The Food Rules are Fake

In this Eating Disorder Awareness Month episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, stressy messy AuDHD therapist, am joined by Bailey Pilant to talk about disordered eating in neurodivergent people, especially binge eating disorder, with guest appearances by bulimia and ARFID. We explain why “just listen to your body” is wildly unhelpful advice when your hunger cues are basically non existent, and how restriction, calorie tracking, nighttime binges tend to show up together. We get into the AuDHD mechanics behind it all, including executive dysfunction, hyperfocus, sensory issues, dopamine seeking, medication effects, and the fear of being perceived. We also talk about why shame and punishment don’t actually change behavior, despite diet culture’s strong insistence otherwise. We challenge food rules like earning meals and labeling foods good or bad, share realistic strategies for getting fed when functioning is low, and discuss sensory barriers, clothing, body changes across life stages, and the emotional experience of weight fluctuation. We close with thoughts on self compassion, appreciating what bodies can do.  00:00 Welcome to Clinically Awkward + ED Awareness Month (Content Warning) 01:47 What Is Binge Eating Disorder? 03:37 Calorie-Tracking, Restriction, and Executive Dysfunction 17:37 Diet Culture, “Good vs Bad” Foods, and ‘Just Get Fed’ Strategies 20:22 Food Hyperfixations, Saving Calories, and Breaking the Food Rules 27:54 Sensory Issues, ARFID, and Being Perceived 32:31 Bodies Change Over Time. That's Normal. 38:09 Leggings vs Jeans, and Why Your Body Isn’t the Problem 41:39 Eating Disorder vs Disordered Eating 44:36 ARFID Tools: Cooking Shortcuts and Experimenting with Texture  49:22 Spaghetti Defeats Food Moralizing, and What We’d Tell Our Past Selves