Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life (McGraw-Hill) by Jenni Schaefer

To read book excerpts, click here.

Book Description:

Don't Battle an Eating Disorder Forever-- Recover from It Completely

Jenni Schaefer and Ed (eating disorder) are no longer on speaking terms, not even in her most difficult moments. In her bestseller, Life Without Ed, Jenni learned to treat her eating disorder as a relationship, not a condition -- enabling her to break up with Ed once and for all.

In Goodbye Ed, Hello Me Jenni shows you that being fully recovered is not just about breaking free from destructive behaviors with food and having a healthy relationship with your body; it also means finding joy and peace in your life.

Combining Jenni's signature personal advice and unfailing encouragement along with valuable exercises you can do as you read, Goodbye Ed, Hello Me will give you the prescriptive tools to take the final steps in divorcing your Ed completely.

What people are saying about Jenni and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me:

Jenni Schaefer has dedicated her life to helping people overcome their eating disorders and live life to the fullest. She is an inspiration to all!
- Dr. Phil

Goodbye Ed, Hello Me is a must-read for anyone suffering from an eating disorder. Schaefer's first book, Life Without Ed, describes her escape from the prison of her eating disorder, while Goodbye Ed, Hello Me shows the freedom of full recovery, with its many challenges and its endless joys and surprises.

For those who doubt that recovery is possible, Jenni's words give hope, perspective, and wisdom, not only about the journey through recovery, but about facing life without an eating disorder. Her strategies and insights will inspire and empower others to begin to move past their eating disorder and to deal with the underlying issues, like body image distortion, perfectionism, and the cultural messages that reinforce eating disorders. Jenni's hope, resilience, humor, and common sense are refreshing antidotes to the poisonous grip of eating disorders.

Life Without Ed helped countless sufferers and their families to understand the power of an eating disorder, and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me will enable them to embrace and experience the power and potential of life free of eating disorders.

Jenni Schaefer is a true hero and great role model to other young women. As a clinician specializing in eating disorders, I hear the immeasurable impact of Jenni's words on my patients everyday, as they desperately looking for hope and healing and find it in her example.

Thank you, Jenni, for walking the walk to recovery and, through Goodbye Ed, Hello Me, leading others along.

- Margo Maine, Ph.D., FAED, An expert in eating disorders for nearly three decades and Author of Effective Clinical Treatment of Eating Disorders: The Heart of the Matter (with Davis and Shure), The Body Myth: The Pressure on Adult Women to Be Perfect (with Kelly); Father Hunger; and Body Wars.

This book is a rewarding journey into the tapestry of a life in "full recovery" from an eating disorder. Jenni's story of life after her eating disorder is a story of honesty, wholeheartedness, and great joy. Professionals will find clinical wisdom, and those searching, will find guiding principles and a panoramic view of a life full of hope and happiness. This book is relevant, beautiful, and good for the soul.
- Michael E. Berrett, Ph.D., CEO and Director, Center For Change, and Co-author of Spiritual Approaches in the Treatment of Women with Eating Disorders

When Jenni asked me to write an endorsement for this book, she politely said that if did not have the time she would understand. My reply was that there are some things in life for which we cannot afford to not make the time.  This is one of them.

This book is another "rock" on the shelf for those who are seeking the inspiration and direction to fight to understand who they truly are. A rock that many will use as a stepping-stone towards a life of recovery. Life Without ED showed many women how to find their way towards recovery. Goodbye Ed, Hello Me will help them complete that journey. It's a helpful guide on how to live after "divorcing ED" but most importantly a roadmap to finding your true self.

This book also represents another step in the progression of an exemplary life; the life of a young woman who was able to overcome illness and adversity. Jenni was able to transform herself from being a victim of her eating disorder (in reality from being oppressed by her own inability to see her true self) to someone capable of giving hope to the many women that have been inspired by her writings, her story, and the success of her journey. She has not only found her true self along the way, but has managed to show others that there is a way out towards a life of fulfillment and gratitude.
- Ovidio Bermudez, M.D., Medical Director, Laureate Eating Disorders Program

This book is exactly what the eating disorders community needs. We don't need one more book on the pain and struggle of ED and recovery. Goodbye Ed, Hello Me breaks the chains of the 'recovery' journey and embarks on a whole new frontier; real life.

Jenni's signature wit, sense of humor, and authenticity help the reader, whether they are parent, patient, or professional, to get past looking at the disease, and turn the focus to what matters--the person. Jenni has the amazing ability to relate to readers, whatever their story. The freedom, heartaches, joys, and revelations that she intimates affect us, and help us know that life AFTER Ed is possible and real. Providing enduring hope and inspiring her readers to action, Jenni has done it again!
- Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008

The beauty of Jenni's written journey through her tormented relationship with Ed is that it is honest, passionate, hopeful but most importantly, it ultimately assures the reader that life really can move on. Jenni is finally emotionally free to form new life relationships; as a wonderfully talented writer she is now able to create new stories and characters of another texture; and as a woman, poised to set an example for others through her health, evident joy and wisdom. She may someday be named the trend-setter for the miraculous word "recovered.'"
- Lynn Grefe, CEO, National Eating Disorders Association

Sharing the wisdom of experience and a delightfully lighthearted approach to life without an eating disorder, Jenni writes with the immediacy of a best friend. Although no longer a perfectionist, she is a perfect role model for what full recovery is really like. Every young woman and man interested in overcoming disordered eating should read this treasure of a book.
- Leigh Cohn, MAT, CEDS, Editor-in-Chief, Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention

In Life without Ed, Jenni gave us the promise that breaking up with Ed is possible and recovery from an eating disorder can happen with plenty of hard work and commitment. In Goodbye Ed, Hello Me Jenni takes her message further and gives us a stunning  personal account of what life can be when you truly, really, completely recover from an eating disorder. She promises "full freedom" and assures us that a life filled with love, laughter, and true happiness is waiting. Thank you, Jenni, for sharing your journey and telling all those who suffer from eating disorders "yes you can"!
- Kitty Westin, MA, LP, President, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action

Jenni's compassionate follow-up to Life without Ed provides inspiration to every person struggling with an eating disorder. Jenni's candid memoir gives hope to the hopeless--beyond beating an eating disorder. Life gets ever so much better--told by someone who has battled the body-bashing, eating wars, and mind-games, to emerge wiser, joyous and authentic. Goodbye eating disorder--hello thriving life!
- Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD/Newport Beach, CA Nutrition Therapist and Co-author Intuitive Eating

Jenni Schaefer's Goodbye Ed, Hello Me is a powerful answer to the question many sufferers of Ed have: What will my life look like when it's not controlled by Ed? By highlighting her own struggle along the way to her recovery, Schaefer demonstrates there is hope for everyone who chooses to start along the path. As she rightly notes, 'with recovery, anything is possible!'"
- Jess Weiner, Self-Esteem Expert and Author of A Very Hungry Girl and Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds from Now

Readers are not only going to learn how to fall in love with life, but they will also fall in love with Jenni Schaefer's second book, Goodbye, Ed, Hello Me. Jenni has beautifully crafted a tale of her journey into wellness that is at once practical, poetic, and promising.  Both clinicians and clients alike can benefit from this inside look at what it takes on a body/mind level to fully recover from the tenacious grip of an eating disorder. Especially helpful is Jenni's focus on body image, the steps needed to take in order to shift away from the disease identity, and how to overcome feeling "weird" when you are actually feeling "good."
- Adrienne Ressler LMSW, CEDS, Body Image Specialist, and National Training Director, The Renfrew Center Foundation

What an inspiration to read Jenni's amazing story about recovering from an eating disorder and falling in love with herself and life. Written from the heart with sincerity and wisdom, she provides insight, hope and motivation for those in a battle with their body and self. This uplifting book is a must read for anyone with an eating disorder or cares about someone who suffers from anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
- Ann Kearney-Cooke, Ph.D., Distinguished Scholar, Partnership For Gender Specific Medicine, Columbia University, and Author of Change Your Mind Change Your Body, Feeling Good About Your Body and Self After Forty, and Expert and Media Spokesperson for Dove Real Beauty Campaign and Girls Self Esteem Fund