The Aleo Podcast

What is structured eating? And how do I know if it's right for me and my recovery from disordered eating?

Join eating disorder clinicians Courtenay and Lee for a conversation exploring structured eating where they will help answer some of these common questions: What does structured eating even look like? And, how do I know I'm ready to move beyond structure?

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Showing love and compassion for your eating disorder means you can actually change your relationship with it. In this episode of The Aleo Podcast, eating disorder clinicians Lee and Raquel challenge traditional perceptions of eating disorders being an evil adversary to overcome in battle and instead offer reframing eating disorders as painful parts of us with good intentions. 

Lee’s perspective is informed by their work in IFS (Internal Family Systems therapy).  

QUOTES:

“When we frame eating disorders solely as illness, we super de-contextualize it. And there’s no compassion in that. And it also makes it more difficult for us to see patterns. If we sort of see our eating disorder just as an illness that sort of strikes out of nowhere, like a virus […] then when we ‘relapse’, we’re missing out on an opportunity to think ‘what’s going on for me here?’ “ (Lee)

“When people see their disordered relationship with food as something that’s so personally their own failing, and so shameful, it makes sense that leaning into [the eating disorder] is actually a sickness and is evil, feels really comforting.” (Lee)

“Being able to go ‘this thing that brings you so much pain and so much shame actually really loves you”, and if you’re able to love it and have compassion for it, you can actually change your relationship with it”. (Lee)

QUOTES:

“When we frame eating disorders solely as illness, we super de-contextualize it. And there’s no compassion in that. And it also makes it more difficult for us to see patterns. If we sort of see our eating disorder just as an illness that sort of strikes out of nowhere, like a virus […] then when we ‘relapse’, we’re missing out on an opportunity to think ‘what’s going on for me here?’ “ (Lee)

“When people see their disordered relationship with food as something that’s so personally their own failing, and so shameful, it makes sense that leaning into [the eating disorder] is actually a sickness and is evil, feels really comforting.” (Lee)

“Being able to go ‘this thing that brings you so much pain and so much shame actually really loves you”, and if you’re able to love it and have compassion for it, you can actually change your relationship with it”. (Lee)

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Are you feeling strict with your recovery meal plan? Almost like it's a bit too reminiscent of the eating disorder itself ? There's no one "right" way to approach eating or meal plans and maybe believing that there is-- could be the problem. In this episode of The Aleo Podcast, eating disorder clinicians Courtenay and Raquel discuss approaching eating and meal plans with flexibility in eating disorder recovery.

Courtenay touches on traditional approaches to eating disorder treatment and recovery from the perspective of a dietitian; she offers options for “loosening the reins” with eating and meal plans in recovery. Courtenay and Raquel discuss the various ways structure can offer helpful support and brainstorm options for bringing more flexibility to eating in recovery. 

“I truly believe that structure can be as rigid as we might need it or want it to be, more of that traditional approach. But, it can also be looser, that more flexible approach. It doesn’t have to necessarily be this hyper-rigid, spreadsheet of a meal plan” (Courtenay).

“I really want to challenge this belief that in order to do recovery you need to follow a rigid, highly structured meal plan because that works for some people but it’s also not for everyone. And sometimes it works for a period time but doesn’t alway translate upon discharge into real life” (Courtenay).

“Give yourself permission to meet yourself truly where you’re at. And where you want to go next in your recovery” (Courtenay).

“Any food is better than no food” (Courtenay).

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Whether it’s aging, medical events, disability, or menstruation, our bodies are constantly changing throughout our lifespan. And yet, we get suckered into believing that abnormal or not okay. What’s that about?

In this pilot episode of The Aleo Podcast, eating disorder clinicians Raquel and Courtenay discuss the need to normalize the reality that bodies change. Raquel shares some of her personal story of navigating body image concerns following giving birth and provides insight on improving your relationship with your body through the lens of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). 

Episode quotes:

“Let’s normalize that bodies change, they’re meant to change. They’re not static. They are this dynamic thing” (Raquel).

“Despite having recovered from a restrictive eating disorder well in my rearview mirror and doing this work professionally as an eating disorder therapist, when I had my baby I was not prepared to be in a body that felt and looked so different” (Raquel).

“Bodies change. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when” (Raquel).

“I’m accepting the fact of: my body will continue to change and evolve because I’m human. It’s not a bad thing” (Courtenay).

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