Demi Lovato's 'accidental' weight loss' post draws mixed reactions from fans
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After more than a decade struggling with an eating disorder, exercise addiction and alcohol addiction, Demi Lovato has seemingly landed back on her feet. The 28-year-old recently opened up about finally feeling happy and more like her most "authentic" self in a post to social media that is drawing mixed reactions.
On Monday, Lovato took to Instagram to show off her "accidental" weight loss — gushing over her transformation, and crediting it to simply turning over a new leaf.
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"Accidentally lost weight," the singer wrote. "I don't count calories anymore, I don't over-exercise anymore, I don't restrict or purge, and I especially don't live my life according to diet culture. And I've actually lost weight. This is a different experience, but I feel full. Not of food, but of divine wisdom and cosmic guidance. Peace, serenity, joy and love."
Just last month, Lovato revealed on "The Ellen Show" that after years of battling with her appearance, she has reached a point where she feels comfortable in her own skin — largely thanks to her dramatic new pixie haircut.
"I’ve talked a lot about my past and being in recovery from an eating disorder," she said. "I used to use my hair to hide behind. It would cover my body. So when I started doing all this work on myself, I thought, ‘What is something that I’ve been holding onto my whole life that I need to let go of?’ And it was that. I feel more myself now."
For the most part, Lovato's fans are proud of her personal progress. However, some have speculated that her recent weight loss is concerning and contradictory to some of the philosophies Lovato has advocated for in the past.
"Not exactly sure how I feel about this coming from an ED (eating disorder) body? I get that you are saying you 'accidentally' lost weight by intuitively eating but, the message of being in a smaller body makes me a little nervous," one fan chimed in.
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"Still promoting weight loss though? I’m confused this post is still triggering for people with active eating disorders and you’re insinuating that weight loss is still the goal," someone else added.
"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t really confused by this post. On one hand, you deserve to celebrate your accomplishments. To go from disordered eating and succumbing to your mental illness to eating whatever the f-ck you want and getting to a healthy and safe space is important and takes hard work and should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops," wrote another. "Would never try to take that away from anyone. But a weight loss post? It almost undoes all the positivity that comes from this."
content warning//eating disorders
the fact that demi lovato made a post talking about how she accidentally lost weight just by doing intuitive eating is not the worst. but the fact that she posted it over a ducking BODY CHECK VIDEO pisses me off to no end.— stressa (@thatblonde678) March 1, 2021
"It seems counterproductive to make a post about losing weight saying you don’t fall into the diet culture and you aren’t practicing disordered eating," said a follower. "It’s the same narrative just different words."
Last year, Lovato revealed details about her eating disorder to Ashley Graham on an episode of her podcast, "Pretty Big Deal," explaining that there were times when she thought she had reached recovery, when in fact, she was still struggling.
“There were times I lived at the gym,” she said. “I’d eat a meal, go work out. And that’s not happiness to me. That’s not freedom. I was just running myself into the ground, and I honestly think that that’s kind of what led to everything happening over the past year,” she went on. “It was just me thinking I found recovery when I didn’t, and then living this kind of lie and trying to tell the world I was happy with myself when I really wasn’t.”
For more information on eating disorders or to find a treatment provider near you, visit the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) or the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) for information outside of Canada.
