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Home » Diets that Work » How singer Judy Collins conquered her eating disorder – USA TODAY

Singer Judy Collins, pictured in New York, has written a book about overcoming an eating disorder.(Photo: Brad Trent, 2015 Brad Trent)

Singer Judy Collins burst on the scene in the 1960s and shes still going strong at age 77, even scoring a Grammy nomination this year for best folk album. Always candid, she has a new memoir, Cravings: How I Conquered Food (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday), in which she writes about overcoming alcoholism and an eating disorder. Bulimic for 11 years until the early 1980s, she now adheres to a program she swears by called GreySheeters Anonymous. She avoids foods she says she is allergic to, such as sugar, flour, grains, wheat and corn, but eats fats (butter and cheese) and proteins like chicken (with the skin on!). Its not a diet, I dont restrict, I have wonderful, wonderful meals, says Collins. She spoke with USA TODAYs Jocelyn McClurg:

Q: You have always been honestabout your personal issues, your alcoholism (you have been sober for decades) and bulimia. Why are these stories important for you to share?

A: I really wrote the book so that I could help people understand there is a solution and they dont have to go through all the years of struggle that I went through. We are addicted to sugar, grains, flour, wheat and junk, and they will increase the chance of bulimia, obesity and anorexia. Those (foods)contain alcohol and they set up a craving and a compulsion to have more. I dont have any cravings now, and for years that was the problem. Id get in and out of these diets, and sure, they work for a while.

Q: You write about your childhood, that your father was an alcoholicand your mother made wonderful desserts, and how much you craved sugar. How big an impact did your childhood have on your subsequent addictions?

A: I think it was fundamentally in my DNA. They say these things are inherited; there are chemical imbalances that we get;the color of our eyes; how tall were going to be. And I think the same thing is true for alcoholism and addiction. And there are people who may have it in their DNA, but they dont gethooked. Maybe they dont eat as much sugar as I did or maybe they are just sane and sensible! Discipline has very little to do with itIts not a moral issue.

Q: Why did you want to share in Cravings stories of historical diet gurus? Lord Byron and his food issues might surprise people!

A: Oh my, he was our first celebrity dieter, really.He was a little nuts. I always say you have to be careful which demons you kill, because one of them may be being able to write poetry like Byron.

'Cravings: How I Conquered Food' by Judy Collins(Photo: Doubleday)

Q: You write about your love of reading. What have you read recently that you really liked?

A: Im looking forward to Ron Chernows new book about Ulysses S. Grant (Grant is due from Penguin Press in October). I read a lot of history. I read recently a book by John Kelly called Never Surrender, which is the story of Churchills fight with those who wanted to appease Hitler. John Kelly writes brilliantly about that. Thats what I say:"Never surrender."Life is a lifelong fight and youve got to be up to it, youve got to get in battle gear for all the differentthings that happen to you. In this culture, you have to be almost as vigilant as anybody who suits up and goes over to battle in some foreign country. Youre in a foreign country when youre fighting food and alcohol, and you have to have help.

Q: It looks like you have a busy touring schedule this year.What keeps you going and singing at this point in your career?

A: Im just so lucky, so blessed... I do about 130 shows a year.I get to go all over the world and make TV specials and sing Sondheim and write albums with Ari Hest. I told him, "Youre the one who got me back on the Grammys, otherwise theyd have totally forgotten about me!"I love it.

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How singer Judy Collins conquered her eating disorder - USA TODAY

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Home » Diets that Work » How singer Judy Collins conquered her eating disorder – USA TODAY