Tips for Embracing Summer in Eating Disorder Recovery
When I think of summer, I think of wakeboarding.
I think of grilling out with my friends, salty beach hair, ice cream dripping out the bottom of a waffle cone, and catching fireflies.
But sometimes, the reality of summer isn’t that glamorous. Summer also means packing up my favorite hoodies and saying hello to tank tops and swimsuits—activities that aren’t always fun for someone who’s in recovery from an eating disorder. Not to mention beach vacations, which on one hand can be fun and relaxing, but on the other, can bring challenging food exposures and little-to-no routines.
Like any season, summer has its challenges; but that doesn’t mean summer can’t be restful and fun, even in recovery.
Here are three things I’ve been focusing on this summer to keep summer feeling like summer, without compromising my recovery.
1. Embracing Summer Foods
Eating disorders love “safe foods”. They thrive on routine and control. But summer is too short to miss out on the amazing foods that are unique to its season!
This summer, I’ve been throwing my routines to the wayside when it comes to the grocery store. Each week when I make my grocery list, I write down a few foods I can try that are unique to summer. Sometimes it looks like Googling “best summer recipes” and picking out something fun, and sometimes it’s remembering that there’s nothing better than a juicy tomato on a medium rare cheeseburger and a Martin’s potato roll bun.
While my summer grocery hauls have included a lot less of my “safe foods,” the freedom of enjoying cold watermelon, blueberry peach pie, grilled corn on the cob, and strawberry basil margaritas has by far made up for it.
2. Finding a Feel-Good Swimsuit
Okay don’t get me wrong, I’m all about stepping outside of comfort zones in recovery. But going “outside of your comfort zone” doesn’t have to mean sporting a string bikini during your family beach vacation when just reading the word “swimsuit” makes your heart rate spike. Finding a swimsuit is challenging enough—no need to make it more challenging than it already is.
This summer, I made it a priority to buy a suit that makes me feel good, rather than one that was particularly challenging. It took some searching and spending a little more than I would have been comfortable spending in years past, but it’s been so worth it to feel fully present when I’m with friends and family, rather than feel like I’m not even there because I’m so caught up with the way my body looks and feels.
To the person reading this thinking, “there is literally no swimsuit I would feel comfortable in right now.” That’s okay too. My tip to you: buy a beach coverup, sun hat, or fun sandals to wear too. You’ll feel great walking out to whatever body of water you’re off to, and you never know how a great start could impact the rest of your day.
3. Building a Summer Bucket List
Eating disorders love to ruin fun. They wait until you’re feeling a little off, and then all of the sudden, you’re not actually in the mood to do anything you said you wanted to do.
This summer, my roommate and I decided to build a summer bucket list to combat that. None of the things on our list are very difficult to accomplish, but they can be when ED is suddenly in my ear telling me I don’t want to do any of them.
Here are a few examples of the things I included on my list:
Host a block party
Roast s’mores
Float down the river
Make homemade cobbler
Go to a drive-in movie
As you can see, none of them are exactly “lofty goals.” But, they are all things I want to do, and writing them on my bucket list (rather than just saying I’ll do them one day) holds me accountable to do the things I know will bring me joy.
Making a summer bucket list has allowed me to prioritize and make plans around the things I want to do—things that make summer feel like summer—without letting my eating disorder try to convince me otherwise.
In a couple of months when I look back at this summer, I want to think of things like wakeboarding, salty beach hair, drive-in movies and homemade cobbler.
These three areas I’m focusing on are helping that be true for me, but I encourage you to ask yourself: What are some things you can do this summer to make sure summer feels like summer to you, regardless of where you are in your recovery journey?
About Kathryn: Kathryn is a former Rock Client who moved to Northern Virginia shortly after graduating from VA Tech in 2019. She discovered Rock through a Google search at the start of the pandemic, and thanks to Zoom, she was able to participate in the Body Image Group, Set Free Group, and 1:1 counseling all from home. Although she has never seen Rock in person, she attributes much of her recovery journey to her experiences at Rock. Kathryn now lives in Charlotte, NC, and in her free time, you can find her reading, hosting block parties, and trying to master the art of a homemade pie crust.