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

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@recoverwithchloe