Amy’s Latest Premenopausal Moments & A Perspective on Eating Disorders

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show

Episode: Amy’s Latest Premenopausal Moments & A Perspective on Eating Disorders
Date: November 1, 2025
Host: Bobby Bones (Premiere Networks)
Main Contributors: Amy, Morgan

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Overview of the Episode's Theme

This episode centers on candid, listener-driven Q&A with a focus on Amy’s personal experiences with premenopause and eating disorder recovery. Through open dialogue, Amy and Morgan address fan inquiries—ranging from family holiday plans and home remodeling to mental health and body image. The episode’s tone is friendly, affirming, and occasionally vulnerable, providing valuable insights into women’s health and personal growth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Plans & Family Dynamics

• Thanksgiving & Christmas Plans:
  • Amy discusses the complexities of coordinating holidays post-divorce, especially with blended families and evolving traditions.
    • “Thanksgiving, I will be home, and we'll in Nashville with the kids and doing Thanksgiving with my boyfriend and his family...and he always celebrates it with his wife's [family]...she passed away, so still his wife, but her family, too.” (03:29–03:55)
  • Christmas plans are uncertain, largely hinging on custody arrangements with her ex, Ben, and the preferences of her children.
    • “Normally, Colorado, but I don't know. I gotta figure it out with my kids, like, what they want to do.” (04:25)
• Morgan’s Plans:
  • Morgan will spend Christmas and New Year's in Kansas with her boyfriend, noting less complication compared to Amy.

2. Listener Shoutouts & Community Engagement

• Warm shoutouts from fans across the country, highlighting the supportive show community.
  • “Love y’all on the show and love both of your podcasts. Y’all are crushing it.” — Kate in Arizona (02:50)

3. Pimpinjoy Shirts & St. Jude Partnership

• Amy confirms new Pimpinjoy shirts will be available for the December St. Jude Radiothon, especially for “Partners in Hope.”
  • “There's like a camo shirt that says Pimpinjoy that people will get.” (05:52–06:05)

4. Home Remodeling Reflections

• Amy explains her evolving style and satisfaction with her kitchen and entire house overhaul post-divorce.
  • “My last three kitchens have had all white countertops and a dark, dark, dark blue…almost black looking cabinet. Someone pointed that out to me: you did my last three houses?…” (06:25–07:52)
• Discusses the stresses and joys of extensive remodeling, from living with contractors for months to enjoying the refreshed spaces.
  • “I had workers in my house for months and months and months.” (08:44–08:55)
  • Her favorite space? The tiny downstairs guest bath.
    • “It's a little, teeny, tiny guest bathroom, and it's my favorite room.” (09:31–09:37)

5. Beauty Routines—Eyelash Extensions

• Amy details her long-standing relationship with “Amy at Lash” in Nashville for eyelash extensions, including what makes the service feel special and why she’s hesitant to stop.
  • “Obviously, after nine years, she's become my friend and I love our hour together.” (10:05–10:27)
  • Urges listeners not to give up on self-care after a bad first experience:
    • “Don't let one bad experience on something completely rule out…it could be lashes, could be something else.” (11:43–11:55)

6. Navigating Premenopause

• Amy answers how perimenopause impacts her daily life, touching on physical, mental, and emotional symptoms:
  • Emotional ups and downs, disrupted sleep, unpredictable cycles, severe cramps, and joint pain (golfer’s elbow).
    • “My cycles are very irregular, like all over the place...Some of my cramps have been completely out of control.” (15:18–16:15)
  • She manages symptoms with dietary supplements, temperature regulation, and awareness of ADHD’s interaction with hormonal changes.
    • “For a while, I was taking some testosterone, and then I quit, so I need to see if I need to get back on that.” (18:34–18:44)
  • Emphasizes the importance of tracking health, getting medical input, and sharing experiences to reduce stigma and isolation:
    • “With everybody talking about it so much, especially online…you feel less alone. You're like, okay, I'm not crazy.” (17:37–17:56)

7. Eating Disorder Recovery: A Lifelong Journey

• Amy’s deeply personal segment explores lingering challenges and strategies since entering recovery from bulimia and Orthorexia:
  • Recovery is ongoing, with quiet periods and flares tied to traumatic life events.
    • “I think it's something that you deal with for life, but in different ways. It's not as loud.” (19:04–19:24)
    • “When my mom died, it immediately came back…It was like the day after she died…I purged, and then the cycle began.” (20:18–20:37)
    • “That book changed everything for me.” (21:27, referencing Brain Over Binge)
  • She talks about surrendering control, deleting calorie-tracking apps, and working with supportive professionals and loved ones.
    • “My friend Lisa...has a program called Fork the Noise. Because that's all it is. It's like, noise in your head. And she's like, stick a fork in it. And she highly encouraged me to ditch [tracking].” (22:33–23:12)
  • The importance of vigilance, as triggers can re-emerge during major stressors such as divorce or bereavement.
    • “I feel really good about that. But I also have to be on guard that, like, that fork could come loose at any moment.” (24:07–24:24)
  • Discusses relationship dynamics and maintaining boundaries given her history.
    • “Sometimes I have to watch it around [my boyfriend] because I don't want to get sucked back into a certain way…” (27:07–27:56)
  • Offers hope and realistic expectations for others in recovery.
    • “If you’re going through it, yes, I’m sorry. And I wish I could say, oh, yeah, you’ll be good once you’re in recovery. Yay. But you will be...there is always a bright light...it just can be a little messy.” (28:38–28:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family Blending:

  • “They have, like, lots of people, so he's from Nashville, so there's lots of people involved. And then he always celebrates it with his wife's...her family, too.” (03:29–03:55)

• On Pre-menopausal Mood Swings:

  • “I get emotional and irrational at times. My sleep is disrupted at times. I have some night sweats, but not all the time.” (15:18–15:52)

• On Awareness and Recovery:

  • “Awareness is everything. Information is everything.” (17:56)
  • “That fork could come loose at any moment...” (24:17–24:24)
  • “Don’t let one bad experience on something completely rule out, you know, it could be lashes, could be something else.” (11:43–11:55)

• On Self-Compassion During Tough Times:

  • “If I want to just, like, crawl into my bed, I have to give myself that…But I try to set a timer or give myself that time and then get up and then get moving again.” (17:25–17:43)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Holiday Planning and Blended Families (03:29–05:12)
• Kitchen Remodel Revelations (06:19–09:37)
• Amy’s Eyelash Extension Routine (09:42–11:55)
• Pre-Menopause Mental, Emotional & Physical Effects (15:11–18:44)
• Eating Disorder Recovery Explained (19:04–28:51)

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Closing Thoughts

This episode stands out for its authenticity and approachable tone. Amy’s willingness to discuss her journey through perimenopause and eating disorder recovery provides relatable, practical encouragement for listeners facing similar struggles. The lively, honest exchanges with Morgan offer warmth and reassurance, making even the toughest topics accessible and hopeful.

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For more listener questions, personal stories, and community support, tune in weekly to The Bobby Bones Show.

Transcript

[Amy]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. Have you ever tried planning a trip for a group? It can be challenging. One person wants a hotel with a pool. Another wants a vacation rental with a giant kitchen. And someone else wants free wi fi. You know, on booking.com you can find a stay that works for all of them. Hotels and rentals. Whatever you need. It makes the seemingly impossible group trip totally possible. 5. Find exactly what you are booking for booking.com booking. Yeah, that's booking.com booking. Yeah.

[Morgan]

I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I.

[Bobby Bones]

Don'T trust much of anything. It's the rage bait.

[Amy]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Morgan]

We got clear facts.

[Bobby Bones]

Maybe we can calm down a little.

[Amy]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts.

[Bobby Bones]

Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America, Limu Ku and Doug. Here we have the Limu Imu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Morgan]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Bobby Bones]

Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty. Liberty Savings Ferry unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts. You want Black Friday prices without the Black Friday crowds. Lowe's gets it. We checked the calendar and Christmas is coming early. $99 is all you need to grab your favorite select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holiday season. And don't sweat what gifts to get dad, because we've got up to 40% off select tools and accessor. That's how Low celebrates Black Friday. Early selection varies by location while supplies last. Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Now through November 4th. Shop the annual beauty event and save $5 when you spend $25 on select beauty products. Shop in store or online for items like Dove Body Wash Native Body Wash, Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, Dr. Squatch body wash, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, Dial Liquid Hand Soap and Olay Body wash. And save $5 when you spend $25. Ends November 4th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details. Best bits of the week with Morgan.

[Amy]

It's listener Q and A time where.

[Bobby Bones]

Morgan and a show member answer almost all your questions.

[Morgan]

It is time for some listener questions and Amy answers. Are you ready, Amy?

[Amy]

Yes.

[Morgan]

Okay, we got shout outs to start. Love y' all on the show and love both of your podcasts. Y' all are crushing it. That is from Kate in Arizona.

[Amy]

Thanks, Kate.

[Morgan]

Super sweet shout out. Love you, girlies. You both bring such good energy to the show. This is from Leah in Pennsylvania. Two of the prettiest girls. That's from Dana.

[Amy]

Oh, thanks. Very sweet.

[Morgan]

You both are my favorites. It's from Hutto in Texas. And then Carla from Kansas hopes to meet both of us on the Bobby Bones show cruise, which I think will probably happen.

[Amy]

Yeah, we're gonna meet everybody.

[Morgan]

We're gonna be walking around everywhere, so definitely can happen. Carla. All right, first question. Michelle in Texas, what are your upcoming holiday plans?

[Amy]

I don't know yet. I mean, Thanksgiving, I will be home, and we'll in Nashville with the kids and doing Thanksgiving with my boyfriend and his family. So we'll be with. They have, like, lots of people, so he's from Nashville, so there's lots of people involved. And then he always celebrates it with his wife's. She's his. I mean, she passed away, so still his wife, but her family, too.

[Morgan]

Okay.

[Amy]

So they. Her sister. She has a twin sister. Yeah. Last year they all came over to his dad's house, but this year he's like, I think I want to do it at my house. So. And he lives, like, right around the corner from his dad, so I don't know it. Who knows where we'll end up. I'm not too worried about it. I'm trying to get my sister and her family to come, and then it would just be this huge parte. That would be so fun.

[Morgan]

Oh, that would be fun.

[Amy]

Yeah. We'll see if that actually happens. And then Christmas, I have no idea. I gotta figure that out.

[Morgan]

Just winging it right now.

[Amy]

Normally, Colorado, but I don't know. I gotta figure it out with my kids, like, what they want to do. And then talk to Ben, See, because he'll, like Christmas Day. Christmas is two weeks. Like, he'll have them one week, and I have them the other. And normally we swap in Colorado. At least we have the last couple of years. And this year, I don't know if he's for sure gonna go. So then we kind of need to coordinate that.

[Morgan]

I have a lot more plans. And this year, will you potentially spend Christmas at all with your boyfriend and his family?

[Amy]

Well, I don't have. Since I have the kids for Thanksgiving, I don't have them for Christmas Day, so I don't know where I'm gonna be. It depends if I'll stay In Nashville, maybe celebrate with them Christmas Day and then fly to Colorado maybe the next day or so. I don't know. You gotta look at the calendar and figure it out. Yeah. Yeah.

[Morgan]

We will also be here for Thanksgiving. My whole family's coming to town and then. And my boyfriend's family, we got lots of people coming in for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. The boyfriend will be coming with me to Kansas for the first time, so it'll be very exciting. We'll spend Christmas and. And New Year's there. Probably. I'm not a huge New Year's person, so.

[Amy]

Me neither.

[Morgan]

I don't really have a desire to be anywhere specific. As long as I'm with him and people that I like, I'm good.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

So that's the loose plan so far. But I do not have as many moving gears as you do, so that's a little bit more.

[Amy]

Yeah, lots of different moving parts.

[Morgan]

Are you still doing Pimpinjoy shirts? Brittany in Ohio, there will be some.

[Amy]

For the St. Jude radio thon. So if you become a partner in Hope, which that's normally in December, there's like a camo shirt that says Pimpinjoy that people will get.

[Morgan]

Okay, so new one coming for the St. Jude.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

Nice. Okay. How do you enjoy your kitchen after the remodel? That's from Campbell. Campbell camp. I could never say that name. How do you say that name?

[Amy]

Campbell?

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Amy]

I think I always want to say.

[Morgan]

Campbell, like, because it's two words.

[Amy]

Campbell. I love it. I mean, I didn't spend much time in the kitchen when I bought the house, so. But yes, I'm very glad we redid it. Like, it's awesome. I feel like I definitely have. My last three kitchens have had all white countertops and like a dark, dark, dark blue, you know, almost black looking cabinet. Someone pointed that out to me. You did my last three houses? Well, the. My house, our house in East Nashville that I had with Ben before we moved one other time, it came that way. Darker cabinets, almost like. I think the color I used is iron ore. So that was probably the one out there too. But the builder had done it, so. Or the person that renovated the house. And so it was iron ore on the countertops and like a white quartz or marble looking type thing. And then we moved in 2020 to a different house and it had like iron ore cabinets with. And then I ended up putting in. It didn't. Oh, actually, no, it didn't have that. I painted it. I was like, oh, I loved my last kitchen so much. So that I sort of switched the cabinets and the countertops to that. And then when I moved after the divorce and I moved again, I did the same thing.

[Morgan]

So you like that kitchen vibe?

[Amy]

Yes, I guess I do.

[Morgan]

I don't think that's a bad thing. Yeah, it can be comforting for you. And you spend a lot of time in a kitchen.

[Amy]

Yeah. I love that color iron ore, by the way.

[Morgan]

Is it more charcoal or is it a.

[Amy]

It can. It depends on the light. It can look sort of charcoal.

[Morgan]

Y.

[Amy]

And then you in the light, you're like, oh, okay. I see, like, hints of navy.

[Morgan]

Okay. I like that color. And so do you find yourself. I feel like whenever I do something new at the house, like, I mentioned on part one, how we got our. The deck screened in, and now I spend all the kinds of time out there because we had just done it.

[Amy]

Oh, yeah. It's a perfect time of year.

[Morgan]

Yes. But do you feel like you spend more time in the areas that you remodeled? Like, do you spend more time in the kitchen because now it's all new and shiny?

[Amy]

Yeah, we tend to hang out more in the kitchen and living room. This house, though, when we. I. I did every part of the house.

[Morgan]

You remodeled all of it. Mm.

[Amy]

Wow.

[Morgan]

I mean, I remember you were doing a lot of things, but I thought it was more out of necessity. I didn't realize you were kind of re. Redoing some of it.

[Amy]

Yeah, I mean, it wasn't. Oh, but we did every bathroom, and I put hardwoods in everywhere. Yeah. I had workers in my house for months and months and months.

[Morgan]

Like, but all done now.

[Amy]

All done now. Thank goodness. I felt like it took a long time. You know, I just got used to coming from work, and, like, there are always being people there. They're like, hey, y' all want to eat? Like, I was feeding them. Like, yeah, kids got to know them. But yeah, no, and. And, I mean, some of it, we delayed a little bit, like, some final pieces, but, yeah, pretty much, it was.

[Morgan]

So now you just like to hang out everywhere? I go sit in this bathroom.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes.

[Amy]

This is nice. My downstairs guest bath is my favorite.

[Morgan]

So do you go hang out in there sometimes?

[Amy]

Yes. It's a little, teeny, tiny guest bathroom, and it's my favorite room.

[Morgan]

See, I love that. Can you please share your eyelash routine? This is from Drew in Louisiana.

[Amy]

Oh. I get eyelash extensions, so that doesn't help, but I do go to Amy at lashes. I don't know if it's called. It's called lash, but it's in Nashville and Amy is the owner and I've gone to her for, oh my gosh, maybe nine years now.

[Morgan]

It's funny, every time you say that, I always think it's you and you just have a secret eyelash side business.

[Amy]

No, it's not me. That would be hard to do it with my eyes closed. But she is the best. I love her style because it's still. It's not over the top. I've thought about taking them off quite kind of recently, but then I would miss my time with Amy. Obviously, after nine years, she's become my friend and I love our hour together.

[Morgan]

I feel like you could also hang.

[Amy]

Out with her an hour. I know, I know, but we try to get together, like, go on walks and stuff. And just like coordinating everybody's schedule is more difficult. So I'm like, well. And it's sort of part of my routine, but I have thought about getting rhythm. It does make it easy, like, especially as early as we get up. And that's one reason why it was a no brainer. I actually didn't want to get them because I had gotten them before in Austin and they were horrible. Whoever I went to, I mean, they were so bad. I was like plucking them out because I looked ridiculous. They were so long. And I remember my mom was still alive. Yeah. Because we were. We were living in Austin and I remember being at my mom's house in her bathroom in her magnifying mirror, like, plucking out my lashes. I was like, well, this can't be good. And then I got those removed and I said, never again. And then we moved to Nashville and I wasn't doing them. And then my hair person said, hey, if you ever want to get your lashes done, you should go see Amy. She told me to tell you, like, hey, if you wanted to come in. I mean, I'm a paying customer or whatever. But just, you know, she had. She's hard to get into now. I think her books are a little bit more open, but you. She had a wait list or whatever. She's like, chill. She has an opening, like, if you want to go. And I thought, no, I'm really not into it. And a few more months went by and then we talked about it again and she was able to get me in and I decided to go. And I've been going ever since. So don't let one bad experience on something completely rule out, you know, it could be lashes, could be something else.

[Morgan]

But like with Abby, it was massage.

[Amy]

Massages yes. Abby went and got a good massage. And now. Now she knows there are quality masseuses out there. And not just creepy men that groan.

[Morgan]

Yes. Yes, Very much so. Okay, we're gonna take a quick break, and we'll be right back.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Planning a trip always sounds fun until you actually sit down to do it. Because suddenly, everybody's got demands. You've got one friend who wants to be right in the middle of the action, then another who only cares if place has a gym because vacations are basically just leg day. And someone else who wants total peace and quiet as if they're on a meditation retreat. That's exactly why you should use booking.com. because no matter how picky or particular the group gets, booking.com has a stay that works for everybody. Hotels, vacation rentals, big places, small places, close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to nothing at all. All across the U.S. booking.com really does make it easy to plan a trip. So instead of stressing, just scroll through until you find your perfect stay that checks everybody's boxes. It's there. And booking.com has it. Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com. booking. Yeah. That's booking.com. booking, yeah. And, Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Amy]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Bobby Bones]

Liberty Savings Ferry unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[Morgan]

I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I.

[Bobby Bones]

Don'T trust much of anything. It's the rage bait.

[Amy]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Bobby Bones]

If we got clear facts, maybe we.

[Amy]

Can calm down a little. NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts.

[Bobby Bones]

Let's move forward from there.

[Amy]

NBC News reporting for America.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons N. Safeway this fall. Take care of the little ones in the family with Baby Club Savings now through November 4th. Spend $25 on select Baby Club products and save $5. Shop for items like Pediasure bottles, Pedialyte powder packs, Huggies baby wipes, Huggies diapers, Gerber Puffs and Gerber pouches. And save $5 when you buy. $25 or more on participating products. Offer ends November 4th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile.

[Amy]

Now I don't know if you've heard.

[Bobby Bones]

But Mint's Premium Wireless is $15 a month. But I'd like to offer one other perk. We have no stores.

[Amy]

That means no small talk.

[Bobby Bones]

Crazy weather we're having. No, it's not. It's just weather. It is an introvert's dream.

[Amy]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 per three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com.

[Morgan]

How does being pre menopausal affect you? Mentally, emotionally, physically? This is from L. Oh, let's see.

[Amy]

Well, I get emotional and irrational at times. My sleep is disrupted at times. I have some night sweats, but not all the time. You never know like really when it's gonna strike or what. So I purposefully started sleeping with my thermostat lower than ever before just to maybe try to get ahead of it so I don't wake up sweaty. My cycles are very irregular, like all over the place. Like I'll be like, didn't I just have my period? And then it just like doesn't make sense. Some of my cramps have been completely out of control. Painful that I have not. Some types of pain that I haven't experienced since college for some reason. Like who knows why. There was relief for, you know, over a decade or so. But yeah, I'm trying to think of.

[Morgan]

Is it any better now or you still feel like you're going through it.

[Amy]

I mean I have some supplements that I take that I think help. But then I'll, you know, do it for several months and then I'll run out and I'll be like, oh shoot, I need to refill my. And then I don't. And so I don't know. And some of it, like I have what's called golfer's elbow. My elbow joint like really, really hurts. I thought it was tennis elbow, but then I googled where the pain was specifically and apparently it's called golfer's elbow. And a lot of people attribute that sort of stuff to perimenopause, but who knows? You don't know.

[Morgan]

Yeah, there's just so many factors and hard to tell and it's. Isn't the timeline also wonky? So you never really know when it's first starts versus when it really is ending?

[Amy]

Yeah, and I will get into tracking things and then I get Bored with it. That's probably my ADHD and ADHD with perimenopause, not a good combo. So, you know, I sometimes have to. If I want to just, like, crawl into my bed, I have to give myself that, because I'm not used to that during the day of wanting to just lay there. But I try to set a timer or give myself that time and then get up and then get moving again. And I'm thankful for, I guess, the times that I have been able to do that. But on days, some days you have a choice, and you're, like, powering through, but then eventually catch up to you. And then the next thing, you're just, like, crying. You're like, okay, cool. That sounds horrible. Well, it is. But you with everybody talking about it so much, especially online, and that's a lot of my content, a lot of my algorithm is ADHD and perimenopause stuff. You feel less alone. You're like, okay, I'm not crazy. And I imagine some women in previous. From previous decades, they felt probably crazy. And awareness is everything. Information is everything. So I've got to go get some new blood work done for sure, because I want to see where my hormones are at. For a while, I was taking some testosterone, and then I quit. So I need to see if I need to get back on that.

[Morgan]

Just so many things that are up and down.

[Amy]

So many things. So many things. And just taking the time to take care of yourself.

[Morgan]

Yes. Well, and speaking of taking care of yourself, Elizabeth wanted to know, I think out of curiosity, do you fully recover from an eating disorder or is it like an addiction you deal with for life?

[Amy]

I think it's something that you deal with for life, but in different ways. It's not as loud, I guess, at times. I don't know. I'm not an alcoholic or an addict, so I don't know what their experience is like, wanting to drink every day. I know that coming out of it. I guess it's 2025, so almost 2026. So in 2026, it'll be six years that I've been in recovery. And, oh, it's more peaceful, that is for sure. But I know that first year, 2020, like, that was a difficult year. But it's sort of similar to an alcoholic, maybe with their chip. And this is how I felt the first time around, when I went like 12 years in, I call a sort of recovery. At least I wasn't purging, but I had other disorder. Like, I didn't know Orthorexia was a thing. Like, I was very hyper fixated on every single ingredient. And I didn't realize that how that was ruling my life. I thought that was just being quote, unquote, healthy. But it was disruptive. Like, it was hard to go out to eat with me. Like, I was zero fun, but as long as I wasn't purging, but for that 12 years. But when my mom died, it immediately came back and there was really nothing I could do about it. It was a trauma response. Like, that's how my body was going to cope and was going to control that situation. And it was like the day after she died, I ate and then I purged, and then the cycle began. And that lasted from 2014 to 2019. So then it was almost like 2020 was like the new year. I mean, in Covid, it had nothing to do with COVID or anything, because Covid hadn't happened yet. It was a specific book that I read because I was tired and exhausted of it. I was so over it. But it was called Brain Over Bench. And I read that book at the beginning of 2020. Is that when did we go on Family Feud?

[Morgan]

I want to say it was right around that time because I feel like Covid hit 2020, but it was like March, beginning of April. And I think I feel like we.

[Amy]

Went to LA to film that in, like, January or February. And I remember I had that book on our flight. On my flight. I don't know if we all flew together on my flight to LA and changed everything. Like. And there was these courses you could sign up for. Like, I was all in. I was like, oh, my gosh, she has these courses you could, like, listen to. She had these recordings. I downloaded them on the flight home from la. I remember listening to the recordings and, like, highlighting things in the book. That book changed everything for me. And then it was a slow roll. Like, you know, I started doing, like, my fitness pal or whatever. And then I realized, like, okay, I need to surrender. I need to let that go too. Some people can do that stuff and enter their macros and it's fine. But when you're literally. I could probably start doing macros right now, and I would be okay, because I'm six years in. I know I could do it with health in mind. Not control, just literally, like, knowing what am I putting in my body? Because at 44, being perimenopausal, like, I need to be focusing on protein. I need to be worried about what I'm putting in my body. Like, I have I'm having a very difficult time retaining muscle, and I'm trying to figure that out. But some of that is I've got to be strategic and I've got to write it down. So it's not out of a control, which my fitness pal, in the beginning of my recovery was controlled. So my friend Lisa, who's a registered dietitian that is also in recovery, and she has a program called Fork the Noise. Because that's all it is. It's like, noise in your head. And she's like, stick a fork in it. And she highly encouraged me to ditch. She was like, you've got to stop. Because, I mean, I couldn't go to bed at night till I entered in all my stuff. And then if I ate a fourth of an egg, like, I was entering in a fourth of an egg, like, okay, who cares? But I wanted every detail, even though I wasn't purging. Right. So then I had to. That was my final. I remember deleting my fitness pal off my phone was like my final surrender. And that was probably around March something. March, April, that I deleted that. Yeah. And then the. So the recovery, it's a ongoing process. So it's like, it's. It's in stages. I think with eating disorders, it's different. It's like, okay, well, you know, you quit the alcohol. You quit the alcohol. But I don't know, for some people might be in stages where they're like, okay, I quit the hard liquor, and then now maybe I've quit the beer, and then maybe now I've quit going to bars, and then now I've quit. You know, because when you put yourself in certain situations, like, there was some stuff where I'm like, well, this is me still trying to.

[Morgan]

Well. And I would dabble. That's where it could be related is that, you know, alcoholics, we pay attention to those that they always have to actively make a choice to not do that. It's kind of like with yours, you're always actively making a choice to make sure you're not doing anything that would impact you long term.

[Amy]

Yeah. Oh. And I think what I was going to say about the alcoholics is the chips, like, they have a chip. And for. Before my mom died, I had a chip that I'd had a long time, and then all of a sudden, like, boom, my chip was gone. And then now I kind of feel like I have my chip back and I don't. I don't lose my chip.

[Morgan]

Yeah.

[Amy]

And I do feel like it's Something that's always there, though. So I can only speak to my experience. It's just not as loud. So similar back to that fork, the noise, it's almost like, okay, I stuck a fork in it. And I feel really good about that. But I also have to be on guard that, like, that fork could come loose at any moment. And, you know, when my dad passed away, I was a little bit nervous that it might, because that's how my body responded with my mom. And he died in 2021, and. And it didn't come back. Now, I did have, like, when I was going through a divorce, and there was, like, a lot of stuff going. My dad died. There was a lot of stuff. It didn't return. But I got on an antidepressant that caused weight loss. I got on. I was on Adderall. I wasn't hungry anyways, and I definitely got unhealthy. But it wasn't. There was a difference. It wasn't an eating disorder. It was a lack of care for. I was surviving.

[Morgan]

Yeah, you were.

[Amy]

And I had stimulants in my body that also were speeding up my metabolism. And, you know, I would still. I know where I was with it, so it was fine. But I look back at pictures and I can see now, I'm like, oh, gosh, you know. Yeah. But there was people concerned in my life, like my sister, my ex husband. Like, they came to me. I mean, I had a colonoscopy at one point. Well, you know, that cleans out your entire system. But I was already had lost a lot of weight at that point. And then you clean out your entire system. And then after that, I just wasn't hungry for a few days. I mean, that sort of stuff will catch up to you pretty quickly. And they came to me, and I was like, guys, I promise I'm fine. But, like, I'll like Ben. Ben and I were literally in the process of getting divorced. And he's like, what do you want? I'm bringing you food. I'm like, okay, bring me a burger. I'll eat the burger in front of you. And we FaceTimed him, Sister. And I'm there with them, and I'm sitting there, and I'm like, I'm eating the burger. You know, watch me. And then I'm gonna lay here. I'm not gonna go do anything. So I was probably getting a little defensive at the time, but I know they were coming with love. But, yes, I had a lot going on, and my body was responding that way, and stress and the. I mean, Adderall. That's no joke.

[Morgan]

Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

[Amy]

You had a.

[Morgan]

Factors that were contributing to that. Yeah, so.

[Amy]

So that's a really long answer your question. Everybody is so, so, so, so different. But I do think it's something that can pop up, and you just need to be aware, and then hopefully you have, like, we talked about, like, a good foundation, good support around you, and then you should be good. Like, I wasn't as susceptible maybe, or maybe now I wouldn't be, because my.

[Morgan]

You're healing. A lot of those internal things that are. That love to come out. When stuff happens, I have to watch it around.

[Amy]

Like, my boyfriend eats. You know, his. His wife died of colon cancer, so he's very. Diet can play a major role in that. And he did a lot of research, and he's aware of that. So with his kids and himself, like, he's very.

[Morgan]

Like.

[Amy]

It'S not like other stuff is never allowed, but as long as. Let's include these other types of food that are going to help you help your. I won't get into all the details of what he does because I'm not the one that did the research, but they do live a certain way with food, and sometimes I have to watch it around him because I don't want to get sucked back into a certain way, but I do want to take care of myself, and I know that's where he's coming from. But my filter, because I have an eating disorder past. I have to be careful with it.

[Morgan]

And.

[Amy]

And he understands that, and he's like, what? If you want to eat that, go ahead, eat it. But then I'm like, well, I don't feel like I can because y' all aren't. And he's like, no, don't worry about us. Like, you do you. And I'm like, oh, okay. Thank you. Because I'd start to put that on him like, oh, I can't eat this now, because he's not approving of it. So that was an interesting dynamic in our relationship, trying to figure out because. Because I know I'm susceptible. I didn't want, like, to suddenly get sucked into old orthorexia patterns. Yep.

[Morgan]

When it was keeping you aware, it was something that you've been through and you were keeping yourself aware of, like, okay, how do I make sure I don't do this again? So it's always around, and I'm glad you shared that. I know that stuff is hard to talk about and stuff, but I know that that will matter. What? Yeah.

[Amy]

And if you're going through it, yes, I'm sorry. And I wish I could say, oh, yeah, you'll be good once you're in recovery. Yay. But you will be.

[Morgan]

There is always a bright light. There is, but it just can be a little messy.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Morgan]

All right, we're gonna get out of here. Amy, thanks for joining.

[Amy]

Thank you for having been vulnerable.

[Morgan]

And check her outioamy. You can follow me. Obgirlmorgan and that's all for us. Goodbye, everybody.

[Bobby Bones]

That's the best bits of the week with Morgan. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out the other two parts this weekend. Go follow the show on all social platforms obbyboneshow. And follow ebgirlmorgan to submit your listener questions for next week's episode. Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. When you're traveling with family, it can be a circus. Mom wakes up at 5am nephew stay up till midnight. And your dog just wants a yard to play in. Booking.com makes it easy to find a stay that's right for everyone, whether it's a vacation rental or a space to spread out or a hotel where someone else makes the breakfast. Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com booking. Yeah, that's booking.com booking. Yeah.

[Amy]

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[Bobby Bones]

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[Morgan]

Make more.

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[Morgan]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Bobby Bones]

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