Ashley Cross Eating Disorders Service, London (2026)

14/01/2026

In early January, there’s so much pressure to “start strong,” to be consistent every day, to never slip, never struggle, never doubt yourself.

But recovery doesn’t work like that.

Recovery isn’t about being perfect — it’s about showing up.

Showing up looks different every day:
✨ Eating when your appetite is absent
✨ Bringing your meal with you even when you feel embarrassed
✨ Letting a parent support you at dinner
✨ Choosing not to compensate after a meal
✨ Being honest in therapy
✨ Trying again after a setback
✨ Taking one step — even a tiny one — when the eating disorder tells you not to bother

For families:
Showing up may mean sitting with your child during meals, holding boundaries with compassion, not panicking when things wobble, and reminding them gently that imperfect days are still part of recovery.

For those struggling:
You don’t have to do everything right to heal.
You don’t need a flawless week, a flawless meal plan, or a flawless mindset.
You just need to keep showing up — to meals, to support, to yourself.

If you or your loved one needs help building structure, regulating emotions, reducing avoidance, or navigating ARFID or disordered eating this year, I’m here.
Recovery becomes possible when you don’t have to walk it alone.

💛 Book a free enquiry call:
https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

You’re doing better than you think.
Showing up counts — every single time.

07/01/2026

January often arrives with loud messages about “starting fresh,” fixing your body, setting strict resolutions, or becoming a “better version” of yourself.

But for anyone affected by an eating disorder — and for the families supporting them — this pressure can feel overwhelming.

So here’s your reminder for the start of the year:

Small steps add up.
Choose progress, not perfection.

Recovery doesn’t require huge, dramatic changes overnight.
It isn’t measured in perfect days, flawless meals, or never struggling again.
In fact, healing often looks like tiny shifts that don’t feel like much in the moment:

✨ Eating earlier than usual
✨ Adding one more safe food
✨ Showing up to a meal you wanted to skip
✨ Using a coping skill instead of a behaviour
✨ Letting someone support you
✨ Allowing yourself rest
✨ Trying again after a hard moment

For families and carers:
You don’t need to fix everything at once.
Your consistency, your calm, and your presence are powerful — even when progress feels slow.

For those in recovery:
You’re not meant to be perfect.
Recovery is built on repetition, compassion, and small steps taken again and again.
What matters is that you keep moving forward, even if some days it’s only by a few centimetres.

If you or your loved one needs more support this year — with structured eating, ARFID, binge–restrict cycles, anxiety around food, or emotional eating — I’m here. You don’t have to navigate 2026 alone.

💛 Book a free enquiry call:
https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

Small steps count.
Small steps heal.
Small steps become big change.

31/12/2025

The idea of a “cheat day” comes from diet culture — not from health, not from science, and certainly not from eating disorder recovery.

Here’s the truth:

You don’t need a cheat day.
All foods fit.
There is no such thing as “cheating” on something your body genuinely needs.

For many people with eating disorders, the language of “good foods” and “bad foods” becomes one of the biggest barriers to healing.
It turns nourishment into morality.
It turns hunger into guilt.
And it creates the illusion that enjoying food is somehow “wrong.”

But food is not a test you pass or fail.
It is not a reward.
It is not something you earn.
It is a basic need — physically, emotionally, and socially.

For individuals struggling:
If you’re working to rebuild regular eating, a cheat day only reinforces the restriction-binge cycle. Your body doesn’t need punishment. It needs predictability, permission, and safety.

For families and carers:
When supporting someone in recovery, the way you talk about food matters. Neutral language helps reduce fear and shame, especially around festive foods during the holidays.

Recovery means:
✨ All foods can have a place.
✨ Eating isn’t breaking a rule.
✨ Nourishment is not a “treat” — it’s essential.

If you or your loved one is navigating food guilt, binge-restrict cycles, or fear foods, you don’t have to do this alone.
I support children, teens, and adults through eating disorder recovery with evidence-based therapy and compassionate guidance.

💛 Book a free enquiry call with me:
https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

You’re not cheating.
You’re feeding a body that needs — and deserves — consistent nourishment.

24/12/2025

So many people enter the holiday season feeling pressure to shrink, to take up less space, to “make up” for what they’ve eaten, or to brace themselves for comments about bodies and weight.

But let this land:

You do not need to shrink yourself to be worthy.
Your value is never measured by your body size.

Eating disorders often convince people that worth is conditional — on discipline, on thinness, on control, on the number on the scale.
And for families, it can be heartbreaking to watch someone you love tie their identity to a body that is always “never enough.”

But worthiness is not earned through deprivation.
It is not found in a smaller body.
It is something you already have — regardless of shape, weight, hunger cues, or where you are in recovery.

For individuals struggling:
Your body is not the problem.
The way you’ve been taught to fear, judge, or punish it is the problem.
Healing is about learning to take up space again — emotionally, physically, and in your life.

For families and carers:
Your voice matters.
Your gentle reminders, your non-judgmental language, your support at meals… all of it helps loosen the eating disorder’s grip.

If this season is bringing up body anxiety, food guilt, or the urge to restrict or compensate, you’re not alone — and there is support for both you and your family.

💛 Book a free enquiry call with me:
https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

Your body is allowed to exist.
You are allowed to take up space.
And you deserve a life bigger than the eating disorder.

17/12/2025

Healing from an eating disorder is rarely a straight line.
Most people imagine recovery as a moment of sudden confidence — a day when you finally “feel ready.”

But the truth is this:

You deserve to heal, even if part of you is scared.
Most people begin recovery before they feel fully ready.
Because the fear doesn’t mean you’re not capable — it simply means your brain is protecting you from change, even when that change is good.

For individuals struggling:
It’s normal if part of you wants to get better… and another part is terrified.
You can still take the next step.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need support.

For families and carers:
Your loved one might seem resistant or ambivalent, and that doesn’t mean they don’t want to recover.
Often, fear shows up as frustration, withdrawal, or shutting down.
Your patience, consistency, and understanding help more than you realise.

Recovery isn’t about being fearless.
It’s about being supported enough to keep going, even when you’re scared.

If you or your child is struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, ARFID, emotional eating, or food-related anxiety — I’m here, and you don’t have to navigate this alone.

💛 Book a free enquiry call with me:
https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

You deserve a future where food feels safer, life feels bigger, and your body is no longer a battleground.

Even if part of you is scared today — you’re still worthy of healing.

10/12/2025

Christmas can be especially tough when you or someone you love is navigating an eating disorder.
There are bigger meals, more people watching, more comments, more pressure… and often, more comparison.

So here’s your gentle reminder:

You do not need to compare your plate to someone else’s.
And you certainly don’t need to make your plate smaller just because you’ve looked around the table and noticed what others are eating.

This is one of the most common traps during the holidays:
🍽️ “They took less… so I should too.”
🍽️ “I don’t want anyone to notice if I take more.”
🍽️ “My portion must be wrong if it looks different.”

But recovery doesn’t work that way.

Your plate reflects your body’s needs, your hunger cues (even if they’re still reconnecting), your meal plan, your healing process.
It is not supposed to match anyone else’s — and in many cases, eating disorder recovery requires more structure and more consistency, not less.

For families and carers:
If your loved one begins adjusting their portion because they’ve compared it to someone else’s, gently bring them back to their needs, their plan, their recovery. Your reassurance is incredibly powerful in moments like these.

For those in recovery:
Your plate is allowed to be different.
It’s allowed to be enough.
You are allowed to nourish yourself even when others take less.

And if this season feels overwhelming, you’re not supposed to handle it alone.

I support individuals and families affected by anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, emotional eating, and food-related anxiety — with structured guidance, compassion, and evidence-based care.

💛 If you or your family need support, book a free enquiry call:
https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

You deserve a Christmas where your plate feels safe…
and where recovery is still possible, even during the hardest season.

05/11/2025

📢 What You Eat Today Does NOT Have to Be ‘Earned’ Tomorrow.

🍕🥑🍫 Whether it’s salad or dessert, a big meal or a snack—you don’t have to compensate for eating.

🚫 No extra workouts.
🚫 No restricting the next day.
🚫 No guilt.

💡 Food is nourishment, not a transaction. Your body doesn’t keep a scorecard—it just wants to be fueled and cared for.

So eat, rest, live. No compensation needed. Just nourishment. 💛

31/10/2025

Wondering if Ozempic or Similar Drugs Are Right for You? Let’s Talk About Readiness.

Every week, I get asked:
“Nicole, is Ozempic right for me?”
And honestly? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

These medications can be helpful in very specific cases, but they also come with complex physical and psychological impacts that often go undiscussed. That’s why I want to have a more honest conversation about readiness—beyond the prescription pad.

Here’s what being “ready” might look like:

✅ You’ve developed strong emotional regulation skills and no longer rely on food to cope.
✅ You’ve significantly reduced binge eating through behavioural and therapeutic work—not just suppression.
✅ You maintain regular, balanced eating habits across your day.
✅ You feel comfortable eating all foods—without guilt or shame.
✅ Your desire to lose weight is rooted in health, not appearance, self-hate, or societal pressure.

Sound like you? Then maybe it’s worth a conversation.
But if these things aren’t yet true—that’s not a failure. It just means there’s foundational healing work still to do. And you deserve the support to do it safely.

💬 Let’s stop rushing into powerful drugs without psychological scaffolding.
Let’s build a recovery and health journey that lasts.

📥 Download my free GLP-1 reflection handout here:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube for more videos like this:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Website: www.aceds.co.uk
📞 Phone: 01202 122796

27/10/2025

I Weigh Myself Every Day, and It Controls My Mood

Does the number on the scale determine your mood for the day?

🚫 Weight is not an indicator of self-worth.
🚫 It does NOT measure health, happiness, or success.
🚫 Fluctuations are normal—weight changes due to water, digestion, hormones, and more.

If stepping on the scale ruins your day, consider taking a break from it. Instead, focus on:
✔ How your body feels
✔ Energy levels
✔ Strength, focus, and mood

✨ Your value is not measured in kilograms or pounds.

24/10/2025

Did You Know GLP-1 Drugs Can Increase Anxiety and Suicidal Thoughts?

This isn’t being talked about enough.

A recent 2025 study published in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research found something deeply concerning:
While many people taking GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic or Mounjaro) did experience weight loss, a substantial group also reported an increase in anxiety, low mood, and even suicidal thoughts.

As a psychological therapist and nutritionist, this stops me in my tracks—especially when I think about people with a history of emotional eating, bingeing, or eating disorders.

💬 Because if you’ve relied on food as a coping tool for overwhelming emotions—possibly for years—
Then suddenly suppressing your appetite doesn’t remove the pain.
It removes your ability to numb that pain.
And that can leave people emotionally raw and vulnerable.

When emotional regulation skills aren’t already in place, GLP-1 drugs may amplify distress, not reduce it. This may explain why we’re now seeing suicidality emerge in clinical data.

We need to talk about this.
We need emotional and psychological support to come first, not as an afterthought.

🧠 Download my free GLP-1 reflection handout here:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call with me:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube for more expert videos:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

📱 More support and info: www.aceds.co.uk
📞 Call: 01202 122796

17/10/2025

GLP-1 Meds & Eating Disorders: Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

Thank you so much for watching. If today’s message gave you something to think about—whether it helped you feel more informed, less alone, or simply more empowered—then I hope you’ll stay connected.

I’m Nicole, a psychological therapist and nutritionist specialising in eating disorders, and I know how overwhelming these decisions around weight, medication, and food can be.

That’s why I’m not here to tell you what to do.
I’m here to give you the knowledge, context, and support you need to make a choice that’s safe—for your mind as well as your body.

If you’re considering GLP-1 medications or are currently using them, I’ve created a free reflection handout to guide you through this journey. It will help you think through readiness, risks, emotional triggers, and nutritional needs.

📥 Get the free guide here:
👉 https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/glp-1-reflection-handout

📞 Book a free enquiry call to chat more about therapy or nutrition support:
👉 https://calendly.com/aceds/30min

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 Website: www.aceds.co.uk
📱 Call: 01202 122796

13/10/2025

💬 Ever been told “you’ll grow out of it” or “just eat healthier” when it comes to food struggles? If you’re living with ARFID, you know it’s not that simple.

In this eye-opening video, we break down the reality of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) — from the physical toll on your body to the emotional and social weight it carries. Whether it’s missed meals, iron deficiency, or feeling misunderstood at every gathering… we see you. And we’re here to help you take back control.

Watch now to understand how ARFID really works and how we can begin piecing together a plan that feels manageable, supportive, and real. Plus, get access to a reflective worksheet at the end of the video to start applying what you’ve learned.

📺 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/OpIksiuS9RI
🧠 Free Reflection Resource: https://aceds-online.thinkific.com/bundles/arfid-stage-one-program
📞 Book an enquiry call: https://calendly.com/aceds/30min
🔔 Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1

Ashley Cross Eating Disorders Service

14/01/2026

07/01/2026

31/12/2025

24/12/2025

17/12/2025

10/12/2025

05/11/2025

31/10/2025

27/10/2025

24/10/2025

17/10/2025

13/10/2025

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