In this episode of Inclusive Movement & Nutrition Ireland, Maggie sits down with mental health advocate Sean Blake, who shares his deeply personal journey with an eating disorder and the complex relationship between exercise, control, and recovery.

Sean has become a prominent voice in mental health advocacy, working with organizations like Shine, Mental Health Ireland, Supported Families and St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services. His mission is to break the silence around eating disorders, particularly in men, and highlight the role that compulsive exercise can play in their development and persistence.

Key Highlights

• How Sean’s disordered eating began long before he realized it
• The social praise and validation that fueled his excessive running
• When exercise stopped being healthy and became harmful
• His turning point: burnout, secrecy, and the need for help
• The unspoken risks of fitness culture, step challenges, and “clean eating”
• The emotional toll on his family, especially his wife
• Why running clubs, gyms, and workplaces need better awareness
• What helped in recovery—including therapy, dietitians, and self-compassion
• Sean’s advice for coaches, fitness instructors, and everyday exercisers

If you’re a coach, parent, fitness lover or anyone navigating conversations around health and body image, this is an essential listen. Sean’s story brings to light how disordered behaviours can be hidden in plain sight, masked by our culture’s obsession with fitness and weight loss.

About Sean:

Sean Blake is a mental health advocate and lived-experience speaker based in Ireland. After years of struggling with an eating disorder—one that was deeply entangled with compulsive exercise—Sean began sharing his story to raise awareness and reduce stigma, particularly around eating disorders in men. Sean’s advocacy is rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and a drive to create more compassionate, informed spaces in fitness, healthcare, and everyday life.

Connect with Sean:

Instagram

Visit the #EDinformed campaign for fitness and health professionals

About Maggie:

Maggie is the owner of Simple Strength Leixlip, a size-inclusive gym in Ireland that prioritizes evidence-based, non-diet approaches to movement. She’s passionate about creating welcoming, empowering spaces for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities.

Connect with Maggie:

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/inclusive_movement_nutrition/

Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/simple.strength.leixlip/

Website: https://simplestrengthleixlip.com/

Resources Mentioned:

• BodyWhys
• Shine Mental Health Support
• Patrick’s Mental Health Services
• Mental Health Ireland

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