Hi! I’m Lex Daddio from @restoring_radiance! I currently live in Richmond, VA with my best friend and husband, Thomas.
My restoring radiance journey began about 4 years ago when I was going through a pretty severe binge eating disorder. I started a private Instagram as a personal food and exercise journal for accountability. One day, I accidentally made my account public, letting all my college friends know that I had started a food Instagram. Talk about worst nightmare! The absolute last thing I wanted was for people to know I liked food! Best mistake I’ve ever made.
I decided to stick to the Instagram & through these last 4 years, SO MUCH HAS CHANGED. First and foremost, I can officially say I don’t deal with binge eating anymore! Praise the Lord for that, because it was so dang hard. If you’re currently struggling, I’ve been there. I get it. It’s so lonely, defeating, frustrating, etc. But know you are not alone! Also, have hope because if I can be healed, you can be, too!
Restoring Radiance has such a special place in my heart, because I had to go through the darkness to get to where I am now. I firmly believe that exposing your darkness into the Light is one of the first steps to truly healing.
I tried every diet. I went through phases of cutting out gluten, dairy, soy, alcohol, etc. I battled with myself and my body shape for years! Then, I finally let go of the food rules and restrictions. I allowed myself to actually eat. Real food. Any food. It was honestly like someone took the blindfold off my eyes and I could see again. I was so focused on eating “perfectly” or eating this way or that way that I completely and totally was out of tune with the purpose of food: to nourish, to enjoy, to be celebrated!
But let me tell you, it took time. It took patience. It took grace. It took a lot of prayer. And it took forcing myself to get out of my own head and be present with others. It took bringing my darkness into the light & surrendering to God.
I eat all the food now. Nothing is off limits. I’ve never felt more free around food in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love veggies and I crave them, but I also crave a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie and I feel like I can finally honor that craving when I want it and then be over it for a little while. Instead of obsessing over that dang cookie until I end up eating a dozen of them in hiding because it was all I could think about. Yes, I used to do that!
I’ve decided I don’t want to waste my time and precious days on this earth trying to manipulate my body to be a certain size. I actually do love to move my body, but not for punishment anymore, now it’s for enjoyment and it’s wonderful. I believe life is so much greater than the size of my pants. Heck, if Thomas wants to go grab a beer and some pizza, count me in.
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
