today we’re covering one of the most confusing and emotionally loaded topics in eating disorder recovery:
exercise.

because movement can genuinely help anxiety.
and it can also quietly become another way the eating disorder stays in control.

in this episode, we talk about the role exercise plays in eating disorders, why stopping movement can feel terrifying, and how to tell the difference between moving to feel connected vs moving to control your body.

i also share my personal relationship with exercise — from loving movement as a kid, to compulsive exercise in my eating disorder, to why i needed time away from exercise in treatment before i could ever rebuild a safer relationship with it.

this is not a “never exercise again” episode.
and it’s not a “just move intuitively” conversation either.

it’s a nuanced look at intention, identity, and embodiment — and how to know when exercise is supporting recovery versus quietly running it.

⚠️ content note
this episode is intentionally non-triggering:
no numbers (weight, calories, vitals)
no detailed behaviors
no body comparison or before/after content

in this episode, i talk about:
– the “ED to gym girly pipeline”
– how exercise can become compensatory
– when movement shifts from regulating to controlling
– identity and morality around being “disciplined” or “healthy”
– why motivation matters more than the movement itself
– why some people need a full break from exercise in recovery
– my treatment experience with stopping and reintroducing movement
– yoga, embodiment, and reconnecting with the body
– how to recognize when exercise is becoming disordered again
– questions to assess your relationship with movement

⏱️ episode timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:45 Why Exercise Is So Confusing in Recovery
9:20 My Early Relationship With Movement
13:30 When Exercise Became Compulsive
18:30 Exercise as Compensation
23:10 Identity, Morality, and “Discipline”
28:20 Treatment, Rest, and Why I Had to Stop
34:00 Reintroducing Movement Safely
39:45 When the Eating Disorder Wakes Back Up
43:15 Exercise Relationship Audit
49:30 Closing Reflections

sponsor / resources
Recovery Skills Training — my step-by-step program for eating disorder recovery
get $57 off with code PODCAST
👉 https://recoverwithchloe.thrivecart.com

follow along on instagram:
@recoverwithchloe

hi! welcome back to recovered-ish.

this episode is about one of the most common thoughts that keeps people stuck in eating disorders:

it’s not that bad.
it could be worse.
i’m not sick enough for help.

we talk about where this belief comes from, why it feels so convincing, and how it’s reinforced by medical providers, mental health systems, social media, and comparison — even when someone’s inner world is completely consumed by food, body, and fear.

i also share personal stories from my own experience, including being complimented on my body at a moment when i was close to asking for help, and later being told by a doctor that i was healthy despite being the most sick — moments that delayed care when i was deeply unwell.

⚠️ content note
this episode is intentionally non-graphic:
no numbers (weight, calories, vitals)
no detailed behaviors
no body comparison or before/after content

in this episode, i talk about:
– how eating disorders often begin from a well-intentioned place
– the “honeymoon phase” where restriction can feel rewarding
– when it stops feeling good and starts taking over
– why physical markers aren’t reliable indicators of severity
– medical and mental health invalidation
– gaps in provider education around eating disorders
– social media and the “not sick enough” comparison spiral
– the eating disorder’s agenda and why it survives on delay
– anosognosia (loss of insight) and why it’s so dangerous
– wanting your pain to be visible
– why you deserve care now, not later

⏱️ episode timestamps
0:00 Cold Open: The Lie
00:40 Introduction
03:20 The Honeymoon Phase
06:58 When It Stops Feeling Good
10:52 My Story: The Beach Compliment
12:59 Medical Invalidation
14:20 The Mental Illness Reality
17:13 Provider Education Gap
21:04 Social Media & Recovery Content
26:10 The Eating Disorder’s Agenda
31:33 Anosognosia: Loss of Insight
33:58 Wanting to Be Sick
36:55 You Deserve Care Now
37:42 Q&A: First Steps in Recovery

sponsor / resources
Recovery Skills Training — my step-by-step program for eating disorder recovery
get $57 off with code PODCAST
👉 https://recoverwithchloe.thrivecart.c...

follow along on instagram:
@recoverwithchloe

in this episode, we’re talking about the fear of weight gain — and why you can’t just “get over it.”

if you’ve ever thought i want recovery, but i can’t handle my body changing, this episode is for you.

we unpack why weight gain can feel like danger (not just discomfort), how avoidance wires fear, and why waiting to feel “okay” before taking action keeps people stuck for years.

i also want to name this clearly: i recovered into a smaller body, and that comes with privilege. my experience is not universal. the fear, however, is something many of us share — and it deserves compassion, not shame.

in this episode, we cover:

• why weight gain fear feels paralyzing, not superficial
  
  
  
• how avoidance makes food and body change feel unsafe
  
  
  
• the identity layer behind the fear (being “the small one,” the disciplined one, the acceptable one)
  
  
  
• thinness as protection in a cruel culture
  
  
  
• why you can’t think your way out of this fear
  
  
  
• why exposure — not confidence — is what actually reduces fear
  
  
  
• why body neutrality is a win (you don’t need body love to recover)
  
  
  
• the moment i accidentally saw my weight years into recovery — and what it taught me
  
  
  

takeaway i want you to sit with:

you don’t have to want your body to change.
you don’t have to feel ready.
you don’t have to love your body.

actually, recovery happens when you do it afraid.

fear in one hand. fork in the other.

if this episode brought up insight, familiarity, or emotion — i’d love to hear from you. dm me or leave a comment wherever you’re listening. this podcast is a conversation.

follow along on instagram: @recoverwithchloe

Creators + resources:

i’m linking a few creators and clinicians i deeply respect who speak about recovery, body change, and weight stigma from perspectives beyond my own — including diverse body sizes, racial identities, and queer experiences:

• shira rosenbluth, lcsw — eating disorder therapist speaking openly about recovery into a larger body
  
  
  
• dr. rachel millner — body trust provider focusing on fear, safety, and weight stigma
  
  
  
• food psych podcast (christy harrison) — recovery, culture, and weight stigma conversations
  
  
  
• sonya renee taylor — body liberation through racial justice and collective healing
  
  
  
• megan jayne crabbe — lived recovery experience and body change narratives