This week, I sat down once again with the one and only Tabitha Farrar—eating disorder recovery coach, author, and all-round truth-teller—to talk about how to actually rewire negative body image.

Tabitha’s just released a powerful new book called “Fried Eggs and Thunder Thighs” (yes, you read that right!) and it dives deep into the root of negative body image and how to teach your brain a different story.

In this conversation, we explored:

• Why negative body image is not your fault—and definitely not your truth

• How your actions teach your brain more than your thoughts ever will

• What to do when shame shows up

• How to respond when someone does comment on your body

• Why being “recovered” doesn’t automatically mean you’ll love your body—and what to do about it

We also talk about her newly rewritten version of Rehabilitate, Rewire, Recover and why she decided to go back and make it even more bold, honest, and helpful.

This is a must-listen if you:

• Still struggle with body image even after recovering from disordered eating

• Want to feel more free and confident in your body, regardless of size

• Are tired of being controlled by negative thoughts or shame

• Are curious about how emotions like guilt and disgust are actually tools your brain uses—and how to take your power back

In this episode, we get real about:

• How to act “as if” you love your body (even when you don’t yet)

• The difference between your brain and your mind—and why that matters

• Why it’s not about waiting to feel better before you take action

• The fastest way to rewire body image beliefs

• What I do when my own brain throws shame my way

Resources mentioned:

📘 Tabitha’s books: Fried Eggs and Thunder Thighs + Rehabilitate, Rewire, Recover (Updated Edition)

📺 Her YouTube: @tabithafarrar

🌐 www.tabithafarrar.com

Connect with me:

🖤 www.victoriakleinsman.com

📧 [email protected]

📲 Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

💬 5 Quotes I Loved from This Episode

1. “I’m not my shame—I’m the one observing it. And that gives me the power to choose how I respond.”

2. “If I want my brain to believe my body is safe, I have to act like it is—even if it’s uncomfortable.”

3. “Every time I act as if I love my body, I’m rewiring my brain—and that’s what creates freedom.”

4. “My emotions aren’t facts—they’re just tools my brain uses to try and keep me ‘safe’ based on old beliefs.”

5. “The truth is: if recovery still feels hard after months and months, it’s not me—it’s my training strategy that needs adjusting.”

Guests: Susie (69, USA) & Christina (64, Australia)

In this beautifully honest and heart-opening episode, Victoria is joined by two extraordinary women, Susie and Christina, who share their transformative journeys of recovering from eating disorders—well into their 60s. Having met through Victoria’s group coaching community, these two have not only found food freedom and body peace, but also a deep, life-affirming friendship.

They discuss the unique challenges of recovery later in life, the impact of decades of restriction, body image struggles post-menopause, and the joy of rediscovering themselves after a lifetime of being defined by size. This conversation is full of wisdom, hope, and tangible encouragement for anyone who thinks it’s “too late” to change.

🧭 What You'll Learn:

• What recovery can look like in your 60s (yes, full recovery is absolutely possible!)

• How diet culture affects older generations and the myths about "aging gracefully"

• Why menopause-related weight gain is not only natural—but protective

• How inner child work, authenticity, and self-love play a crucial role in healing

In this special episode of The Body Love Binge, Victoria and Julia dive into an honest and unfiltered Q&A session, tackling some of the most pressing questions from their listeners about eating disorder recovery, exercise, self-acceptance, and navigating the messy middle of healing.

From the challenges of reintroducing exercise to the ongoing battle with body image thoughts, this episode is packed with invaluable insights and practical advice. Victoria and Julia share their personal experiences and professional perspectives to give you the tools to keep pushing through recovery, even when it feels impossible. Plus, they discuss how to navigate social stigma, find motivation in tough times, and celebrate progress—even when it feels small.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:01:00] – Reintroducing Exercise After Recovery:

  • Victoria and Julia discuss the delicate process of bringing exercise back into your life after exercise addiction. They share their personal approaches, from mindful movement to complete breaks from exercise.

  • Key takeaway: Tune into your body’s needs and separate movement from calorie control or body manipulation.

• [00:08:00] – Handling Guilt Around Rest:

  • Addressing the guilt of resting when society expects you to be active. Victoria and Julia share how to embrace rest as a vital part of healing, rather than something to be ashamed of.

  • Key takeaway: Rest is a radical act of self-care and recovery.

• [00:15:00] – Navigating the “Messy Middle” of Recovery:

  • The messy middle is a daunting part of recovery where progress feels stagnant and body image thoughts intensify. The duo discusses how to stay committed to freedom during this challenging phase.

  • Key takeaway: Stay focused on your deeper why and take it one day at a time.

• [00:27:00] – How to Stop Thinking About Food All the Time:

  • Why mental hunger doesn’t mean you’re doing recovery wrong—it means your body is still healing.

  • Key takeaway: Honour mental hunger as your body’s way of signalling it still needs nourishment.

• [00:39:00] – Dealing with Social Pressure to Exercise After Weight Gain:

  • How to stand firm in your recovery when people around you assume you’re ready to get back into exercise.

  • Key takeaway: Your recovery is about you—not anyone else’s expectations.

In this episode, we dive deep into fear—how it holds us back, why it feels so real, and most importantly, how to push through it. Fear isn't a stop sign; it's a green light. Whether it's fear of weight gain, eating certain foods, or losing control, this episode will help you break free from fear’s grip.

We explore:
✅ How fear is just a false experience appearing real
✅ Why your brain tries to keep you stuck in old patterns
✅ How to rewire your brain and step into food freedom
✅ The power of acting as if you are already recovered
✅ Practical steps to face fear head-on and reclaim your life

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Fear is not danger—it’s just discomfort, and you can handle discomfort.
• Your brain resists change because it craves familiarity, even if that familiarity is suffering.
• You don’t need to be fearless—you just need to fear less.
• Recovery is about making fear your green light—run towards it instead of away from it.
• If you never step into fear, you’ll never step into freedom.

📝 Journal Prompts to Challenge Fear:
1️⃣ What is fear trying to protect me from, and do I actually need protection from it?
2️⃣ What would my recovered self do in this moment?
3️⃣ If I let go of control, what do I think will happen—and is that based on truth or just fear?
4️⃣ How has pushing through fear in other areas of my life helped me grow?
5️⃣ Write a letter to fear—acknowledge it, but let it know you’re choosing freedom anyway.

👥 Join the Free Support Group:
Want free coaching, community support, and resources for eating disorder recovery? Join my free support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-taste-test/

💜 Work With Me:
🔥 1:1 Coaching: Limited spots available—apply for the waitlist!

https://victoriakleinsman.com/11-coaching/
🔥 The Body Love Binge Group Coaching: Two live calls per month, a full recovery programme, and direct coaching from me for an entire year. Join here: https://victoriakleinsman.com/group-coaching/

✨ Support the Podcast!
⭐️ If you love this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify.
📢 Share this episode on Instagram & tag me!
📺 Watch on YouTube? Like & Subscribe!

Much love,
Victoria 💜

📢 5 Powerful Quotes from the Episode

1️⃣ "Fear is just a false experience appearing real. The only way out is through—so run towards it, not away from it."

2️⃣ "You won’t overcome the fear of weight gain by reading about it—you overcome it by facing it, by living through it, and realising you can handle it."

3️⃣ "Your brain would rather stay in a familiar hell than step into an unfamiliar heaven. But you don’t have to listen to it."

4️⃣ "Recovery isn’t about avoiding fear—it’s about stepping into it every single day. Fear is not your stop sign; it’s your go sign."

5️⃣ "The worst thing that will ever happen to you is that you’ll feel a feeling. And you can handle that."

In this episode, I dive deep into one of the most common objections to body acceptance: "But what if I need to lose weight for health reasons?" This question comes up all the time whenever we discuss self-love, body positivity, and food freedom.

Spoiler alert: You do not need to hate your body into health. In fact, research shows that shame, guilt, and self-loathing do the opposite of promoting well-being. I unpack the myths surrounding weight and health, the dangers of diet culture, and what true health actually looks like.

Expect truth bombs, science-backed insights, and powerful mindset shifts that will change the way you think about health, weight, and self-worth. Plus, I share 15 journal prompts to help you shift your perspective and take empowered action!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why shaming yourself doesn’t lead to health (and often makes things worse)
✔️ The science behind weight and health—what actually causes illness?
✔️ How diet culture keeps you stuck in a cycle of restriction and self-sabotage
✔️ The difference between weight-focused vs. health-focused behaviours
✔️ What actually improves your well-being—without stepping on a scale
✔️ How to challenge fatphobia and unlearn harmful conditioning

Key Takeaways & Journal Prompts:

📖 Reflect on these questions to challenge your beliefs about weight and health:
1️⃣ What messages did I receive about weight and health growing up? Where did they come from?
2️⃣ If I never weighed myself again, how would I measure my health?
3️⃣ How would I treat my body differently if I believed it was worthy of love exactly as it is?
4️⃣ Where in my life do I see fatphobia showing up? How can I challenge these biases?
5️⃣ What does true self-care look like for me—without punishment, restriction, or control?

Resources & Links:

🔗 Join my free support group for coaching, community, and exclusive resources! https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-taste-test/
🔗 Work with me one-to-one (limited spots available!) https://victoriakleinsman.com/11-coaching/
🔗 Rate & Review this podcast ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help spread this message!

5 Powerful Quotes from This Episode:

1️⃣ “If shaming yourself into thinness worked, there wouldn’t be a multi-billion pound diet industry profiting off your insecurities.”

2️⃣ “Your health does not define your worth. You deserve love, respect, and care—no matter what your body looks like.”

3️⃣ “Telling someone to lose weight to manage their diabetes is like telling them to whiten their teeth to cure lung cancer. It completely misses the point.”

4️⃣ “Weight is not the ultimate indicator of health. You can pursue health without being fixated on a number on the scale.”

5️⃣ “Stop asking, ‘How do I lose weight?’ and start asking, ‘How can I nourish my body, mind, and soul?’ That’s where true health begins.”

In this episode of The Body Love Binge, we dive deep into the fundamental truth that recovery from anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating follows the same core process. While the behaviors of these disorders may differ, the root cause and the path to healing remain the same—unrestricted eating, emotional regulation, and reconnecting with self-love.

We explore:

• Why restriction (physical or mental) is at the core of all eating disorders.
• The Migration Theory of Anorexia—how biological survival mechanisms influence restriction and hyperactivity.
• Why the fear of weight gain is one of the biggest blocks to recovery—and how to work through it.
• The difference between true binge eating disorder and reactive binging (and why most binge eating is actually a response to past restriction).
• How to embrace full food freedom and trust your body’s natural set point.
• The deep emotional work needed beyond just eating enough—self-worth, identity shifts, and nervous system regulation.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, this episode is for you.

Join My Free Support Group!

💛 If you’re looking for extra support, join my free online community! You’ll get access to:
✔️ Free resources & recovery guidance
✔️ A safe space with others on the same journey
✔️ Weekly coaching from me
✔️ Monthly hot-seat coaching calls

🔗 Join here: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-taste-test/

Powerful Quotes from the Episode:

1️⃣ "Recovery from any eating disorder—anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating—is the same process: unrestricted eating, tuning into your body, emotionally regulating, and returning to self-love."

2️⃣ "Restriction is the root of all eating disorders. The behavior may look different, but the cycle is always the same—control, deprivation, and fear of letting go."

3️⃣ "Your body is not broken. It is simply responding to starvation, whether that’s physical restriction, mental food rules, or fear-based control."

4️⃣ "The fear of weight gain is not really about weight—it’s about self-worth, identity, and the stories we’ve been told about our value."

5️⃣ "The more we resist food, the more power we give it. Full permission is the only way to truly heal your relationship with eating."

6️⃣ "Starvation can trigger the ancient survival instinct to migrate. Anorexia isn't about willpower—it’s a biological response gone wrong."

7️⃣ "The difference between binge eating and reactive binging? If you’ve ever restricted, your binges are a survival response, not a disorder."

8️⃣ "Recovery is about trust. Trusting your body, trusting your hunger, and trusting that food is not the enemy—control is."

9️⃣ "Pleasure and rest are not things you need to earn. If you’ve been stuck in an eating disorder, your relationship with joy and relaxation needs healing, too."

🔟 "You cannot skip to balanced eating while fearing weight gain. You must lean into full permission first—then your body will find its balance naturally."

Resources & Links:📌

Join my Free Support Group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-taste-test/

📌 Work with me in The BodyLoveBinge Coaching Program: https://victoriakleinsman.com/group-coaching/

📌 Connect with me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

📌 Learn more about The Migration Theory of Anorexia (Tabitha Farrar’s work): https://tabithafarrar.com/2017/08/shan-guisinger-adapt-flee-famine-perspective-anorexia-evolution/

💛 Loved this episode?
✨ Tag me on Instagram and share what resonated!
✨ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people find this healing work!
✨ DM me your biggest takeaway and let’s chat!

💬 What did you think of this episode? Drop your thoughts below!

Welcome to a very special episode of The Body Love Binge AND Fly to Freedom! Today, I’m joined by my best friend, Julia, and we’re diving deep into your questions about eating disorder recovery, fear, self-acceptance, and what true freedom really looks like.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• Embracing fear and using it as a tool for growth
• The power of full food permission and why all foods fit
• How to deal with guilt and shut down the ED voice
• The challenges of rest, body image, and weight gain fears
• How recovery impacts relationships, self-love, and every part of life

This conversation is raw, real, and packed with insights to help you move forward in your recovery journey. Let’s do this together!

Some Truth Bombs from This Episode:

1. "Fear is a compass—what scares you is often what will set you free."
2. "Discomfort is temporary, but the freedom on the other side is forever."
3. "You don’t have to silence the ED voice—you just have to stop listening to it."
4. "Recovery isn’t about what you weigh—it’s about what you gain back in life."
5. "Rest isn’t a punishment—it’s a gift to your body."
6. "People will judge you no matter what. The real question is—are you living for them or for yourself?"
7. "The most radical act of self-love is choosing yourself over fear."
8. "You don’t need permission to eat. Your body already gave you that."
9. "Weight gain isn’t the problem—your fear of it is."
10. "Your worth was never meant to be measured by a number."

• Want More?

• Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

• Listen to past episodes of The Body Love Binge- Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/work-with-me/

THANK YOU! If you loved this episode, please share it and tag us! Let us know what topics you want to hear about next. We’re so grateful for you, and we can’t wait to keep growing and healing together. ❤️

Timestamps & Key Takeaways:[00:02:30] **Lessons from Recovery: Embracing Fear as a Growth Tool**- Recovery has completely changed how I see fear—now, I know that when I feel scared, something incredible is on the other side.- "Discomfort is the price of growth, and on the other side of fear is always more confidence and freedom."[00:05:00] **Motherhood & Self-Love: Learning to Let Go**- I get real about how becoming a mom has deepened my surrender and self-trust. - Finding the balance between taking care of myself and meeting my daughter's needs has been a whole new learning experience.[00:10:00] **Q&A Begins! Overcoming Guilt & Food Rules**- Let’s talk about that nagging ED voice—how do we silence it? (Hint: You don’t, but you do learn how to stop believing it!)- "Guilt is not a fact—it’s a conditioned response. The only way to move through it is to challenge it."[00:20:00] **Rest & Exercise Obsession: Breaking Free from the Need to Move**- I know how hard it is to rest, but trust me, it is essential.- "Rest is the hardest part of recovery, but it is also the most healing."

[00:30:00] **Fear of Weight Gain & Body Judgment**- People will judge—so what? Let’s shift our focus to what *we* think about ourselves.- "You weren’t born to give people boners—your worth is so much deeper than your size."[00:40:00] **Navigating Health & Fitness Advice in Recovery**- There’s so much noise out there—let’s talk about how to cut through the BS and trust what *your* body needs.- "If you had a broken leg, you wouldn’t be worried about 10,000 steps a day—recovery requires a different approach."[00:50:00] **The Best Part of Recovery: Life Beyond the ED**- Julia and I reflect on the biggest gifts recovery has given us—self-acceptance, deep friendships, and the ability to live fully.- "Recovery isn’t just about food—it’s about stepping into your power and becoming who you were always meant to be."

Hey loves, here’s what today’s episode is all about…

I’m sitting here in my kitchen, little Koa on my boob (boobalicious, as I like to call it), needing a wee and feeling a bit hungry, but I thought—before I disturb her peaceful little nap—I’ll record this episode. Because a question came up in my group coaching that I really wanted to talk about.

Jan, one of my coaching clients, listened to my birth story episode and said something I mentioned really stood out to her. I had said that recovering from my eating disorder was harder than giving birth naturally, unmedicated, at home. She wanted me to elaborate on why.

So today, I’m breaking it all down: why, despite the intensity of labor, recovery was the harder journey for me—and what that means for you if you’re still in the thick of it. I’ll share the deep identity shifts, the surrender, the trust, the fears, and the choice that comes with recovery in a way that birth simply didn’t. Because here’s the thing: giving birth was inevitable. Recovery wasn’t.

If you’ve ever felt like recovery is an impossible battle, this episode is for you. Because while recovery is hard, it’s also temporary. Just like labor. And on the other side? Freedom.

What I Talk About in This Episode:

• Why recovery was harder than giving birth (even though birth was incredibly painful)
• The key role of surrender and trust in both birth and healing
• The identity crisis I went through in recovery (and why it was actually a good thing!)
• Why birth is inevitable, but recovery is a choice—over and over again
• How letting go of control was the hardest (but most necessary) part of healing
• The importance of reframing beliefs every single day
• Why gaining weight was actually gaining life
• The three core values that guided me through both birth and recovery

Some of My Favorite Quotes From This Episode:

1. "Recovery is temporary, just like birth—but instead of hours, it’s an extended period of temporary shit and pain."
2. "I knew my body would birth my baby whether I liked it or not. Recovery, though? That was a choice I had to make over and over again."
3. "Restriction is the quick fix. Freedom is the real work."
4. "Beyond fear lies freedom—but you have to walk through the fear to get there."
5. "My body is so much wiser than my mind ever was—whether in birth or in healing."
6. "Surrender isn’t weakness. It’s the most powerful thing you can do."
7. "I had to let go of the identity that was keeping me safe—but also keeping me stuck."
8. "Gaining weight wasn’t losing control. It was gaining my life back."
9. "Recovery demands you rewire your beliefs every single day, not just once."
10. "You can’t wait until you feel ready. You take the leap, and your feelings catch up later."

Let’s Connect:

• Listen to my Birth Story & Interview with My Doula: https://victoriakleinsman.com/body-image/my-positive-home-birth-story-chat-with-my-doula/
• Join My Group Coaching Program: https://victoriakleinsman.com/group-coaching/
• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriakleinsmanofficial/

Episode OverviewIn this episode, Victoria Kleinsman dives deep into the topic of emotional eating, exploring its nuances, misconceptions, and the fine line between emotional eating and eating disorders. If you've ever felt guilt or shame around using food for comfort, this episode is a must-listen!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔹Emotional Eating vs. Eating Disorders: The key differences and warning signs that emotional eating might develop into an eating disorder.
🔹Why Judgment is the Real Problem: The moment self-judgment enters the picture, emotional eating can spiral into harmful cycles.
🔹Practical Strategies for Emotional Eating: Why replacing food as a coping mechanism doesn’t work—and what to do instead.
🔹Food Freedom & Body Acceptance: How to develop a healthier relationship with food and your body by embracing full permission.
🔹Victoria’s Personal Journey: How lived experience plays a powerful role in eating disorder recovery.
🔹Key Message for Those Struggling: The most important piece of advice Victoria would give to anyone battling emotional eating or an eating disorder.

Key Takeaways & Quotes:

💬“I don’t care what you eat—I care how you feel about what you eat.”

💬“Emotional eating is not a problem unless you make it one. It becomes an issue when judgment enters the picture.”

💬“If emotional eating is negatively affecting your life, get help—don’t wait until it spirals into a full-blown eating disorder.”

💬“Trying to ‘eat in moderation’ is still a form of restriction. True food freedom is allowing yourself full permission to eat.”

Resources Mentioned:

🔗 Join Victoria’s Free Support Group:https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-taste-test/

📩 Need support? Contact Victoria:https://victoriakleinsman.com/apply/

Connect with Victoria:

🌍 Website:https://victoriakleinsman.com/

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more people find this message of food freedom and self-love!

🎙 Episode Summary:
In this deeply personal and transformative episode, I sit down with my amazing doula, Marianne Nijeboer, to share my home birth experience and the immense value of having a doula by my side. From navigating fears and emotional breakthroughs to fully surrendering to the birth process, this episode is packed with insights, lessons, and raw reflections.

✨ What We Cover in This Episode:

🎧 Why You Should Listen:
If you’re pregnant, considering working with a doula, or just fascinated by the power of the mind-body connection, this episode is for you! It’s an intimate and unfiltered look at birth as a sacred experience, challenging the fear-based conditioning we often inherit.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

📌 Resources & Links:

Connect with Marianne Nijeboer: https://serendipity-geboortebegeleiding.nl/

My recommended resources for a positive birth experience: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/

My birth video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDOv1a8IOzr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

💬 Let’s Connect:Loved this episode?

Have questions for me or Marianne?

DM me on Instagram at @victoriakleinsmanofficial or email me at [email protected]

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with anyone who might need to hear it! 🌿💛