This episode features a deeply personal and candid conversation with Julia Trehane, an eating disorder recovery coach, podcast host, and speaker. Julia shares her journey through 40 years of battling anorexia nervosa, orthorexia, and exercise addiction, ultimately achieving full recovery and dedicating her life to helping others find freedom from eating disorders.

Julia recounts her earliest memories of body image struggles beginning at age three, exacerbated by childhood teasing and a difficult home environment. She describes how, at eight years old, she began restricting food as a coping mechanism to avoid negative emotions and attention. Her ability to hide her disorder continued through adolescence, until it was discovered by her school, leading to forced intervention. Julia Trehane is an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, podcast host, and speaker who helps people heal their relationship with food, body, and self. After recovering from anorexia, orthorexia, and exercise addiction following 40 years of struggle, Julia now specialises in guiding others towards lasting freedom from eating disorders. Her coaching blends lived experience with professional expertise, offering clarity, compassion, and real-world tools that work. Through her Fly to Freedom podcast and her global recovery community, the Eating Disorder Recovery Circle, Julia supports and uplifts those navigating the challenges of recovery. She is passionate about helping people reconnect with their inner wisdom, honor their hunger, and live fully and freely. Julia is known for her relatable style, heartfelt storytelling, and unwavering belief that full recovery is not only possible – it’s entirely within reach.

Key Topics Discussed

  Early Onset of Body Image Issues  
  • Julia shares her first memories of body image struggles starting as young as age three, influenced by childhood teasing and family dynamics.
Development and Hiding of Disordered Eating    
  • She describes beginning to restrict food at age eight as a coping mechanism, and becoming skilled at hiding her eating disorder through adolescence.
  Family and Life Transitions  
  • Julia discusses how life events, such as leaving home at 16, marriage, and motherhood, impacted her relationship with food and her body.
  Orthorexia and Exercise Addiction  
  • The conversation explores how her son’s food allergies triggered obsessive "clean eating" and eventually led to orthorexia and compulsive exercise.
  Crisis Point and Seeking Help  
  • Julia recounts her emotional and physical decline during the COVID-19 lockdown, the loss of her father, and reaching a breaking point that led her to seek help.
  Barriers to Treatment  
  • The episode highlights the challenges of accessing specialized eating disorder services, including a nearly four-year wait for an assessment.

Strategies for Supporting Body Image

Practice Self-Compassion
  • Challenge Your Inner Critic: Notice harsh self-talk and consciously replace it with kinder, more supportive words. Julia highlights the importance of recognizing that the way we speak to ourselves can be abusive, and shifting toward self-kindness is crucial.
  • Small Steps Toward Self-Love: If self-love feels out of reach, start with neutrality or respect. Treat yourself as you would a friend, and gradually build a more positive relationship with your body.
Focus on Function, Not Appearance
  • Appreciate What Your Body Can Do: Shift attention from how your body looks to what it allows you to experience and accomplish walking, hugging loved ones, creating, etc.
  • Celebrate Non-Aesthetic Achievements: Acknowledge progress in recovery, strength, or flexibility, rather than just physical appearance.
Curate Your Environment
  • Limit Exposure to Negative Influences: Unfollow social media accounts or avoid media that promote unrealistic body standards or trigger comparison.
  • Surround Yourself with Positivity: Seek out communities, friends, and content that celebrate body diversity and promote acceptance.
Challenge Societal Myths
  • Question “Perfection” Narratives: Recognize that societal ideals are often unattainable and not a measure of worth or health.
  • Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about body diversity and the harms of diet culture. Share this knowledge to support others.
Meet Emotional Needs Without Turning to Body Control
  • Identify Unmet Needs: Julia emphasizes that eating disorders often arise from unmet emotional needs. Explore what you may be seeking through body control, such as safety, acceptance, or coping with emotions, and find healthier ways to fulfill those needs.
  • Develop New Coping Skills: Practice mindfulness, journaling, or talking to a trusted friend or therapist when difficult emotions arise.

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THIS EPISODE:

  • 00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast
  • 01:50 Meet Julia Trahan: A Journey Through Recovery
  • 03:21 Early Struggles with Body Image and Eating Disorders
  • 04:31 The Impact of Family and Home Life
  • 06:02 Adolescence and Hiding the Disorder
  • 08:13 Marriage, Motherhood, and Orthorexia
  • 10:09 Exercise Addiction and Lockdown Challenges
  • 12:27 A Turning Point: Seeking Help
  • 14:50 The Long Road to Recovery
  • 19:57 The Importance of Self-Love and Compassion
  • 26:53 The Role of Specialists and Personal Experience
  • 32:10 Julia's Podcast and Recovery Circle
  • 34:49 Final Thoughts and Words of Inspiration

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

  1. Fly to Freedom Podcast – Hosted by Julia Trehane, sharing stories and support for eating disorder recovery. 
  2. Eating Disorder Recovery Circle – An online community led by Julia, offering connection, education, and support for those in recovery. 
  3. One-on-One Coaching Service – Julia provides personalized coaching for individuals seeking help with eating disorder recovery.
  4. Books, Podcasts, and YouTube – Julia mentions using a wide range of educational materials and media for self-education during her recovery.
  5. Recovery Coaches – Julia credits working with specialized recovery coaches as pivotal in her healing journey.

CONNECT WITH JULIA:

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Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is given with the understanding that neither the host, the publisher, nor the guests are rendering legal, clinical, or other professional information. If you want or need a professional, you should find one to work with who can address your individual needs and situation.