Feck It, Fun, Fabulous & Free Eating Disorder Recovery podcast

05.08.2024

"I never had children because of an eating disorder"

If you never had children because of an eating disorder and you are now in your mid life, you might face unique and difficult emotions. This episode covers some of the reasons an eating disorder can stop you from having children,...

03.22.2024

Be The Hero, Not The Victim: Eating Disorder Recovery

An eating disorder can make it easy to adopt a victim mindset. It can make you feel that life is happening to you. But what if you can choose to be a hero, not a victim in eating disorder recovery? My Books: Addicted to...

02.28.2024

Getting Real About Quasi-Recovery & Eating Disorders

It's time to get real about 'quasi-recovery' and eating disorders… it's usually a state of being 'highly functional' but still with an active eating disorder. In this episode I talk about what I mean by this and what to do if...

01.27.2024

Overcoming an Eating Disorder as a Parent

In this episode, which is part of a series about overcoming an eating disorder when you are in your mid or later life years, I talk about some of the specific challenges that arise from overcoming an eating disorder as...

01.13.2024

Why Fun Matters in Building Your Life Beyond an Eating Disorder

An eating disorder will impact on your ability to have real fun in life but fun in life is so important. This episode considers why fun matters and the importance of finding more of it as you overcome an eating...

12.31.2023

Achieve Your Eating Disorder Eliminating Goals By Setting Daily Intentions

Setting eating disorder eliminating goals or new year resolutions is important in the process to overcome an eating disorder. But to achieve those bigger goals, establishing daily intentions can help you to stay focused and accountable, so that you make...

12.11.2023

Don’t Think - Just Eat to Overcome a Restrictive Eating Disorder

Are you trying to make food decisions to find your freedom from an eating disorder and struggling each day with overthinking and anxiety? Perhaps it is time to apply the 'Don't Think-Just Eat' approach! My Books: Addicted to Energy Deficit Aiming for Overshoot www.hellybarnes.com

11.26.2023

I Just Can’t Decide What to Eat! Food Decisions & Eating Disorders

Food decisions with an eating disorder and when overcoming one can be hard, emotional and have a lot of anxiety and overthinking attached. This episode discusses the idea that maybe you don't have to decide between different foods or food...

11.19.2023

Changing the Narrative - Eating Disorders are Not a Fear Of Weight Gain!

In this episode I challenge the very common narrative in our modern Westernised culture that restrictive eating disorders are at their core driven by a fear of weight gain. I believe that this view is an oversimplified and convenient narrative...

11.12.2023

What The Minnesota Starvation Experiment Teaches Us About Starvation Syndrome

This final part of the series about the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, relating its findings to restrictive eating disorders, covers what the Minnesota Starvation Experiment teaches us about starvation syndrome and the physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural effects that semi-starvation alone...

11.05.2023

Relating the Minnesota Starvation Experiment to Restrictive Eating Disorders

The Minnesota Starvation Experiment gives us the best evidence we have of what starvation can do to a person and what happens when emerging from semi-starvation. In this episode, the experiment and its findings are compared to what can be experienced...

10.29.2023

You Need to Know About The Minnesota Starvation Experiment- Part One

If you have a restrictive eating disorder then you need to know about the Minnesota Starvation Experiment and its findings. This experiment, carried out during the Second World War, is the most important evidence we have for the effects of...

10.22.2023

Overcoming an Eating Disorder in Mid or Later Life - Part 2 - Partners & Spouses

In this second episode of the series about overcoming an eating disorder when you are in mid or later life, I talk about the extra considerations that you need to account for when you have a partner or spouse. A partner...

10.15.2023

Self Identity & Overcoming an Eating Disorder

Your self-identity can be deeply affected when you have an eating disorder. When you are overcoming an eating disorder, an important part is to let the eating disordered parts of your self-identity go and allow yourself to learn who you...

10.07.2023

Overcoming an Eating Disorder in ’Mid’ or Later Life - Part 1 - Belief & Identity

Eating disorders are hard to overcome at any age but when you are overcoming an eating disorder in mid or later life, there are more factors to consider, with the 'adult' responsibilities and limiting beliefs you might have. This is the...

09.28.2023

Overcome Restrictive Eating by Deliberately Eating To Gain

With a restrictive eating disorder, your brain can lose the ability to understand what it means to eat without restriction, let alone let you actually do it. One effective way to push past this brain fog and to really overcome the...

09.21.2023

The Power of Anger when Overcoming an Eating Disorder

We are taught to avoid anger, to suppress it and not show it but anger is a valid human emotion and serves a purpose. When you are overcoming an eating disorder, anger and angry eating can be a powerful means...

09.14.2023

Is an Eating Disorder or Recovery from One a Choice?

Are eating disorders a choice? Does someone choose to develop an eating disorder and what about in whether they overcome an eating disorder or not? In this episode, I explore this topic in more detail. My books: Addicted to Energy Deficit Aiming for Overshoot

09.03.2023

The Pendulum-Swing Effect in Eating Disorder Recovery

Eating disorder recovery can be compared to a pendulum-swing effect. It can feel like the eating disorder pulls you to one extreme and as you let the eating disorder go, you go through centre to the other extreme in all...

08.26.2023

Let’s Talk about Poop and Restrictive Eating Disorders!

Restrictive eating disorders and the things you need to do to overcome one will affect your digestion and your poop in ways that can be uncomfortable and even alarming if not expecting them. In this episode I talk about some of...

08.19.2023

The Evolutionary Theory & Addiction Models For Eating Disorders Combined!

Restrictive eating disorders and the ability of the brain to develop an addiction to energy deficit has an evolutionary explanation. This episode explores how and why the brain adaptations that occur with a restrictive eating disorder were once a much...

08.13.2023

Eating Disorders Don’t Have a Size!

The stereotype of restrictive eating disorders having a look and only being present in people who appear emaciated is damaging and completely false. Restrictive eating disorders don't have a size and the symptoms and risks of an eating disorder are the...

08.09.2023

Aim for Overshoot to Overcome an Eating Disorder?!? Introducing the Book

My second book, 'Aiming for Overshoot' is available to buy now and is a complementary handbook to 'Addicted to Energy Deficit'. This episode of the podcast introduces the book and why you should aim for overshoot to overcome a restrictive eating...

08.04.2023

Refeeding Syndrome & Complications from Overcoming an Eating Disorder

Refeeding syndrome is a potential risk when you are abstaining from restriction and overcoming a restrictive eating disorder and addiction to energy deficit. An awareness of the risks and how to prevent them will help to ensure you are able...

07.28.2023

Moderation to Overcome an Eating Disorder & Addiction to Energy Deficit?!?

When overcoming a restrictive eating disorder and addiction to energy deficit, you can apply an abstinence or moderation approach. This post explores what moderation to overcome a restrictive eating disorder & addiction to energy deficit can look like and when you...

07.22.2023

Abstain from a Restrictive Eating Disorder?!?

Restrictive eating disorders can also be described as an addiction to the state of energy deficit. The gold standard approach to overcome any addiction can is often considered to be abstinence... But how do you abstain from a restrictive eating disorder? This...

07.16.2023

Withdrawals from a Restrictive Eating Disorder & Addiction to Energy Deficit

The withdrawal symptoms when you are overcoming a restrictive eating disorder and addiction to energy deficit can be intense. This episode explains what symptoms to expect and what causes them. To know even more, please see my book, 'Addicted to Energy Deficit...

07.11.2023

The Power of Rituals with Eating Disorders

Rituals and restrictive eating disorders go hand in hand. If you have a restrictive eating disorder or are working to overcome one, it is important to understand rituals - what they are, how to recognise them and why it is so...

07.08.2023

Why was Energy Deficit so Rewarding it became Addictive?

When you have a restrictive eating disorder, your brain has developed an addiction to the state of energy deficit. But what is it that made energy deficit so rewarding to your brain in the first instance that it led to this...

07.04.2023

A Restrictive Eating Disorder and Your Dopamine Balance

Understanding restrictive eating disorders as a form of addiction, it helps to understand the neuroscience behind an addiction to energy deficit. In this episode I explain the the dopamine balance model to addictions and to restrictive eating disorders and how this...

07.01.2023

A Restrictive Eating Disorder as a from of Deep Learning

Understanding eating disorders as an addiction allows you to then understand a little more of the neuroscience to an addiction to energy deficit. This episode focuses on the deep learning processes that occur in the brain in the development of an...

06.28.2023

An Addiction to Energy Deficit with an Eating Disorder

As I continue to introduce my newly published book, 'Addicted to Energy Deficit - A Neuroscience Based Guide to Restrictive Eating Disorders', I continue from the last episode, with an explanation about what an addiction to energy deficit actually is...

06.26.2023

Restrictive Eating Disorders as an Addiction to Energy Deficit—My Book!!

I have written a book!! It's called 'Addicted to Energy Deficit' and it is all about what restrictive eating disorders are, using neuroscience and research to finally de-mystify exactly what is happening with a restrictive eating disorder and how to use...

04.21.2023

A Scarcity Mindset and Eating Disorders

A scarcity mindset is a very powerful feature of a restrictive eating disorder and will add extra layers to the impact the eating disorder has on your life, how you live, think and function. It's important to recognise the symptoms of...

03.21.2023

The Pre Mortem Tool for Eating Disorder Bashing!

A very helpful tool to use as you are going through the process of overcoming an eating disorder, or eating disorder bashing as it is also known, is something called a pre-mortem. This is where you get out your crystal ball...

03.08.2023

I’m Giving Up - Let the Eating Disorder Consume Me!

This episode is a personal one in which I share more of my journey to overcome the eating disorder and a point in the process in which I was mentally exhausted, emotionally drained and ready to give up on it...

02.12.2023

How does Restrictive Eating Affect the Body Metabolism? Eating Disorders

When you eat restrictively for any length of time through a restrictive eating disorder or as a result of dieting, your body metabolism will be affected. Many people have concerns and questions about this. In this episode, I cover what the...

02.03.2023

Make the Weight Gain Justified as you Overcome an Eating Disorder!

When you are overcoming a restrictive eating disorder and bringing your body out of a state of energy deficit, weight gain is inevitable. But when you are gaining weight despite still engaging in some level of restrictive eating and disordered behaviours,...

01.17.2023

Overcome an Eating Disorder by Making Commitments that Work FOR You!

Many people make commitments in the process of overcoming an eating disorder which might be things like, 'I will eat without restriction'; 'I will non purge' etc etc... These commitments are great but they are also up in the clouds and...

12.27.2022

Eat to Extreme Hunger to Overcome an Eating Disorder

In eating disorder recovery, many people experience very high or 'extreme' levels of hunger. The extreme hunger experienced can be overwhelming and frightening when it hits, especially when a person is coming from a history of very restrictive eating. This episode is...

12.20.2022

Eating Disorder Recovery need NOT Be a Tug of War Part Two

In part one (the last episode), I discussed the analogy of eating disorder recovery as a tug of war and explained that when it feels like you are fighting that inner battle with the eating disorder, it is time to...

12.13.2022

Eating Disorder Recovery Need NOT be a Tug of War Part One

Eating disorder recovery very often feels like a constant game of tug of war between you (in recovery) and the eating disorder. This looks like constant mental battles, mental gymnastics and negotiations. It is exhausting, anxiety provoking and distressing. However, what...

12.07.2022

The Neuro-Biology of Hunger. What Happens in Eating Disorders?

The way in which the body monitors our energy levels and need for food is through a variety of different processes, chemicals and structures (all very complicated!). In this episode, I explore what these processes are in a 'healthy' person and...

11.29.2022

Recognising ALL the Signs of Hunger in Eating Disorder Recovery

Hunger can manifest in many different ways, particularly when you are in eating disorder recovery, your physical hunger cues are unreliable and you have lost the ability to recognise what is hunger and what isn't in the way 'normal' people...

11.23.2022

Christmas and Eating Disorder Recovery - Aarghh!!

Christmas* when you have an eating disorder and you are in recovery can be hard, as I spoke about in the last episode. In this episode, I provide some tips on how you might make this Christmas better, despite the eating...

11.22.2022

Reflecting on Why Christmas with an Eating Disorder is so Hard

In this episode I begin to talk a bit about Christmas (although you can apply this to Thanksgiving or Hanukah or any other celebrations you are due to attend). Here I read a blog post I wrote when I was...

11.17.2022

Tips to Keep Eating in Eating Disorder Recovery Despite Low Appetite

This is the second part in a short series on low appetite in eating disorder recovery and how to manage it. In this episode I cover 11 tips of how to keep yourself eating despite a low physical or perceived appetite...

11.14.2022

No Appetite in Eating Disorder Recovery... Do I Have to Eat?!?

In eating disorder recovery appetite can fluctuate, especially physically, throughout the process. In this first episode in a series on hunger and appetite, I discuss why low appetite (physical and mental) might occur at different stages of eating disorder recovery and...

11.05.2022

Hack your Physiology to Overcome a Fear Response in Eating Disorder Recovery

Anyone recovering from an eating disorder will know all too well how powerful the fear response can be when attempting to take on a recovery positive 'challenge'... In recovery it is crucial to be able to proceed with recovery action despite...

10.22.2022

Eating Disorder Recovery Needs To Evolve

Eating disorder recovery will stagnate, stop or even begin to slide sneakily back if you are not on top of it and stay vigilant as to where you are and are not progressing. This episode talks more about why you need...