I would be the first to cast her on Dancing with the Stars based on body type alone. That’s what I see anyway. Would you believe this is a complete 180 from what she sees when she looks in the mirror every day? At the age of 10, while most young girls are still playing with Barbie dolls, Brianna was actually turning into one, or at least starting to experience the changes that lead to womanhood. Puberty hit early-on and fast, she developed breasts, acne, and a variety of other complications that come along with such hormonal fluctuations. While she was trying to come to terms with her new body and be comfortable in her own skin other girls began to take notice. She was made fun of for what other kids saw as different, not normal. Not only did she already have her own insecurities of her ever changing body, but now young girls were constantly adding to them one by one. And so began the generation of Mean Girls. Brianna started cheering at age 7 and continued all through school. After trying out and making the cheerleading squad in junior high she started to feel her old insecurities creeping in again. The pressure to fit into the stereotypical idea of a skinny cheerleader rang loud in her own head. She thought not being selected as the “flyer” (the girl they throw up in the air) must be because she was not thin enough. In an effort to be what she assumed others preferred Brianna tried hard to lose weight. Her initial healthy attempts to drop a few pounds eventually led to an eating disorder.
“Self-Esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others.” –Oprah Winfrey If she consumed more calories or bad food than she thought she should she was left guilt-ridden. The guilt took over and forced her to purge everything she ate. This type of behavior is considered to be Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia is an eating disorder, in which a person will typically binge eat and then make themselves vomit in order to keep from gaining weight. The issues did not stop there though. When recurrent compensatory behaviors did not seem to fulfill her weight loss goals she then decided not to eat at all. When a person limits their caloric intake to the bare minimum and refuses to maintain a weight less than 85% of normal this is a disorder known as Anorexia Nervosa.
“Guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death.” -Coco Chanel While speaking with Brianna she actually confessed that the best and most beautiful she ever felt was while she was pregnant with her daughter. Keep in mind that she was eating whatever she wanted and weighed more than she ever had. The difference here is that she did not feel guilty about what she ate or the weight she gained because she was providing nutrients to her growing baby. Hearing this really struck a chord with me. This is how our thinking towards our own bodies should be. Your body is a machine and much like a vehicle it needs fuel to get you where you need to go. A person battling an eating disorder is most likely also extremely malnourished. When the body lacks the nutrients it needs to function properly the brain is sure to suffer. This becomes a vicious cycle that can and should be stopped. Already being so fascinated with the body and the importance of nutrition I took it upon myself to reach out for some expert advice I could share. Nutritionist, Dr. John Stump at Integrative Medicine Centre in Fairhope, Alabama performs what is called a Trace Mineral Analysis on patients. This test helps to identify specific vitamins and minerals the body is lacking as well as certain toxins found to be hormone and chemical disruptors. Stump said, “People need to understand the whole concept of food and that all foods are not created equal.” Furthermore, he goes on to say, “Truly understanding the difference between a protein, carbohydrate, & a fat, and how all three of these contribute to the overall balance of the body is so important.” If you are able to change your thinking about food and be excited about all of the vitamins and minerals you are receiving through the food you consume you can actually look at calories in a whole new light. The term diet seems to give people anxiety. Healthy eating should not be considered a diet. The word “diet” alone screams deprivation. And everyone knows you only want more of what you feel like you can’t have. I believe that it is our job as a society to set an example for generations to come. In a televised interview, Kate Winslet said once that she never heard any of the women in her family talk positive about their bodies. For this reason she made it a point to say positive things about her body in front of her daughter at a very young age. Brianna, who is married and was once in real estate, is now a proud stay-at-home mother to a ten year old little girl. She is constantly working to improve her self-image and set a good example for her growing daughter.