tag.. I only get special items there too.
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SuzieJuly 17, 2009 at 6:26 AM
I really like Quorn products- I often buy the chik'n breasts to cut up and add to my salads.
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