Unrestrict-ED

In this episode, Han and Emily discuss how a reliance on fruits and vegetables can be a limitation to physical and mental recovery. The ‘and not or’ concept is possible, but sometimes the shelving option may more appropriate. Thank you for listening to this season of the Unrestricted podcast. We look forward to Season 3 in 2024!

In this episode, Han and Emily discuss navigating the sensation of fullness.

The key takeaways are:

Fullness must be sat with.

The mindset around fullness (and the meaning you are giving it) requires the shift.

Mitigating strategies can help you ride the emotions.

This feeling will pass.

In this episode, Hannah and Emily discuss anxiety around spending money in recovery. The key takeaway from this episode is that there is a large biological element involved in difficulty spending money. Alleviating malnutrition is route to clearing the brains perception of resource scarcity.

In this episode, Han and Emily discuss preparing for the Christmas period. The main conversations centre around urgency and taking action in The Now.

In this episode Han and Emily discuss how although honouring mental hunger is incredibly important, it is important to be aware that the Eating Disorder has a tendency to take recovery constructs and turn them into restrictive mechanisms. When it is logistically difficult to get the exact item we are craving, it is perfectly appropriate to get something similar (which is energy dense and still recovery-wise) to bridge the gap between the time you can get that item you truly want. It is not pro-recovery to have an all or nothing mindset. Actively challenging taking food off the perfection pedestal and emergence from the energy deficit will both contribute to having a relationship with food where food does not feel as though it has to be perfect at all times to be ‘worth’ having.

In this episode, Han and Emily discuss markers of full recovery. Using the analogy of a game of wac-a-mol, Emily describes how, in time, no more moles raise their head. Up to this point, it is important to keep consistently ‘whacking’ as the intensity of the game dwindles. Meanwhile, both Han and Emily describe how life begins organically filling the gaps where the ED once was - becoming less serious, less food-centric, and more relaxed. The key takeaway from this episode is that a completely free mental state is a far more accurate marker of the finish line being crossed than physical signs. Though important to ensure are happening, improved weight, energy levels or vital readings are NOT indications to reduce recovery urgency and intensity. Full recovery = Full nutritional rehabilitation + Neural rewiring !

Is this episode, Emily & Han answer a question on the topic of tolerating discomfort. Hopefully providing some practical tips, this episode centres of the idea of compassionately and passionately exploring restful restrictions, whilst ignoring ED backlash as to what is a ‘productive’ activity. Any activity that takes you a step away from your ED is highly productive.

In this episode, Han & Emily answer the question: Why Do I Feel More Hungry After Eating? The key takeaway from this episode is: trust your body’s mental and physical cues. Eating-induced hunger is an assistance to your recovery, rather than something to try to fight.

In this episode, Han and Emily answer the question: ‘How do I not feel guilt when rewiring compulsive movement (10,000 steps) at a “normal” weight?

In the episode, the question is separated into 3 parts, with attention paid to:

1) the unavoidable presence of guilt and the necessity to sit with that emotion

2) the requirement to disengage from all ED-OCD activities for physiological AND psychological healing

3) the irrelevance of weight for making urgent recovery changes.

We hope you find this episode helpful! Thanks so much for listening.

n this episode, Han and Emily answer the question ‘my dietitian says I should have vegetables with all of my meals, is this right?’.

The key takeaways from this week are:

- Embrace energy density.

- Remove the expectation to micromanage the direction of your cravings as you emerge from deficit, recognising judgement and food morality.

- Focus on what is best for BOTH physical AND mental healing.

- Prize apart habitat food pairings.

- Prioritise neural rewiring over preference.

We hope you found this discussion helpful.