In this week's episode of Full of Beans, Han is joined by Zoë Harwood. Zoë is the founder of Light Minds Collective, a compassionate and soul-centred coaching space dedicated to helping individuals heal from low self-confidence, eating disorders, and poor body image.

With over 20 years of experience in mindset coaching within the dance industry and beyond, Zoë combines holistic and creative approaches to guide clients towards living with confidence, integrity, and purpose.

Drawing on her own lived experience of orthorexia, which complicated her pregnancy and led to hyperemesis and a difficult delivery, Zoë now uses her journey to raise awareness of eating disorders in pregnancy and beyond, and to empower others to find food freedom and authentic self-worth.

This week, we discuss:

• How the pursuit of “health” can mask deep fear and anxiety
• The overlap between orthorexia and OCD behaviours
• The role of veganism and “clean eating” in fuelling obsessive food rules
• Zoë's experience of hyperemesis and pregnancy while living with orthorexia
• How shame, guilt, and self-blame show up in motherhood and recovery
• The importance of curiosity and compassion when “healthy habits” become harmful

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Zoë's background in dance and early relationship with food
• 04:00 – The fear of illness that fuelled her obsession with “health”
• 08:00 – When veganism and clean eating became orthorexia
• 12:00 – Understanding orthorexia as a form of OCD
• 17:00 – Pregnancy, hyperemesis, and refusing medical treatment
• 24:00 – Shame, guilt and the impact on motherhood
• 31:00 – Finding recovery and redefining “healthy”
• 38:00 – Advice for those struggling during pregnancy or with orthorexia

Resources & Links

• Connect with Zoë on Instagram @lightmindcollective
• Visit Zoë's website

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast here
• Follow Full of Beans on Instagram here
• Check out our website here

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Mentions of eating disorders, orthorexia, pregnancy complications, and medical trauma. Please take care when listening.

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Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛