In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we are joined by Mary Elizabeth Akinaka, a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist-Supervisor (CEDS-S). As the Regional Executive Director at Alsana Treatment Center, Mary Elizabeth shares her own journey of recovering from an eating disorder, embracing body acceptance, and reclaiming her life in a larger body. Her candid reflections on self-compassion, therapy, and rejecting societal standards provide valuable insight for anyone navigating recovery or struggling with body image issues.
Key Themes and Insights from the Episode:
Mary Elizabeth’s Personal Recovery Journey
Mary Elizabeth opens up about her experience with an eating disorder, chronic dieting, and the emotional and physical toll it took on her life. She shares the pivotal moment when she said "f this" to restrictive dieting and decided to fully participate in life. Her journey to recovery is a testament to the power of therapy, community, and making intentional choices for healing
Shifting from Chronic Dieting to Full Participation in Life**
Diet culture is often centered on shrinking our bodies and controlling our food intake. Mary Elizabeth reflects on how she moved away from chronic dieting and embraced a life of fullness and joy—one that’s no longer dictated by food rules. She encourages listeners to step away from the diet mindset and focus on living a meaningful, purposeful life.
Learning to Accept a Larger Body Size in a Thin-Centric World
One of the most powerful parts of the interview is Mary Elizabeth’s discussion about body acceptance in a larger body, especially when the world is often unkind to those who don’t fit the societal ideal of thinness. She talks about the challenges of learning to love and accept her body, even when external validation was lacking, and how therapy, community support, and self-compassion played critical roles in this process.
The Role of Therapy and Community in Recovery
Therapy was a crucial part of Mary Elizabeth's recovery, helping her shift her mindset from self-criticism to self-compassion. She also highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with a supportive community that fosters self-acceptance, rather than perpetuates harmful diet culture.
The Power of Self-Compassion and Intentional Choices
Throughout the episode, Mary Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in the recovery journey. She explains how being kind to herself and practicing self-care allowed her to heal not only her relationship with food but also with her body. By making intentional choices rooted in self-love, she was able to reclaim her sense of worth and identity.
Episode Highlights:
- Personal Eating Disorder Recovery: M
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