“American Idol” alum Katharine McPhee is the cover girl of “Shape” magazine. The standard “bikini while standing in a pool of water” pose was her choice, and she looks great – bleach job aside. Honestly, the best thing this girl had going for her was her long, beautiful chestnut hair, and now she’s hacked it off and bleached it blond. Why? Anyway, Katharine talks about her 7-year battle with bulimia in the issue, and also how she is dealing with ongoing depression with the help of a support group.
Katharine McPhee opens up about her 7-year battle with bulimia in the February issue of Shape magazine.
“The more I focused on my weight, the worse my bulimia got,” says the American Idol runner-up, 25. “Now I’m more easygoing. I stopped fighting myself and became more forgiving of my body. Ironically, the weight came off naturally through exercise but no dieting.”
McPhee says she no longer pays attention to how many pounds she weighs.
“At my last physical, the nurse took my vitals and said, ‘Wow, you must be taking care of yourself! Your blood pressure is perfect. You’re very healthy,'” she says. “Hearing her say that made me feel better then seeing an ‘ideal’ number on the scale.”
While she’s adapting a healthier body image, McPhee still battles depression.
“I’ve tried writing down affirmations, but that doesn’t work for me,” she explains. Every Monday, she attends a women’s group meeting organized by her church where everyone reveals their highs and lows of the week.
“This exercise is so cool because it allows me to reflect on where I am in my life, and also to hear what others are going through,” she says. “When we’re done, I feel more connected to the world and not so lonely. It’s the best way to start my week.”
It sounds like Katharine is in a happy place these days, although I have to wonder how she kept her issues hidden when she was on TV every week during “Idol.” She always seemed so happy and upbeat, and she looked great. One would have never imagined she was dealing with an eating disorder and depression at the time. Nothing against Katharine, but I always considered that particular season of the show a big joke, with that “Soul Patrol” guy winning. What was his name?
Shape cover courtesy of CoverAwards.
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