Welcome to a very special episode of The Body Love Binge AND Fly to Freedom! Today, I’m joined by my best friend, Julia, and we’re diving deep into your questions about eating disorder recovery, fear, self-acceptance, and what true freedom really looks like.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
- Embracing fear and using it as a tool for growth
- The power of full food permission and why all foods fit
- How to deal with guilt and shut down the ED voice
- The challenges of rest, body image, and weight gain fears
- How recovery impacts relationships, self-love, and every part of life
This conversation is raw, real, and packed with insights to help you move forward in your recovery journey. Let’s do this together!
Some Truth Bombs from This Episode:
- “Fear is a compass—what scares you is often what will set you free.”
- “Discomfort is temporary, but the freedom on the other side is forever.”
- “You don’t have to silence the ED voice—you just have to stop listening to it.”
- “Recovery isn’t about what you weigh—it’s about what you gain back in life.”
- “Rest isn’t a punishment—it’s a gift to your body.”
- “People will judge you no matter what. The real question is—are you living for them or for yourself?”
- “The most radical act of self-love is choosing yourself over fear.”
- “You don’t need permission to eat. Your body already gave you that.”
- “Weight gain isn’t the problem—your fear of it is.”
- “Your worth was never meant to be measured by a number.”
THANK YOU! If you loved this episode, please share it and tag us! Let us know what topics you want to hear about next. We’re so grateful for you, and we can’t wait to keep growing and healing together. ❤️
Facing Fear & Finding Freedom: A Journey Through Recovery
By Victoria
In this article, I’m sharing the key lessons from our latest podcast episode with my best friend, Julia. If you’re navigating eating disorder recovery, this is for you.
Fear: A Compass, Not a Barrier
One of the biggest transformations I’ve experienced in recovery is my relationship with fear. I used to let fear dictate my choices—avoiding food, exercise, and situations that might challenge my eating disorder beliefs. But here’s the truth: Fear is a compass pointing you toward growth.
Discomfort is not a sign to turn back. It’s an invitation to step forward. Every time I faced my fears—whether it was eating a fear food, skipping a workout, or allowing my body to change—I grew stronger. The more you practice leaning into fear, the more freedom you’ll find on the other side.
“Discomfort is temporary, but the freedom on the other side is forever.”
The Power of Full Food Permission
One of the most common questions we received was about overcoming guilt around food. If you’re still feeling guilty for eating certain foods, I want you to hear this: Guilt is not a fact—it’s a conditioned response.
For years, diet culture and eating disorder rules have shaped how we think about food, convincing us that some foods are “bad” or that we should restrict in order to feel in control. But food is just food. All foods fit. The only way to truly silence the ED voice is to prove it wrong by consistently choosing freedom.
“You don’t have to silence the ED voice—you just have to stop listening to it.”
Breaking Free from Exercise Obsession
I used to believe that rest was the enemy. That if I didn’t move my body every single day, I was failing. Recovery showed me the opposite: Rest is not just okay—it’s essential.
The hardest part of letting go of compulsive exercise isn’t the physical stillness—it’s sitting with the thoughts that come up. The ED voice will scream at you, telling you that you should be doing more. But here’s the reality: You are not lazy. You are healing.
If you find yourself struggling to rest, remind yourself that resting is an active part of your recovery. Your body needs it. Your mind needs it. And the more you allow it, the easier it becomes.
“Rest isn’t a punishment—it’s a gift to your body.”
The Fear of Weight Gain & What Really Matters
Weight gain in recovery is one of the biggest fears people have. And I get it—I felt it too. We live in a world that worships thinness and ties our worth to our size. But here’s what I’ve learned: Your worth was never meant to be measured by a number.
People will judge you no matter what. Whether you gain weight, lose weight, or stay the same—there will always be opinions. So, the real question is: Are you living for them or for yourself? Because when you fully accept yourself, those judgments lose their power.
“You weren’t born to give people boners—your worth is so much deeper than your size.”
Life Beyond the ED: The Best Part of Recovery
Recovery isn’t just about eating more food. It’s not just about gaining weight or stopping behaviors. It’s about stepping into your power and reclaiming your life.
The best part of recovery? The relationships I’ve built, the self-acceptance I’ve found, and the ability to live without fear dictating my every move. I get to eat without guilt. Move my body because I want to, not because I have to. And most importantly, I get to be present with the people I love—like Julia, my best friend who has walked this journey with me.
If you’re in recovery, know this: Everything you want in life is on the other side of fear. Keep going. You’re so much stronger than you think.
Final Words & Next Steps
If this article resonated with you, I’d love for you to check out our full episode of The Body Love Binge and Fly to Freedom. We go even deeper into these topics and answer listener questions about recovery, self-love, and freedom.
You deserve a life beyond your eating disorder. Take the leap—fear and all.
Let’s keep the conversation going! Follow me and Julia on Instagram, and let us know what topics you want to hear more about. You are never alone in this journey, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Here’s to choosing freedom, one brave step at a time. ❤️
