46. getting real about being recovered with Alli Bollinger

Kait and Alli, both recovered eating disorder coaches with lived experience, pull back the curtain on what recovery actually looks like day to day. No sugarcoating, no highlight reel. They tackle the questions their clients and followers ask most: Do you still have negative thoughts about food? Does body image ever get better? How do you know recovery is even possible for you?

What unfolds is a candid, two-coach conversation that validates the messiness of recovery while making a compelling case that a full, free life on the other side is real, and achievable. They cover the unpredictability of body image, navigating summer and social media pressure, how high-achieving personalities can redirect their strengths toward recovery, and the mindset shift that finally made recovery click. The episode closes with a message that lands: if we can, you can.

Episode takeaways:

• Recovery doesn't mean perfect. Bad body image days still happen and that's part of being human.

• Negative food thoughts do fade over time though the timeline looks different for everyone.

• The belief that everything would be better if I were smaller is one you can build real proof against.

• High achievers can redirect their natural strengths. Goal setting, list making, and structure can support recovery instead of the eating disorder.

• The "I'll be happy when" pattern shows up in recovery too. Learning to find joy now is part of the work.

• You don't need certainty that recovery will work to start. You just have to be willing to try something different.

• Rest and presence are skills, not personality traits, and they can be learned.

  
  

Episode guest: Alli grew up being known as “the dancer”, which inspired her undergraduate journey pursuing her BFA in dance. After college, she moved to new york city where she booked her dream job as a Radio City Rockette, a full circle moment after recovering from an eating disorder. Her story inspired her to become a certified eating disorder recovery coach, and she is now in Boston pursing her masters in nutrition to become a Registered Dietitian.

Connect with Kait

📸 @bitebybiterecovery

🔗 bitebybiterecovery.org

📞 Interested in 1:1 recovery coaching? Book your FREE discovery call

🍒 Kait’s Recovery Resources

Connect with Alli

📸@your_spoonful

Affiliate Links

COMFRT

FIND THE GOOD