Liv Label Free | Neurodivergent Eating Disorder Recovery

What if unnecessary calories were one of the most necessary aspects of living a meaningful life? In today’s episode, Livia Sara explores the concept of “unnecessary calories” through a client’s fear of butter, revealing how this restrictive thinking is actually a manifestation of deeper existential fears. You’ll learn: The hidden meaning behind labeling foods as having “unnecessary calories” and h...

What if we viewed “eating disorder behaviors” as adaptive responses to an unsafe world? In this special episode, Livia Sara is interviewed by Harriet Parsons and Jenny Langley from the BodyWhys Podcast about her view of reframing eating disorders as adaptations, and how this perspective can support individuals moving from quasi recovery to a life of freedom and purpose. Highlights of the episode:...

Traditional eating disorder recovery advice tends to be harmful for autistic people. Many regulation techniques are often labeled as behaviors to be eliminated, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness. But there is another way! In today’s episode, Livia speaks to Rob about his personal journey with binge eating disorder and how discovering his autism has helped him develop more effective coping...

It’s time for another spontaneous life update! In this unscripted episode, I share some major changes and exciting announcements – including new books, moving overseas, the launch of the Autistically ED-Free Membership, reflections on the fear of relapse, and how I’m dealing with my own fear of failure. 🌈 Join the  Autistically ED-Free Membership 💗 Join the Liv Label Free weekly newsletter...

How many calories should you eat in anorexia recovery? I used to obsessively watch “What I Eat in a Day” videos and scroll Reddit threads in a desperate attempt to answer this question. But the more I searched, the more lost and confused I felt. If you resonate with the fear of “not knowing how much to eat,” this episode will transform how you approach food freedom. You’ll learn: Why asking “how m...

It’s no secret that people with anorexia often engage in excessive amounts of exercise. When you combine that hallmark restlessness with neurodivergent traits like anxiety, perseverance, masking, and a constant state of fight-or-flight mode, you have the perfect storm for exercise addiction. But what if these same traits could become powerful tools in ED recovery? In the second installment of this...

When you think of exercise addiction and eating disorders, you might picture someone trying to burn calories or using movement as punishment. But for neurodivergent individuals, the story often looks different. In today’s episode, host Livia Sara shares her journey with exercise addiction through an autistic lens, challenging common misconceptions and offering a fresh perspective on the complex re...

Do you feel like you're never good enough? In this unscripted, spontaneous episode, I dive deep into my current struggle with perfectionism in writing and the surprising parallels to eating disorder recovery. Recorded with no planning or outline, this raw exploration reveals how the fear of failure follows us beyond recovery into creative pursuits. What you'll hear: Why I'm experiencing intense an...

"What if I can't handle being healthy?" This question haunted me for years, echoing through my thoughts each time I contemplated recovery. My eating disorder was never about the food, the weight, or even the physical aspects of health – it was about what being "well" would mean. Because being healthy meant being responsible. In this episode, we explore how eating disorders can function as a shield...

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in crisis? You're not alone. As someone who understands the unique challenges at the intersection of autism and eating disorders, I've created this guided audio to be your hand to hold in moments of darkness and despair. What This Recording Offers:   Immediate anxiety and panic relief through guided breathing   Grounding techniques for autistic pe...

When does dedication to fitness become a dangerous obsession? Is it healthy to lose weight after an eating disorder? In today’s episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia Sara chats with Ashleigh Marie Hubbard, a certified nutrition and health coach who’s passionate about helping people build sustainable habits and improve their relationship with food, exercise, and their bodies. We delve into t...

Last year, I went through a second puberty. It wasn’t something I planned to share. But as I tossed and turned one night, I knew I had to let the words flow out of me. So I grabbed my phone, opened the VoiceMemos app, and started talking about my recent body changes. The recording captured several neurodivergent experiences of eating disorders, including: Fear of growing up and being healthy Physi...

How can autistic people make peace with weight gain in eating disorder recovery? After exploring the underlying reasons for the fear of weight gain in Part 1 and Part 2 of this weight gain series, Part 3 is all about how to accept a healthy body. Livia challenges the conventional “love your body” narrative and instead, offers an ecological approach that particularly resonates with the autistic min...

For many autistic people with anorexia, the fear of weight gain has nothing to do with a desire to be thin. In Part 2 of this Fear of Weight Gain Series, Livia unpacks eight reasons why autistic people may fear weight gain – that are unrelated to body image concerns. You'll learn: How sensory sensitivities can make weight gain feel like being trapped in an ill-fitting costume Why the numbing effec...

Why do autistic people fear weight gain? Contrary to popular belief, autistic folks with anorexia may not deal with body image issues or have a fear of fatness. In Part 1 of this 3-part Fear of Weight Gain Series, Livia explains how eating disorders can serve as survival mechanisms in an overwhelming world. She also shares her personal story of anorexia without body dysmorphia, highlighting how tr...

Many people assume that eating more and gaining weight in anorexia recovery will automatically lead to improved focus, mood, and energy. But for many, the reality feels different. In this episode, Livia dives into the biological and psychological reasons why restriction can create a sense of sharpness and focus – and why this state, while enticing, comes at a significant cost. Through a powerful m...

Routines play an important role in the lives of autistic individuals, offering structure and safety – but they can also lead to challenges, especially when paired with eating disorders. In this episode, Livia and Mike delve into how routines shape autistic experiences, how they intersect with food and movement behaviors, and why flexibility is crucial for recovery. Together, they explore how...

The term "all in recovery" has gained traction in eating disorder spaces, but does it really lead to true freedom? In this episode, Livia Sara unpacks the origins, misconceptions, and limitations of the all in approach. Through the lens of her own recovery journey, she explores how labels like "all in" or "in recovery" can keep us stuck in cycles of black-and-white thinking and perpetuate the eati...

Black-and-white thinking, also known as all-or-nothing or polarized thinking, is often labeled as a barrier to recovery for autistic individuals with eating disorders. But what if this mindset isn't a flaw to fix, but an adaptive response designed to protect and conserve energy in an overwhelming world? In this episode, you’ll learn: The role of black-and-white thinking in neurodivergent individua...

In this follow-up Q&A episode, Livia and Mike tackle two insightful listener questions about navigating daily challenges as neurodivergent entrepreneurs. With practical tips and lived experience, they unpack how to overcome analysis paralysis, create flexible routines, and manage the pressure of perfection. You’ll learn:   How to balance structure with flexibility in daily life   Tip...

Demand avoidance can be one of the most misunderstood aspects of autism, especially when it intersects with eating disorders. What may seem like defiance or resistance is often an attempt to preserve autonomy and regain a sense of safety. In this episode, I’ll be breaking down what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) really is, how it impacts eating behaviors, and why reframing our approach can ma...

Family-Based Therapy (FBT), often hailed as the "gold standard" for eating disorder treatment, claims to help families take control of recovery. Unfortunately, this approach can be harmful for autistic people. In this episode, Livia shares her lived experience and insights on why FBT can clash with the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. From issues of autonomy to the oversimplified priori...

Are you or someone you care for always in fight-or-flight mode? In today’s episode, I’m sharing how a foot injury forced me to stop, rest, and confront the fears I’d been avoiding for years – stillness, emptiness, and a relentless desperation to distract myself. I also answer a listener question about viewing autistic burnout through the lens of energy debt. We’ll explore why this parallel makes s...

Traditional eating disorder treatment tends to overlook the unique needs of autistic individuals. This leads to invalidation, trauma, and harmful labels. In today's episode, I share my personal story of growing up undiagnosed autistic, how this shaped my eating disorder, and the journey I took to find true freedom. Whether you or someone you care about is struggling with food, exercise, or bo...

Interoception, the sense that helps us recognize our internal bodily signals like hunger and thirst, is often impaired in individuals with autism and eating disorders. But could this "missing sense" be the key to understanding the overlap between autism and anorexia? In this episode, I explore how interoceptive challenges affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and body image, drawing connec...