Ep.8 Conor Nolan: The Man Who Named His Eating Disorder George!

In this episode of the Two Eejits Talking Fitness Podcast, we sit down with Conor Nolan, co-founder of the Normal Mental Wellbeing Project, for a really open conversation about mental health, eating disorders and recovery.Conor shares his own experience of developing an eating disorder, the warning signs he can recognise now looking back, and the journey he went through to get himself to a much better place.One of the biggest conversations we wanted to have with Conor was around the role that coaches and people working in the fitness industry can play.We're not therapists, and we shouldn't try to be.But we are often in a position where we might notice changes in someone's relationship with food, exercise, their body or themselves. We talk about recognising when something isn't right, having those difficult conversations, and most importantly, knowing when it's time to encourage someone to get professional support.We also get into reframing negative thoughts, neuroplasticity, the connection between our physical and mental health, and why some of the really basic things we can do every day can have such a big impact on how we feel.But probably the biggest message from this episode is a simple one:Recovery is possible.Conor was incredibly open about his own experiences and we really appreciate him trusting us enough to share his story.We'd also like to acknowledge Bodywhys – The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland and the incredibly important work they do supporting people affected by eating disorders, as well as their families and friends.If anything discussed in this episode resonates with you, or you're worried about yourself or someone close to you, please consider reaching out for professional support.You can learn more about the support and services available through Bodywhys at bodywhys.ie.Chapters00:00 — Conor Nolan's Journey03:12 — Why Conor Got Involved in Mental Health Advocacy08:17 — Eating Disorders, Recovery & Self-Acceptance23:26 — Recognising the Warning Signs & Asking for Help31:16 — The Role of Coaches & Therapists33:28 — Reframing Your Thoughts & Neuroplasticity35:34 — Finding the Right Support41:42 — The Complexity of Mental Health53:32 — Recovery & Learning to Think Differently59:33 — Mental Health, Stigma & Physical Health01:01:15 — Quick-Fire QuestionsSupportBodywhys – The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland provides support and information to people affected by eating disorders, including family members and friends.For information on their support services, visit bodywhys.ie.If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow or subscribe to the Two Eejits Talking Fitness Podcast, leave us a rating, and send this episode to someone you think might benefit from hearing Conor's story.