Physically Recovered, Mentally Trapped – Until I Did This
This episode is raw, honest, and deeply hopeful.I sit down with Brooke, one of my coaching clients, who recovered from a severe eating disorder that began in her teens — fuelled by praise for being “small,” TikTok diet culture, gym culture, religious conditioning, and a deep fear of weight gain.Brooke shares her journey from hospitalisation and years of being “technically recovered but mentally trapped,” to full food freedom, weight restoration, and a life no longer ruled by her eating disorder.This conversation is especially powerful if you:• Are afraid you’ll never recover mentally• Fear weight gain won’t stop• Have food allergies that complicate recovery• Struggle with body image, curves, or modesty conditioning• Feel “different” or like recovery won’t work for youIn this episode, we cover:✨ How praise for being “small” planted the seeds of Brooke’s eating disorder✨ TikTok, calorie counting, gym culture & “healthy” restriction✨ Why traditional treatment kept her stuck✨ The turning point that made her choose recovery for herself✨ Doing recovery “for the we” when doing it for yourself feels impossible✨ Navigating recovery with food allergies (without using them as an ED excuse)✨ Full surrender to mental hunger — and why it’s non-negotiable✨ Gaining multiple clothing sizes and surviving the body image grief✨ Religious shame, modesty, curves & reclaiming bodily autonomy✨ Why weight gain did stop — and how set point brought mental peace✨ The messy middle of recovery no one talks about✨ Life after recovery: travel, work, relationships & real freedomPowerful quotes from the episode:💬 “I thought I’d be the biggest person who ever recovered. I wasn’t.”💬 “The long-term hard is living with an eating disorder forever.”💬 “Full allowance is what traditional recovery misses.”💬 “You can recover physically and mentally — I’m proof.”💬 “The eating disorder thrives in shame. I’m taking my power back.”If you’re scared, exhausted, or stuck in the middle — this episode will remind you what’s possible.💙 Join my FREE support group: https://victoriakleinsman.com/free-support-group/ 💙 Free trial group coaching: https://victoriakleinsman.com/coaching/ 💙 Work with me 1:1: https://victoriakleinsman.com/1-1-coaching/ 💙 Follow me on Instagram @victoriakleinsmanofficial 💙 Become a coach: https://victoriakleinsman.com/become-a-coach/