In this episode of their podcast, Julia and Victoria answer listener questions on topics like weight loss medications, finding your identity outside of your eating disorder, weighing yourself during recovery, overcoming fear of weight gain, and more. They share personal stories and insights from their own recovery journeys as well as tips for supporting yourself and choosing recovery.
Key Discussion Points
– Debunking the idea that weight loss medications are a long-term solution for finding happiness and food freedom (00:01:56 – 00:03:00)
– Letting go of external validation and truly accepting yourself is key, even if you currently like how your body looks from disordered behaviors (00:03:37 – 00:04:12)
– Facing fears and gaining the willingness to gain weight is necessary to be able to eat without restriction (00:29:45 – 00:32:34)
– Learning to sit with discomfort and give yourself compassion is essential (00:13:59 – 00:14:06)
– Our bodies naturally regulate and balance nutrition when we get out of our own way and stop restricting after allowing all food (00:53:00 – 00:54:12)
Key Quotes
“You cannot get that unless you go through the fear. You can’t. It’s impossible.” (00:31:16)
“Always just sit in the suck, always come out the other side.” (00:56:02)
“When you overcome that, everything becomes you can then eat unrestrictedly because you’re no longer afraid of weight gain if it happens or if it doesn’t happen.” (00:35:40)
Blog Post
The Joy of Food Freedom
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with my dear friend Julia on a podcast we recorded together. As always, our conversation was lively and covered many topics related to eating disorders and recovery. A few themes really stood out to me that I wanted to expand upon in this blog post.
Allowing Yourself Means Allowing Discomfort
A question came in from a listener named Rita who shared that she is petrified to stop restricting food because she knows she will want to eat a lot, which scares her. This fear is so understandable – when we’ve controlled food for so long, allowing true hunger feels terrifying.
I explained that the path to food freedom and self-love necessitates moving through discomfort and fear. As much as we try to bargain, rationalize or numb the feelings with our old coping habits, the only way is through. With support, we can build our capacity to sit with the uncomfortable sensations and come out the other side where freedom awaits.
Your Body Knows What It Needs
Another listener asked about whether she should worry if she only wants to eat chocolate during recovery. This is such a common concern – “Can I really trust my body and honor cravings if it only asks for ice cream and candy?”
The short answer is yes! After restricting food for so long, your body truly knows what it needs to heal and it may be asking for foods you’ve denied it. As Julia shared, by allowing the cravings they often naturally balance out over time. I found this to be true in my own recovery too.
Have faith in your inner wisdom – with compassion, your body will guide you where you need to go.
Being Yourself Means Accepting Yourself
Perhaps my favorite takeaway was Julia’s point that even when we say we love our bodies, if we are still trying to manipulate or control them with restriction or rules, we are not actually accepting ourselves.
True acceptance means allowing ourselves to be fully who we are without judgment or modification. It’s letting go of the notion that we are “too much” – too big, too hungry, too emotional, too sensitive…too ANYTHING.
When we can simply BE in our natural state, we open the doorway to self-love.
As always, sending much love to you all! Keep going – freedom awaits.
With love and freedom,
Victoria & Julia x
