nicole

shane starts a "strict performance diet" at the start of tlg. this involves exerting rigid control over himself. we as the reader can infer that this is a reaction to his stress and anxiety over what's happening with his team and in his career.

it also works narratively to create conflict between him and ilya (who meanwhile is exerting no control over his diet and is eating unhealthy comfort food bc my boy is depressed as hell). food becomes this constant point of antagonism between them, mirroring the disconnect between them in their relationship.

shane's control over his eating is a reflection of his effort to keep his life on the rails, on the goldenboy path he has always understood for himself. when that life goes completely off the rails, him breaking the diet is a reflection of his life being thrown into chaos. when he calls ilya and tells him he ate a chocolate bar, it's not framed as a good thing:

and his diet is never framed or treated as an eating disorder. this is the discussion they have about it once everything is getting resolved:

and shane isn't in recovery from an eating disorder after tlg. him deciding to relax his diet is him deciding to live his life for himself