Eating Disorder Recovery Coach: Polly Mertens
My name is Polly Mertens and I am a bulimia recovery coach, a recovery community leader and a personal transformation teacher.
My mission is to help people who want to overcome their eating disorder after 10, 15, 20, 30 or even 40 years make that happen.
My clients are usually women over the age of 30 who have had an eating disorder for 5 years or more and keep relapsing and can’t find their way to lasting recovery.
Getting help for an eating disorder is a big step and I wish you the best wherever you are on your recovery journey. It is possible to have lasting recovery from all types of food addictions and eating disorders.
I had bulimia for 20 years and have been in complete recovery since 2005. I’m grateful to my husband for his support and my ever unfolding life.
When I’m not working on my eating disorder recovery website, writing on my bulimia recovery blog or collaborating with others in recovery, I’m probably out hiking, globetrotting, playing with my animals, gardening or spending time with my wonderful husband. I love what I do now and enjoy making a big ripple in the world with my work.
Being a teacher and coach is something I never went to school for, but I love being a contribution to others so much and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to help people live with joy, good health and fulfillment. There’s no greater gift or reward I could imagine.
I live in the happiest place on earth (San Luis Obispo, CA) according to Oprah Winfrey. It’s a small town on the Central Coast of California between LA and San Francisco.
I have a healthy relationship with food, my body and I can honestly say I’m comfortable in my own skin, with who I am and am proud of the work I do and the life I am living.
My goal with my blog is to encourage you to start your journey, to be a guide as you pull yourself out of the obsessive overeating that has taken over your life and choose a life of recovery and happiness for yourself.
I hope you’ll download my ebook which includes amazing bulimia recovery stories and allow us to stay in touch. I will share with you what I’ve learned about how to have lasting recovery, be healthy, confident and have a happy life. It is a process. A journey. Allow me to be your guide and help you find your way to recovery, too.
If you’re interested in 1:1 coaching contact me and I will send you my coaching questionnaire. We’ll start a conversation that may be just what you’ve been looking for all these years…
Lasting recovery.
Self love.
Happiness.
With love and light,
Polly
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Hi Polly,
I found your website after searching online for blogs and other online recovery sites after I realized that my eating disorder is destroying me, and that the efforts that I have been undertaking to help me overcome my unhealthy eating habits kept backfiring. I’m so glad to be able to refer to your tips and other related information on recovering from my illness. While I’ve suffered from terrible body image and esteem issues since 16 and have been on a “diet” since then, I started becoming a bulimic and developing terrible disordered eating habits only this year when I entered my first year in university and things have taken a toll on me, both psychologically and physically. I want to recover because I want to be able to enjoy life and food again. I’d binge, feel guilty and fast throughout the day and be miserable. I’d try again the next day, succeed and then fall off the bandwagon again the day after. It’s been such a struggle, and I’m determined to get my life back on track. I do hope that following your tips and receiving your guidance will shed some light and eventually get my life back in order. Your blog relieves me, because I’m glad to know that I’m not fighting this alone and that there are others going through the same battle as I am.
Hi Rene,
So nice to hear from you and thank you for your kind words. I remember the transition to University being a big one for me and the one to post-graduation another trying time for me during my recovery. I’m so glad you’re here and will do my best to share anything and everything I can to help you on your journey. I know in my heart that recovery is in your future and I look forward to hearing from you as you walk your path towards your new life. Please reach out if I can ever help or post a question if there’s something you’d like to know more about.
Wishing you light and love,
Polly
Hi, Polly:
I joined Bullimia Help, and am wondering if your ebook and site is part of it? I read the material but have not taken the step to make connections with anyone. I don’t know if that is what I need, or to just keep trying. I have struggled with bullimia for thirty years-that’s the first time I have said that.
Thank you, thank you.
Hi Geri,
So nice to hear from you! I congratulate you on having the courage to reach out and share something so personal.
My site isn’t part of Bulimia Help, but I became a member of their community in 2011 to try and contribute to people wherever I could when I see someone has a question I think I can provide ideas/support to.
Thirty years is a long time with bulimia. I’d be happy to see if I can help you in any way possible. Perhaps you can use my contact form to send me a private message so we can connect further?
With love and light,
Polly
Hi Polly
You are inspirational! I’ve also completed the Landmark Forum, a few years ago now, which was really the biggest shift in my personal journey in releasing this pattern of eating disorder. Having had anorexia, binge eating, and bulimia for a decade really impacted me in a disempowering way. I understand totally about the perfectionist voice and how that takes away the power to create what I want for myself and the people around me – love, connection, freedom and self expression. Sorry I missed your workshop as I had work commitments – will keep my eye out on any future events as I’d like to contribute something positive to the community to support others who have had these problems!
Tracey
Hey Tracey,
So great to hear a grad of the Forum stopping by to share an inspiring story of recovery. I am delighted you are here and hope we can stay in touch. If you feel so moved, would you share your story? I have a place on my website that I post recovery stories and would love to share yours, if you’re open to it. If you are, please use the contact form and email me. I’d love to read more about your journey.
Maybe you could be a guest speaker on one of my calls in the future. Email me and we can chat further.
To your joyous life,
Polly
Hey Polly,
I am also a graduate and every time I go to Landmark ( I have taken a lot of courses so far) I experience a breakthrough, but somehow I self sabotage it shortly after. How can I get support and accountability when my brain chemistry is involved? Any Response will be appreciated!
Hey Katya,
Can you elaborate on your question? I’m not sure I’m understanding what you’re wanting support with, please. So glad you stopped by!
Polly
I’ve only had mine for a year and I can’t imagine life without it. Before bulimia, I had anorexia for three years and I still have tendencys based around that. All this has happened and I’m only 13! Im scared, I don’t know how to function without my eating disorder but I’m fearful that I’m influencing my younger sister and my friends with my dangerous eating habits. My little sister has started to show some symptoms and signs that might indicate an eating disorder like eating in private and showering after meals. My sister has also lost a lot of weight and often makes remarks about her weight. Mist of her insecurities come from the fact that I’m two years older then her but I weigh almost 20 pounds less. I’m so scared for her. My best friend, Connie has started skipping meals and counting her calories and exorsizing a lot. I don’t want to put my friends and family in danger. I need to get better, my parents already know, they found out about three months ago but the more they pressure me into things, the worse I get. I currently weigh 84 lbs and part of me wants to keep losing but the other part knows that I’m killing myself. Do you have any advice on how to maybe help myself , my sister and my friends. It’s Despratly needed. Thanks for listening. <33
Hi April,
I’m touched that you’re so concerned for your friends and family around you. That’s a very common characteristic of those of us with ED’s – to care a lot about other people (while your personal needs aren’t necessarily being met if you’re still struggling with food).
I have a lot of ideas – too many to post here. In my newsletter I send out about 10 messages that offer lots of useful information timed in a way that is meant to move you along your path. I would first invite you to sign up for that. For now, I would let you know that it’s time to put YOU first. It’s time to look inward rather than outward for awhile and to take care of what’s not healed in your heart. I can tell you anytime I’ve done work to look inside and see what wasn’t healed and heal it, the world around me suddenly got better and brighter. People were nicer to me, problems just disappeared, the world seemed to heal, too. That’s a little hard to maybe understand until you experience it, but you will. Start by signing up for my newsletter and then let’s chat by email so we can talk more…ok?
Be true to your self,
Polly