Calorie Counting, Walking, and Binge Eating: Is it Autism or the Eating Disorder?

Traditional eating disorder recovery advice tends to be harmful for autistic people. Many regulation techniques are often labeled as behaviors to be eliminated, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness. But there is another way!

In today’s episode, Livia speaks to Rob about his personal journey with binge eating disorder and how discovering his autism has helped him develop more effective coping strategies. We discuss the limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches to recovery, the concept of the “adaptive eating spectrum,” and the importance of forging your own path when it comes to living a meaningful life.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The nuanced view of calorie counting as a potential self-regulation tool rather than always being harmful
• How walking can help anchor autistic people in safety
• Why traditional eating disorder treatment approaches often fail autistic individuals
• Impact of the pandemic on eating habits and mental health
• Viewing eating “disorders” as adaptive responses to a neurotypical world
• Developing personalized coping mechanisms that work for your unique nervous system

🌈 Join the Autistically ED-Free Membership
🎙️ Listen to my free audiotraining on Autism and Eating Disorders
📖 Access my free extreme hunger guide for answers to the top 10 questions about extreme hunger!

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📚 BOOKS

Contact Rob at bingefreerob[at]gmail[dot]com