Recovery Talk - podcast cover

Recovery Talk

Amalie Lee (MSc, GMBPsS)letsrecover.co.uk
Welcome to Recovery Talk – a podcast that cuts through the noise around eating disorders and disordered eating. I’m Amalie, bringing clinical, academic, and lived experience to help you understand the psychology and science of recovery. No fluff, no BS—just real talk about topics like restriction, binge eating, body image healing, exercise, and anorexia- and bulimia recovery. You’re not alone—and yes, full recovery is possible for you too. Join me for honest, practical, science-backed insights and support on your journey. (Disclaimer: not medical advice or a substitute for treatment.)
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Episodes

The 4 R's Of Recovery

In this episode I discuss the 4 non-negotiable R's of recovery; what they are, how to implement, and why they are key for full recovery. I also answer a listener question about exercise in recovery.

Jun 06, 202326 minSeason 1Ep. 86

Why I Recommend A "Food First" Approach In Recovery

In this episode I discuss the importance of "food first" in eating disorder recovery; what it is, how to implement and my own experience with this approach. I also answer a listener question about mental hunger when physically full.

May 23, 202323 minSeason 1Ep. 86

Lab Results

In this episode I explain blood samples and interpreting lab results in people with eating disorders/in recovery. I discuss certain surprising findings (e.g high cholesterol despite eating a low-cholesterol diet), and what it really means when your blood samples come out 'normal'. I also answer a listener question about whether or not my exercise advices apply to athletes. Link to my Substack: letsrecover.substack.com

May 16, 202321 minSeason 1Ep. 85

Binge Eating Disorder & Fatphobia (W/ Sarah Frances Young)

In this episode I'm joined by Sarah Frances Young (@sarahfrancesyoung on Instagram) to discuss binge eating disorder (and whether or not it is a restrictive eating disorder), "atypical" anorexia, fatphobia and weight stigma in the eating disorder treatment system. Sarah's website: everythingedrecovery.com My Substack: letsrecover.substack.com

May 09, 202346 minSeason 1Ep. 84

Parents & Eating Disorders, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) & ED Myths (W/ JD Ouellette)

Today I am joined by fellow coach, researcher and expert-by-experience JD Ouellette to discuss parent's role in eating disorder recovery, myths about parents and eating disorder development, family-based treatment (FBT) and the importance of re-feeding and reaching one's set point weight. JD's website: https://www.jdouellette.com/ FEAST website: https://www.feast-ed.org/

May 02, 202347 minSeason 1Ep. 83

Perfectionism In Food & Eating

In this episode I discuss some common underlying drivers of food- and eating perfectionism, and how to challenge it. I also answer a listener question about meal plans.

Apr 25, 202334 minSeason 1Ep. 82

Bingeing Pt. 2: Avoiding Compensatory Behaviours

In this episode I discuss resisting the urge to engage in compensatory/restrictive behaviours post-binge. I also answer a listener question on intergenerational trauma and eating disorders.

Apr 11, 202326 minSeason 1Ep. 80

Bingeing Pt. 1: Understanding Why We Binge

In this weeks episode I discuss bingeing in eating disorders: what it is, why it happens and what we get wrong about it. This is part 1 of a two-part episode on bingeing. Join my group-coaching programme "From Quasi To Full Recovery" here: https://letsrecover.co.uk/p/from-quasi-to-full-recovery

Apr 04, 202339 minSeason 1Ep. 79

The Honeymoon Phase Of Recovery

Previously I've discussed the honeymoon phase of an eating disorder. In this episode, I discuss the honeymoon phase of recovery - what it is, why it happens, and how to move forward once it ends. I also answer a listener question about experiencing extreme hunger when only 'mildly' restricting.

Mar 21, 202322 minSeason 1Ep. 78

Embracing/Accepting Change

In this week's episode I share my thoughts on change, growth and embracing the journey of it all. I discuss the "End Of History Illusion", and why you might wrongly underestimate your own abilities to change. I also answer a listener question about bladder weakness in eating disorders.

Mar 15, 202331 minSeason 1Ep. 77

Overwhelm/Indecisiveness Around Food & Grocery Shopping

In this week's episode I discuss the ''deer in headlights'' phenomena many people in eating disorder recovery experience when it comes to picking what to eat, e.g when grocery shopping. I explain how food scarcity- and perfectionism may be the underlying theme, and offer some strategies to help conquer this. I also answer a question about recovery books.

Feb 28, 202329 minSeason 1Ep. 76

The Adapted To Flee Famine Hypothesis

In this episode I discuss "Adapted to Flee Famine: Adding an Evolutionary Perspective on Anorexia Nervosa" (Guisinger, 2003), which argues that scientific evidence points towards Anorexia being an evolutionary response to famine. I go through key points of this fascinating paper, and what it may mean for your recovery.

Feb 21, 202341 minSeason 1Ep. 76

Autism & Eating Disorders (W/ Fiona Hollings)

This week I am joined by Fiona Hollings to discuss the co-occurence of autism and eating disorders. We discuss what unique strengths and challenges autistic people in eating disorder recovery face; how to differentiate the ED from autism; stereotypes about autism; and much more! You can find Fiona at Instagram: @finding_fi_ & Youtube: Fi’s Fight Back. PEACE pathway: peacepathway.org

Feb 16, 202350 minSeason 1Ep. 75

Intuitive Eating VS Intuitive Restriction

Is it intuitive eating, or simply "intuitive restriction"? In this week's episode I discuss the common restrictive traps people in eating disorder recovery fall into when pursuing intuitive eating, and how to avoid them.

Feb 07, 202328 minSeason 1Ep. 74

Recovery Perfectionism, Doubt & Procrastination

In this episode I discuss the myth of the 'perfect' recovery, and how endlessly seeking out information or waiting for the 'perfect' moment can be a form of procrastination. I also discuss doubting recovery, and the importance of doing it anyway.

Jan 25, 202331 minSeason 1Ep. 73

Overshot

In this episode I discuss weight overshot in eating disorder recovery: what it is, and why it happens. I also discuss target weights, set point weight and debunk some weight myths.

Jan 17, 202332 minSeason 1Ep. 72

Social Media & The Recovery Community

In this episode I discuss navigating social media as someone with an eating disorder/in recovery from one. I discuss the common pitfalls of social media, the two-edged sword of the online recovery community, and offer some advice on how to navigate social media safely and responsibly.

Jan 10, 202348 minSeason 1Ep. 71

A Message For The Holidays

In this episode I discuss dealing with Christmas and other food-oriented holidays when in recovery from an eating disorder. I discuss common challenges during this time of the year, and why these challenges can actually be opportunities for progress. I also answer a listener question about extreme hunger.

Dec 22, 202228 minSeason 1Ep. 69

Others Not "Getting" Your Recovery/Reinforcing The ED

In this week's episode I discuss what to do when others (friends, family and even treatment professionals) don't "get" your way of recovering, and instead unintentionally reinforce the eating disorder. I also discuss handling diet conversations, doubting recovery, how to navigate triggering situations and setting boundaries.

Dec 13, 202239 minSeason 1Ep. 68

The Importance Of Exposure

In this episode I discuss exposure therapy in the context of eating disorder recovery: what it is, and why it is so important. I also answer a listener question about what to do when people around you don't 'get' your way of recovering and/or reinforce the eating disorder.

Dec 06, 202234 minSeason 1Ep. 67

Dealing With Guilt

In this episode I discuss dealing with guilt in eating disorder recovery, and why feeling guilty in recovery isn't a failure. I also answer a listener question about wether weigh restoration ≈ recovered.

Nov 29, 202226 minSeason 1Ep. 66

Hypermetabolism

What is hypermetabolism, and why does it happen, and how do you know you have it? And why are people with eating disorders so intrigued by this concept? In this week's episode I discuss hypermetabolism and elevated metabolism in recovery, and how the end goal should be metabolic restoration.

Nov 15, 202230 minSeason 1Ep. 67

"The Switch" (What It Is & Why It Matters)

In this episode I explain the concept of "The Switch"; how something 'switches' in the brain of someone with a genetic predisposition to an eating disorder when experiencing a period of intentional or unintentional energy deficiency. I discuss the 'chicken-and-egg' situation of how restriction triggers disordered thoughts, and disordered thoughts trigger more restriction, and the key to breaking the cycle. I also answer a listener question reg. knowing if you are eating too little in recovery, a...

Nov 08, 202237 minSeason 1Ep. 66

The "Calorie Budget Mindset" In Recovery

In this episode I discuss the "Calorie Budget Mindset" in eating disorder recovery; what it is, why it happens, how it sneakily manifests and how to challenge it. I also answer a listener question on how to make recovery feel like the "right" choice as opposed to a failure.

Nov 03, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 65

"Balanced Eating" In Recovery

In this episode I discuss the focus on eating "balanced" in recovery, from following the so-called "plate model" to obsessing about the perfect split between macronutrients. I also answer a listener question about growing in height after an ED.

Oct 25, 202230 minSeason 1Ep. 64

Night Eating, Saving Up Calories & Intermittent Fasting

Why do I feel like eating most of my food at night, and is that inherently disordered? How do I break the cycle of restricting during day to "save up" calories for night? And what about intermittent fasting? These are some of the questions I cover in this week's episode.

Oct 18, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 63

Is "Food Addiction" Real?

In this week's episode I discuss the concept of "food addiction", and if this fits into the typical models of addiction. I discuss common reasons why someone feel "addicted" to food, the key difference between addiction to food VS drugs or alcohol and how to recover from this perceived addiction. I also talk about my dog adoption journey, and answer a listener question about obsessively remembering everything you ate in a day.

Oct 11, 202239 minSeason 1Ep. 62

Fear Of Developing Binge Eating Disorder & Feeling Like "The Unicorn" (W/ Becky Freestone)

In this episode I am joined by my fellow recovery coach Becky Freestone (@why_befree on Instagram + Becky Freestone on Youtube) to discuss The Unicorn Syndrome, recovery coaching, and the fear of developing binge eating disorder in eating disorder recovery. This audio is from an interview I did on Becky's Youtube channel, link to original interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXKKEM9F6fM

Oct 04, 202243 minSeason 1Ep. 61

"Recovered" On A Low Intake: Now What?

In this weeks episode I discuss what to do when you have recovered (or weight restored but not really recovered) on a restrictive intake in recovery. I also answer a listener question about too low goal weights in recovery.

Sep 27, 202229 minSeason 1Ep. 60

When Your Treatment Team Holds You Back

Sometimes it can seem like treatment professionals fear the same thing the eating disorder fears! In this episode I discuss why treatment teams sometimes (and usually unintentionally) hold their clients back. I talk about issues such as being underfed in recovery and not challenged enough, and offer some advice on how to tackle these issues.

Sep 20, 202238 minSeason 1Ep. 59
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