How can the traits that once fueled your eating disorder become the tools that guide your recovery?

Many of the traits that drive eating disorders, like perfectionism, determination, and empathy, can be repurposed to aid in healing. If you’ve ever felt that your best qualities were your biggest obstacles, this episode shows you how to shift that mindset. Whether you’re struggling with rigid thinking or obsessive behaviors, we’re diving into how you can turn these traits into your greatest strengths for recovery.

Listeners will learn how to:

There is a more detailed, scientific blog available on this subject on my blog page

00:00 Introduction to Fly To Freedom

02:06 Harnessing Determination for Recovery

10:57 Transforming Perfectionism into Progress

17:02 Repurposing People Pleasing for Self-Care

24:10 Overcoming Black and White Thinking

42:06 Redirecting OCD Behaviors for Balance

49:14 Conclusion and Encouragement

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Are you ready to recover?. 

My Gold Standard service is 1:1 coaching, where we work together to tailor your recovery, using these traits like determination and perfectionism as tools for progress. Personalized guidance helps you transform those seemingly “negative” qualities into strengths that fuel your recovery.

But I understand that 1:1 coaching isn’t always the first step. That’s why I offer free resources like my daily email mantras, designed to keep you on track with bite-sized inspiration each day. My podcast dives deeper into these topics, offering you the support and knowledge you need to keep moving forward.

Recovery is possible—and you already have the traits to make it happen. Let’s repurpose them to build a life you’re proud of.

Resources:

In this episode, I talk about one of the biggest dilemmas in eating disorder recovery—knowing when you're actually ready to start the journey. It's common to feel conflicted, questioning whether now is the right time, and being unsure of how to take the first step. If you've ever struggled with doubt, this conversation offers clarity on how to recognize readiness and embrace the journey ahead.

You'll learn how to acknowledge the existence of your eating disorder, recognize the desire for a better life, and discover the importance of support and mindset shifts. By listening to this episode, you'll understand:

Don't wait for the perfect moment to feel completely ready. Start by signing up for our email list where you'll receive a daily mantra to keep you motivated, along with m free guide to recovery. Take the first step now. 

If you enjoyed this episode and you want to stay in contact with me:

Let’s do this!

Are you wondering why recovery from an eating disorder feels so incredibly hard? 

This episode gets into the hidden reasons behind the challenges and offers real hope.

Eating disorder recovery is daunting because it's a complex battle involving brain function, emotional health, and societal pressure. But understanding the science behind why it’s so tough can help you break free. If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this episode unpacks the neurobiological and emotional reasons for the struggle, providing clarity and support.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- The way your brain’s reward system reinforces disordered behaviors and what you can do to change that.

- How cognitive distortions like black-and-white thinking and catastrophizing keep you trapped in harmful patterns.

- The critical role of nourishment and how malnutrition affects your brain’s ability to engage in recovery.

If this episode resonated with you, take the next step toward freedom—I’m here to help you.

For my gold standard 1:1 coaching, reach out to me here:  https://juliatrehane.com/begin-your-recovery/

I also offer lots of free resources: 

sign up to receive daily mantras and my free recovery guide when you join my email community. You can do this at the bottom of anny page on my website https://juliatrehane.com

Follow me on Instagram for lots of helpful tips @juliatrehane 

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Inspiring Story of Recovery from Decades-Long Anorexia and Anxiety

In this powerful episode, Julia is joined by Robyn Shumer, a leadership development facilitator, storyteller, and author of the new memoir "Bones: Anorexia, Anxiety, and My Path to Self-Love." Robyn candidly shares her decades-long struggle with anorexia that began at age 8, the traumatic impacts of being hospitalised as a child, and how anxiety and eating disorders became intertwined. 

Despite grappling with these conditions for over 40 years, Robyn found light through perseverance and discovering her passion for helping others share their stories without shame. Her signature mantra "Don't be ashamed to share the stories that shaped you" was born from giving a powerful TED Talk on this topic.

Robyn provides an incredibly inspiring example that full recovery is possible, no matter how long the battle. She offers wise insights on cultivating self-love, allowing yourself to feel emotions, the importance of finding your "why" for recovery, and practical strategies like breath-work. Throughout the conversation, both Robyn and Julia emphasise the power of community, feeling seen, and realising you are never alone in your struggles.

Whether you are on your own recovery journey or supporting a loved one, this episode overflows with hope, humour, and two resilient women's hard-earned wisdom. Tune in for an authentic discussion sure to move you and help de-stigmatise mental health challenges.

Connect with Robyn 

robynshumer.com

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.

Website Juliatrehane.com

Email [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

In this episode of Fly to Freedom, I talk about the importance of showing up for yourself as a critical part of eating disorder recovery. I emphasise that self-love isn't always gentle - sometimes it requires tough love and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. 

Main Discussion Points:

- Creating a vision for your eating disorder recovery and the person you want to become (00:03:56)

- Identifying excuses and "bullshit" stories holding you back (00:07:15) 

- Setting clear boundaries to protect yourself (00:09:40)

- Practicing consistent self-care even when it's uncomfortable (00:10:48)

- Developing a growth mindset to view challenges as learning opportunities (00:14:43)

- Getting external help and asking hard questions to see new perspectives (00:29:14)

Key Quotes:

"Self love isn't all about butterflies and rainbows and being gentle with yourself. Sometimes self love is about giving yourself a firm talking to and a loving kick up the arse to essentially enable you to take the path that serves you best." (00:01:05)  

"The actions always come before the feelings. Actions create confidence. Confidence doesn't create actions." (00:14:07)

"Even though we're all crying out for that gentle, nurturing love which comes to and is really important. And sometimes we just need to be tough with ourselves as well, but in a compassionate way, not in a bullying way, not in a mean way, in a loving, compassionate, and firm way to take us to become the person we want to be and the person I know you are capable of being." (00:31:38)

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.

Website Juliatrehane.com

Email [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

Get ready for an inspiring, insightful, and downright entertaining podcast episode with Julia Trehane and her bestie Victoria Kleinsman! These two eating disorder recovery coaches and all-around awesome humans dive deep into answering questions from listeners on all things recovery. 

Right off the bat, Julia and Victoria share the major turning points that catalysed their own recovery journeys. For Victoria, it was realising that all her beliefs about things like weight gain were just made-up stories she could rewrite. Julia’s aha moment was understanding that self-compassion is where it's at.

From there, they cover so much juicy ground - dealing with guilt after eating fear foods (Victoria’s strategy of feeling it fully and questioning if you actually did anything wrong is gold), getting unstuck from quasi-recovery, accepting your body's natural set point, and exercising in recovery without obsession. They get real about the fear of weight gain, even for those later in life.

Julia and Victoria's advice is equal parts practical and profound. You'll hear creative tips like writing down the eating disorder's script after eating a fear food to defuse its power. But you'll also be inspired by their wisdom on trusting your body, being present with discomfort, and focusing on true freedom over body size. 

What makes this episode such a treat is the authentic rapport between these two friends. They riff off each other seamlessly, sharing unfiltered insights from their own recovery experiences. You'll be nodding along one minute and laughing out loud the next at their light-hearted banter (like Victoria having a mini-meltdown thinking they forgot to record!).

By the end, you'll be fired up to approach your recovery from a place of self-compassion, curiosity about your body's wisdom, and a willingness to feel all the feels that arise. Julia and Victoria make the tough stuff feel a little easier with their warm support and been-there wisdom. Get ready to be inspired!

The episode featured an interview with Harriet Frew, a BACP accredited counsellor and eating disorder practitioner. Harriet shared her expertise on the topic of body image and how it relates to eating disorders. 

Some of the key points discussed:

- The definition of body image and its subjective, multi-faceted nature involving perceptions, feelings, thoughts and behaviours about one's body.

- How societal standards and media portrayals play a major role in shaping negative body image from a young age.

- Common misconceptions about body image like the idea that reaching a certain weight will improve body image. 

- The role of pivotal comments or experiences from childhood that can have a lasting impact on body image.

- The difference between body neutrality and body positivity, with neutrality being a more achievable initial goal.

- The importance of self-compassion in developing a healthier body image.

- Practical tips like journaling, questioning unhelpful thoughts, identifying values beyond appearance, and reducing body checking behaviours.

- How body image evolves through life, often worsening in puberty but potentially improving with age and better self-acceptance.

Harriet provided thoughtful insights blending her professional expertise with her own lived experience recovering from an eating disorder. The discussion highlighted helpful strategies for cultivating a more neutral, compassionate relationship with one's body.

Connect with Harriet

Website

⁠www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk⁠

Instagram

⁠@theeatingdisordertherapist_

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jacqueline "Jaq” Sherman about her long journey recovering from bulimia. Jaq opened up about the roots of her eating disorder, tracing it back to difficult family dynamics in her childhood where she felt she couldn't use her voice. The bulimia started when she was 15 during her parents' divorce, and she turned to bingeing and purging as a way to cope with the turmoil and lack of control she felt. 

Jaq was incredibly candid about the shame, self-hatred, and exhaustion that defined her years being gripped by bulimia. She tried multiple treatment centres and Overeaters Anonymous, but nothing seemed to fully work until she met her pivotal therapist Anita Johnston. Anita had Jaq track her binge/purge cycles to identify the underlying needs and feelings driving the behaviours. For Jaq, it always came back to not using her voice and feeling overwhelmed.

Through hard work with Anita, Jaq slowly learned to speak up for herself, set boundaries, and meet her needs in healthier ways. She shared how self-compassion was key, even if she had to "fake it 'til she made it" at first. Jaq’s resilience shone through as she recounted the many times she "fell down" with lapses but kept getting back up. Her life today is full - with a wonderful marriage, rewarding job, and true self-acceptance.

Jaq’s story offers so much hope that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible, even after years of struggle. Her wisdom about being patient yet persistent with yourself in recovery was inspiring. I was moved by Jaq’s courage to share her imperfect yet transformative journey to self-love.

Connect with Jaq 

[email protected]

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.

Website Juliatrehane.com

Email [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

In this episode, I focus on the importance of positive self-talk and using empowering language in one's journey towards eating disorder recovery. As someone who has recovered from a 40-year battle with anorexia, orthorexia, and exercise addiction, I emphasise how the words we use to speak to ourselves can significantly impact our mindset, self-esteem, and overall progress in recovery. 

I highlight the power of positive affirmations, such as "I am worthy of recovery," "I am resilient and capable," and "I deserve support," in creating a transformative mindset and fostering self-compassion and empowerment. In contrast, I point out how negative self-talk can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, and unworthiness, ultimately hindering the recovery process.

The episode also addresses the significance of the specific language we use, such as replacing "I'll try" with "I will do," as the former implies uncertainty and potential failure, while the latter demonstrates a firm commitment and determination. I provide numerous examples of reframing negative statements into positive, empowering ones, such as "I am learning to love myself" instead of "I hate myself," and "I can find a solution" instead of "I can't solve this problem."

Throughout the episode, I emphasise the importance of being mindful of our language choices and using words that inspire action, boost confidence, and reinforce our intentions. I encourage listeners to grab a journal and write down how they want to feel about themselves, how they want to speak to themselves, and how they want to show up in the world, and then start acting and using the language that aligns with those desires.

Overall, the episode aims to empower listeners to take control of their self-talk and use positive, uplifting language that nurtures their well-being and promotes long-term healing in their eating disorder recovery journey.

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.

Website Juliatrehane.com

Email [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

I started this episode by sharing a random story about needing to get a pedicure because my feet were looking rough from going barefoot often. However, I kept making excuses for weeks about why I couldn't go get the pedicure done. I realised this is exactly what we do with our eating disorders - we constantly make excuses to avoid recovery and stay stuck in the disorder. 

I then went through many of the common excuses people give for not recovering, while explaining why these excuses don't really hold up. Some included saying you have a slow metabolism so need less food, thinking you'll just get bigger forever if you eat, being afraid you'll only want junk food, thinking you're too fat or not sick enough to recover, and worrying about digestive issues from reintroducing foods.

I empathised that recovery is extremely difficult, but emphasised that everyone is capable of it and can get to a better life, even if professionals have told them otherwise. I shared that while my body did sustain some damage from years of restriction, recovering was still 100% worth it for the freedom, presence and joy I've regained in my life.  

In closing, I invited listeners to become more aware of the excuses they tell themselves, and ask whether making that excuse is really taking them towards or away from the person they want to become. I encouraged asking if the decisions they're making are ones they can truly be proud of. Recovery is possible, and I believe in each person's ability to overcome their excuses and move forward.

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.

Website Juliatrehane.com

Email [email protected]

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1