Rewired

Heatwaves and ED RecoveryHot weather can throw up challenges that people don't always expect in recovery. Appetite might feel different, for one. Plus being more tired and irritable, or blaming your body for feeling uncomfortable (when actually, you're just too hot) against a backdrop of triggering media messages… All of these factors can make summer especially tough when you’re in eating disorder recovery. This week, we discuss the realities of recovery during the hotter months. Be that eating despite unreliable hunger cues, dealing with body image, navigating travel, or simply fielding unhelpful narratives online: we reflect on what we personally gained from letting go of those pressures, and how recovery can open the door to a very different experience of summer altogether.Topics covered: • Why heat can make recovery feel harder • Appetite changes, fatigue and food • Summer body culture and relapse thoughts • Body image when wearing less clothing • Feeling uncomfortable in your body vs feeling uncomfortable because you're hot • Heat, movement and compulsive exercise • Eating regularly when hunger cues feel different • Ice cream, BBQs, holidays, and seasonal food fears • Travel and disrupted routines • The nervous system impact of heat • Reclaiming summer from the eating disorderUpcoming workshop: Rewired Workshop: Taking Action A £2, 60-minute workshop exploring practical tools to help you move from intention to action in your eating disorder recovery.Sign up here: https://buy.stripe.com/fZu4gB2tH2DC902ak057W0qFor more info or to sign up to the Rewired Community: https://rewiredinaction2.carrd.co/Connect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER]We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional for personalised support.

Rigidity & RoutineOne of the things we see time and time again – both in ourselves and in the people we work with – is just how overwhelmingly rigid routines take over life when you’re struggling with an ED.With this in mind, this week, we’re exploring the many ways rigidity can show up in an eating disorder: safe foods, strict timings, movement routines, rituals, certainty-seeking, and the feeling that everything has to be done in a particular way. We look at why this happens, including the impact of starvation on the brain, and how even the most concrete rigidities can soften with adequate nourishment. Most importantly, we talk about the freedom that comes when life no longer has to revolve around rules, routines, and getting everything “right”.Topics covered: • What rigidity can look like in eating disorders • How starvation and energy deficit affect cognitive flexibility • Safe foods, food rules, brands, timings, and meal routines • Rigidity around movement and exercise • Certainty-seeking and needing things done a particular way • The role of personality, temperament, and neurodivergence • Why rigidity can feel safe even when it’s causing harm • Challenging rigidity in recovery • The concept of recovery momentum and neural pathways • The freedom that comes from expanding life beyond the eating disorderFor more info or to sign up to the Rewired Community: https://rewiredinaction2.carrd.co/Connect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER]We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional for personalised support.

Pregnancy & ED RecoveryEating disorders aside, pregnancy can bring up all sorts of feelings and challenges for people. However, in this episode, we talk about why this stage of life can feel particularly complex when your relationship with food, weight, and body has been difficult in the past.Drawing on our own experiences, we unpack some of the things that did, or can, feel hard: body changes, weight gain, medical appointments, food and movement advice, or just the uncertainty that comes with your body doing something you can’t fully control. We also look at how ED thoughts can resurface during pregnancy, alongside some practical tools and tips to combat them.And finally, we’ll be reflecting on how pregnancy can strengthen recovery — offering an opportunity to practise trust and self-advocacy — as well as modelling the relationship with food and body image you want for your child.Topics covered: * Why pregnancy can feel triggering in ED recovery • Body changes, weight gain, and navigating medical weigh-ins • The fear of losing control over your body • Food rules, nutrition messaging and advice • Movement during pregnancy • Recognising signs that pregnancy may be triggering old patterns • Advocating for yourself with healthcare professionals • Recovery tools and tips • How becoming a parent can strengthen recovery motivation • Why struggling with triggers doesn’t mean recovery is “going wrong”For more info or to sign up to the Rewired Community: https://rewiredinaction2.carrd.co/Connect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER]We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional for personalised support.

Extreme Hunger with Amalie LeeExtreme hunger can be one of the most frightening, confusing, and misunderstood parts of ED recovery. As coaches, we hear so many clients say they’re scared they’ve suddenly lost control — especially in a culture that constantly pathologises hunger and appetite.To help challenge this, we’re joined by fellow recovery coach, podcast host, and founder of Let’s Recover, Amalie Lee, to unpack what extreme hunger actually is, including how restriction — even subtle or mental restriction — can keep it going. Drawing on both her professional work and lived experience of anorexia recovery, Amalie shares a compassionate, evidence-based insight into the biology of starvation, rebuilding trust with your body, and why this phase is far more common than people realise.Topics covered: * What extreme hunger is and why it happens in recovery • The difference between extreme hunger and binge eating • Fear of “never stopping” or feeling out of control • Rebuilding trust with your body after restriction • How mental and physical restriction can prolong hunger • Amalie’s personal experience of extreme hunger • Doubting the recovery process and what helped her keep going • Why extreme hunger can fluctuate during recovery • What hunger and fullness can look like long-term after recoveryFor more info or to sign up to the Rewired Community: https://rewiredinaction2.carrd.co/Connect with us: Amalie Lee Instagram: @amalielee Instagram: @letsrecover.co.uk Website: https://www.letsrecover.co.ukMeg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER]Please keep in mind we’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, as well as that of our guests, 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 with your own unique recovery.

Why can’t I just recover?Anyone who has struggled with an ED knows that wanting recovery and actually doing it can feel miles apart. You might know you need to gain weight and want things to change — yet still find yourself stuck in the same loop when it comes to food.We reflect on how this back-and-forth cropped up in our own experiences: things like food paralysis, or reacting in completely different ways to the same weigh-in. We also explore the dangers of waiting to feel “ready”, and why deciding to recover doesn’t suddenly make things feel safe. And, by going through what actually helps — whether that’s expecting resistance, seeing it from your brain’s point of view, or detaching motivation from action — we hope to show you how to build a more consistent and resilient recovery all round. Topics covered:* Wanting recovery but feeling unable to act on it* The back-and-forth thoughts around food and weight* Paralysis in the moment* Why knowledge and intention aren’t enough on their own* Facing fear and what happens when you do* Mixed reactions to progress* Detaching action from motivation and repeating it consistentlyResources mentioned:Megsy RecoveryTurning Motivation into Action: [https://youtu.be/-4gJWbmer3I?si=2RVQ5BtqwIjCLqWA](https://youtu.be/-4gJWbmer3I?si=2RVQ5BtqwIjCLqWA)Connect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: hello@safiaed.comWebsite: https://www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER]We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional for personalised support.

The Gift of Sensitivity with Dr Anita JohnstonHave you ever been told you’re a sensitive person? Or even “too sensitive”? Sensitivity can be something people learn to hide or harden against, especially in the context of EDs (or if you’ve had a negative experience with conventional treatment in the past). This week’s topic is all about why that so often feels instinctive, and, crucially, why it doesn’t need to be.We’re joined by the wonderful Dr Anita Johnston, psychologist and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon, whose work has long shaped a more compassionate, holistic understanding of recovery. In the episode, we move beyond surface-level behaviours to explore the emotional roots beneath them — and the role that traits like sensitivity and intuition can play in healing, rather than hindering it.Topics covered: * Dr Anita’s background and journey • The ʻAi Pono programme • What holistic care can look like in eating disorder recovery • Understanding the deeper roots of disordered eating • Making sense of your own story and where it began • The role of metaphor in healing • Reframing the eating disorder and its meaning • Key insights from Eating in the Light of the MoonConnect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comDr Anita Johnston Website: https://dranitajohnston.com Author: Eating in the Light of the Moon Light of the Moon Cafe: www.lightofthemooncafe.com Ai Pono Hawaii: www.aipono.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahselfResources mentioned: * Eating in the Light of the Moon – Dr Anita Johnston[DISCLAIMER] We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, as well as that of our guests, 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 for personalised support.

Q and A with Carolyn CostinThis week, we’re so excited to be joined by Carolyn Costin: founder of the first US residential ED treatment centre, Monte Nido, author, and President of the Carolyn Costin Institute (CCI). Carolyn played a direct role in training both of us as recovery coaches, and her work — particularly her books and 8 Keys to Recovery framework — continues to shape how we support with clients today.We sat down with her to explore some of the questions that come up time and time again in recovery. From rebuilding identity to defining what “full recovery” actually looks like, Carolyn shares insights drawn from decades of coaching (and personal) experience, alongside tools for both those in recovery — and the people who walk alongside them.Topics covered:* Carolyn’s perspective on the role of coaching in recovery* Rebuilding identity, purpose, and joy* What “full recovery” can look like in real life* Why discomfort is such a central part of recovery* The 8 Keys and how to apply them* Tools and exercises that support change* Touching on ARFID and its place within recoveryConnect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: hello@safiaed.comWebsite: https://www.safiaed.comCarolyn CostinWebsite: https://www.carolyn-costin.com/contact-cciInstagram: @carolyncostinInstagram: @ccicoachingEm (copywriter & editor)Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor)Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER]We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, as well as that of our guests, 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 for personalised support.

Eating Behaviours PT.2Today, we share some of the food habits we had during our EDs: the behaviours that felt strange, secretive or embarrassing, even whilst sick. From tiny teaspoons of peanut butter to obsessing over textures, these behaviours brought up a lot of shame and self-consciousness. We explore why they develop, how surprisingly common they are, and how starvation physiology can drive them. Looking back, we reflect on how these habits were coping strategies in a difficult situation, and how we challenged them (or how they naturally improved) over time. It can be a tricky topic to navigate, and we really want to stress the importance of understanding your body’s perspective and responding to it with compassion rather than judgement. If you can relate to any of this, we hope that by sharing our experiences, we help take some of the stigma away. Topics covered: * Specific cutlery* ⁠Tiny teaspoons, bites, slithers and fragments* Strange food combinations and veg bulking; pouring water on food * Obsession with textures and needing food a certain way* Spacing and timing between foods* Liquid calories* Food temperatures* What changed, how, and when?Connect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comEm (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER] We’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, please reach out to a medical professional for personalised support.

Q&A with an ED PsychiatristThere’s often confusion about the role psychiatry plays in ED treatment, whether that’s around medication, how decisions are made, or just what ‘medical monitoring’ actually means. So, this week, we sit down with Dr Teizeem Dhanji, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Eating Disorders Specialist at Sage Clinics, to answer some of the most common questions from our community. We deep-dive into a psychiatrist’s work within a multidisciplinary team; how medication can support recovery when used appropriately; the rise and impact of weight-loss drugs — and why appearing well “on paper” doesn’t mean your brain is ED-free.Dr Teizeem shares what she’s learnt from years in the field, providing fantastic insights and helping to demystify psychiatric care in recovery.Topics covered: * The role of a psychiatrist in eating disorder treatment • What drew Dr Teizeem to this area • The impact of medications such as Ozempic on the ED population • Supporting neurodiverse clients with eating disorders • How decisions around prescribing medication are made • Common medications used in ED care • Fears and side effects associated with medication • Why blood tests can look “fine” while the brain is still strugglingConnect with us:Meg Instagram: @megsy_recovery YouTube: Megsy Recovery TikTok: megsy recoverySafia Instagram: @safia_edrecoverycoach Email: hello@safiaed.com Website: https://www.safiaed.comSage Clinics & Dr Teizeem Instagram: @sage_clinicsWebsite: https://sage-clinics.com/team/dr-teizeem-dhanji/Em (copywriter & editor) Instagram: @em_schoneTallulah Self (podcast editor) Instagram: @tallulahself[DISCLAIMER] Please keep in mind we’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, as well as that of our guests, 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 with your own unique recovery.

Q&A with Our Clinical PsychologistSo much of what we share in our work today — with clients and inside the Rewired in Action Community — comes from the time we spent working with our incredible psychologist, Carine el Khazen. Her support shaped how we learnt to tolerate change (and challenges) during recovery, and made sense of what was actually happening in the brain when an ED is in charge.In this special Q&A, Carine answers some of the most common questions we hear from our clients and wider audience. From navigating extreme hunger to sitting with discomfort, she shares her top tips, tools and reframes, drawing on the latest clinical evidence — and her own experience with both us and countless others. Topics covered:* How to know when someone is truly recovered* Learning to tolerate discomfort without avoidance* Managing extreme hunger, fatigue, and body trust* How eating disorders have changed over time* Understanding atypical anorexia and its challenges* Bigorexia, muscle focus, and when “health” becomes obsession* Why CBT-E is so effective in eating disorder treatment* One core recovery tool Carine wishes everyone hadConnect with us:MegInstagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafiaInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachEmail: hello@safiaed.comWebsite: https://www.safiaed.comCarine el-KhazenClinical Psychologist, Eating & Weight Disorders SpecialistAmerican Center for Psychiatry and Neurology (Dubai)Resources & links:* Arab Eating Disorders Association (AEDA): https://aeda.me* Instagram: @aedamiddleeastRewired Community * Sign up here: https://rewiredinaction2.carrd.co/[DISCLAIMER]Please keep in mind we’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, as well as that of our guests, 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 with your own unique recovery.

In this episode we were lucky enough to speak to the legend who is Dr G, from the renowned Gaudiani Clinic and author of the incredible book ’Sick Enough’.

After a break, we’re kicking off a fresh instalment of the Rewired podcast by tackling the myth of the "magic pill" in recovery. Whilst we all wish for a quick fix, we found that the real change comes from trusting the process and taking the leap – ready or not! In this episode, we explore why the search for an easy solution can hold you back, and how shifting from external to internal motivation helped transform our outlooks. We share our own journeys: what finally pushed us to take the leap, the power of challenge-repeat, and the reality of sitting with discomfort. From exercise compulsion to food fears, we think back to what helped – what didn’t – and how long it took for anxiety to ease. So, if you've ever questioned your coping strategies or felt invalid for finding a challenge easier than expected, this one's for you.Topics covered:· The "magic pill" myth and why quick fixes don’t work· External vs. internal motivation in recovery· Taking the first step – even when you don’t feel ready· The importance of “challenge-repeat”· Sitting with discomfort and breaking the cycle· Exercise, food fears, and how long anxiety lasts· Framing recovery as an experiment· Personal accountability and small but significant goals· When recovery feels relentless· How recovery has changed our approach to challengesConnect with us:Meg:Instagram: @megsy_recoveryYouTube: Megsy RecoveryTikTok: megsy recoverySafia:Email: safia.s.muzaffar@gmail.comInstagram: @safia_edrecoverycoachMember of the Beyond Body Coaching team: Beyond Body CoachingEm [Copywriter & editor]:@em_schonePlease keep in mind we’re not medical professionals, and the podcast content reflects our own experiences and opinions, as well as that of our guests, so should not 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 with your own unique recovery.

In this episode of The Rewired Podcast, Meg and Safia dive into the importance of food challenges in eating disorder recovery. We explore why fear foods develop, how avoidance keeps us stuck, and the role of exposure in rewiring our thoughts around food. Drawing from our own lived experiences, we share the challenges we faced, practical strategies for tackling fear foods, and the mindset shifts that helped us push through the discomfort.