Optimisation & Recovery

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.comToday, we’re joined by Lucie Vallée, feminist body image coach and ED recovery advocate, for a conversation about the pressures that shape how we see ourselves – and what it takes to challenge them.Lucie shares how body image struggles can be connected to nervous system dysregulation, and why certain trigger thoughts (e.g. “I feel fat”) might be an alarm to pay attention to rather than a fact to act on. We also explore the influence of beauty standards, the expectations placed on women as they age, and how setting boundaries around body talk can frees up space for — and protects — the things that actually matter.Topics covered:Understanding “I feel fat” as an alarm thoughtBody image, shame spirals and nervous system regulationThe cultural roots of beauty standardsManaging everyday body image triggersSetting boundaries around comments and diet talkBeauty, femininity and the pressure to stay youngUsing our five senses to regulate the nervous systemReconnecting with our values beyond appearanceFor more information or to join the Rewired Community: www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: [email protected] Website: www.safiaed.comLucie Vallée Instagram: @lucievallee_ Website: https://fightthiswithlucie.com/Em (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/Our second October testimonial episode is here! Today, we’re hearing from more of the fabulous Rewired in Action Community about what it’s like to be part of it.Members share how regular touchpoints help them keep recovery moving between sessions, and how reassuring it can be to hear someone else put your own thoughts into words. We also touch on the value of practical tools grounded in lived experience, and having support to spot the sneaky ways an eating disorder can keep you stuck – even when it looks like you’re doing well from the outside.Topics covered:Finding connection and understandingKeeping recovery momentum goingRecognising the sneaky ways ED holds onPutting tools into practiceLearning to tolerate discomfortMaking choices that reflect your valuesFeeling supported, not told what to doFor more information or to join the Rewired Community:www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/We’re exploring a topic we’ve been covering in the community recently: optimisation, and how the pressure to constantly improve ourselves can make eating disorder recovery that much harder. It can be so difficult to recognise when the pursuit of doing better starts taking us further away from the life we actually want.We get into our own experiences of optimisation, including the pressure to make every moment productive and the guilt that can come with slowing down. We also look at how to recognise when the goalposts keep moving and, crucially, make choices that align with our values (because spoiler: you are absolutely allowed to enjoy things without earning them!).Topics covered:Optimisation culture and the pressure to do moreProductivity, perfectionism and eating disordersWhen healthy habits become rigid or compulsiveThe moving goalposts of recoveryLearning to rest without guiltFreezing joy and saving things for the “perfect” momentValues, boundaries and action alignmentPractical tools for stepping off the optimisation hamster wheelFor more information or to join the Rewired Community:www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/In today’s community testimonials episode, we hear from our wonderful Rewired in Action members about their experiences and what being part of the community has brought to their recovery. They share how the regular sessions, practical tools and accountability have helped them move from wanting to make changes to taking action, even when it feels difficult.We also talk about the value of consistent support and having a space where recovery can look different for everyone. A huge thank you to the featured members for being so open about their experiences and helping others understand what the community is like!Topics covered:Putting recovery into actionPractical tools and goal settingAccountability and consistent supportLearning from lived experienceRecovery without comparisonMaking change through discomfortConnect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/ In Part 2 of Meg’s story, we pick up with what recovery actually looked like once she started working with our wonderful psychologist. We’ll be talking about the practical side of treatment and how she managed to keep taking steps forward when recovery felt incredibly uncomfortable (understatement!).We also get into weight gain and the space left behind when the ED starts to loosen its grip. Plus, we’ll go through some of the tips, tricks and tools we both continue to use to this day, alongside what recovery has changed for Meg beyond “just” the food. Topics covered:Treatment and food challengesThe reality of weight gainLearning to act despite discomfortSupport from partners and other people around youFinding your own self-permission in recoveryThe “pie chart of life” and rebuilding your worldTools we still use todayWhat recovery has changed for Meg beyond foodFor more information or to join the Rewired Community: www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/Following Safia’s story, today, Meg shares her recovery experience — where her ED started, how things developed over the years, and what happened as she moved through different stages of treatment.It wasn’t a straightforward timeline (recovery timelines rarely are!). There were periods of getting better, moving countries, starting again and relapsing. We also explore the moment when Meg realised that looking healthier and eating in a certain way didn’t necessarily mean she was recovered, and how working with someone who understood eating disorders helped her recognise the rules that were still running her life.Topics covered:How Meg’s eating disorder beganEarly treatment and hospitalisationMoving abroad and changes in recoveryRelapse and returning to old patternsThe difference between looking better and being recoveredHidden rules Finding specialised eating disorder supportThe point when recovery started to feel differentFor more information or to join the Rewired Community: www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/Eating disorders can be incredibly convincing; it’s why so many of us stay unwell for so long. In this episode, we look at some of the common “mind games” that can keep you stuck – everything from being told you “look well” or that your blood results are fine, to comparing yourself with someone who seems to be struggling more.We talk about why these thoughts can be so difficult to challenge, and come back to a bigger question: what kind of life are you able to live when the eating disorder is making the decisions?Topics covered:Common ED “mind games”Questioning whether you’re struggling “enough”Medical reassurance and recoveryComparing yourself with othersAppearance and eating disorder recoveryHunger cues and recoveryLooking beyond being “well enough” to functionFor more information or to join the Rewired Community: www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/Have you ever been scared of hunger, but also wished you had the cues? In this episode, we get into the strange contradiction of wanting to feel hungry enough before eating, while also spending so much time worrying about hunger itself…We also take a closer look at what happens when we turn sensations into judgements, and why eating doesn’t have to depend on getting those signals “right”. Especially in recovery, hunger can be unpredictable! Sometimes structure is more helpful than waiting to feel ready. You can eat when you’re hungry, when you’re not sure, or even when you still feel a bit full – without needing to work out exactly what your hunger is telling you first.Topics covered:The contradiction of wanting and fearing hungerTrying to achieve the “perfect” amount of hungerBody-scanning and constantly monitoring hungerWhy hunger can become another thing to controlThe difference between a sensation and the judgement attached to itFear of fullness and what it can mean in recoveryEating for reasons beyond hungerWhy hunger and fullness can be unpredictable in recoveryMental hunger and the role of structurePractising eating without perfect conditionsFor more information or to join the Rewired Community: www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/This week, we’re joined by Dr Ann Saffi Biasetti to talk about somatic compassion and what it means to build a relationship with your body, both in recovery and beyond. We get into what happens when you know something intellectually, but still feel completely different about (and differently in) your physical self. Dr Ann also talks through some common themes we see in our work as coaches: grief, the fear of not liking your recovered appearance, some of the ways loved ones can make things harder without meaning to — and why recovery doesn’t have to mean loving the way your body looks.Topics covered:What “your body never meant you any harm” really meansThe gap between knowing and feelingMoving away from fighting the bodyFear of not liking your recovered appearanceHow somatic work can aid eating disorder recoveryA simple somatic practice for difficult momentsHow support can unintentionally reinforce ED fearsMaking space for grief in recoveryBeginning to relate to your body differentlyFor more information or to join the Rewired Community:www.rewiredinaction.com/Resources mentioned: Your Body Never Meant You Any Harm: A Somatic Guide to Forgiving and Healing Your Relationship with Your BodyConnect with us:Dr Ann Saffi BiasettiWebsite: www.anembodiedlife.comInstagram: @anembodiedlifeMegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: [email protected]: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.

JOIN THE REWIRED IN ACTION COMMUNITY: www.rewiredinaction.com/Safia continues her recovery story from last week’s episode, this time focusing on the process itself: beginning therapy, challenging food rules, and eventually letting go of exercise. She shares some of the (many!) moments where she wanted to undo a challenge — the messy middle of recovery — but also those blossoming moments of freedom and connection, and how life changed in ways she never could have imagined for herself.Topics covered:Committing to recoveryChallenging food rulesExtreme hunger and learning to trust her bodyLetting go of compulsive exerciseFinding meaning beyond food, weight and movementLearning that recovery doesn’t have to be perfectThe role of accountability in recoveryWhen periods restart How recovery ultimately changed everything For more information or to join the Rewired Community: www.rewiredinaction.com/Connect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: [email protected] Website: www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahselfDisclaimerPlease keep in mind we're not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, so it shouldn't be taken as medical advice. If you're struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional to discuss your own situation and get professional help that's right for you.