Today I’m talking to Melanie Gibson, from Texas, USA; athlete, writer, corporate employee, eating disorder survivor and creator of the blog Little Black Belt. Melanie’s healing journey has been intrinsically linked with the sport of taekwondo. She began taekwondo training at age ten, then took a 22-year break, before returning to it in her early thirties. Melanie is a second degree black belt and is a third degree black belt candidate. Melanie began having body image issues around the age of 13, this leading to restrictive eating and later over-exercise and binge eating, through her teens and into her twenties. The eating issues calmed somewhat for many years, although body image struggles remained. Melanie loved sports and being active but this was also a way to manage body image concerns. Then in February 2021, at the age of 41, Melanie returned to therapy after experiencing multiple stressors in 2020 (not only a global pandemic but an anterior cruciate ligament tear, surgery, and grueling workplace demands). Her identity as an athlete, martial artist and all-fit person came crashing down. Melanie found herself returning to restricting food and obsessively weighing again and was diagnosed with atypical anorexia nervosa.
Thankfully, today, Melanie is now doing much better and, on a journey, to overcoming her eating disorder. In this episode, she talks about her working on her mental health and eating disorder over the years, through taekwondo, therapy and other tools, moving towards a place of true recovery and healing. Melanie’s book: - Kicking and Screaming: a Memoir of Madness and Martial Arts is available wherever books are sold. Do get a copy! I hope that you enjoy this conversation.
To find out more about Melanie:
- https://littleblackbelt.com/
https://littleblackbelt.com/get-the-book/
Email: mdgwrites@gmail.com
Twitter: Melanie Gibson Author / @TaekwondoLBB
Instagram: @melaniegibsonauthor
Facebook: Melanie Gibson Author
What Helped Me to Heal from Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating with Ronni Robinson
Trauma Informed Nutritional Care and Creative Approaches in Eating Disorder Recovery, with Annyck Besso
A Deep Dive into Body Dysmorphic Disorder
A quick message from Harriet Frew
Eating Disorder Recovery and Unmet Childhood Needs, with Victoria Kleinsman and Harriet Frew
When you Don't Feel Good Enough and How to Change This, in Eating Disorder Recovery
Healing your Wounded Inner Child in Eating Disorder Recovery, with Amber Romaniuk
The Importance of Relationships, Friendship, Connection and Co-Regulation in Eating Disorder Recovery
A Parent's Experience of Supporting her Daughter with Anorexia Nervosa, with Linda Åkerlund
Mirror Exposure Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery
Eating Disorder Recovery: An Experience as a Black Woman, Prioritising Mental Health and Body Acceptance, with Jayde Barber
What is Body Neutrality? How Can You Embrace It?
How Fashion can Support Identity, Creativity, Healing and Self-Love in Eating Disorder Recovery, with Anne Richardson
Dealing with Comments About your Eating and People Dieting Around You, When You're in Eating Disorder Recovery
Binge Eating, Emotions, Self-Care and Body Image with Dr. Marianne Miller
Dealing with Relapse in Eating Disorder Recovery
Body Image and Disordered Eating in Athletes, Fitness Enthusiasts and Sport, with Matt Davis
A Perspective to Help You Let Go of your Eating Disorder
Developing Innovative and Personalised Treatment Programmes for People with Eating Disorders, with Professor Melainie Rogers (BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center™)
Overcoming Mental Restriction in Eating Disorder Recovery
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Your Sleep Guru Podcast
Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga
Men Do Talk Podcast
The Dr. John Delony Show
On Purpose with Jay Shetty