Unrestrict-ED

By Emily and HanHealth & Fitness Mental Health

Unrestrict-ED episodes

January 21, 2025 If I Honour My Hunger, Do I Still Eat My Meals and Snacks?
In this episode, Emily and Han discuss how to honour hunger fully and completely around formal baseline meal times.

The key areas covered here are:
Simplicity of the message that your brain & body needs to receive
Direct opposite actions
Demonstrate consistency food availability for neural rewiring & physiological safety
Leave no doubt
remain in The Now of your recovery
Since there is a fair amount to cover in this topic, it is a little longer than usual.
We hope you enjoyed this episode!
29 min
January 14, 2025How Do I Overcome My Fear Of Not Eating or Being "Healthy" in Recovery
In this episode, Han and Emily discuss the topic of health and the need to redefine it as you embark on recovery. The key takeaways are:
health is multifactorial - it involves social, mental, spiritual and social components

health is highly individualised.

overall health is determined by an array of factors, far beyond just behaviour

recovery (listening to bodily cues) is NOT anti-health

food restriction and stress (and the maintenance of an ED) significantly negatively impact health
23 min
January 07, 2025 Is It Normal to Struggle with Sleep in ED Recovery?
In this episode, Emily and Han discuss the key sleep disrupters in recovery.

These include:
Hunger - which does not discriminate between night and daytime

Exercise addiction / productivity drive - letting yourself sleep enough is often as tightly bound up with self-punishing defaults as letting yourself eating enough

Heightened anxiety and stress - from the recovery process

Physical effects of being out of energy balance
Digestive problems
Ineffective temperature regulation
Frequent urination
Hormonal imbalance

Meta-stress (stress about the health effects of poor sleep)

26 min
December 17, 2024What Is It Really Like To Have Extreme Hunger?
In this episode, Han and Emily discuss how extreme hunger is:
A unique experience,

Physically AND mentally experienced,

Often quite confusing

Perhaps quite emotionally changeable (e.g., exciting/isolating/boring)

Thank you so much for listening though 2024. We really love recording these episodes and look forward to continuing next year.
29 min
December 03, 2024How Do I Embrace Festivities & Improve Flexibility Whilst Being on a Meal Plan?
In this episode, Emily and Han discuss how to allow yourself to get involved in festivities when you are using a meal plan in your recovery. The key takeaways from the episode are:
Meal plans should be used as a minimum baseline. NOT a maximum.

The complication comes from ED involvement.

Take hold of opportunities that present themself to you

Be bold with your permission and don’t wait for ED approval

ADD ADD ADD - variety, grazing, abundance.

Say “YES”

Self direct. Don’t just be passive.

episode
23 min
November 26, 2024Is It Normal to Look Forward to a Certain Event Because of the Food, Rather Than Dreading it?
In this episode, Han & Emily discuss the normality of looking forward to food occasions - both in and after recovery. Food is a wonderful facilitator for connection socially, culturally and mentally. The key take away from this episode is:
It is ok to enjoy food! There is no gold medal for those who insist they don't!

An undernourished brain and body naturally prioritises food. For it to come off of a pedestal, you must fully show your brain that food is no longer a scarce resource.

Seek out occasions you can reassure your body of unconditional permission + access to food.

Disordered eating is common in society. Healing your relationship with food in your recovery will set you free to be able to act in a way that is truly in alignment with your values.
21 min
November 19, 2024Is It Normal To Feel Hungry & Sick Of Food at the Same Time?
In this episode, Emily and Han explore how to navigate responding to hunger when food seems to be losing its appeal. The key takeaways from this episode are:
Get honest: Are you playing a role in food feeling monotonous?
A mental drive for food is an equally valid cue to eat as a physical prompt.

A body healing from deficit does not immediately return to normalcy.

Where possible, release yourself to the joys of letting go
20 min
November 12, 2024What Can I Do To Avoid Feeling So Rubbish In Recovery?
In this episode Han and Emily discuss how to cope with the mental discomfort caused by engaging in recovery.
The key take aways are
Self-compassion is a non-negotiable

Choose your hard

Being bold(er) is better

Release yourself to the process
We hope you enjoy this episode !
25 min
October 29, 2024How Can I Deal With Loneliness in Recovery?
In this episode, Emily and Han talk about experiencing loneliness and isolation in the healing journey. The key takeaways are:
Cave Bear Mode isn't social mode

ED is the problem, not recovery

Connection Is facilitated by renourishment

Detachment is upheld by undernourishment
As always, thank you so much for listening.
23 min
October 22, 2024 Is it Normal to Get Anxiety When NOT Eating in Recovery?
In this episode, Emily and Han share their experiences of how anxiety arose in the absence of food. Contrary to the expected perspective that somebody with a restrictive eating disorder does not wish to be around food, an undernourished body quite rightfully welcomes being in an area of food abundance.

Actioning this food abundance in order to reaffirm the unconditional availability of food is essential to alleviate the emotional state that arises in recovery.
20 min