I developed an eating disorder when I was 27. Up until then, I had no history of dieting, body issues, over exercise or anything else that could have predicted my fate.

Then, after a (what turned out to be) misguided decision to join a gym to 'tone up' for my upcoming wedding, I found myself lost and confused with a powerful eating disorder.

For over 12 years I lived with the illness.

I went in and out of inpatient treatment, always desperately wanting to recover but never reaching a recovered state that was physically or mentally sufficient or that gave me the tools to keep going in my recovery once I was back home.

My marriage failed.

I became more and more isolated with each passing year as the illness grew stronger.

I maintained a career (outside spells in treatment) but that was all I had.

After a decade of this, I had truly come to believe that I had met my destiny. I started to wonder if the 'experts' were right and that I was a chronic case and could only hope to maintain a quality of life within a miserable and destructive illness.

When my 40th birthday came around, it hit me hard. I could not fathom living like this for the rest of my life. I made the decision that I had to do everything, try anything and just find out what was possible.

Moving back in with my parents as an adult and asking for support was the hardest and most painful but also the best decision I made.

Over a period of less than six months there were a lot of ups, downs, tears and tantrums. Those short months were the hardest of my life but I would not change them as there were also times that were magical, in which I learnt just what was possible.

Without professional help, I took steps that deep down, I knew were right. I finally truly understood that recovery had to come from me - no one could do this for me. And so I started to heal.

My body grew, my mind slowly learnt that I was safe, despite unlimited food and rest.

I soon came further into recovery than I ever had or even believed I could.

As I moved back into my own apartment and returned to employment, my life grew in incredible ways.

Since that time, I have always been conscious that there are many others, like I was, battling a powerful eating disorder and related behaviours, left to believe they can't have more from life.

I therefore decided to use my knowledge and experience, expand my skills and support people who are like I was: lost, confused and feeling alone in a diet obsessed culture so that they can take the very necessary steps to overcome the eating disorder consuming their life and do so with courage and commitment.

For a number of years I have worked as a professional coach, supporting many others who are finding their own complicated path out of what felt like a life sentence with an eating disorder. This work has been rewarding and allowed me to get to know some incredible people.

I'm no longer taking on new coaching clients because my life has taken me in a direction that feels more authentically my own than anything else ever has. My two books remain available to anyone who needs to read them though and the information within them, the blog on this website and the podcast are relevant to anyone who is ready to take that information and use it.

You might feel terrified to make changes but trust me, you can... and surely the terror of staying trapped in an eating disorder life is worse than that of facing those demons?

A Bit About Me