Reclaiming Her Life: Atara Lasky's Inspiring Tale of Battling Her eating Disorder

Atara (Hermann) Lasky developed an eating disorder when she was in 8th grade.
In this episode we delve into her story of her battle with this awful illness.
She is joined on this episode by her mother, Chani Hermann, Associate Director at Yachad, and her father Daniel Hermann, a clinical psychologist in Bergen County.
We are listing the contact info for Atara, her father and her mother.
If you or someone you know is struggling with this, they are more than welcome to reach out to them for guidance and help.
Atara Lasky - +1 (917) 409‑7790
Chani Hermann - [e-mail]
Daniel Hermann - [e-mail]
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[@msandsspielman4524]

The humility of this brave couple stands out in an extraordinary way. Their very obvious emotion and their rock solid support for their beloved daughter Atara is nothing short of incredible. Atara you are a hero and the daughter of heroes. Wishing each of you continued strength.

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for your kind message to Atara and her parents!

[@cebf]

I just finished watching this inspiring video. Atara is our new granddaughter, and we appreciate her middot and caring even more. Thank you for sharing this very important podcast.

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you!

[@samdavis8753]

What an incredibly inspiring and brave story. Thank you for the bravery. I wanna make sure the comments section doesn’t pass over how incredible Ataras husband, Doneal is. He has been such a great support and an incredible friend. He deserves a shoutout for the incredible way he treats and helps his wife, his family and his friends!!!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for adding that!

[@karenickovitz6344]

This was totally amazing. I have known Atara and her parents since Atara was in 2nd grade. I was her teacher. So incredibly proud of Atara!!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for your kind words !

[@blimikornbluh7622]

This was so beautifully vulnerable and inspiring!! Kudos to Atara and her unbelievably supportive parents. Thanks for sharing your story and wishing you so much continued light and nachas all around!

[@ChanaFeit]

This is such an important issue!!! Weight is something that shouldn’t be a big deal, I’m very careful not to mention weight etc in front of my children (they are very young) but it’s sooo important to normalize it so it never becomes a habit. I have seen so many people from our community who are suffering from eating disorders to inappropriate dieting to poor body image because of people’s dumb comments! Kudos to Atara and her family for sharing their story in hopes it can help others!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for the positive feedback!

[@SW-pu7uc]

I can relate so much to Chana and ger struggles. The conversation brought a lot of triggers and reminders of how people comment and words can throw you off the edge. More power to you!! Recovery is a daily progress. Stay strong and be power of who you are!!!

[@raizellamm]

I run Chazak Care- an organization for kids teens and young adults who are battling Mental Illness and 95% of our warriors have a diagnosis of an eating disorder. It is rampant and so hard to bring patients into remission. Thank you Atara and your amazing parents for sharing your journey and bringing awareness!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for your important work!

[@EatingRecovery-ot6bn]

@@JJ-kf4kc are you familiar in this Field?

[@MsMuradova]

Wow this is such an important topic! Mental health needs to be spoken more and more. This is why parents have to be more involved in there children's lives, they need to have that one on one time regularly so we can go into there inner world and see what they are going thru internally from a young age. I took rabbi kelemens chinuch class and he stressed the importance of having that individualized attention with your children, it's absolutely necessary, especially in the generation we live in. G-d bless this family! May they continue bringing awareness to this subject. Parents please be more involved in your child's day to day life.

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for being part of the conversation!

[@joycebuckman4810]

What a really beautiful segment. These people are so real. The parents can be any of us and Atara can be anyone’s daughter. I’m sure that they are helping someone somewhere. And I loved the questions that were asked.

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you Joyce!

[@Hailyg77]

I loved how real & honest this episode was. Thank you Atara for your bravery & for sharing your story with us!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Right?!

[@luztoff7077]

Thank you all for this episode

[@Tm-gg2mz]

Thank you for bringing Atara and her parents on to share their story! As someone recovered from Anorexia, it is so lonely and made all the lonelier with the stigma and secrecy surrounding mental illness in the frum community. The statistics for Anorexia are about.9% of women and .3% of men but there are many more who are on the border and don't officially meet the diagnostic criteria. It would be so nice if there was more awareness and support in the frum community!

[@yelenahafisov9409]

Atara's parents deserve so much credit, they were there for her every step of the way on her road to recovery. Kol hakavod to mom and dad.

[@elkygrinberg5206]

This was such a brave and insightful interview! Ty all for sharing your story!

[@shlomo2]

This is a very important topic and it’s truly amazing that these people were willing to share their story on air. However, I wish there would have been more focus on the actual struggles people with anorexia experience, is it life threatening or anything else. I understand it’s not a pleasant topic to discuss but I believe it’s important that people should get more awareness about this illness.

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thanks for your feedback

[@marna7647]

Another incredible episode of meaningful (and incredible) people podcast. Thank you. I am also confused. Because as much as Anorexia is an issue in today’s lives, obesity and diabetes are also threatening children’s health. How should people teach their children have a healthy diet and avoid unhealthy food?

[@ChanaKelman]

The overall message to give our children and ourselves is that we have to love and take care of our bodies (because they’re a gift from Hashem!). And I believe the key is balance. Anything in the extreme is a not good. So when we appreciate our body we want to take care of it rather than starve it to make it look a certain way or totally neglect it by overindulging all the time.

[@YDZ-1818]

Amazing interview. Knowing people close to me struggling with eating disorders this was a really eye opening conversation that made it more understandable. Thank you Love the content you guys create!

[@chanieweiss4288]

It's important that they mention this happened to a regular, normal family. Not just to families with mental health history, abuse, etc. She doesn't mention any trauma that led to this. Only a series of her own thoughts, combined with other people's comments and attitudes.

[@Rzz301]

Wow!! oh I'm not crying at alll 😭🥺 This was so special and beautiful to see ❤ ty for opening up about your story this is such an important topic that needs to be talked about out in the open! Kol hakavod for all ur continues hard work/self growth ❤💪 ur truly an inspiration ❤

[@chanieweiss4288]

1:33:00 I like seeing her parents give her this chizuk, telling her how proud they are of her. It's a beautiful moment to watch.

[@michalmehler7887]

Wow the interview was so inspiring they all show so much strength! Wishing Atara a lot of success in her life!

[@rochelbrown6597]

You are all very special people - both the interviewers and the interviewees. It is very helpful that you have the courage to share your struggles openly and thus enable others not to feel so alone, and you provide valuable tips. It also opens a window to understand others as well as ourselves. Regarding W.A.I.T, it is certainly true that we need to exercise caution regarding what comes out of our mouths. A caveat though. Imagine that there has been a garbage collector strike and I take a bag of garbage that's been hanging around for 3 days, strap it to my waist, zip my jacket over it, spray perfume all around and walk on tiptoe. Nothing will help. That garbage will stick out or drip out or smell vilely. If we we don't change our orientation away from external looks and fashion in food, clothing, and other externalities, channeling our soul powers to reveal G-dliness in the world by using them for more and more good, the garbage will drip out...

[@bonnieschechner9476]

Oh my goodness! Fabulous episode! So meaningful! Such an important topic , too often ignored. Very special people!

[@SaraFro76]

Great episode! I was missing a bit of a storyline.. like how recovery started and a bit about that journey. The interview was a bit jumpy and needed to be more "led".. but overall amazing and had many takeaways.

[@sr3676]

So amazing ang inspiring! Very impressive and giving me lots of chizuk...thank you!

[@artbya613]

1:05:25 This is exactly what i started doing too! i believe rachel tuchman spoke about this point too. thank you MPP and Hermann family for sharing your story. We recently had to tell a friend about a relative of hers who looked like she probably had an eating disorder. Thank God we found out it was being taken care of. I will pass this video on to the family. This will probably give them a lot of chizuk. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@davidhochhauser7937]

what an amazing important podcast. i was a little annoyed that the most obvious questions were not asked 1. what was she eating through out the day whilst she was suffering from the eating disorder? 2. what was the eating process as she made recovery? like how much food and what foods. And did the amounts of food go up gradually? if someone else can provide the answers to what anorexic people eat, i'll really appreciate it.

[@galiahmorgenstern3229]

Incredible story, incredible people.

[@avivajenkins7879]

Wow! This episode was incredible! Thank you so much for bringing up this important topic! I feel like there should be a follow up cuz there is such a focus on how people look and weight etc. Thank you!

[@Masmidah1]

It is so good to see you - is always a good way to greet people.

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Agreed!

[@tovaeilenberg6529]

Wow such important topic and good guide to other people that struggling from the same things. Yisar koach for this incredible couple and the daughter for your honesty, experience, strength and hope. Keep doing the right things in life and for your health BZH. ❤

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Amen!

[@meme-cn2sf]

Amazing episode!

[@linksshareddocs6663]

I am so so grateful for this episode!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you!

[@yca1112]

I am so so impressed and inspired!! You brought out points I never heard of. Thank you for sharing all of your stories and helpful message!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you!

[@sarahpollock9824]

Thank you for this AMAZING episode and for spreading awareness and breaking the stigma!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thanks so much! Please do share with your friends

[@EatingRecovery-ot6bn]

@@JJ-kf4kc what do you know about eating disorders ?

[@YonaKasnett]

Excellent episode

[@loonytunes4535]

This was an awesome episode, really changed my mindset, and super inspiring!! Thank you!

[@annonimiss6422]

8:14 Not just the "wrong" things were said to her, It is absolutely horrific that the camp nurse told her she was overweight. I don't care whether or not it is true that somebody is "very fat" (the term overweight - and obese - is pretty much made up based on nonsensical BMI), or whether it is said in public OR private. You NEVER EVER tell someone that! I hope Atara is the only person who's been negatively impacted by that woman's words. To think about how many people she might have sent on a downward spiral, whether she might triggered eating disorders or even just low self esteem is a scary thought. 34:00 Society puts so much emphasis and stress on healthy foods vs unhealthy foods. If adults wouldn't talk so much about what's healthy and what's not healthy, and instead discuss foods in terms of being neutral with some foods just being more nutritional and some foods less nutritional; some foods as more vital for our bodies and brains, and some foods as less (or not at all) vital - with the latter being called "fun foods" or "foods that we eat just for the sake of enjoyment", and teach their kids that any food is good and different types just have roles in serving us and our bodies, then kids would grow up with a much healthier view of food and eating. When foods aren't labeled "healthy" and "unhealthy" or "good" and "bad", that's when kids can see all foods as yummy and delicious, and each one having a purpose in helping us serve Hashem better. (Of course, if adults are doing the above, but also talking about weight and dieting and being "fat", then it totally undoes the above and makes doing the above pretty much pointless. And by the way, even if you're not discussing these toxic things - fat, diets, weight - in front of kids, kids are VERY SMART and will pick up on your non-verbal attitudes. If you want your kid to have a healthy perspective of food and eating, you gotta do the work it takes to change your own view as well.)

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for adding to the conversation!

[@beans4853]

Wow, love your point about food being neutral! Will be incorporating that into me lexicon. I mostly only call sugar and food-coloring laden food junk and unhealthy. More nutritious/less nutritious is an amazing way to put it. Thank you!

[@d.l7457]

Thank you so much for bringing up this topic. Unfortunately body positivity is not talked about in the Frum community. I am not talking the extreme that is seen in the secular world that individuals who are obese are preaching body positivity. I am talking about a healthy relationship with a healthy body that may not be seen as the societies ideal as "skinny." Majority of girls and women in the Frum community are given the message that the thinner you are the more desirable and better you are etc. Unfortunately even those who are promoting healthy eating are now using questionable methods to achieve weight loss. While this is becoming a new business in the Frum community, it is not sending a healthy message to anyone. Our goal should be to be healthy not to be skinny (and spending thousands of dollars to achieve that.) I want to give a shout out to Rorie Weinberg who teaches the Frum community healthy eating to be healthy, and rarely if ever mentions weight loss.

[@brucheweinberger6863]

Correction: Rorie Weisberg. She also has a cookbook

[@devorahberlin7509]

I agree!!!

[@devorahberlin7509]

Our goal should be healthy, not skinny!!

[@I-dd5tj]

What an important topic to discuss!! Kol Hakavod!!

[@PerelMoses]

She's incredible!

[@נעמיפרחי-ל7ו]

שלום וברכה, אני צופה לא מעט בתכנית שלכם והיא נ פ ל א ה. אתם מנצ'ים, שואלים שאלות טובות ומאירים טוב (בשורוק). הפעם במיוחד היה חשוב כי היה מדובר בהתמודדות עם קושי נפשי. יש ערך גדול לשמוע כיצד אנשים מתמודדים עם מחלות, אסונות וכו', אך מעט מאוד מדברים על התמודדות עם קשיים נפשיים "תוצרת עצמית", הלוואי תעשו עוד ראיונות כאלה. יברככם ה'!

[@yaelsfitlab8691]

So brave of you to share. Thank you!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you Yael!

[@nechihirsch5528]

So brave and inspiring

[@devorymorgenstern5459]

So inspiring!! Special people

[@ayelet613]

Wow. Thank you.

[@bennybiren3155]

Incredible episode!

[@MEhrman-t8f]

Thank you

[@user-pj4qr5gt7j]

בס"ד Such amazing people! Wow What a חסד!!!!! This amaizing father, this amaizing mother. What an amaizing young woman. Just think about it. These people are exactly in the place where they can start enjoiing life for themselves and go on with life and they chose to put themselves out purely to help others. Again, wow wow wow!!!! And I feel that there was so much Syata Deshmayah in this conversation and all the conclusions that were reached by that. I have no doubt that even by now, you certainly already saved some young people's lives. Yashar Koach!

[@user-pd4ek8ul1y]

super inspiring podcast

[@E.J-tl7dz]

This is amazing!!!

[@tb12315]

so inspiring

[@devorahrochelshapiro254]

What an inspiration!!!!!!!!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Indeed she is!

[@chanieweiss4288]

6:45 Telling anyone they're overweight is touchy. Saying it to a teenager, in front of their peers is incredibly insensitive and unprofessional. Truth is, sometimes we don't catch ourselves before saying something we shouldn't. Remember that when we're criticizing someone else for doing it.

[@LL-mj5ij]

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

[@rosameijering5161]

It is the numbing of feelings

[@yehudisgreenberg7710]

very interesting podcast! thank you!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you!

[@jtj1212]

❤ Amazing story!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

Thank you for the positive feedback!

[@sshhlisten]

🦋

[@sshhlisten]

🌼

[@sharonsommer6674]

Very inspiring!

[@MeaningfulPeople]

truly!

[@jake_nguyen1601]

Loved this episode, have you thought about interviewing MBD?

[@itareizes3499]

❤

[@shira3444]

The father looks so young 😊

[@davegorman2316]

Wow...amazing conversation! Truly inspiring

[@MeaningfulPeople]

We appreciate it!

[@chanieweiss4288]

19:00 She mentions being hungry all the time. I wonder at what point a person with an eating disorder loses hunger pangs.

[@joycebuckman4810]

B’shaa Tovah!

[@נעמיפרחי-ל7ו]

ויישר כוח גדול למתראיינים ששיתפו בניסיון שלהם ובזה יכולים לעזור לאחרים. אני הראתי את התכנית למטפלת במרפאה ל"הפרעות אכילה" והיא שיתפה את הצוות כולו!

[@sharonsommer6674]

I once overheard a little girl telling her mother that she was eating lettuce so she won’t get fat😬

[@iwertzberger3198]

Brave and amazing. But what’s with this LIKE every second word?

[@shimmywachtel35]

Why Entermens? Why couldn't she eat a homemade healthy muffin?

[@Tm-gg2mz]

Atara explained that she needed to eat certain unhealthy foods in order to recover and how recovery is about being able to eat all foods. You can't recover from Anorexia without eating both healthy and unhealthy foods.

[@svietka202]

like it's like impossible like to listen to any of it like the word like is like after like every like so like impossible like to listen to like

[@tb12315]

so inspiring