#85 Eating Disorders to Active Endeavours: A Journey of Recovery & Rediscovery | Matt Powell

In today's episode, I’m joined by Matt to discuss his experience of grappling with bulimia. He shares how the amalgamation of life stressors, responsibilities, and pressures propelled him into a search for a semblance of control, leading him to develop disordered eating tendencies. This soon transformed into a consuming fixation, offering moments of predictability and a temporary reprieve. However, his secret struggle became ingrained in his daily routine, normalised to the point where the severity of his condition was minimised, hindering access to preventative measures and medical intervention.

Fortunately, COVID-19 pandemic was a positive turning point. It allowed a slower pace to life, heightened self-awareness, and encouraged Matt to adopt healthy lifestyle habits - breaking free from the disordered rituals and turning to a new chapter.

Throughout our conversation, we draw parallels between our stories, underscoring the nonlinear nature of recovery, the challenges of breaking free from ingrained, subconscious behaviours, as well as the psychological and physical hurdles of recovery.

Furthermore, we delve into our mutual love for running, emphasising its empowering impact on mental, psychological, and physical well-being. We discuss the profound joys of participation, the sense of achievement, the camaraderie found within the running community, the liberating sense of freedom, and how it symbolises our transformative shift towards balanced, healthy living.

In essence, this episode encapsulates a candid, two-sided dialogue, where we not only share our personal experiences but also find solace in the parallels of our journeys. We navigate through areas of relatability, celebrating our growth and progression.