In this soul-deep conversation, I welcomed back my dear friend and fellow freedom-fighter Livia Sara, author of the upcoming book How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery. We dove headfirst into the murky waters of what it really means to be “stuck” in recovery—and how to finally set yourself free. No fluff. No bypassing. Just raw truth and real tools.
Quasi Recovery: What It Is and Why It’s Hell
Livia and I both shared our personal experiences of quasi recovery—where you’ve gained the weight, maybe improved 80% of your behaviours, but you’re still mentally shackled. That half-in, half-out place is exhausting. You’re not in your ED anymore, but you’re not truly free either. And honestly? For both of us, it was worse than being fully immersed in the eating disorder.
There Is No “Right” Way to Recover
We dismantled the dogma that’s become rife in the recovery space—like having to throw out scales or calorie apps to “do it right.” For some people, that helps. For others, especially those who are neurodivergent, that may actually cause more harm than good. The real key? Asking: is this born from love or fear?
It All Comes Down to a Decision
Recovery doesn’t happen because someone gives you permission. It begins the moment you decide. Full stop. As Livia beautifully said: “You get to decide when you’re done fighting.” And yes, the fear still comes. But the free version of you moves through it instead of negotiating with it. It’s about cutting yourself off from the option to keep playing small.
Who Do You Want to Be?
This conversation was a reminder that your transformation starts not with what you want to fix, but with what you want to create. What do you desire? What kind of life do you want to wake up to? Even if you don’t know the full picture yet, follow the pull. The pull is your path. And if you don’t know what you want—then you’re in the perfect place to begin discovering.
Freedom Isn’t Found. It’s Created.
We talked about the illusion of following someone else’s map and how true freedom is about creating your own way. When you stop trying to do it “right” and start trusting yourself—even if that means taking messy, uncertain steps—you finally begin to embody what it means to be free.
What Would Freedom Do?
When in doubt, ask yourself that one powerful question. In the moment you feel stuck, scared, or like you’re backsliding—pause and ask: What would freedom do? And then do that. Recovery is not about being perfect. It’s about being free. Free to choose. Free to eat. Free to rest. Free to live.
Want More from Livia?
Livia’s new book How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery is coming soon, and it’s a must-read. To stay updated and get access to her brilliant resources, sign up to her newsletter at www.livlabelfree/join
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If you felt a full-body YES listening to this episode, let me know. And if you have questions you’d like me and Livia to answer in a future episode—drop them in my inbox. We’ll be back, and we might even have a juicy three-way podcast with Wouter (yes, that sounds dodgy and I love it).
This is your invitation to step out of “trying” and into truth. There’s no better time than now.
