Welcome to Recovery Talk, a podcast about the science and psychology of eating disorder recovery. I'm Amalie, and I am a recovery coach and trainee therapist with my own lived experience recovering from an ED. If you want science-backed information and practical recovery support, you're in the right place. Disclaimer: This podcast is a psycho-educational resource for people recovering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, orthorexia, and other restrictive eating disorders and disordered eating. It does not replace treatment for an ED, and is not intended to provide medical advice.
In this this episode I discuss how over-thinking (rumination) and excessive need for reassurance can show up in eating disorder recovery, and how to handle this in a more productive way. Topics covered include: Healthy reflection vs obsessive rumination and overthinking Reassurance seeking, and when it becomes a destructive habit Excessive research behaviours as a way to seek reassurance Practical ways of dealing with overthinking and urges to research, ruminate and reassurance-seek 1:1 Coaching: letsrecover.co.uk Substack: letsrecover.substack.com Articles mentioned: 'How to Stop Ruminating' & 'How Do I Stop Thinking About This? What To Do When You’re Stuck Playing Mental Ping Pong'
In this episode I discuss eating disorder relapse, and some of the less discussed potential triggers, including: Dietary restrictions (including ethical- or medical restrictions, such as in veganism or IBS) Pregnancy, breastfeeding and the postpartum period Accidentally ending up in a calorie deficit "I'll just lose a little bit of weight"/"This time it will be different" Seeing food freedom as 'only for recovery' Appetite loss (e.g. due to stress, illness or post-recovery factors) Never fully recovering/'quasi recovery' Resuming exercise too soon or without the right support Using the ED as a go-to coping mechanism Lack of meaning and purpose outside of the ED/recovery Substack: letsrecover.substack.com Coaching & other enquiries: letsrecover.co.uk
In this week's episode I am joined by Megan Reilly, also known as 'Megsy Recovery', for an episode on navigating stuckness, quasi-recovery and sneaky ED behaviours. Some topics include: - Starting recovery when feeling ambivalent/not fully ready - Our lived experiences with full recovery - "But I am weight restored!" - Safety behaviours & compensatory behaviours when doing challenges ('undoing challenges') - Why full recovery is so, so worth it - Maintenance meal plans @megsy_recovery | Meg's podcast, community & Youtube channel
Are you asexual, or is it just your eating disorder? Can your relationship with food mirror your relationship with sex? In this week's episode I am joined by therapist, sexologist and author of 'Nourishing Desire: A Guide to Sexual Recovery and Discovery for People with Eating Disorders', Dr. Jessica Singh. Topics covered include: - The biological and psychological impact of an eating disorder on libido - Body image, and the importance of embodiment - The 'spectrum of control', and how this relates to eating and sexuality - Asexuality as a sexual orientation, versus 'ED induced asexuality' - How shame can impact sexuality - Practical tips for people struggling with sexual function in recovery Dr. Jess' website: drjessicasingh.com Instagram: @appetiteswithdrjess
In this episode I discuss the fear of restoring weight without fully rewiring your brain and recovering mentally - and how this may be your eating disorder in disguise. Topics discussed include: - Where this fear often comes from (and how to tell if it's driven by your ED or your healthy self) - The fear of recovery 'not working', or 'wasted weight gain' - Why weight gain happening before full mental recovery is normal and not inherently bad - How recovery perfectionism and needing to 'do recovery the right way' can hold you back - Fear of losing access to care once weight restored Instagram: @amalielee / @letsrecover.co.uk Website: letsrecover.co.uk
So you're 'better, but not fully there', and others assume you're fine... Why is taking those last steps to full recovery still so important and beneficial? In this episode I discuss 'quasi recovery', ambivalence and resistance, the classic ED arguments against full recovery, and the difference between coping versus healing (and why true healing is possible and so worth it!) letsrecover.co.uk @amalielee | @letsrecover.co.uk
What is eating like after an eating disorder? In this episode I am joined by fellow Let's Recover coach Louisa to discuss our lived experience journeys from recovery to recovered, and how our beliefs and behaviours around food- and eating has shifted over the years. Topics discussed include: Going from a meal plan to intuitive eating Does binge urges truly go away? How cravings shift ('will I ever crave fruits and vegetables again?') What true, intuitive eating really looks like Food noise, and what level of this to expect post-recovery How we view calories now versus during our ED Food- and body comparison Coaching and more: letsrecover.co.uk Louisa's Instagram: @recoverywith.louisa
In this episode I discuss dealing with a decrease in mental- and physical hunger during or after going 'all in'. I explain why appetite may drop significantly after experiencing extreme hunger, how to navigate this without relapsing, and how appetite tends to manifest long- and short term in /after 'all in' recovery. I also discuss weight loss after 'all in', and the difference between overshot tapering off versus a relapse. For coaching & other enquiries, head to letsrecover.co.uk .
In this week's episode I discuss how those sneaky, 'innocent' little things you do to keep yourself safe actually keep you stuck long term, and are not so innocent. Topics discussed: Sneaky behaviours: what they are, why you do them, and how they often manifest How sneaky behaviours become automated habits The importance of 'opposite actions' How no physical harm ≠ no mental harm For coaching & other enquiries, head to letsrecover.co.uk Instagram: @amalielee | @letsrecover.co.uk
In this week’s episode, I talk about the importance of rewiring your eating disorder brain, why recovery is about more than 'just' eating more or restoring weight, and why doing the things you’re afraid of is essential if you want them to feel less scary and fully recover. Topics discussed: How ED behaviours and beliefs become automatic - and how to change them The importance of repeated exposure therapy, opposite actions, and 'avoiding avoidance' The science of brain neuroplasticity, and why you absolutely are capable of change Why doing matters more than thinking about doing Coaching & other enquiries/resources: letsrecover.co.uk Instagram: @amalielee | @letsrecover.co.uk
In this week's episode I discuss food hoarding: what it is, why it happens, and how to stop it. I also discuss the more subtle and unexpected ways it may manifest. Some of the things discussed: 'Classical' food hoarding Frugality and difficulty spending money, using resources or throwing food away Protectiveness over your (safe) foods Hoarding/acquiring food for others Urges to steal food Non-food hoarding Coaching & other enquiries: letsrecover.co.uk Instagram: @amalielee | @letsrecover.co.uk
In this episode, I discuss chewing and spitting (CHSP): what it is, why people with eating disorders may engage in this behaviour, and why it can be so harmful both mentally and physically. Topics covered include: What CHSP is and the underlying drivers of the behaviour The CHSP “habit loop” and how it becomes entrenched Metabolic and dental consequences Mental, emotional, and social impacts Strategies for recovery and breaking the cycle Coaching & other enquiries: letsrecover.co.uk
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by fellow Let’s Recover coach Louisa for an honest conversation about how body image evolves once you’re fully recovered, and our own lived experiences of body image healing and recovery. We discuss: Do we still experience bad body image? Body image during recovery vs. after recovery Navigating societal pressure in a recovered body What actually helps heal body image Rebuilding trust in your body Practical strategies & why rewiring matters Coaching: letsrecover.co.uk | Louisa’s Instagram: @recoverywith.louisa
In this episode, we break down body dysmorphia and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) - what they are, how they differ, and why so many struggle with body image in the first place. We explore the psychology behind distorted self-perception, common symptoms, and the impact of social media, diet culture and societal beauty ideals. We’ll cover: What body dysmorphia is (and isn’t) The difference between body dysmorphia and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Signs and symptoms of body dysmorphia, and the diagnostic criteria of BDD Common misconceptions The impact of social media, comparison, and beauty standards
In this week's episode I'm joined by coach and counsellor Alix Walker to discuss eating disorder treatment and managing social media when in recovery. Topics we cover: The hurdles accessing care for an eating disorder Not feeling 'sick enough' #Skinnytok, 'what I eat in a day' videos, and navigating social media in recovery Body image healing Managing triggers Alix's Instagram: @counsellingwithalix Alix's website: alixwalkercounselling.co.uk
In this episode I am joined by Beth Francois, an experienced eating disorder dietitian to discuss everything eating disorder treatment. Topics we cover: Working with a dietitian in recovery, and the importance of specialised care Meal plans and structured eating When to start trusting your hunger-fullness cues 'All in' and extreme hunger What intuitive eating really means (in recovery and beyond) Why talking therapy is not always enough Common traps people fall into in recovery Beth's instagram: @theeddietitian Beth's website: theeddietitian.com
In this episode, we're exploring body checking: what it is, why it happens, and how to actually break free from the cycle with some practical (and slightly unconventional!) strategies. Whether you're mirror checking, analysing pictures, lifting up your shirt, touching your stomach or comparing your body to others, this episode is for you. We’ll explore: - The psychology behind body checking - Conscious versus automated (habitual) body checking - Why letting go feel can feel so hard and scary - The subtle and not-so-subtle ways it shows up - Body comparison - My top practical strategies to reduce body checking ("delay, replace, complicate, interrupt") For coaching-related inquiries, head to letsrecover.co.uk .
Ever wondered why you can eat a giant of low-calorie, high-protein, high-fibre foods and still feel unsatisfied? In this episode, we break down how fats and carbohydrates help your body feel truly full, mentally and physically. We talk about the difference between physical fullness and real satiety, and why eating enough energy-dense foods is so important in recovery. Topics we cover in this episode: Physical fullness VS true satiety How carbs and fats regulate physical and mental hunger Protein myths and facts Mental hunger, dopamine & hedonic eating (and why they are not 'bad') Bingeing, and how volume eating can backfire Blood sugar regulation and reactive hypoglycaemia How high-fibre diets in (early) recovery can cause gut issues Rewiring, and the importance of challenging disordered rules and fears For coaching-related inquiries, head to letsrecover.co.uk .
In this episode I discuss giving recovery another go when you have a history of failed attempts and relapses. @amalielee | @letsrecover.co.uk | letsrecover.co.uk
In this episode I talk about OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and how it relates to eating disorders. I discuss what OCD is, OCD vs OCPD, less known manifestations including 'pure O', OCD-ED and whether or not an eating disorder can be viewed as a form of OCD. Link to article mentioned: 'Ethical Orthorexia', Veganism & Moral Rigidity In Eating Disorders Website: letsrecover.co.uk
