My goal is to be in bed in twenty minutes (9:45). Let’s see how I do!
Mid-afternoon snacks included granola and yogurt (yes, I had this for breakfast, too).
Nuts and raisins:
And an orange:
Dinner was also eaten in parts (can you tell I’m a grazer?). I had a Barney Butter sammie around 5PM:
Celery and carrots at 7:30 PM:
And now I’m inhaling veggie soup:
Tonight, I posted this Operation Beautiful note….
And it reminded me of this e-mail, which I received on Sunday. It really touched my heart (I cried at the kitchen table when I read it). I want to share it with you all because it truly reminds me how powerful these little post-its can be. (I suppose this e-mail could be a little triggering if you have an eating disorder, so please read with caution. But it has a happy ending!)
I just wanted to let you know how your site has helped me. I am seventeen years old, live in Canada, and was diagnosed with bulmia when I was fourteen. I began my first diet when I was eight. I have spent my entire life working to be "perfect" and thin. It has ruined my life.
My teeth have almost no enamel on them left, my heart rate and blood pressure goes from too high to too low weekly. I get ECGs and blood tests at least once a month. I have spent my last two summers in hospitals and have missed part of my grade ten 11 and 12 year due to being hospitalized. I can’t stand up for very long with out my vision going black and getting dizzy. My hair fell out a few years back. My fingers nails turn blue and I’m always cold. I can’t go out with my friends anymore I get to tired. I have wasted so much time and truly put my health at risk and I still can’t stop.
The reason I’m writing you is because on Friday, I was at my weekly hospital checkup and one of my therapists made me eat a 500 calorie meal, which I haven’t done in ages, to "de-sensitive" me. I was on my way to the bathroom to throw it up after my appointment. I had just locked the stall when I saw a sticky note on the back of the door. It said, " You’re beautiful. You’re good enough. www.OperationBeautiful.com." No one has ever said that to me. I didn’t throw up that day. It was the first time I ate something solid and did not throw it up in years.
I plan on plastering the Eating Disorder Treatment floor with Operation Beautiful sticky notes.
Thank you,
Vit
You never know who will read your Operation Beautiful note. There are no coincidences.
Twitter
Operation Beautiful
Oh my goodness, what an amazing story!
Caitlin, I'm glad you got this email – you are spreading such a powerful message of true beauty!
YOU. ARE. CHANGING. LIVES.
Incredible.
That truly warms my heart. How amazing you must feel to be involved in such a specatcular movement.
Wow, that is amazing…thank you for sharing.
This is such a beautiful post! I have an eating disorder and am struggling, and this reminds me to fight for me and not for ed.
Thanks for sharing this story Caitlin, both of your blogs are truly amazing!
Wow, I don't get goosebumps often but that did it for me
Oh my gosh, how touching.
Brought tears to my eyes as well. Everyone deserves to feel that loved and supported, and you are the creator behind such a beautiful story.
such a great story! a few words can make a BIG difference
jenna
what an amazing story! Just more prof that you started something fantastic!
def. just cried too!
What an amazing story. You have done something truly phenomenal here with Operation Beautiful.
When you tweeted that story I was in shock. That is the most amazing thing ever. Just think of how much good you're doing, Caitlin. There are so many stories out there that I'm sure haven't reached you, but are just as amazing!
Wow Caitlin,
Look what you've done here! What an AMAZING story!!!! I hope there are many more like that to come! That makes me happy!
That is incredible!!! Literally life-changing for that girl and MANY MANY MANY others I'm sure. You're so amazing!! This is incredible.
That is amazing; I got chills reading it. You should be so proud of yourself for the difference you are making in people's lives!
What a beautiful story. I'm in tears.
oh my goodness, that is remarkable, your truly wonderful caitlin =)
That was beautiful. It is TRULY amazing how much simple things you can do in your daily life can seriously HELP and TOUCH people. I'll try and post one of these at one of the trafficy bathrooms at my school.
That is incredibly moving. Just the fact that something as small as a post it in a bathroom stall can turn someones life around gives me hope for this world…
Amazing. Thank you, Caitlin, for starting such a wonderful project with Operation Beautiful. I will also be keeping Vit in my thoughts and prayers…stay strong girl, you ARE good enough!
WOW!
Omg what an amazing email that is! This is just so, so cool. You are literally changing people's lives and making a difference in the world. Amazing!
Oh my goodness. Serendipity at its most poignant.
Looks like you are having some amazing food and healthy too. Great ideas!
YOU are beautiful , Caitlin, inside and out. You have really made an incredible difference.
Caitlin, you have made such a difference in this girl's life and in the lives of many others! Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a post-it note can make such a difference?
Caitlin, you've made such a huge difference in so many people's lives. This story gave me chills. I've been meaning to start putting up stickies and this story made me realize I could be helping someone else with such a small act. So add one more person to your sticky campaign. I'm in. Thank you.
That is an amazing story and I'm glad you posted it. I'm a Youth Worker (at heart, right now I'm working in a different field) and it just breaks my heart that there are girls (and sometimes boys) out there that just don't think they are 'good enough'…what is GOOD ENOUGH anyway?!
I love, love, love your Operation Beautiful movement and I'm continuing to post notes where ever I go.
Vit- You ARE good enough, worth it and beautiful- never forget it!
~Nikki T
What a beautiful, amazing, inspirational story. Thank you so much for inspiring such a wonderful project.
Wow, thank you for sharing that email.
it must be great to know that you're making a difference in so many people's lives!
You have made such a difference Caitlin. I remember when you first mentioned Operation Beautiful … now look what it has become! Amazing!
that has got to be the most amazing story i have ever read. wow!
What a touching story!
You are such an amazing person!
That letter is amazing and brought tears to my eyes. This is a great thing you are doing, Caitlin.
This story is very touching. You are truly making a difference Caitlin.
I'm so SO glad for Vit. I've been in a place similar to hers – I am so glad she's motivated to "spread the love"!! Had I come across a sticky like that when I went to purge, I'm not sure WHAT I would have done! I would have been a puddle of emotion on the floor.
I've been reading – lurking – for awhile, but I think it's high time I start posting stickies too!!!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY OF US!
so sad… so touching. thanks for sharing. a truly wake-up call and a definite cause to keep at!!! thanks for operation beautiful!!!
i cried while reading this is was an amazing story and proves that all you are doing is amazing…because you are all amazing
Wow,that was incredibly touching. It's amazing how many lives you have touched by creating Operation Beautiful!
Wow…
This story made my day.
That is a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it.
any news last night?
I have a thought on how I might be able to tie OB into my Austin Newspaper serial if I can eeek it past my editors.
Ill let you know…
I am currently sitting on the subway in ny crying.. But happy tears! You are touching more people than you know!
So moving! Just what I needed to hear to start my day.
Thanks for sharing this one Caitlin.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
I really needed this today. Thanks for the post!
That is amazing. I choked up a bit reading that story – it's so incredible and touching.
I had never heard of Operation Beautiful before I read your post this morning, but this a cause I can get behind. Thanks for the info. That story was so sad and inspiring. I hope that young woman finds the strength within herself to get well.
That's incredible. I can't imagine how it must feel to know what a huge impact you just made on someone's life. You should be so proud! I know all your readers are.
That story at the bottom really touched me, especially since I also struggle with ED and have for the better part of 12 years. I have to say that it was really inspirational! Please keep posting these positive stories since they are so encouraging!
That totally rules. And I agree completely, it was meant to be.
Caitlin, that is beautiful. OperationBeautiful.com is beautiful! What an awesome non-coincidence!
I want you to know I read your blog everyday and you make me want to be a better person. Not by just this post but your inspirational countless others. Thank you.
That is so great! It is amazing how something so simple can touch others………you should be so proud of yourself!!! I need to start posting some notes now! =) Laura
http://findingahealthybalance.wordpress.com/
Wow. That's amazing. You should be very proud of what you are doing.
You have started something SO amazing and I want to applaud you. What a simple yet beautiful idea. It just goes to show what one person can do to change the world. you are an inspiration and that email from the bulimic girl had me in tears. I have never suffered from an eating disorder but like a lot of girls have spent WAY too much time comparing my body to others, hating my body, looking at my celluite with disgust etc. . .I now celebrate my body for the strong machine that it is. It has carried me to the tops of mountains and on countless trails. I love my calloused feet and my muscular legs. Thanks for loving yourself enough to spread it far and wide.
Linda
Caitlin, I love Operation Beautiful! I talk about it with friends, click and read it often. How on earth have I gotten away this long without participating. That story touched me so much. I cannot keep reading the website and reaping the benefits of everyone else's notes. I must give back myself. Stay tuned for some of my own notes soon, I promise!
What an amazing story!!
xo
K
Caitlin, I hope you realize how many lives you have touched just by starting Operation Beautiful. You are an amazing person!
I just got goosebumps. Amazing!
Tears. You are amazing for changing people's lives.
that is an amazing story. i ran across your blog two nights ago and im not sure how but now i cant stop reading it. that was an amazing email