Welcome part 2 of my series on neurodivergence and binge eating! In this episode, we explore the sensory factors that contribute to why autistic and ADHD individuals may struggle with overeating or binge eating. We also discuss how this connects to the nervous system and how neurodivergent people experience sensory input in ways that impact eating behaviors. You'll learn: A basic overview of the nervous system and how it affects sensory processing How nervous system dysregulation in neurodivergent individuals leads to living in a constant state of fight-or-flight mode How the sensory experience of eating can either be overwhelming or grounding for autistic people The difference between sensory avoidance and sensory seeking in the context of eating behaviors My personal story of shifting from being sensory avoidant to sensory seeking during recovery and how this played into my eating behaviors How food can be used as a form of stimming or self-regulation in autistic and ADHD individuals The connection between binge eating and procrastination as a neurodivergent coping mechanism Why emotional eating isn’t always bad, and how food can be an effective reward for accomplishing tasks 📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching💗 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here📝 Read the blog post of this episode Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM🌐 WEBSITE📚 BOOKS

Autism and binge eating – is there a connection? While the relationship between autism and eating disorders is well-acknowledged, most of the conversation revolves around the restrictive side of the eating disorder spectrum, specifically anorexia and ARFID. Overeating and binge eating are much less discussed forms of disordered eating in the context of autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence. This is very problematic, considering many autistic people struggle with overeating. Because every individual is deserving of validation and support, I’ve created this Autism and Binge Eating Series to shed light on the relationship between autism and overeating. Whether you are a neurodivergent individual struggling with binge eating or are seeking to better support someone you care for, I hope this series helps you understand the connection and ultimately, gain insights so you can have the healthy relationship with food you so deserve. In each episode of the series, I delve into different factors that may contribute to binge eating in the neurodivergent population. In today's episode specifically, you'll learn: A breakdown of interoception and how it affects hunger and fullness cues in autistic individuals How the neurodivergent experience of feeling unsafe plays a role in overeating and binge eating My personal story with extreme hunger as an autistic person, and how this differs from binge eating disorder Why addressing energy debt is essential for full recovery and how the body's need for safety influences eating behaviors 🍩 Enroll in my course, Extremely Hungry to Completely Satisfied👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching9️⃣ Autistic Types of Binge Eating📝 Read the blog post of this episode Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Do you believe you’re too old to recover from an eating disorder? Have you been struggling for so long that you don’t see a way out? You’re not alone, and today’s episode will show you that recovery is always possible! Livia Sara is joined by Julia Trehane, an eating disorder recovery coach who has herself recovered from over 40 years of anorexia, orthorexia and exercise addiction. She is now on a mission to use her own experience, research and knowledge to help others who are wanting to recover but struggling to do so. Julia is qualified in CBT for eating disorders, transformational life coaching and spiritual life coaching and uses those, alongside a deeply supportive and loving nature to guide and support clients from all over the world. Topics Discussed: Family dynamics contributing to eating disorders The impact of motherhood on eating disorder symptoms Sensitivity as a factor in eating disorder development The necessity of Inner Child Work in recovery Transformative power of Recovery Coaching Building effective support systems for recovery Using restriction and exercise addiction as emotional suppressants Unintentional validation for eating disorder behaviors by others Navigating control vs safety Moving from self-loathing to self-love The challenges of finding appropriate treatment Recovery is possible at every age Prioritizing self-care and seeking help are essential The role of shame and secrecy in eating disorders 📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger!📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger Connect with Julia:🌐 WEBSITE🍩 INSTAGRAM🎙️ PODCAST Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS 

An eating disorder creates suffering – there’s no doubt about that – but can recovery itself cause suffering as well? This episode takes a philosophical and neurodiversity-affirming approach to creating purpose after an eating disorder, exploring how meaningful suffering can lead to a fulfilling life. 💗 Join my newsletter to receive episode updates🎙️ Get FREE Audio Training on Autism and Eating Disorders👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS 📝 Read the blog post of this episode You might also enjoy...Fear of Growing Up and Being HealthyAutism, Eating Disorders, and ExistentialismAutism and Existential Loneliness

How does the intersection of orthorexia, masculinity, and sexuality impact the journey to recovery? In today's episode, Livia Sara chats with Jason Wood. Jason turned his battle with orthorexia into a mission to break the stigma around men’s mental health by publishing his memoir Starving for Survival. He is proud to serve on the board for two eating disorder recovery organizations, Running in Silence and SoulPaws Recovery Project. Jason is the Director of Community Engagement at ANAD and facilitates the organization’s new men’s peer support group. Through speaking engagements, his writing, and his advocacy work, Jason strives to be part of the important conversation that encourages everyone – especially men – to speak up, share their stories, and get the help they deserve. Key Topics Discussed: Jason's memoir "Starving for Survival" and his journey with orthorexia Stigma around men asking for help and showing vulnerability, leading to reluctance in seeking support Struggles with processing emotions and identifying them accurately Internalized homophobia and societal pressures around sexuality The power of words and language in shaping perception Childhood relationship with food, bullying, and fear of illness The hidden nature of eating disorders, the difficulty in recognizing their impact during the active phase, and the long-term effects they can have Accepting that we don't know everything and being open to learning from others 🎙️ Get FREE Audio Training on Autism and Eating Disorders🌈 Buy Rainbow Girl: A Memoir of Autism and Anorexia Connect with Jason:🏳️‍🌈 Website🌀 Instagram🌐 ANAD Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Have you surpassed your target weight in eating disorder recovery? Are you struggling to cope with weight gain and accept your larger body? This podcast episode is for you! Livia Sara explains the science behind body fat overshooting and how to deal with this challenging aspect of ED recovery. You'll learn: Why it's important to overshoot your weight when recovering from an eating disorder How long weight overshoot lasts What you need to know about Set Point Weight Theory, BMI, and goal weights How to lose your overshoot weight in anorexia recovery Mindset shifts to cope with weight gain in eating disorder recovery 📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger🍩 Enroll in my course, Extremely Hungry to Completely Satisfied Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS Mentioned episodes:👉 Extreme Hunger While Being Weight Restored👉 The Simple Truth About BMI👉 Biological Importance of Honoring Extreme Hunger 📝 Read the blog post of this episode (with sources)

Are you worried that your extreme hunger isn't valid because you're already weight restored? You're not alone! I didn't experience physical extreme hunger until I was at the highest weight I'd ever been in my life. Because I was suddenly so hungry, I feared I would gain weight forever if I gave into my extreme hunger at this point in my eating disorder recovery journey. I feared that I was "swinging to the other side" and developing binge eating disorder. If you resonate, you're not going to want to miss this episode! I explain why you have extreme hunger AFTER gaining weight and what you can do to overcome extreme hunger in anorexia recovery. 🍩 Enroll in my course Extremely Hungry to Completely Satisfied📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger⚖️ The Shocking Truth About BMI Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS 📝 Read the blog post of this episode

Are you afraid that you're "swinging to the other side" and developing binge eating disorder after a restrictive eating disorder such as anorexia or orthorexia? You're not alone, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. One of the most common fears in ED recovery is the fear that honoring extreme hunger will lead you to become addicted to food and thus, become a binge eater. This is definitely a fear I had! In this episode, you'll learn the key difference between extreme hunger and binge eating disorder so you can embark on the recovery path that's right for you. 🍩 Want more help? Grab a copy of my book How to Beat Extreme Hunger🫶 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here 📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger!📝 Read the blog post of this episode Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Extreme hunger, like many aspects of eating disorder recovery, can be incredibly frightening. As an autistic person that always needs to know the "why" behind concepts so I can take informed action, understanding the science behind extreme hunger was an important part of my ED recovery journey. This episode delves into the role extreme hunger plays in achieving a state of full recovery, including: What is extreme hunger and when does it happen in eating disorder recovery? Biological reasons people with a history of restriction, such as anorexia or bulimia, experience extreme hunger Different types of extreme hunger in ED recovery, including mental hunger, eating-induced hunger, and exercise hunger 📚 Grab your copy of How to Beat Extreme Hunger🫶 Schedule a consultation call for 1-1 coaching here📖 Download my FREE GUIDE with answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions about extreme hunger!📝 Read the blog post of this episode Connect with Livia:🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE 📚 BOOKS

Do you feel like you've lost the ability to restrict in eating disorder recovery? Are you developing binge eating disorder after anorexia because you can't stop eating? In this episode, Livia shares her lived experience of no longer being able to restrict in anorexia recovery and how she overcame the frustrations around this. 👉🏻 Join Autistically ED-Free Group Coaching📚 Buy my books here💌 Receive Liv Label Free weekly emails Connect with Livia: 🍩 INSTAGRAM 🌐 WEBSITE🫶 SUBSCRIBE