In this interview, we talk with minister and author, Ryan “Mango” Althaus about his new book about his struggles with an eating disorder. These struggles are often associated with young women, but his story shows anyone can suffer from eating disorders.
His book, From Emaciated to Emancipated: The Story of a Skinny Mango, is a memoir and supportive work tracing one young man’s journey along the path of eating disorder and exercise addiction recovery. Follow author, pastor and ex-professional marathoner Ryan ‘Mango’ Althaus, as he faces the anxieties and upheavals of anorexia, exercise-bulimia and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Here is a link to the book: https://sweaty-sheep-pub.square.site/?fbclid=IwAR3Z6cZr_N1CKjmJDdS9D3hZYGIrwgVstP7l0vIgBalmlP9m10da8Q6UylU
Excerpt: “-We were in the car heading to the hospital before I could catch my breath and while the next 48 hours is a blur of blood pressure cuffs, beeping machines, needle pricks and forced feeding — I’ll never forget the bliss of knowing that I wouldn’t have to wake up alone with Ed the next morning. I’ll never forget the feeling of knowing that I wouldn’t have to painstakingly lace up my running shoes with a fogged mind and fumbling fingers. I will never forget the feeling of knowing I wouldn’t have to forgo food while my stomach screamed in starvation or live in fear that my heart was going to stop beating. Finally, I’ll never forget the freeing feeling of not having to fear myself or spend another evening deep within the throngs of isolation. I cannot fully describe the feeling, but it was simultaneously the most painful and pleasurable experience of my life and it was from within the confines of that lockdown psych unit that I finally felt free.”
