Fly To Freedom: Healing from an eating disorder Julia Trehane

On today's episode of my podcast Fly to Freedom, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Zelli, a transformational coach who was my own coach after recovery, when I was exploring further healing. Michelle helped me immensely on my journey of healing and self-discovery after recovering from an eating disorder. 



I invited Michelle on to discuss the concept of inner child healing, which was pivotal for me but something I initially dismissed as silly or unnecessary. Michelle eloquently explained that our inner child refers to the younger parts of ourselves that may have experienced lack of protection, nurturing or guidance growing up. This can manifest later in life as perfectionism, people-pleasing, anxiety, OCD and other unhelpful patterns.



As Michelle and I unpacked this topic together, I realised how much my own childhood conditioning of being a "good girl", pleasing others and suppressing anger had disconnected me from my authentic self-expression. I shared how even doing simple things like watching Disney movies or playing felt forbidden until Michelle helped me reconnect with that innocent, joyful part of myself.



Michelle's insights helped me understand my former overwhelming busyness and inability to slow down were trauma responses trying to avoid painful emotions. She encouraged radical self-compassion to start unraveling the layers of harmful beliefs I had adapted just to survive emotionally as a child.



While the process hasn't been easy, facing emotional truths I had been blind to, Michelle's guidance has allowed me to peel back those protective adaptations and rediscover my genuine essence. I continue doing this courageous inner work, committed to self-acceptance over society's norms of what a "normal" woman should be.



I'm so grateful Michelle could join me to share her wisdom on this powerful path of inner child healing. For anyone looking to break through what's holding them back from being fully themselves, I can't recommend exploring this enough.



Connect with Michelle



https://michellezelli.com/



https://www.instagram.com/michellezelli?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== 



Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.



Website Juliatrehane.com

Email Julia@juliatrehane.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

This episode is a bit of a grab bag where I share helpful tips, tricks and perspectives that can make eating disorder recovery a bit more bearable. First, I recommend writing a letter to yourself detailing how awful the eating disorder makes you feel currently, so you can refer back to it when recovery gets hard. The letter can also articulate your vision for the future without the eating disorder.



I emphasise that there is no way around facing your fears in recovery - the only way is through them. But the anticipation of facing fears is often worse than actually doing it. I provide guidance on using empowering language, getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper, humming to reset your nervous system, developing a gratitude practice, and treating yourself with compassion instead of harsh criticism.



Other tips I share include: spending time in nature regularly to ground yourself, avoiding eating disorder behaviours like chewing gum, accepting the eating disorder voice without fighting it, acting "as if" you are the recovered version of yourself, and avoiding comparisons to others since every recovery journey is unique. I invite listeners to share any other tips that have helped them.



Throughout, I aim to provide a caring, empathetic perspective as someone who has gone through the recovery process herself. My goal is to make the arduous journey feel a bit more manageable and hopeful through these concrete tips and insights.



Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.



Website Juliatrehane.com

Email Julia@juliatrehane.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

In this episode I welcomed guest Katie Bingner to discuss intuitive eating. Katie is a licensed psychotherapist, teacher, speaker and communication coach who has spent 16 years in the health and wellness industry. 



We started with some fun icebreaker questions where Katie revealed her favourite dessert is Napoleons - a pastry with layers of puff pastry and pastry cream. She also shared that patience and compassion are qualities she most admires in others.



Katie opened up about her own journey learning about intuitive eating, which was prompted by working with a dietitian early in her career. She found the process eye-opening and life-changing, motivating her to educate herself and clients on the approach. Katie emphasised that intuitive eating is about relearning to listen to your body's hunger and fullness cues in order to eat what serves your overall wellbeing.



We discussed how diet culture is pervasive in our society and can be very triggering, especially for those recovering from eating disorders. Katie provided insight into navigating this, stressing the importance of having a strong support system and practicing self-compassion when triggered. She reminded me that intuitive eating is a circular, non-linear journey.



Overall, Katie inspired me to keep trying on this path with patience. While it's not easy work, the effort is worthwhile to achieve food freedom and a better relationship with your body. She left me feeling comforted that intuitive eating is simply returning to our natural, intuitive way of being that we were born with.



Connect with Katie

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiebcoaching?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== 

Website: https://katiebingner.com/
Freebees & Book a free consult: https://katiebingner.com/ig/
Free communication skills FB group: https://www.facebook.com/share/PNTva3MvdgAUpqks/?mibextid=K35XfP

Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.



Website Juliatrehane.com

Email Julia@juliatrehane.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

I welcomed Benedict James Beaumont, a breathwork teacher and facilitator, to my podcast Fly to Freedom. Benedict founded the International Breathwork School Breathing Space and believes breathwork can "light up the world." We started the episode by taking some breaths together to become present. 



Benedict explained that breathwork involves becoming conscious of our breathing and using intent to harness it. It can help physical health and wellness by improving respiratory efficiency. He gave the example of nose breathing versus mouth breathing - nose breathing actually works better. 



We talked about how breathwork can help people who live in constant panic or "catastrophising." Simple coherence breathing (matching inhale and exhale lengths) and box breathing (adding breath holds at top and bottom) can trigger relaxation response. 



Benedict explained how breathwork releases trapped trauma and energy in the body. It takes people into sympathetic nervous activation but in a safe, relaxed setting so healing can occur. Conscious breathwork helps body wisdom take over.



We did some breathing exercises together including coherence breathing and box breathing. I felt peaceful, connected, and present afterwards.



Benedict shared how breathwork training changed his life and set him on this path. We discussed ways for listeners to learn more and work with him, like free online workshops and breathwork facilitator training through his school Breathing Space.



We closed the interview with another conscious breathwork round focused on letting go of what no longer serves. I felt transported to a still, quiet, wise place inside. Benedict guided us to receive a message from that place before gently bringing us back. It was a beautiful, inspiring experience.



Connect with Ben




Online Breathing Spaces - 5 Free Online Breathwork Workshops EVERY SINGLE WEEK
Breathwork Starter Kit - a Free Introduction to Breathwork
Rewire: Spark - 3 Day Free Transformational Breathwork Taster Course
A Free Daily Breathwork on Insight Timer
Follow our socials facebook.com/makesomebreathingspace Instgram.com/makesomebreathingspace and instragram.com/Onlinebreathingspace where we post A LOT of content!

If you use the code PODCASTGIFT (or use this link to Rewire Podcast Gift)  then this will give you 33% off the price. 





Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.



Website Juliatrehane.com

Email Julia@juliatrehane.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

It was wonderful catching up with Victoria recently. We always cherish our time together, and it seems our listeners love it too. We dove into a discussion on weight loss medications, sharing our personal perspectives and emphasising the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than seeking quick fixes. Victoria and I both reflected on our past struggles with eating disorders and our journeys toward recovery, underscoring the importance of inner work over temporary solutions.



We also touched on the tricky dynamics of body image, weight gain, and the quest for happiness. Our conversation shifted toward practical strategies for managing the urge to constantly move, a common challenge in eating disorder recovery. We shared tips like ditching fitness trackers and creating environments conducive to recovery.



A personal anecdote brought humour and lightness to our conversation as I recounted a mishap during a walk, which led to a broader discussion on accepting oneself and finding humour in life's unexpected moments.



Lastly, we answered listeners' questions, offering guidance on overcoming fears related to eating and weight, and discussed the complexities of navigating recovery while maintaining a focus on long-term health and wellness. Throughout, our dialogue was infused with a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological facets of eating disorders, highlighting the transformative power of recovery and self-acceptance.



Podcast about identity we referred to :- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2uRqqB6Bv6OCcuMnwc5OKi?si=Ta0_6kjsTu-ul_c5pM_Dqg



Connect with Victoria



https://www.instagram.com/victoriakleinsmanofficial?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

https://victoriakleinsman.com/

 victoria@victoriakleinsman.com



Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.



Website Juliatrehane.com

Email Julia@juliatrehane.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1

In this episode of my podcast Fly to Freedom, I explore the feelings of isolation that I and many others with eating disorders have experienced. I discuss how isolation manifested for me - from avoiding social gatherings involving food to hiding my eating disorder from loved ones to feeling disconnected even when with other people. 



I explain reasons why this isolation occurs, including the effects of malnutrition on my brain, my low self-worth leading to negative thought patterns, and my desire to protect myself and others. I then provide compassionate advice for coping that worked for me, such as mindfulness meditation, journaling, focusing on gratitude, and educating my loved ones. 



The episode concludes with a guided meditation that I created, designed to evoke feelings of peace, connectedness, and self-compassion for those who feel alone in their eating disorder struggles. I remind listeners that they deserve compassion and their feelings are valid, just as I had to remind myself. I visualise all of us on this journey being bound together in shared humanity.  



#eatingdisorderrecovery #selfcompassion #meditation #mindfulness #mentalhealth



Engage With Me

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Whether you're on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, share your experiences and tips with us. Together, we can create a supportive community that celebrates each step towards recovery.



Website Juliatrehane.com

Email Julia@juliatrehane.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane?igsh=MTZ1