Exercise

[@ola5995]

I chose to exercise again after I was fully recovered (because I genuinely enjoy it), and it is such a difference going for a run now than when I was ill. I used to yell all sorts of awful things at myself (in my head) when I would run- I wasn't going fast enough, far enough, I looked ridiculous, etc. It was torture. Now I find myself thinking things like "Wow, it's a nice day outside", or "I'm going to slow down a bit and give myself a little rest". It is enjoyable, sustainable, and ACTUALLY healthy unlike what I used to fool myself into thinking. It was such an effort to re-wire that relationship with exercise (sometimes still a work in progress), but I am so thankful that I did.

[@mariamkamal]

I was suffering from lower-level movement, compulsive walking, and household routine. I think that the neural rewiring of movement is about getting rid of the fear of rest and stillness. We have to teach our minds to normalise rest, and even laziness. It is crucial to reach full recovery.

[@mariamkamal]

The problem with exercise also is with the "I will recover by building muscles" mentality. I do believe that obsessing with building muscle is still ED's rules. The cliché of "I will eat more to exercise not exercise to eat".. the same vicious cycle of compensation and earning.

[@MsCatfish4]

I remember exercise used to be a thing I enjoyed pre- eating disorder and then it became a torturous form of punishment where I’d push my body far past the point it would hurt because my head kept screaming at me for eating when I was in the midst of eating disorder and everyone around me was telling me i had to do more of it and that was the answer because it’s “healthy.”

[@alicecollier3752]

I decided to start recovery after coming across your podcast (and then videos and books) and I can honestly say stopping exercise was the most exhilarating thing I have done. It’s coming up to a year and a half of no exercise now - I do walk my dog, but for her sake and not mine - and I feel absolutely 0 guilt for this. You changed my life and it’s so important that others know that it can be done, so thank you for sharing this!!!

[@soleihoens6944]

Hi, it seems a little off topic, but I was eating (yeah me) while watching this video, but I have a question. Is it normal to think about what you want to eat next just before you finish the snack/meal you are eating at that moment? If so, should I immediately eat that specific food afterwards? Or is that normal and should I wait if I keep thinking about it? I really hope you read this and my question makes any sense since my English is not my mother tongue.

[@lisa2744]

I just can’t imagine having to stop. I do figure skating and to be honest sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps me going through the day and wanting to wake up the next morning. It’s not that I started because of my eating disorder, I did it long before as well.

[@fernandagouveia6048]

What if I absolutely hate exercising now that I’m recovered and don’t even think about coming back (at least not yet)? 😅 I’m almost 2 years into recovery

[@amartinro86]

Oh I hear you! Same feeling. A year and a half recovered and I don’t feel like it. At all.

[@NoraMüller-o7f]

what can i do when i love to eat but i dont know how much anymore? i a m rather not GOOD in sports so i was masking my identity around becoming sportive? i was bmi 12 and went into ed station for getting sportive ( and being so allowed to eat) . i am now older, like to eat. but i dont know how much and always connected movement with food?

[@WoodlandOdditiesGB]

I’m struggling so so much with compulsive exercise right now. it’s taking up hours & hours of my day, daily, for the past year or so. I’m truly exhausted of it getting in the way of everything. I’m eating more; but I only allow it ‘because I exercise’. I’m two years out of hospitalisation & have just been discharged but I’m left with no coping techniques & ahhhh it’s mad!!! anyway. thank you for this!!

[@malinstiernborg7522]

It took me years to get to the right head space, but now I can't wait to swim and dance again. In a bizarre way, I'm grateful that my ED and my depression made me immobile because it could never reach out and taint swimming and dancing for me the same way it might have done to someone else. I've only associated it with joy, play and art, which means one less neuro rewiring to do thank goodness.

[@mailin9092]

I srsly can't ever thinking going back to exercising unless it's like a powerwalk, bike ride or swimming. Exercise always becomes compulsive for me and I always think of my ED and I never wanna go through that again.

[@Jay-b6w5z]

What if you need to exercise for physical health reasons? I would be dead without strength training for chronic pain as before it I couldn’t do anything. I know my exercise is still compulsive and stopping would make me panic, but so much of that fear is how bluddy awful I’d feel. Yes recovery is the most important thing etc etc but is really complicated when you have other physical illnesses/disabilities and there’s little out there for that

[@AnnQuarmby-e5e]

Love it. Great message.

[@Dad.Daughter.Healing]

I wish i didn't have to work during recovery. Im a massage therapist too. Its exhausting. But i was denied twice for disability 😢

[@gloria5843]

Hi Tabitha, I'm a new subscriber and I love and watching and catch up on all yours videos. I'm suffer of ed from about more than 15 years and I'm 30 now. Recently I come to the concept of all in and yours videos helps a lot, but I'm also feeling stuck because I live with my family and actually we have different meals, both because my fear and because often I don't like what they eat. But now I'm asking myself what is the "good" thing to do to try really hard recovery. I want to quit my meal plan but it's not so simple because what can i do? Eat like my family also if I don't like? other way have my plan means know all the weight and sizes of food. Sorry for my english and thanks for the listening but I'm so scared and stuck and not what to do all at the same time

[@taylacherry2433]

Hi Tabitha, sorry my comment is a bit long, info for context but there's a couple of questions or thoughts buried within: I was wondering what your thoughts are on the prevalence/presence of eating disorders in health professionals. 26 yo f, medical/oncology professional, anorexia for last 6 and a bit years. Was able to study, graduate and work full time right through. My rational, scientific self is aware (perhaps much more than most) of EDs, how they manifest and affect the body and their associated consequences etc and I could easily recognize the things or actions in which one should take towards getting into and progressing through recovery. I tend to steer clear of patients with or suspected of Ed as people can see what I am dealing with (at least physically) as well as my dietetic and psych colleagues because I feel like they see me and can tell what is going on. I feel like a hypocrite and like there is a disconnect between what I know and how I end up behaving. I can identify the patterns in others but I can't accept my own diagnosis. People (and even patients) express their concern over my wellbeing but the only thing I seem capable of is providing some generic prerehearsed "everythings' fine". Being the typical type a, perfectionistic, goal oriented type of person (who does have ocd etc too), I can see these traits in other colleagues or professionals and so I wonder if there are many others like me. I hear the rates of alcohol or drugs addiction etc are relatively high (or at least higher than expected in those who people presume should know better - myself included) and I wonder if this is the same kind of thing. Or how so many dietitians, therapists etc all have some kind of personal history of their own. How do I get over the guilt and shame of dealing with the anorexia whilst also trying to convey messages of health, positivity, acceptance etc for those under my care?

[@tatteredquilt]

Fourteen months in, and I'm not allowed to use ankle or wrist weights yet... the exercise bike at the apt complex exercise room is WAY off limits- and I'm fat (as in objectively, not my head being obnoxious).

[@NoraMüller-o7f]

what if you told your story of you getting healthy after anorexia is due to sport and ingaging in healthy behaviors? i tryed to recover with calories plus movement. iin the first two years i got into ocd bu then i broke my feet and so i dont had ocd anymore. i am now 3o and i am not exercising but i dont have realaible hunger cues. food is percived as very tastefull and good. so idont fear food, but the fact that i dont know to stop? how much i need? i came from bmi 11 4 years ago and i am now around 20? i dont know?