CW: as the title implies, this episode describes a guest’s lifelong struggle with eating disorders

 

Is Recovery from Eating Disorders Using Intuitive Eating Possible?

In this episode I chat with Debbie Lesko, an anti-diet and eating disorder awareness activist, who shares her personal journey of recovery from an eating disorder and how she became an advocate for body positivity and intuitive eating. She emphasizes the importance of rejecting diet culture and the harmful effects of intentional weight loss. Debbie also discusses the benefits of embracing an anti-diet mindset, such as freedom from food restrictions, improved self-esteem, and a healthier relationship with your body. She provides practical tips for transitioning away from dieting, including changing language around food, cleaning up social media feeds, and finding joyful movement.

Key Takeaways:

1. Reject diet culture and the labeling of food as “good” or “bad.”





2. Clean up your social media by unfollowing accounts that promote dieting or weight loss.





3. Get rid of clothes that don’t fit and buy clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident in your current body.

Quotes:

• “Anti-diet means rejecting the idea that a diet is going to cure your self-esteem, your body image, your health.”





• “All food has nutritional value, no matter what it is, and your body knows what to do with it.”





• “Give up the fight for making your body a shape that you think is acceptable.”

Resources Mentioned:

• National Eating Disorder Association





• Health at Every Size (Amazon Affiiate link)





• Intuitive Eating (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Need help?

Looking to speak with someone about eating disorders concerns for yourself or a loved one?

• ANAD Helpline: 1 (888) 375-7767    Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CT





• National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline: 1 (866) 662-1235     Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm ET

About Debbie: 

Debbie Lesko is a 67-year-old grandmother and an eating disorder awareness and anti-diet fat liberation activist. She has been on a journey of recovery from her own eating disorder since she was eight years old. Debbie is the host of the “Diets Don’t Work” Facebook page, which is a community that supports and educates people looking to ditch the diet mindset and approach health without a harmful focus on weight.

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Connect with Debbie Diets Don’t Work Facebook pageDiets Don’t Work Facebook groupDebbie’s Website: Diets-dont-work.net

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In a world obsessed with weight loss and diet culture, it can be challenging to find a path to true health and well-being. But there is hope. Debbie Lesko, an anti-diet activist and eating disorder awareness advocate, is on a mission to help others break free from the harmful cycle of dieting and embrace a new way of approaching health. In our conversation, Debbie shares her personal journey to recovery and offers valuable insights into the benefits of ditching the diet mindset.

Finding Recovery: A Personal Journey

Debbie’s story is one of resilience and determination. From a young age, she was subjected to the harmful messages of diet culture, constantly being told that she needed to lose weight to be accepted and valued. This led to a lifelong battle with an eating disorder, with multiple hospitalizations and treatment centers along the way. But it wasn’t until 2017, when her job threatened her employment if she didn’t seek treatment, that Debbie realized she needed to make a change.

“I can’t leave my granddaughter,” Debbie recalls. “I can’t die. That would just hurt tremendously.” This realization became the turning point in her recovery journey. She sought treatment at Rosewood Eating Disorder Centers and immersed herself in various modalities, including intuitive eating and the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach. Through this process, Debbie discovered a new way of approaching food, movement, and self-acceptance.

The Anti-Diet Movement: Rejecting Diet Culture

Being anti-diet means rejecting the harmful messages of diet culture and embracing a new approach to health and well-being. It means letting go of the idea that weight loss is the key to happiness and self-worth. As Debbie explains, “Anti-diet does not mean anti-health. It’s pro-health.” It’s about focusing on nourishing your body and finding joy in movement, rather than obsessing over numbers on a scale or restrictive eating patterns.

One of the biggest pitfalls people face when trying to leave the diet mindset behind is the language they use around food. Debbie emphasizes the importance of eliminating labels like “good” or “bad” when it comes to food. “All food has nutritional value,” she says. “Your body knows what to do with it.” By reframing our thoughts and language around food, we can begin to develop a healthier relationship with eating and nourishing our bodies.

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