In this week's episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Eric Pothen. Eric is a Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach and an eating disorder advocate who serves on the Peer Council for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and the Community Engagement Committee for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). After struggling with an eating disorder for several years, Eric now uses his lived experience to raise awareness and support others on their recovery journeys, particularly around eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image, with a special focus on men.

Eric is currently pursuing a degree in Counselling at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, to become an eating disorder therapist, specialising in working with men and the LGBTQ+ community.

In this week's episode, we discuss:

• Navigating shame, identity, and the onset of an eating disorder
• Why recovery can feel messy
• Reframing exercise and “food is fuel” in recovery
• Recovery perfectionism vs. authentic recovery
• Supporting individuals as people first, not by gender stereotypes
• The hidden and under-discussed behaviour of chewing and spitting
• The importance of intention and reframing in long-term recovery
• Understanding the intersectionality of identity in ED support

Timestamps:

• 03:00 – Eating disorder onset: identity, stress & sadness
• 08:00 – Shame & internalised stigma for men
• 12:00 – People pleasing and external validation
• 18:00 – Compulsive exercise & social reinforcement
• 22:00 – Recovery as rewiring: food, movement & intention
• 27:00 – The messiness of recovery & doing it solo
• 30:00 – Alcohol, chewing/spitting & hidden behaviours
• 34:00 – Marathon training: helpful or harmful?
• 40:00 – Intersectionality and seeing the person, not the gender

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of eating disorder behaviours including anorexia, compulsive exercise, chewing and spitting, and alcohol use. Please take care whlist listening.

Resources & Links:

• Instagram: @ericpothan
• NEDA Peer Council: nationaleatingdisorders.org

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• Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast here
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• Check out our website here

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Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛