Letting Go of Unrealistic Body Expectations in Eating Disorder Recovery

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Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

Recovering from an eating disorder is not a stagnant journey, rather one that evolves through different stages and seasons. Living with an eating disorder can severely alter your ability to see things for how they really are, including your own body.

Many individuals dealing with an eating disorder also struggle with poor body image or even body distortions, often seeing aspects of themselves and their bodies differently than what is reality.

Body Expectations While In Recovery

Recovery is highly individualized, with each person undergoing the treatment that might be necessary depending on many different factors. Many people falsely assume that eating disorder recovery involves some process of weight restoration, but this is simply not the case.

Not all people who have an eating disorder are underweight or in need of weight restoration while in recovery while others may critically need to focus on weight restoration. Other individuals may find that their weight fluctuates while in recovery due to normalization of eating habits and cessation of eating disorder behaviors.

If you are in recovery from your eating disorder, you may find that your body is changing as a result of treatment, and this is not uncommon. However your weight or body size might fluctuate, this can be unsettling while in recovery, and it is important to process what you are feeling as a result of your experience.

college vacationWorking closely with your health care professionals during this time can be invaluable, especially as your body stabilizes while in recovery from your eating disorder.

Learning to Let Go of Expectations

As you recover from your eating disorder, you may find yourself toggling between body expectations related to your eating disorder and the body you are currently in.

Learning to let go of disordered body standards you may have once had for yourself is important to your recovery and something that happens little by little. Utilize the resources available to you with your treatment team and lean on support during a process that can be difficult at times.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What are some aspects of recovery that are difficult to face when it comes to body image?


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About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating.

Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.


The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 8, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com