http://www.fullofbeansed.co.uk/

Full of Beans, Cambridge (2026)

09/03/2026

If recovery still tells people not to be fat, is it really recovery?

In the latest episode of the Full of Beans Podcast, I’m joined by Mel Ciavucco to talk about weight stigma, eating disorders, and the harm that happens when fear of fatness is never properly explored.

This conversation felt so important because for so many people, the fear of weight gain sits right at the centre of the eating disorder.

And yet treatment can still miss the deeper question:

what is it that feels so scary about being in a larger body?

We talk about:

✨ Why weight stigma is so embedded in eating disorder treatment

✨ Why people in larger bodies are often overlooked or misunderstood

✨ How comments like “don’t worry, we won’t let you get fat” reinforce harm

✨ Why therapists need to reflect on their own anti-fat bias

✨ What it means to build safety in recovery, whatever body that recovery leads to

One of the biggest takeaways for me was this: Recovery cannot truly feel safe if being in a larger body is still treated as unacceptable.

You can also find Mel on Instagram:

06/03/2026

My frienf very kindly reminded me today that even though I sometimes have bad days, compared to where I’ve come from life is so different now.

So I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the beliefs I had that through recovery I now realise were the eating disorder terrifying me out of living.

I have so many more to share so expect round 2, 3, 4… but I’d love to know if you relate to any of these 💛

03/03/2026

In this episode of Full of Beans, I’m joined by Charlotte Markey, Professor of Psychology and a world-leading expert in body image research.

Girls today are growing up in a world of constant comparison, where social media, beauty culture, and unrealistic expectations can make it harder than ever to feel comfortable in their bodies.

Charlotte highlights that body image isn’t just about appearance; it shapes confidence, mental health, relationships, and the way young people move through the world.

In this episode, we explore:
🧠 What research tells us about the pressures girls (and boys) face today
💛 Why body image concerns often linger, even in eating disorder recovery
📱 How social media can increase risk, and how to make your feed a safer place
🌱 Why puberty can be a particularly vulnerable time for girls’ body image
💬 How parents, teachers, and professionals can start supportive conversations
⚖️ The importance of validation and communication

If you’re a parent, educator, clinician, or someone who wishes the conversation around body image had happened earlier for you, this episode is for you.

The earlier we talk about body image, the more we can protect young people from carrying these struggles into adulthood.

⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, weight and appearance pressures, puberty, and social media. Please take care when listening.

24/02/2026

This week is eating disorder awareness and the theme this year is community. I wanted to share a little bit about how community made my recovery possible.

I have never felt more alone than I did in the depth of my eating disorder.

I remember the euphoria when the behaviours began. I thought this would make me more confident, more attractive, more loved.

There was a short time where it felt like that might be true, but then everything changed.

When people commented on how I looked, I thought they were lying or judging me. I didn’t want to see anyone. I didn’t want people interrupting my plans, questioning what I was doing, or noticing what was really going on.

My world became smaller and smaller as an interactions felt exhausting, I stayed home more andI pushed people away. I ate alone so I could restrict, I exercised alone so I didn’t have to slow down and I spent more and more time on my own because the eating disorder was already loud enough in my head.

And then came recovery.

Community didn’t suddenly appear overnight. It started small. A catch up with an old friend, a dinner with my parents, teeny tiny baby steps to feel more comfortable around those I hadn’t seen for a while… and the to making new friends.

Slowly, my world began to grow again. Seeing friends. Shared meals. Joining a dance studio. Laughing. Learning a new skill. Growing my podcast. Signing up to a new gym. Remembering what life felt like beyond the eating disorder.

Every moment of connection made me want more… I didn’t want my world to keep shrinking. I wanted to experience more connection and joy.

Community has been one of the biggest parts of my recovery. Not because it was instant or perfect, but because it grew, step by step.

This Eating Disorders Awareness Week, if things feel lonely right now, please know you’re not alone.

Community doesn’t have to be big. Sometimes it starts with one safe person, one conversation, or one small step back towards the world. And you don’t have do it alone.

22/02/2026

what I thought recovery could be:
- weight gain
- endless food
- a perpetual desire to be thin again
- longing, loneliness, desperation

what recovery has actually been:
good days and bad days mixed together with laughter, joy and connection. deeper friendships than before, hopes for the future, excitement for get together, cakes from friends, slow mornings and busy days, sofa weekends and adventurous holidays. exploring. discovering. dreaming. loving. laughing. living. learning who i am, what i value, what I stand for. learning to speak up, share my opinion, be myself, love others, accept love. feel sadness, joy, happiness, anger, longing, pain. deep conversations, endless inspiration, constant daydreaming, new beliefs.

one thing is for sure, I didn’t expect recovery to look how it does. I didn’t expect to feel more connected to myself, my friends, our planet, yet i do. by letting go, i didn’t lose control… i let myself fly ✨💛

here’s to another year of learning, growing, loving and most importantly laughing.

11/02/2026

The love story we didn’t know we needed - Hango.

Forever grateful for my recovery making moments like this possible. I never knew life could feel like this. So much peace.

08/01/2026

Taking a moment to reflect on the past 5 years since I finished my eating disorder masters at UCL, as today I’m off to visit somewhere I dreamt of during my masters.

I’ve just been scrolling through my phone, and realised the past 5 years have been turbulent to say the least. From personal to professional growth, it’s been an absolute roller coaster.

In that time I’ve had 5 jobs. Every single time not understanding why none of them felt right. But in a very non-Hannah way, I trusted my instincts and I kept moving. I started a podcast and fell in love with talking to people and sharing their story. I carried on trusting myself and decided to go self employed, so I could truly help as many people as possible.

I think the biggest thing I have really reflected on in the past 5 years is my relapse and recovery. I’m no psychologist, but in my personal experience I do believe living with an eating disorder is a form of trauma, and I think my brain has shut a lot of that away. To protect me. That’s okay, but I do want to reflect on how far I’ve come.

And I want to thank myself, for even in the darkest moments believing that something better was possible.

Today really shows that, and I’m so incredibly excited for the future knowing whatever happens, I have my back and will continue to do my best.

I’m pretty proud today. And I’m so happy to say that. 💛

31/12/2025

To every client who put their trust in me, thank you.
To every podcast guest who shared their story, thank you.
To everyone working in this industry, thank you.
To everyone who crossed the colleague to friend barrier because this world is a lonely place self employed, thank you.
To everyone who listened to the podcast, thank you.
To everyone who walked alongside my recovery, thank you.

No matter how our paths have crossed this year, thank you. This year has been the year I finally committed to long term recovery and I’ve never felt this distant from my eating disorder before. I know I still have work to do, but I have hope for the future.

I am so excited to see what life, full of beans, and this field has to offer in 2026.

See you on the other side x

29/12/2025

A gentle reminder that if you’re walking around thinking you’re better than someone else with your new diet, no one wants to hear it.

In all honesty though I know how hard this time of year can be so if you’re feeling the pressure to shrink yourself, I’m sorry. But let’s address this by being open and digging deeper as to why we want to shrink.

Sending lots of love to everyone. Let’s make 2026 you make yourself brighter, not the year you dull your sparkle ###

I

23/12/2025

Celebrating all this FOB with my bestie 💛✨

02/12/2025

The way the world glorifies restrictive eating and excessive exercise, then disguises it as “health” can make understanding whether your relationship with food and body so freaking confusing.

I know spent ages going back and forth about whether my behaviours were safe or disordered, and most of the time that was because I’d compare myself to someone else and think if they’re doing it, it must be alright?

Well we are so wrong - just because it seems like others are doing it definitely doesn’t mean it’s right, or what you need to do! And often we don’t see the full picture of other people. Maybe they cut out carbs, but how much are they ruminating over food, obsessing over their weight, missing social events…?

We often focus on restriction and exercise above all else, but life is about so much more!!!

This post was inspired by a recent episode with Zoë, founder of , where we discussed Zoë’s experience of orthorexia and how so many of her behaviours weren’t seen as a problem, even though in retrospect now we can see just how damaging they were!

I’d love to hear if there are other behaviours you think could be added to this post?? 🤔

26/11/2025

‘Tis the season for conferences, apparently?!

Another fantastic day yesterday at The Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Eating Disorder conference!

It was a pleasure to speak with my fellow carer rep, Sheila Boniface, as part of the faculty discussion, and to share our findings from the Severe and Enduring Eating Disorder work we have been doing alongside Dr Ashish Kumar, Agnes Ayton, Dr Maria Livanou, Marta Marlais, Francesca Marshall, and Jun Yi Teh! I think one thing was clear from all presentations, meeting someone where they are at and providing treatment right for their unique experience is vital - not simply basing it on their diagnosis.

The highlight of the day for me was hearing Dr David Ochando and his team discuss the development of their ADHD pathway for eating disorder patients. We need so much more research in this area, so it was amazing to hear this is being provided to patients!

Thank you to everyone for making it such a great day. It was great to catch up with so many familiar faces, and it was wonderful to be in a room with so many people who are dedicated to learning more about eating disorders and improving patient care.

Full of Beans

09/03/2026

06/03/2026

03/03/2026

24/02/2026

22/02/2026

11/02/2026

08/01/2026

31/12/2025

29/12/2025

23/12/2025

02/12/2025

26/11/2025

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