Seeing Recovery Through Ocean Eyes with Lisa Denning

I am so excited to welcome Lisa Denning to the show for “Seeing Recovery Through Ocean Eyes,” our newest episode of Recovery Bites. Join us as we discuss how fear states can prevent those with eating disorders from “following their heart,” the importance of being present in the moment, the imperfect path to recovery, how pain in an eating disorder can shift to joy in recovery, “showing up” to face recovery challenges, the healing nature of the ocean and Lisa’s unique experience with it, and much more!

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Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life with Tabitha Farrar

I am so excited to welcome Tabitha Farrar to the show for “Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life,” our newest episode of Recovery Bites. Join us as we discuss addressing the recovery obstacle of processing through the “scary stuff,” underestimating eating disorders and the people who have them, finding hope for someone else’s recovery, residential treatment as a starting point and necessary part of the recovery process, the small steps one needs to take to make bigger strides, common eating disorder misconceptions, and much more!

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Progress Not Perfection with Lara Reaves

 
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Episode 48 - Progress Not Perfection with Lara Reaves

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

This week I welcome Lara Reaves to the show. Lara is a certified Holistic Nutrition Practitioner, specializing in eating disorders, and recovered from her own battle with an eating disorder that nearly destroyed many of her dreams for her future. Since recovery, Lara has worked in residential clinical settings, adolescent mental health facilities, and is well-versed in communicating with a treatment team. She is the Chief Operations Officer and Coach for Rebecca's Eating Disorder Foundation, and a Recovery Coach for the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center. Her mission became to increase awareness and educate the public about eating disorders and the journey of recovery.


SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • The ways in which the journey to recovery can be one of the greatest teachers and source of growth.

  • Using behaviors in an effort to soothe the pain form the voices in your head.

  • How eating disorder behaviors (falsely) “protect” loved ones from the severity of one’s pain.

  • Recovery requires learning how to not negotiate one’s values.

  • The idea that one can make space for courage through disallowing fear from paralyzing the process.

  • How the courage and self-esteem gained from moving through fear outlive and outlast fear itself.

  • Recovery allows one to be “a part” of life as opposed to being “apart” from it.

ABOUT LARA REAVES:

When Lara Reaves arrived at a place of meaningful recovery with an urge to help people like herself. When asked by mentor Rebecca Cooper “what do you want to do deep down inside in your gut,” Lara knew the answer was to help others with eating disorders and Lara’s training began her training shortly thereafter. The clinical expertise and decades of recovery from her mentor offered Lara a unique education that “I would have never experienced during a psychology master's program.” During this time, Lara assisted in building a virtual Disorder Eating program, seminars on Eating Disorder Treatment, workshops, and writing projects. The experience was inspiring, and watching people make peace with food and their bodies felt like witnessing miracles. Lara realized that the Recovery coaching aspect of the work was what she loved and felt the most passionate about, leading to Lara receiving her certification as an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach from The Rebecca's Foundation Institute.

Lara was supervised and trained directly under Rebecca Cooper, world-renowned eating disorder therapist, author, and founder of Rebecca's House residential treatment center. Lara also volunteered as a Recovery Mentor, an experience that planted the seed to pursuing work as a recovery coach. She found it deeply rewarding to be a part of someone else's transformative journey towards a deeper, more peaceful relationship with food, addiction, and themselves. Through looking at the causes, effects, and social pressures, she grew her awareness of how much needed to be done to help people with Eating Disorders and mental health. As a recovered anorexic, bulimic, and alcoholic, Lara realized her new mission was increasing awareness of multiple aspects of the problem, guiding people in steps on the journey to recovery, and educating the public about the seriousness of eating disorders.

Since recovery, Lara has worked in residential clinical settings, adolescent mental health facilities, and is well-versed in communicating with a treatment team. She is the Chief Operations Officer of The Rebecca's Eating Disorder Foundation, where they fund men and women who want to get treatment. Lara is a Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach from The Rebecca’s Foundation Institute, Chief Operations Officer and Coach for Rebecca’s Eating Disorder Foundation, Body Image Training for Clinicians: The Missing Piece of Whole-Body Healing with Marci Evans, CEDRD-S & Fiona Sutherland, and Certified Holistic Nutrition Practitioner from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe AZ.

Lara continues to value and love doing the things that helped her to reach full recovery by continuing to deepen her sense of spirituality and connection with the world including attending 12 step support groups, prayer and meditation, journaling, walking in nature, and reading a mix of spiritual and self-help books. Lara resides in Southern California, where she lives with her beloved husband Amir and their two dogs Ariel and Ernest. In her free time, Lara enjoys doing what she genuinely loves. Lately, this has been a lot of writing, playing with her dogs, service work (collecting and donating food and clothes for charities), gardening, and watching “I Love Lucy.”

CONNECT WITH LARA REAVES:

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. You can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center online to learn more about Karin and her center’s services. You can also connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

House on Fire with Caryn Raba

 
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Episode 37 - House on Fire with Caryn Raba

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, I am joined by Caryn Raba, a recovered eating disorder recovery coach, and substance abuse counselor. Working in the eating disorder field independently for over 3 years, Caryn's work as an eating disorder recovery coach has taken her all over the world both physically and through fostering virtual connections.


SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • Working in the “here and now” by openly addressing eating disorder behaviors and how they affect individuals.

  • The bravery and courage needed to allow a recovery coach into your home.

  • How restriction can often be the driving force and/or precursor for bingeing and purging.

  • Evaluating the intentions behind movement and exercise.

  • How the eating disorder manipulates honest people to dishonest acts, such as stealing food.

  • The importance of reaching out to someone who can hold and validate one’s struggle.

  • Facing challenges and struggles with coping skills.

  • How the eating disorder and recovery process teaches and allows one to be in the world.

ABOUT CARYN RABA:

Caryn Raba has been an athlete since the age of four. She worked as a counselor and mentor in Substance abuse treatment for 10 years before coming into eating disorder recovery Coaching. Caryn is a Certified Eating Disorder Coach with the Carolyn Costin Institute and works independently and with Recovered Living as one of their eating disorder recovery coaches.

Caryn knows the importance of meeting a client where they are at, yet encouraging them to challenge themselves, as that is what was so important in her own recovery. She believes that strong, supportive relationships are key to getting better and the only people who don’t recover, are the ones who stop trying.

Caryn currently lives in Lives in Los Angeles, California USA, and is available for virtual sessions or 24/7 live in's both domestically and internationally.


CONNECT WITH CARYN RABA:

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. You can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center online to learn more about Karin and her center’s services. You can also connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Just Tell Her to Stop with Becky Henry, CPCC

 
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Episode 35 - Just Tell Her to Stop with Becky Henry, CPCC

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, I am joined by Becky Henry, an Eating Disorder Parent Coach, Speaker, National Award-Winning Author and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC). Becky founded Hope Network, LLC in 2003 to change the way parents are supported when caregiving. As a mom & coach who has walked this journey since 2000, she saw a huge gap in supporting families and decided to be the change. Becky's mission is to change the way caregivers are supported and change the standard of care for eating disorders treatment to include caregiver support. Becky is also the author of Just Tell Her To Stop; Family Stories of Eating Disorders.

SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • Changing the standard of care for caregivers and supports.

  • The disservice that caregivers and supports are the "forgotten ones."

  • How supporting someone with an eating disorder can lead to an overwhelming vacuum of emotions.

  • The value of holding a safe space for caregivers to express their emotions.

  • The coexistence of joy and sorrow.

  • The financial impact of eating disorder treatment.

  • How maintaining boundaries keep loved ones safe.

  • The support options available for caregivers with loved ones in need of higher levels of care including interventions.


ABOUT BECKY HENRY:

Becky Henry is an Eating Disorder Parent Coach, Speaker, National Award-Winning Author and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC). A National Award-Winning Author, Henry first published, Just Tell Her To Stop; Family Stories of Eating Disorders in 2011 to reduce caregiver isolation, expose the reality of eating disorders, and reduce stigma. The Revised Second Edition will be available in ebook and physical format soon.

Becky uses her lived experiences and skills as a Certified, Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) to coach families to let go of fear and panic, tolerate a loved one’s distress, set effective boundaries, and become effective supporters for their loved one in eating disorder recovery.

Becky founded Hope Network, LLC in 2003 to change the way parents are supported when caregiving. As a mom & coach who has walked this journey since 2000, she saw a huge gap in supporting families and decided to be the change. Becky's mission is to change the way caregivers are supported and change the standard of care for eating disorders treatment to include caregiver support.


CONNECT WITH BECKY HENRY:

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. You can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center online to learn more about Karin and her center’s services. You can also connect with Karin on social media by following @karinlewisedc on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Hungry for Freedom with Mindy Gorman-Plutzer, FNLP, CEPC, CHC, AADP

 
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Episode 18 - Hungry for Freedom with Mindy Gorman-Plutzer, FNLP, CEPC, CHC, AADP

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, I am joined by Mindy Gorman-Plutzer, a nutrition consultant, certified holistic health coach, eating psychology coach, and founder of The Freedom Promise, a private coaching practice in Manhattan. Mindy’s experience with her own recovery, her education in Functional Nutrition and Holistic Health, training in Transformational Coaching, and Eating Psychology inspired her to write The Freedom Promise: 7 Steps to Stop Fearing What Food Will Do to You and Start Embracing What It Can Do for You.

SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • “I was doing recovery, but I didn’t know what I was hungry for”

  • Defining your personal, non-linear recovery journey.

  • Turning pain into purpose.

  • Challenging the fear of what food will do TO you and embracing what food can do FOR you.

  • The difficulties with battling disordered eating and substance abuse.

  • How “Higher Powers” can look different for everyone.

  • Learning how to live in “the middle.”

  • Stomach, head, and heart hunger and listening to what you are hungry for.

  • Finding freedom from your eating disorder and reclaiming your best self.

  • Viewing transformation as less about what you want to do and more of what you want to let go of.

Being recovered means being able to rely on myself to have the confidence to go forward, no matter what obstacle I’m going to meet, and that I can rise up.


ABOUT MINDY GORMAN-PLUTZER:

Mindy Gorman-Plutzer is a nutrition consultant, certified holistic health coach, and eating psychology coach. Working in the weight management industry for 19 years, she has combined her background, trainings in holistic health, transformational coaching, and eating psychology with her extensive life experience to create The Freedom Promise, a Functional Nutrition and Eating Psychology coaching practice dedicated to guiding clients on the most valuable journey of their lives – the one where they get to realize and re-claim the most vibrant version of themselves.

Mindy has worked with hundreds of clients to transform their relationship with food from one mired in toxic and limiting beliefs to one that is joyous, loving, and free. She introduces strategies that are a combination of practical coaching techniques, results-oriented psychology, clinical nutrition, body-centered practices, mind-body science, and a positive and compassionate approach to challenges with food, weight, and health. Clients experience results that are nourishing, doable, and sustainable.

Mindy’s new book, The Freedom Promise: 7 Steps to Stop Fearing What Food Will Do to You and Start Embracing What It Can Do for You, shares powerful insight and strategies related to letting go of disordered eating behaviors and limiting beliefs that keep the reader tied to a toxic relationship with food, The Freedom Promise offers personal stories to inspire, practical steps, and affirmations. You will be motivated to examine your behavior with food, explore your hunger, and be guided to reframe the stories you have been telling yourself about food and your relationship to it.

Join Mindy alongside 38 global experts from August 24th-30th for the “Recovery Revealed: What's Feeding Your Disordered Eating?” Virtual Online Summit to “offer solutions to the challenging behavior and beliefs about food and your body.” Mindy has brought together dozens of leaders to share new information and protocols to support a special unique journey toward healing one's broken relationship with food. These experts come from the fields of functional medicine, psychology, psychiatry, mindset, nutrition, and healing. Please click here to register.

I invite you to join us so together we can continue to share the message of hope, healing and full recovery. — Mindy Gorman-Plutzer


Mindy currently resides in New York with her husband, is a mother, mother in law, and grandmother. She enjoys golf, Pilates, exploring the city, and after leaving her own disordered relationship with food behind, loves to cook and experience the wonder and complexity of food.

CONNECT WITH MINDY GORMAN-PLUTZER:

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. You can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center online to learn more about Karin and her center’s services. You can also connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoyed the podcast, we would be so grateful if you would please take a minute to leave us a rating/review on Apple Podcasts.

Are you interested in becoming a guest on the Recovery Bites podcast? If so, please fill out our brief application form to start the process.

 

Recovered Living with Kristie Amadio

 
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Episode 3 - Recovered Living with Kristie Amadio

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, I am joined by Kristie Amadio. Kristie is no stranger to the perils of seeking recovery from an eating disorder. After facing discouragement and struggle to try to find professional treatment in Australia and New Zealand, Kristie traveled to the States for 7 months of residential treatment. Kristie continued her early recovery journey with the help of an online therapist and dietician; little did she know that this experience would be the spark that helped her create Recovered Living. As the founder and CEO of this innovative and groundbreaking Eating Recovery Coach platform, Kristie now helps clients by providing practical services tailored to each individual’s needs.

SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • The gift of accepting help for the recovery process.

  • Learning and living the life skills needed without an eating disorder.

  • The extra support provided from virtual and live-in recovery coaches.

  • Body acceptance and making peace with your body.

  • Shifting your values.

  • Authentically being yourself in recovery.

ABOUT KRISTIE AMADIO:

Kristie Amadio is Founder and CEO of Recovered Living, which offers online eating disorder recovery coaching as well as 24/7 live-in support to people both domestically and internationally.

After 14 years of battling her eating disorder and seeking treatment in both Australia and New Zealand— where she was told she was ‘chronic’ and should expect to struggle with food and body image issues for the rest of her life— Kristie flew to America for intensive treatment and made a full recovery. The experience of multiple treatments in different countries led her to develop Recovered Living; a one-of-a-kind online and face-to-face support system for people in recovery. With a worldwide reach, Recovered Living provides online recovery coaching as well as in-home 24/7 live-in support. The mission for Recovered Living is about making treatment accessible and affordable for everyone, no matter where they live. All of their Coaches are fully recovered and hold the belief that the same can be true for you too

Kristie was stunned by the gap and unequal access to support and resources both here and overseas, so she resolved to make cost-effective support available to everyone, no matter where they lived. By working online and living with people in recovery all around the world, Kristie Amadio is adding a new dimension to the platform used to treat eating disorders. Kristie is a Certified Eating Disorder Coach with the Carolyn Costin Institute.

One of a kind, irrepressible enthusiasm, and candid honesty is what forms the basis of Kristie’s essence. She uses the same strength she required in her own recovery to guide and inspire others, while her genuine compassion allows her to connect easily with clients.


CONNECT WITH KRISTIE AMADIO:

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. To learn more about Karin and her center’s services, you can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center. You can connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.