Recovering from an eating disorder is a profound journey of unlearning and relearning. At its heart lies an essential concept: body trust. It’s not just about eating intuitively or exercising differently—it’s about re-establishing a respectful, compassionate connection with your body. Movement, when paired with body trust, becomes a tool for healing rather than a punishment or obligation.
What Is Body Trust?
Body trust is the practice of listening to, honoring and respecting your body’s needs. For those who’ve struggled with eating disorders, body trust can feel foreign. Diet culture teaches us to override hunger cues, strive for external ideals, and punish ourselves for perceived imperfections. In recovery, learning to trust your body involves rejecting these harmful narratives and embracing your body’s natural wisdom.
Body trust is not conditional. It doesn’t depend on how your body looks or behaves. It is not instantaneous, it takes time and practice. And it is not perfect, moments of doubt and struggle are part of the process.
Instead, body trust is responsive, compassionate, and empowering. It means honoring hunger, rest and energy needs. It’s about treating your body as a partner rather than an enemy and believing that your body knows what it needs to thrive.
Redefining Movement in Recovery
Movement is a common battleground for people with eating disorders. It’s often tied to rigid rules, punishment or compensatory thoughts such as calorie-burning goals. Recovery asks us to shift movement from a transactional activity to a form of self-care and expression.
Healing through movement focuses on joy. Engage in activities that feel fun and fulfilling, like dancing in your living room, stretching on a mat, or taking a walk in nature. Listen to your body. For some days, rest may feel better than movement, and that’s okay. Challenge perfectionism by embracing movement without judgment or the pressure to do it “right.” Explore different modalities like yoga, tai chi, swimming, or playful activities like hula hooping or roller skating. Movement doesn't always have to be super serious, or difficult for it to be beneficial, despite what fad fitness culture tells us.
The Intersection of Body Trust and Movement
When combined, body trust and movement become a powerful duo in recovery. Together, they help release shame by transforming movement into an act of care rather than punishment. They help you reconnect with intuition, as movement can mirror intuitive eating guided by internal cues instead of external pressures. They also foster resilience, building confidence in your body’s strength and adaptability.
Practical Steps to Cultivate Body Trust and Mindful Movement
Start small with short, gentle sessions of movement that feel manageable and enjoyable. Practice gratitude by reflecting on what your body allows you to experience, like walking or hugging loved ones. Seek support from a therapist, dietitian, or movement professional, such as Empowered RX, specializing in eating disorder recovery. Create rituals to turn movement into a self-care practice by pairing it with music, candles or calming environments. Be patient... healing your relationship with movement and your body takes time, so celebrate progress, not perfection.
Beyond Recovery: Movement and Body Trust as a Lifelong Practice
Recovery isn’t the endpoint. It is a state of being with the goal being forever. It’s the beginning of a deeper, lifelong connection with your body. Over time, body trust and movement can evolve into anchors that ground you through life’s challenges and changes.
Imagine moving your body because you want to, not because you have to. Imagine trusting your body’s cues without guilt or second-guessing. That’s the freedom recovery makes possible.
Body trust and movement are not just tools for eating disorder recovery, they’re practices for living a fuller, more authentic life. By redefining your relationship with your body and movement, you’re reclaiming autonomy and rediscovering joy.
At Empowered RX, we believe in celebrating bodies of all shapes and abilities. Recovery is about honoring the story your body holds and rewriting its narrative with compassion, strength, and grace. Let movement become your ally, and let trust guide you every step of the way.
Are you ready to embrace body trust and movement? We’re here to support you on your journey. Reach out to explore how Empowered RX can help you find freedom and healing in your relationship to fitness! Leah@empoweredrx.org
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