logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
36m 47s

My Eating Disorder Recovery Journey with...

HARRIET FREW
About this episode

Today I have a guest on the show and I am talking to Lauren Spokes. Lauren is a passionate food advocate, product sourcing consultant, and mental health advocate, with a personal journey in eating disorder recovery that deeply informs her work. Originally from South Africa, Lauren moved to the UK at 18, where she built a successful career in food sourcing, consulting for leading retailers and brands.

Despite her professional success, Lauren struggled with an eating disorder for over six years, which prevented her from fully embracing her love for food. After her own journey of recovery, she found healing and clarity in her ultimate passion—helping others.

Lauren now uses her platform, including her food Instagram, to raise awareness about eating disorders, promote food freedom, and share delicious, nourishing recipes. Her mission is to empower others to cultivate a healthy relationship with food while celebrating the joy and creativity that food can bring. Through both her consulting work and advocacy, Lauren is dedicated to helping people live in harmony with food and to supporting retailers in offering products that align with both consumer needs and ethical standards.

In today’s episode, Lauren talks about her eating disorder recovery journey.

She focuses on how she struggled to accept that she had an eating disorder for 5 years before seeking help. She talks ambivalence around change and an eating disorder as a coping strategy.

Lauren shares the importance of acceptance with the eating disorder recovery journey and seeking help from others. She explores the costs of the eating disorder and her family’s concerns. She shares her journey in overcoming the eating disorder and now having been fully recovered for two years.

This is an inspiring conversation about what is possible in recovery. I hope that you find it helpful.

 

To find out more about Lauren: -

Instagram: @bespokesfood

 

This week's sponsors: -

CHATPODS: Love the insights from this episode? Make sure you never miss a beat with Chatpods! Whether you're commuting, working out, or just on the go, Chatpods lets you capture and summarize key takeaways effortlessly.  Save time, stay organized, and keep your thoughts at your fingertips.  Download Chatpods directly from App Store or Google Play and use it to listen to this podcast today!   https://www.chatpods.com/?fr=TheEatingDisorderTherapist  

Amber Romaniuk http://amberapproved.ca/

Podcast: https://amberapproved.ca/podcast

 

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

 

Up next
Today
Rewiring your Food Thoughts to Stop Overeating
Your thoughts play an important role in your relationship with food. This episode dives into raising awareness of negative automatic thoughts and how to challenge them. This is particularly relevant if you are struggling with binge eating, emotional eating, out-of-control eating ... Show More
37m 33s
Oct 4
The 9 Top Triggers for Binge Eating Seen Inside the Therapy Room
The 9 Top Triggers for Binge Eating Seen Inside the Therapy Room - and how to manage them. Binge eating is not simply scoffing an extra biscuit, with your morning coffee break. Instead, it involves eating fast, an extremely large amount of food (more than you would eat for lunch ... Show More
17m 6s
Oct 1
The Psychology of Your Eating Disorder. Why It's Not All About Food and Body
Making sense of your eating disorder through psychological formulation If you’re lost in the jungle of your eating disorder, without a map to guide you safely, you probably feel intense confusion and overwhelm. Why can’t I just eat normally? Why the constant obsessions with food? ... Show More
23m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Ep 55: Traveling in eating disorder recovery with Ciandra Birnbaum
In this episode I'm joined by Ciandra Birnbaum a dedicated eating disorder recovery coach and nutritional advisor, driven by her own journey of overcoming an eating disorder. We discuss Ciandra's relationship with food and her body while growing up. Her experiences of travelling ... Show More
36m 24s
Oct 2024
Ep 54: Is biohacking a good idea in eating disorder recovery? With Anne Richardson
In this episode I speak with Anne Richardson, a Registered Nutritional Therapist who has been practicing for more than ten years and who exclusively works in the field of disordered eating. She shares her experience of anorexia in her teens and path to recovery. Anne now draws fr ... Show More
53m 18s
Sep 2024
episode 77: the story about eating disorder recovery and sobriety with Heather Lasco
We can’t believe this season is already coming to an end but here it is, the final episode, and trust us, it’s a good one! Ali and Hannah are sitting down with Heather Lasco, a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders and the founder of Confidentially Nourished. In t ... Show More
48m 23s
Jul 2024
Long-Term Recovery from an Eating Disorder
In this episode of the Recover to Flourish podcast, I share my insights and experiences on achieving and maintaining long-term recovery from an eating disorder. As an eating disorder recovery coach and survivor, I know firsthand the challenges and triumphs that come with sustaini ... Show More
15m 40s
Jul 2024
Essential Mindset Shifts for Eating Disorder Recovery
In this episode I dive into the crucial mindset shifts that are essential for eating disorder recovery. Reflecting on my own experiences as an eating disorder recovery coach and survivor of an eating disorder, I explore how changing the way we think about ourselves, our bodies, a ... Show More
15m 28s
Aug 28
Eating Disorder Recovery Tools for Women Who Are DONE with Diet Culture | Best of Mary’s Cup of Tea
Eating disorder recovery is possible, even if it feels difficult at times. So many women struggle in silence with disordered eating and the constant pressure of diet culture, even if they’re not formally diagnosed with an eating disorder.In this special “Best Of” episode, I’m sha ... Show More
48m 14s
Nov 2024
7 Steps to Start Anorexia Recovery
In this episode of the Recover to Flourish podcast, I’m walking you through 7 important steps to help you take the first strides in anorexia recovery. Whether you’re just starting out or feeling stuck, these steps can guide you towards healing in a compassionate, realistic way. A ... Show More
15m 10s
Jan 2023
Ep 49: The role of self-worth, perfectionism and comparison in eating disorders with Elle Mace
Elle Mace is an eating disorder and body dsymorphia therapeutic coach. She supports and guides those struggling with their relationship to food, their body and themselves to help them live a free and fulfilled life. In this episode we discuss: Elle’s experience recovering from 17 ... Show More
40m 8s
Mar 2025
Extreme Hunger Tips in Eating Disorder Recovery
In this episode of the Recover to Flourish podcast, I’m diving into a topic that often comes up in eating disorder recovery: extreme hunger. If you’ve been through the recovery process, you know that your body can sometimes feel like it’s asking for more food than you’re used to. ... Show More
14m 3s
Jan 2025
Diet culture is EVERYWHERE! How you can learn to cope
In this episode of the Recover to Flourish podcast, we’re diving into the reality that diet culture is all around us – from social media to conversations with friends, it's hard to escape.  As an eating disorder coach, I know how overwhelming and triggering this can be, espe ... Show More
13m 57s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami