How to Navigate Exercise During Eating Disorder Recovery
Some pointers from a former compulsive exerciser, bulimia survivor, and certified eating disorder recovery coach.
For many, exercise has evolved from being a form of pleasure and self-care to a cold-blooded act of self-torture. This is certainly the case for many of my clients in eating disorder recovery (and was also once the case for me).
Movement of the body is now merely a mode of manipulating it to reach a desired weight, shape, or size.
Sometimes this means abiding by a rigid exercise routine, irrespective of a busy schedule or a body that’s yearning for rest.
Sometimes this means doing extra to punish oneself and make up for eating a banned food.
Almost always, this means the joy of movement, and engaging in it for purposes of health and well-being, is gone.
The reassuring news? It’s not gone forever — or at least it doesn’t have to be. By taking a few key steps (that don’t involve a step counter), you can find peace, balance, and even joy in moving your body again.
