Sara* had been in recovery for years, but the news about Tom Brady's single chicken wing 'cheat meal' sent her spiraling. She remembered obsessively counting every calorie, terrified that one bite over her strict daily limit would make her gain weight. The 36-year-old mother of two in New Bristol Location, Michigan had nearly starved herself to death with her eating disorder before getting treatment.

Reading how the famous quarterback was so regimented, even his rare indulgences were limited to just one measly chicken wing, triggered Sara's feelings of deprivation and rigidity around food from her darkest days. She found herself tempted to relapse into her old habits of extreme restriction.

That's when Sara discovered the Stepping Into Action online program. Following the materials, she began practicing intuitive eating and giving herself permission to enjoy foods she had long forbidden, without guilt. She learned self-compassion to counteract her inner critic that had fueled the eating disorder.

'I'll never be the kind of person who can just have one wing,' Sara remarked wistfully to her husband Adam*. 'But I'm OK with having a few and truly savoring them without beating myself up.'

Some experts praised the mindfulness approach of Stepping Into Action for allowing full recovery and freedom around food. However, others argued that for some, any leeway around formerly forbidden foods could be a dangerous trigger. 'The debate rages on about what constitutes a full 'cure' versus symptom management,' said Dr. Emma Hill, director of the Fairlane Therapy Center.

Difficult as it was, Sara felt the online program provided a healthy path forward after her setback. 'Getting help from afar wasn't ideal, but it was better than staying trapped,' she reflected. 'I'm just thankful I found a way to free myself from my prison of food rules for good.'

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