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Cheat Days, Willpower & #Fitspo Online: The Fitness-to-ED Pipeline with Michelle Carroll
Episode 61

Cheat Days, Willpower & #Fitspo Online: The Fitness-to-ED Pipeline with Michelle Carroll

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, I’m digging into a conversation that sits at the intersection of fitness culture, mental health, and our relationships with food and our bodies — and one that’s long overdue. I’m joined by Michelle Carroll, a PhD candidate researching disordered eating and eating disorders within fitness culture, particularly among athletes and fitness professionals. Together, we unpack the thin line between discipline and disorder, the hidden binge–restrict cycles that often live behind “control,” the reality of cheat days, and how to pursue fitness goals when you have a history of disordered eating. We also explore what it looks like to reclaim movement as a tool for embodiment, confidence, and healing rather than punishment or control.

Bite Back with Abbey Sharp

January 20, 202628m 17s

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Show Notes

Here’s a run down of what we discussed in today’s episode:

  • How Common Is Disordered Eating in Fitness Culture?
  • Does Fitness Culture Attract Disordered Eating — or Cause It?
  • How Restriction and Obsession Become Normalized in Fitness Spaces
  • Discipline vs. Disordered Eating: How to Tell the Difference
  • How Fitness Messaging Impacts Body Image and Motivation
  • Why Fitness Competitions Often Lead to Extreme Binges
  • The Physical and Mental Costs of Extreme Dieting
  • Cheat Days Explained: Why They Backfire for So Many People
  • What Research Really Says About Cheat Days and Weight Control
  • How to Pursue Fitness Goals Without Triggering Disordered Eating
  • Reframing Exercise: From Changing Your Body to Experiencing It

Check in with today’s amazing guest: Michelle Carroll

References:

Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you’re struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider.

If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to eatingdisorderhope.com.

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