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/