Letting Go of Perfection: Recovery, Edema & Emotional Chaos - Q&A with Julia

Julia and I are back with another juicy Q&A episode, answering your most heartfelt and real questions about recovery. From brain chemistry to perfectionism, family dynamics to weight gain fears — nothing is off the table.We go deep into what it really takes to move beyond quasi recovery, why blood tests can’t tell the full story, how to navigate edema, and why being a highly sensitive person is actually a gift in recovery.This one is raw, emotional, funny (as always), and packed with truth bombs to keep you moving forward.Powerful quotes from the episode 💬💬 “Everyone can fully recover — the only barrier is the stories you tell yourself.”💬 “Your brain cares about survival, not about your happiness.”💬 “You can’t heal from an eating disorder while still acting like someone with one.”💬 “A feeling just wants to be felt, and then it can move on.”💬 “Being highly sensitive isn’t a weakness — it’s a gift you get to use for your freedom.”What you’ll hear in this episode: • Can we tell if someone will fully recover or stay in quasi? • Why eating more/resting can trigger waves of depression or suicidal thoughts • Perfectionism around food and how to break the cycle of indecision • Rebuilding trust and respect with your family after years of struggle • Edema: why it happens, how long it lasts, and how to cope • Orthorexia, “healthy” vs. “unhealthy” food, and weight gain fears • Why blood tests aren’t proof that you’re “fine” • Breaking the restrict → eat → panic → restrict cycle • Highly Sensitive People (HSP) & recovery: curse or gift?Resources & Links💙 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/💙 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/💙 Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial💙 Become a coach: https://victoriakleinsman.com/become-a-coach/

How To Love Yourself Beyond Body Image with Cait WhytockThis episode is such a special one for me because I’m joined by Cait Whytock: @cait_whytock — someone who was actually a huge catalyst in my own recovery journey. 🌟Cait is pure love embodied. She helps people realise they don’t have to live the “normal way” — through self-love, body acceptance and choosing to live differently. In this conversation, we dive deep into eating disorder recovery, body image, somatic healing, trauma, and what it really means to live in love rather than fear.We cover:💙 Cait’s journey from orthorexia and over-exercising to deep healing.💙 How yoga, meditation, and breathwork brought her back into her body.💙 Why weight gain was the wake-up call she needed (and how she navigated it).💙 The power of surrender, letting go, and “just doing it” anyway.💙 Healing the inner child, trauma, and breaking free from external validation.This one is packed with wisdom, honesty, and practical tools you can use on your own path to body love and self-acceptance.💬 Powerful quotes from the episode💬 “My body is a part of me, but it’s not the most interesting or important thing about me.”💬 “When you let go of how you think things should be, that’s when what’s truly meant for you arrives.”💬 “Nothing changes if nothing changes. Sometimes you just have to do it before you’re ready.”💬 “The eating disorder isn’t the problem — it’s the symptom. The root always goes deeper.”💬 “Healing is love. Acceptance is love. Love is without judgment.”Resources & Links💙 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/💙 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/💙 Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial💙 Become a coach: https://victoriakleinsman.com/become-a-coach/

Hot Seat Coaching: Breaking Free From “Better, But Not Free”In this month’s Hot Seat Coaching session, I had the honour of supporting one of our queens, Kerry, as she bravely shared where she feels stuck in her recovery journey.She’s weight-restored, she’s come so far, and life is so much better than it was — yet she still feels held back by fear of further weight gain, family conditioning, and old stories from childhood. Sound familiar?This conversation is such a powerful reminder that:✨ “Better” is not the same as free✨ Our fears are often inherited, not our truth✨ It’s possible to love your parents AND break free from their beliefs✨ Inner child work is key to moving forward✨ You don’t have to settle for “good enough” — you get to have true freedom💬 Powerful quotes from the episode:💬 “Weight-restored isn’t the same as being free — freedom is an inside job.”💬 “What would you say to your 12-year-old self if she asked: how can I be happy?”💬 “We’re all children in adult bodies until we do the deeper healing work.”💬 “You can’t wait for the world to fall in love with itself — you get to choose to be the inspiration now.”💬 “Don’t stop at better. Keep going until you’re free.”This coaching session will resonate with anyone who feels like they’re in limbo: no longer in the depths of an eating disorder, but not fully free either. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m scared to take the next step forward,” this one’s for you.Resources & Links:💙 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/💙 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/💙 Follow me on Instagram @victoriakleinsmanofficial💙 Become a coach: https://victoriakleinsman.com/become-a-coach/

This episode is a little different, queens — I recorded it while out walking with my dog Hiro and baby Koa. It’s raw, unedited, and full of truth. The message was burning in my soul, and I knew I had to get it out to you right now.I’m talking about surrender — what it really means, why it’s essential in eating disorder recovery (and in life), and how you can begin to embody it.So often we fight reality, fight our bodies, fight our feelings… and that constant battle is exhausting. True freedom begins when you drop the rope, let go of control, and learn to trust.In this episode I share:✨ Why acceptance comes before surrender✨ How control is an illusion (and what it’s really costing you)✨ Practical metaphors that make surrender more tangible✨ The difference between “giving up” and “letting go”✨ How grief and trust play a huge role in true recovery💬 Powerful quotes from the episode:💬 “Acceptance is giving up the fight with reality — surrender is embodying that acceptance.”💬 “If you’re clinging on to control like the edge of a cliff, the only way to freedom is to let go.”💬 “Control is an illusion — the cost is always greater than the gain.”💬 “Surrender isn’t weakness, it’s the wisest and most self-loving thing you can do.”💬 “When you surrender, you lean into trust and faith — even when you can’t yet see the net that will catch you.”If you’ve ever wondered how to actually surrender — in recovery, in your body, and in life — this episode will give you both the wisdom and the practical tools to start.Resources & Links:🖤 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/🖤 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/🖤 Follow me on Instagram @victoriakleinsmanofficial

This month’s Q&A episode is a deep dive into the real, messy, beautiful work of recovery.I’m answering powerful, personal questions from women in my group coaching programme (shared anonymously) – and I know you’ll see yourself in so many of them.We cover:Feeling threatened by GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, especially when loved ones are taking themProtecting your recovery when diet culture feels louder than everSetting boundaries around triggering conversations and environmentsHow to get back on track after slipping into delayed eating patternsNavigating mental hunger without fear of “repeating the past”Daily and in-the-moment nervous system regulation tools for ED recoveryFacing an osteoporosis diagnosis and fears about stopping exerciseLetting go of the “good listener, easy one with no needs” identityUnderstanding self-abandonment and building more balanced relationshipsHow to actually use “What would love do?” as a recovery toolIf you’ve ever felt like the world is pushing you back into weight loss obsession… if you’ve been scared of gaining weight and “still being disordered”… or if you’ve struggled to meet your own needs in relationships – this conversation will meet you where you are and help you take the next step forward.🌹 Want your question answered in next month’s episode?Join my group coaching programme – you can try it for a month and, if you decide to stay for the year, you’ll get that month refunded.Resources & Links🖤 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/🖤 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/🖤 Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

In this powerful conversation with Courtney from Boston College, I go deep into my personal journey with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and – most importantly – the role shame played in all of it.I open up about:💬 My first experiences with food restriction at age 9 – and how it was modelled to me at home.💬 Why I believe so many binge eating diagnoses are actually misdiagnosed bulimia.💬 How perfectionism, overachieving, and people-pleasing kept me trapped for decades.💬 The difference between the suppressed self and the soul self – and how to know which one you’re feeding.💬 The rock-bottom moment on my kitchen floor that changed everything.💬 Why shame thrives in secrecy and can only truly be healed in relationship with others.💬 The deep connection between childhood needs not being met, shame around simply being human, and developing an eating disorder.💬 How I learned to face my fears, stop being a victim to myself, and choose recovery every day.💬 Why body image work was the missing piece in my healing – and how I used social media to normalise my bigger body.This is a raw, unfiltered, and deeply human conversation. If you’ve ever felt “too much” or “not enough,” if you’ve struggled to love yourself in your body, or if you’ve wondered why recovery feels so damn hard – this one is for you.💬 Favourite quotes from this episode:💬 “Every single thing we do or don’t do is either an act of love or a cry for love.”💬 “Shame keeps us stuck, silent, and separate – the only way it heals is in the light.”💬 “Allowance always creates space for choice.”💬 “Whatever you nourish will flourish – your suppressed self or your soul self.”💬 “Recovery is guaranteed if you’re willing to face your fears.”Resources & Links:🖤 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/🖤 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/🖤 Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

What If You Trusted Your Body Fully? | Listener Q&AThis week, Julia and I are diving into your brilliant questions once again… including some BIG ones that almost every recovery warrior asks at some point. Things like:🌀 How do I get my period back if I’ve been weight restored for a while?🌀 Will I ever stop gaining weight?🌀 What if binge eating becomes a bad habit?🌀 Is intuitive eating secretly diet culture in disguise?🌀 How do I deal with body-shaming parents?🌀 And what the hell is going on with the total fatigue that hits after finally starting to eat again?!We also touch on the difference between binge eating vs emotional eating, why it’s so normal to fear your metabolism is broken, and how recovery reveals the deeper work that’s waiting for us beyond food and body image.💬 “When we say yes to someone else when we mean no, we’re saying no to ourselves.”💬 “Binge eating is always a reaction to restriction — emotional eating is something different.”💬 “If you want to control your set point weight, you’re still not free.”💬 “People pleasing is not a personality trait. It’s a trauma response.”If you’re in the midst of recovery and wondering if what you’re going through is normal — this episode is for you. We’re giving it to you straight, with lived experience, compassion, and a few F-bombs for flavour.Resources & Links🖤 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/🖤 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/🖤 Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

I Disappoint People Every Day (And I’m Okay With It)🖤 Episode Description:In this raw solo episode, I share a deeply personal truth: I disappoint people every single day. And not because I’m careless or unkind—but because I’ve stopped abandoning myself to make others more comfortable.As a recovering people pleaser, I know what it feels like to panic at the thought of upsetting someone. To over-explain, to bend over backwards, to feel responsible for everyone’s feelings except my own.But here’s what I’ve learnt… people pleasing isn’t a personality trait. It’s a survival strategy. And it’s keeping you exhausted, disconnected, and resentful.In this ep, I unpack:How to know if you’re people pleasingJournal prompts & truth bombs to break the habitWhy saying “no” is the ultimate self-loveWhat happens when you stop over-explainingHow I balance motherhood, business, and boundariesAnd the game-changing mindset shift that let me reclaim my life.Let this episode be your permission slip to disappoint others… and choose yourself.Because you can’t live your truth and please everyone at the same time.💬 Powerful quotes from this episode:💬 “When you say yes to others, but it’s not a full-body yes… you’re saying no to yourself.”💬 “People pleasing is fear dressed up in high heels and a fur coat.”💬 “Disappointing others isn’t failure—it’s the price of authenticity.”💬 “No is a complete sentence.”💬 “You can’t live your truth and please everyone at the same time—choose yourself.”Resources & Links:🖤 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/🖤 Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/🖤 Follow me on Instagram: @victoriakleinsmanofficial

🎙️ From Forced Recovery to Freedom – Izzy’s StoryThis is a powerful, moving, and soul-baring conversation with my incredible client Izzy, who generously shares her journey from years of forced recovery to taking her power back and choosing her own version of freedom.Izzy and I have worked together for around 6 months, and the transformation she’s experienced is nothing short of phenomenal. In this episode, she speaks candidly about:✨ How her eating disorder developed during lockdown✨ What kept her stuck in the relapse-recovery cycle for years✨ Why traditional therapy wasn’t enough for her✨ The shift that came from realising SHE had to take full responsibility✨ Learning to trust her body again and finding freedom with food✨ Her experience with meal plans and intuition eating✨ Identity loss and rediscovery during recovery✨ Facing the fear of weight gain and what’s waiting on the other sideWe also talk about the emotional messiness of recovery, the discomfort, the grief, and how you can still keep moving forward even when it’s terrifying.💬 5 powerful quotes from the episode:💬 “You can’t build your recovery on someone else’s efforts – it has to come from you.”💬 “I wasn’t living—I was surviving. Recovery meant choosing life.”💬 “If I don’t stop the cycle, this will be my life… and that scared the shit out of me.”💬 “Just start. Do one scary thing. That’s all it takes to start building trust.”💬 “No one regrets full recovery. No one ever says, ‘I wish I’d stayed sick.’”Listen if you need a reminder that:🖤 It’s never too late🖤 Freedom is possible for YOU🖤 Meal plans have a time and place, but they’re not the end goal🖤 You can stop living for fear and start living for YOU🖤 Recovery is worth every ounce of discomfortResources & Links:🖤 Join my FREE support group🖤 Work with me🖤 Follow me on Instagram @victoriakleinsmanofficial

Join my free support group for monthly hot seat coaching: ⁠https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/⁠Welcome back, my loves! This week’s episode is a juicy one – it’s our monthly Q&A where Julia and I dive deep into your most vulnerable, heartfelt, and relatable questions. From how to give yourself permission to let go of the ED when you’re scared of judgment, to navigating free time, motherhood, and movement post-recovery… we cover it all.You’ll hear our personal experiences, client reflections, and direct, loving guidance – with a few laughs and tangents along the way (because would it even be a podcast with us if there weren’t?!).In this episode, we cover:🌀 What to do when you’re scared of being judged if your body changes🌀 Reframing “rebellion” from recovery🌀 How we approach exercise now (and how it’s evolved!)🌀 The fear of weight gain and how I faced it🌀 Recovery and motherhood – how your child can become your biggest why🌀 DBT vs CBT and how coaching is different🌀 Do I have food rules? How to tell when they’re sneaky🌀 Pre-meal affirmations, reminders, and tools to help you follow through🌀 Whether or not to eat more after exercise🌀 Free time guilt & how to lean into pleasureThis episode is full of gold, whether you’re at the very start of your journey or years into recovery. These questions are so universal, and there’s something here for everyone.As always:💌 Submit your questions via email for the next Q&A🎧 Rate + review the show if you love it – it helps so much🫶🏼 And share with a friend who needs support right now