About Me
I’m Lynn Chen. I’m an actress. I love food. And food blogging.
I used to hate talking about my history with food because it’s been such a roller coaster. I was a binge eater my entire life and spent over six years balancing it out with anorexia.
In 2003 I had literally worked my butt off to play a ballet dancer. When I stopped the dieting, I naturally gained the weight back. But my managers weren’t happy. My fans called me chubby. My relatives commented. And since I wasn’t booking, I figured it must be because of the weight. I looked for examples of women who were about my size but I wasn’t even sure what I saw anymore; the bingeing and anorexia were taking over every aspect of my life.
In an attempt to get my life under control in a healthful way, I tried to do what I thought other actors did. I went on the zone, did cleanses, ate macrobiotic, got hypnosis, hired a personal trainer, had private pilates sessions, ate specially delivered/overpriced meals, went vegetarian, all while seeing an eating disorders specialist. I would scour magazine interviews with actors, stopping when they described anything having to do with food. “She ate a hamburger and fries,” I would read, and think, “And then what? How much of it did she eat? Did she have anything else the rest of the day? What about the next day?” I couldn’t figure out how other actors did it, why it was so difficult for me to stay as small as everyone else around me without obsessing over every calorie.
I took a year off from show business to come to terms with my disordered eating. Through lots of therapy, self-love, and soul-searching (plus ditching fad diets/weighing myself/focusing on size) I have gone years without relapsing into old behaviors, and am a current Ambassador for The National Eating Disorders Association. Marie Claire Magazine profiled me in their “New Generation of Social Activists” article. I’ve also worked with The National Organization of Women about body image – to read more about my recovery, check out my guest post at BlogHer and the speech I gave at the 2011 NEDA Conference.
I’m hoping this food blog will present an honest look into this actor’s daily diet, burgers and fries and all.
For more info, visit my official website, follow me on twitter, or become a fan on facebook. I also blog about Asians and body image at Thick Dumpling Skin.
{ 93 comments… read them below or add one }
that is a very encouraging story, and very good tips
you did it!
thanks for sharing your story !
Hi Lynn, Loved you so much in Saving Face and thought you were gorgeous. Never dreamed you were going through something like that. Glad to hear you’re doing well. I wish I had words to express how I feel about you being so honest…something amongst ‘thank you’ and *huge bear hug*!
Dear Lynn:
After reading your short version of what must have certainly been a much more complex experience, I would like to tell you that you are an ass-kicking unicorn.
Yup.
Looking forward to reading more!
Aletheia
Beautiful picture! You look very confident and happy.
What a fantastic picture! Thanks for your honesty!
Lynn, I think that it is really very brave of you to share this on the net. I am totally inspired! I am gonna stop my eating “nonsense” this very day and take the correct way instead- eating the right way! Way to go Lynn!!
Hi Lynn! I’m so sorry to hear of your struggles, but happy to hear you have found balance in your life and are helping guide other women to find a healthy lifestyle themselves. This is such a wonderful site and blog!
hey!
i just wanted to tell that for me you´ve written some of the most inspiring posts (ur guest post at carrots and cake, neda – week post and this one) that i have ever read. i´ve been struggeling with either anorexia and bingeing for about 3 years now, and unfortunately i can´t say i am fully recovered. i am doing better now, but i still overeat sometimes… i know this process can´t be rushed, needs time and patience but i am willing to work on it because people like you give me hope that some day i will be recovered!
thanks for the unspiration!
Hi Lynn
I found this website just now and I think it’s awesome
and you are so beautiful, i like you so much !!!!
i love your movies, especially ”saving face” i watch it over and over again !!
have a great day
Don’t stop doing what you do – ur the best x
Intrigued and a new follower! P.S. you are beautiful!
Dear lynn
i come from Thailand. and i’m not good in English language. but i love you in saving face very much. and i want you to happy with your family forever.
Hi, Lynn! Thanks for reading! It’s Lauren, (Monet’s sandwich-shop-dreaming-in-L.A. friend!). Can’t wait to check out everything your site has to offer, and from what I can tell, it’s quite a lot!
Lauren, Lauren’s Little Kitchen
Lynn, I just read a post that you put up over on Carrots ‘n Cake that said you had made bl;ack bean brownies, so I just HAD to come and check them out! I’ve been looking for a recipe that actually works (I’ve tried twice and failed) so this is my next attempt! So glad I decided to check out the recipe because I love your blog!
You’re incredibly brave for sharing all of that! I wish you the best and look forward to reading your blog entries, and I also hope to learn some sensible eating techniques myself
Thank you! Your story is so inspiring. As an aspiring musical artist and actress, I keep bouncing between people telling me my voice is incredible and one of a kind, and casting directors telling me, I’m just not the type. I keep blaming it on my weight, and the unhappyness only makes me gain more. How can you be so unhappy with how you look, and still eat a full bag of chips without the blink of an eye….this business is hard, but now I feel I’m finaly on a good path, trying to eat healthier for me, not for the casting director…People like you really help in realizing we can’t all be Jennifer Anniston
Thank you!
ps. I think you look amazing
I found your blog while randomly clicking on other’s blogroll’s, and I stumbled upon yours! I’m really glad I did, because your blog has really encouraged me to go against my own eating disorder. I’ve always wanted to be an actress, but I kind of gave up on that dream
. Thank you so much for just writing about real issues and good luck with everything!
V.
great blog..keep it up girl!
Lynn-
I have suffered from restrictive eating then binge eating for the past ….many years. I am curious if you have any suggestions for recovery or what helped you day to day. Do you have an e-mail I could write you with a few other questions? I have tried a nutritionist, read books, tried weight watchers, but still struggle so much with bingeing…
Thanks for your help
You’re an inspiration! I’ve struggled with ED myself, and I’m still prone to emotional eating as well as binge eating. Thanks for sharing your story!
Don’t think I’d ever read this page, Lynn! I’m off to read your formspring page!
Hi Lynn, I just stopped by and was reading about your and your blog. ( I see your pics all the time on FoodBuzz and Foodgawker). Thanks so much for sharing what you’ve been through and how you got to be where you are now.
I appreciate it and am sure many many others do too! Good luck on auditions
Georgie Fear RD
your fans from China, good movie , come on!
Thanks for checking out my blog, Lynn! Yours is amazing as well… I’ve really enjoyed scrolling through and seeing all the mouth-watering pictures. And I’m glad to read that you’ve courageous confronted the battle with unhealthy diets! Kudos for taking time off for yourself to focus on the more important things in life
I am losing weight now and I do not do it on purpose.
Big tip: 喝水(chinese) whenever you can. Do nothing else. Seriously.
And, I am a stupid newest(too new) fan of Saving face(2 weeks ago).
I am so into it.
I read and watch whatever I could about you and MK and Alice.
I know it in the end: 无论胖瘦，你都很美，不化妆都很美。天生的。
美，主要还是自信。I bet 和你家庭有关。好主意，选择作食品专栏。做得也不错，有
创意。
An advice: do not forget 经常提到[面子]，因为它，你做什么都很美。
Sorry saying so.
Hey there. Thanks for finding my blog – so glad when I can find new blogs to read out there! Love your blog and this is incredibly inspiring – have been on the disordered eating on and off for a long part of my life myself. Can’t wait to see more from you!
Hi Lynn, stumbled upon your blog. Thank you for sharing your story! Very inspiring and motivating
In the last couple days, I used several links(seems real links are forbidden here so I had to remove them),
‘Lynn Chen Food Host’,
‘Chinese American Christmas’,
‘Lynn Chen at the L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival 2010 ‘,
‘Actress Lynn Chen Dishes about Gobble Green’,
‘Violet Underground 5.2-3′
to, to improve my English. I never liked English as now before.
Any more links?
But in the Clip ‘Violet Underground 5.2′ , there are still some I could not listen very clearly. Especially Jill`s question and your answer about Saving Face. I will try another tens times.
It is the 28th days I watch SF.
Honestly I am a good Chinese cook and have ever got kind of cooking certificate from China before I got a computer science diploma from US.
I love the clip ‘Chinese American Christmas’.
And maybe your food will teach me some American food, though it is hard, I will try.
I`d better re-post this to here.
Im currently on 23 and work with as a case manager for other youth while study psychology. Having had my own battles mentally including obsessions with my weight and what I would eat its interesting how you presented and also handled your situation. I often compere the ways the people around me think, including myself and my clients. There is a maturity, love of yourself and realistic attitude in your writing, plus I think its great how you spoke about the extra pressured of being an actress. I know I only jsut stumbled onto this (btw Im hopeless with computer thingies… what is this called… a blog? A web page? a fan page?!!!!)
Anywho I hope the awareness of this (insert appropriate word) page grows as your way of speaking about things is great.
You should check out “The Survivors Psalm” its a pretty cool poem.
Mel
Hey Lynn- I just fell into a vortex of your blog- I went from one link to another and another with sheer admiration. I had no idea about your bingeing past and it’s so amazing that you are a ‘normal’ eater for the huge majority of your life now! AND that the added bonus is that you are at a happy and healthy weight. Kudos to you!
While I don’t have an eating disorder, I do feel that my feelings on food have been disordered thanks to decades of dieting and having rules and ‘good foods and bad foods’ etc. Lately I’ve been trying to eat more normally in terms of not restricting the ‘bad’ foods as I once did. Sadly the scale is not plummeting downward. I’ll be lucky to hold my own. I also want results yesterday, so I suppose I might just need to be patient!
Anyway, thank you for your honesty that will undoubtedly help so many others out there.
thank you deb, for your comments and also for sharing – it’s actually only been the last 2 years of my life that i’ve felt i’ve gotten a “handle” on my eating issues – majority of my life was spent seriously struggling!
I think a lot of girls struggle with the same issues and I think it’s great that you’re willing to put yourself out there! I’m thankful you stumbled upon my blog so I could stumble upon yours!
Hi There,
I stay busy here for sure though- I do Fitness Modeling, have 2 blogs, and I am a Trainer.
Just found you for the first time. Great blog, great titile! I think it is fantastic of you to share your story and hopefully help so many others. It is a tiwsted little city we live in.
I also live in LA, I also love food(it is a passion),but I am not an actor! (my husband is though).
I look so forward to checking in with you and take care!
Monica
i act too! professional theatre but would love to break into film! love your blog!
hi Lynn! love u in saving face~ you r a really good actress <3
) or UK..:) hehe…
hope can have a chance to see you in Taiwan (i mean on the TV show
((but actully there has no delicious food in uk….))
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Yours looks awesome. There are so many food blogs out there, it’s great to read one that’s an honest look at a relationship with food. Can’t wait to read more!
Thank you for your kind words on my blog! Your blog is really interesting, and so true. I look forward to more of your posts… and it seems we randomly have a friend in common- Harlan Bosmajian, the DP from Saving Face. Small, small world. Thank you for sharing!
What a great blog! i accidently stumbled upon your blog and i’m really glad i did. Your food photos are so lovely and of course yummy! i normally don’t tend to look at food blogs but yours is defo goin on my blogroll:D
I wish you all the best in your acting career along with the all the ups and downs that will come your way, stay strong!!:)
Cinz
http://cinzee.wordpress.com
I’m so happy to have found this website! I am an actor and I have also been a binge eater my whole life and spent the better part of 5 years dealing with bulimia. I ALWAYS struggle with not feeling thin enough. I often wonder why I chose to be an actor or if I would have had I known what I was in for. Lately, while trying to recover from my eating disorders, I haven’t auditioned for anything because I’ve gained some weight and I can’t handle the idea of not getting a part because of my weight. However, I’m not fulfilled anymore because I’m not doing what I love.
Anyway, this is a great, positive sight that I will consult regularly from now on. Thank you
Hi, Lynn,
Just saw your movie, “White on Rice” on Netflix (hubby’s selection) It was so funny. You were great! Love your expressive eyes & you’re so pretty. Thanks for the info on healthy diets. As a health care provider, I counsel people on food choices all the time and your blog reaches out to a wider audience. We all need to do a better job of making better sustainable food choices to avoid obesity and health problems. Good job and thanks!
amazing story! Am glad ur no longer suffering from eating disorder
time for me to start treating my own body right…. ive got the opposite of ur probs…im more of a over eater (a stress eater),
Stumbled upon your blog and your first movie just days ago… Love it.
Love your positive vibes and your love for food. Thanks for sharing them.
I too have a roller coaster relationship with food. I lost some weight this winter (it’s Oz here) and looked great in the beginning but somewhere along line my appetite strunk. And I kept losing weight… Thinness didn’t look as good anymore once I was under weight. In fact I was shocked I couldn’t fit in my pants nor my cardigans because they were just too loose!
I eat regularly now and have put back some weight. May gain some more and have a little pot belly sometime soon… I don’t binge on junk nor big meals but eat when I am hungry.
You are fit and healthy and simply look wonderful – keep up the good work and keep smiling.
Hi Lynn,
It’s so nice to “meet” you via your lovely comment on my blog about Chaya Downtown and Chaya Venice. I’m a longtime fan of Chaya Venice. Isn’t their Chicken Dijon divine?
I’m looking forward to following your blog.
Best,
Maggie
Thank you so much for sharing your story! Your blog and your humor and a great help and inspiration
Your blog is completely nice. I stumbled in here ‘coz I was searching a food blog since I was also blogging about foods and kids health. Great blog!
Dear Lynn!
Thanks again for sharing your personal story, and I am sure it has not been easy.
I thought you were beautiful from Saving Face and Still is everytime I see you on the movies (or maybe because actors have to look 5lb less in camera than they really are).
I hope through this journey you will continue to discover healthy and sustainable and delicious eating and share with your fans!
I stumbled on your website through another food blog. Then I thought you looked familiar and realized you were in Saving Face which I really enjoyed.
It was such a brave film. I think you’re incredibly courageous for having this blog and putting yourself out there.
Kudos to you!
Sounds like you have a great story to tell, Lynn. I hope we get to see this turned into a book once you feel that you have conquered your challenges. This is a heartfelt topic that I imagine a lot of people face. You could potentially help and influence a lot of people out there in a great way.
Hope you have a wonderful New Year! 
i salute your bravery and guts telling all these online,but on the contrary your blog helps a lot of people to deal w/ their eating problems,intentional or not.i can say i have eating problem too coz if you eat a lot i’m your counterpart.im too lazy most of the time preparing meal.i depend on take out foods from food chains,and instant foods.but as i read your blog it kept me thinking???why not try…??so i began experimenting on preparing healthy meals..i’ve been trying your food tips too.thank you Lynn for inspiring us and sharing your experience..
Lynn,
Thank you for this honest look into your life. It must be difficult to be so open. I have this issue and clearly do not live under the scrutiny that you endure. I just want to say that as an Asian American man, eating disorders are generally not a concern. Or at least not prevalent in the public health radar. However, I too, have had serious struggles with self-esteem due to ongoing issues I’ve had with body image and weight. Resources are scarce for a young adult like myself. I’ve never actually seeked professional help. But I can say that help isn’t exactly obviously available, and even if it was, I would be ashamed to reach for it.
With all that said. I’m grateful that you have been so forthcoming with your own story. Please continue the work you do here. And I wish you all the best.
Lynn, it’s so fantastic to meet you! I got your comment on my blog when I was actually in the car with Kim. I can relate to so much of what you wrote. I went to school for theater, graduated with a BFA but didn’t pursue acting. I was concerned I would be pushed to lose or gain weight for the different roles. I think, at the time, I was really afraid of rejection. That and I felt there were other things I needed to do.
Dear Lynn,
When you were recovering from your eating disorder how did you gain muscle mass? I seem to be gaining fat but I am also losing muscle. What kinds of food are good for gaining muscle and what kinds of exercise?
Thank you for your beautiful website. When I wanted to stop my eating disorder, it was hard to find the voices of people who were in recovery. You are doing a great think showing people that there is life after an eating disorder. Keep up the good work!
Hey Lynn! I am a teen health blogger…but more importantly I am actor too (proffesional theatre and commercials mostly)! And that’s why I wanted to stop by and ask you how you got your start out in LA? Right now I am deciding what I want to study in college…I am torn between my love of performing and the medical field…..and so I am curious about whether you went to college for acting and how you’ve gone about getting a steady flow of jobs out in LA? Thanks!!!
Kaila
Very inspiring story.
Hey Lynn! Thanks for stopping by my blog. you have a great blog and some really nice sounding recipes! looking forward to trying them out
Cheers!
I love your blog! Reading about your struggle in the acting world has really inspired me to stop looking at myself for my weight. I look forward to reading more!
Lynn. I am so inspired to eat better after reading your blog! Thank you for your honesty!
I have to tell you – I’m a regular visitor of your blog and you never cease to inspire me. Your story is downright amazing – and one I can truly relate to. Though I feel like I’m getting a hold of myself and how to respect my body, there are still days I struggle. I’m working hard to find balance between working out, eating healthily, indulging mindfully and being happy without obsessing over my weight and shape.
Thank you for honesty. I feel a sense of comfort knowing that I’m not alone in this journey to becoming a healthy (both mentally and physically) woman!! Keep doing what you’re doing, Lynn!
Hi,
Nice to know more about you… became a huge fan of your after watching clips of Saving face on youtube…
Just loved your expressions & Beauty….
Keep up good diet…coz love to see u more the same way in Saving Face…
P.S hope you got my email & check my updates on your facebook
Love you
TC
Great blog you have here, my new friend!
I went back through your filmography, and I remembered where I had seen you: you were the beautiful love interest in ‘White on Rice’! As an Asian-American female who has also had weight issues, I respect and admire you for honestly and eloquently expressing your struggles with food as well as the difficulties of making it in such a tough industry. I wish you much luck, and I can’t wait to see you in more roles on the big (or small) screen!
Your blog is beautiful, and I’m so happy you’re doing better. Keep it up the awesome work
I Love your blog ~ and now following on Facebook ~ : ) You have been nominated ( again maybe???) for The Versatile Blogger Award ~ to accept come visit :http://angelslightworldwide.com/2012/01/11/versatile-blogger-award/
Angels Love,
Aurora & Brian
Lynn, I LOVE your blog! I can relate to so much to everything you’ve said about food, binge eating, body image, and moving forward. I struggled with binge eating for over 5 years and finally in May 2011 started to really dig deep and figure out why I was doing it. I finally started my own blog, after years of reading other blogs and dreaming about the day I would be to a place where I felt like I could start my own. I have made great progress with my ED, and have also made great leaps to change other areas of my life that made me unnecessarily stressed or unhappy, but there are always days/situations where I know it’s easy to slip back. I am so happy that I found your blog, and will be following you, as you are incredibly inspiring. Congrats on everything you’ve done so far, and thanks so much for being such an inspiration!
Hi there! Found your blog through the Foodbuzz 24 and wanted to let you know how inspiring and real it is. Congratulations on 3 relapse-free years and best wishes for many many more!
Hi! Thank-you for being so honest, on the big wide scary internet. Not easy at all. (I’m not very good at it yet!) I look forward to reading more of your writing, as I especially liked the carrots n’ cake “rules”. Though the body image issues are not nearly as tough as being an actress, as a new pastry chef, I think I face some of the same challengeswith food. Keep up the good work! x
Your honesty is so awesome. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading more of your blog!
Hi Lynn,
I just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying your blog!
I met your Thick Dumpling Skin partner Lisa Lee at an ITASA East Coast conference last weekend (we were both workshop speakers) and she suggested that I check out your blog. I enjoy your writing and I especially appreciate your heart in addressing issues related to Asians & body image.
Jen
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m happy to have “met” you through your blog and looking forward to getting to know you.
I’m so happy you found my blog—another actor who blogs about food, yay indeed!!!
Your story is so inspirational, and I love what you’re doing. Consider me a very enthusiastic new follower 
No need to repost, but when it comes to inspirations, you’re definitely one of mine.
I’ve been given the Very Inspirational Blogger Award, and I’m passing it on to you. Thank you
http://sexyflexi.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/foodandfun/
What an amazing, courageous and creative woman you are! I admire your hard work but mostly that you never gave up and found a healthy way to balance your life. You are a hero ..really! I am a youth counsellor and reading your struggles gives hope to so many brilliant young girls too. I certainly do love food, books, movies and the theatre, so I will also be thoroughly enjoying your blogs. Thanks so much! Cheryl-Lynn
Hollywood has a false image of “beauty” … it’s not real..
Every woman is beautiful, but not every woman knows it.. rock on & eat on! ; )
love & light
el
You are such an inspiration, Lynn. Big hugs
Hi Lynn! I just found your blog and am very intrigued by your story. It seems so many food bloggers have had some type of body issue associated with disordered eating….maybe that's why we all like to blog about food! Anyway, I look forward to reading more from you!
Hi Lynn, thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I really enjoy your blog, keep up the great work!
Lynn ~ I also was just find your blog, know you took a lot of film and television works, but in China, to find hard to want to see you always confident and beautiful appearance, take food more than put some also remember the recent picture of yourself oh ~ who knows online translation software will I want expression of translated into what kind anyway-always support you
Wow Lynn, you’ve been on quite a ride your life haven’t you. It’s so nice to meet you over at FoodBuzz and thank you for stopping by my blog too.
Your story is very inspiring and I’m so glad you’ve been on the right road now for over 4 years. This is such wonderful news and I’m glad you’re spreading the word about the eating disorders as well as taking care of yourself in the correct way. Way to go girl!
You look incredibly happy in your photo too and so you should be after all you have achieved.
My sparkly headband is off to you! Very powerful and inspiring words. I admire your bravery!
interesting.. i love reading your blog and become part of my daily routine! You are absolutely Beautiful in all aspect. keep it up! *v*
aw. I didn't know about this back story until now. I loved your blogs already but now I love you even more for coming to terms with the disordered eatings.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with the world. This will definitely encourage so many people who are struggling with eating binge disorder. It helps so much when people like you inspire a thousand others to think and fight for themselves.
You are an inspiration! It is all about health and happyness.
Awesome! Thank you for sharing.
This is a wonderful, candid, and much-needed voice in the Asian American community. Thank you so much for sharing!
Quyen, I thought you were Jewish !!!!!!!!
thank you so much for sharing Lynn.
Good for you for recovering from your eating disorder. When I was a sophomore in college I suffered from an ED as well and dropped out of school to recover. Since then, I have learned how important it is to be kind to yourself, and because of this, I've had more energy and drive than ever. I feel like a whole new person. Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring other women/performers to do the same!
I just found your blog and I love it already. It hits home with my story. I've been recovered for almost a year now after a long 10 year battle through learning about nutrition and exercise. http://www.eatrunlivehappy.com
i commend you for all your hard work and info you provide for your fans…i struggle with chronic anorexia now and i just don't understand how you can eat what you do and still stay thin.
So happy to hear how far you’ve come. Congratulations!
Hi Lynn,
I wanted to say a big thanks for your honesty. You are very inspiring, precisely because of your talent and your honesty. I’ve been there when counting my blessings just adds to the guilt and confusion of trying to recover from an eating disorder… to just function normally and productively and HAPPILY. So I’m another Asian American woman adding my voice to the choir to say, I relate to you, and all our collective stories make us stronger. Thanks for letting us know we aren’t alone, through this blog and Thick Dumpling Skin. I hope to see you in a new movie soon!
{ 14 trackbacks }