This body image centered episode delves into the distinctions between body positivity and body neutrality, offering a nuanced exploration of how individuals can relate to their bodies beyond conventional narratives of self-love. The conversation begins by distinguishing body positivity from body neutrality. Originally, body positivity emerged from the fat activist movements of the 1960s, aiming to empower marginalized bodies, especially those of fat, Black women, and aligning with LGBTQ...

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of Gentle Nutrition, explained as combining basic nutritional knowledge with body attunement. This 10th principle of Intuitive Eating is about recognizing how different foods affect one’s body while maintaining a non-restrictive approach to eating.  We also touch on personal experiences with nutritional adjustments post-recovery from eating disorders -- how and when do you think about nutrition when you're learning to allow all foods?? Does...

This conversation discusses the challenges of confronting the aging process, with Sarah sharing a recent moment of seeing photographs of herself and thinking she looked...well, older. This introspection is mirrored by a conversation about Stef's Wednesday Weekly email, which talked about the "emergency" feeling of noticing differences in sagging skin and redistribution of body proportions approaching middle age. As the conversation unfolds, it touches upon a broader philosophical reflection...

In this podcast episode, the hosts explore the complex relationship between food and emotional needs. The conversation begins with a reflection on Stef's Instagram post suggesting that food serves as a portal to solitude, comfort, pleasure, and escape, making the idea of changing one’s relationship with food seem like a sacrifice of essential coping mechanisms. The discussion delves into personal anecdotes and reflections on how food has occupied significant mental and emotional real estate,...

In this episode, we have a pretty cool chat with Stephanie Dodier, reformed dieter and coach for women post diet-culture. We dive deep into how society kinda messes with our heads, telling us we need to look a certain way to feel good about ourselves. Dodier brings up something called "the safety of conformity," which is basically about how we mix up feeling safe with actually being confident. Stephanie shares some personal stories -- for example, about being taken to a Weight Watchers...

In this playful and insightful episode, our hosts dive into the intriguing world of "What I Eat in a Day" videos and the complex feelings they evoke. They kick things off with a light-hearted banter about the unexpected topics that might arise in a conversation about daily diets, quickly steering the conversation towards the deeper curiosity and comparison that drive people towards these videos. Our hosts explore the reasons behind the allure of watching what others eat, ranging from simple...

Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher G Fairburn has been adopted by the NHS as the gold standard approach for binge eating recovery. This episode offers our personal and professional opinions on the OBE approach and is not meant as a substitute for, or a deterrent against, using this book as part of your own recovery process. We discuss: Who is Fairburn and how did he start working with BED? Where CBT puts the onus of responsibility Who this book might appeal to Step One is Monitoring --...

An obsession with healthy eating has become part of the Eating Disorder and disordered eating spectrum. But how do we differentiate between taking responsibility for our health and disorder? Where's the line? This episode looks at: What's wrong with valuing health and nutrition? What is orthorexia? How did Stef develop orthorexia in her 30's? Healthy eating as a vehicle for black and white thinking Basic nutritional wisdom (aka Gentle Nutrition)as an Intuitive Eating principle Is...

The most common time of day for people to overeat and/or binge is in the evening. After work, after dinner, after the kids are in bed, after the quiet sets in. Those hours between dinner and bedtime can be the hardest to navigate and there are many reasons why this happens so much -- we're here to take a comprehensive look at many of these reasons. We'll discuss: The #1 reason people eat more at night Reward and Dopamine (see episode 120) Can it just be boredom? Joylessness Ghrelin, the...

This episode is different from our usual ones in that it was created not just for you, dear listener, but for your loved ones. If you've ever felt like you want your friend or family member to understand eating disorders better, but just don't know how to describe it or feel like it's hard for them to understand what you're going through in recovery, this episode if for you AND them. The rational experience versus the felt experience This is not a willful choice Frustration exists on both...

Self-esteem has implications in eating disorder recovery, and this episode explores some of those -- including self-compassion, connection, competence, comparison, social expectations, shame, and even anger! Tune in for this nuanced conversation about self-esteem (and self-worth, by extension) with topics including: What comes first -- low self-esteem or disordered eating behaviors? The relationship between safety, shame, and self esteem (especially in restrictive behaviors) The role of...

What if you're recovering from an eating disorder and it's not all it's cracked up to be? What if the "better life" everyone talks about doesn't feel true for you, and you wonder if it was actually better before? In this episode, we look at this very nuanced, delicate, and lesser-talked-about aspect of some people's experience. Does it matter if you have other "things" in your life to fall back on? Needing something else to fill the gap of a sense of "purpose" What does it mean to "create"...

This episode, livestreamed to our Facebook community, is a response to a listener question that asks: How do we know when we're making progress in recovery? If we aren't celebrating pounds or dress sizes lost, how do we mark the "successes" of recovery? And how do we deal with the fact that no one else can "see" it? Stef's moment in the kitchen, yesterday Sarah's mincemeat pies (and a tangent discussion on mincemeat) Stef offers examples of the small wins from her first year in recovery...

The fourth and final in our Back to Basics Series (following a set list of: (1)Do I Have a Problem? (2)How Did I Get Here? and (3)A Recovery Toolbox). This episode looks at what recovery looks like from a process perspective. How does it actually look as you go along? How long does it take to recover? Stef's Tetris analogy -- what if you've been working on recovery forever and your behaviors don't change? Where do the feelings of discomfort (hopelessness, despair, insecurity, anxiety,...

The third in a four-part series of Back to Basics; this episode reviews helpful tools for recovery from disordered eating and eating disorders. Tools include cognitive, somatic, emotional, behavioral/practical resources to support your recovery with a list of helpful accounts, books, podcasts, and links below.  Education from social media, books, podcasts, etc The case for regular eating How ghrelin works "All-in" recovery or a gradual approach? Does body size matter if you do all-in? Is it...

Second in a four-part Back to Basics Series, this episode looks at the question of how we develop disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image issues. What causes it to get so...well, disordered... for some people and not for others?  The Minnesota Starvation Experiment Social and Family influences Growing up in the 80s, 90s and 2000s Why do some people develop a disorder and not others? Perfectionism and black and white thinkers The role of Self esteem Nature or nurture? The role of...

The first in a four-part series called: Back to Basics to explore the foundational concepts of disordered eating and eating disorders from the ground floor. We hear from so many people who weren't aware that their experiences had a name, or that other people are dealing with them, too. In this first session, we're looking at the question: Do I Have a Problem? Is what I'm dealing with considered a disorder? Is it binge eating? Restricting? Orthorexia? What if I'm just an emotional eater? Do...

Two annoucements! Join our mailing list if you want to be in the know about upcoming events in the UK this May 2024; and our next four episodes will be a Back To Basics Series. Now on to this week's episode...we're reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the new one, but not in the mainstream fashion of toxic positivity or or New Year New Me crap. If you need to get away from that energy, this one's for you. It's a silly-ish one. Our words and intentions for 2023 -- how did we...

We believe that authenticity can have to do with our relationship with food. In this episode, we explore those intersections and tell personal stories abour our own experiences with authenticity and how that has impacted our behaviors with food. The definition of authenticity How it feels to be authentic...and to be not authentic Can disordered eating behaviors come from an authentic place? "Racket feelings" A look at authenticity through a "Parts Work" lens Inauthenticity, roles, and...

Catastrophizing things like what we've eaten or how much weight we've gained (for example) can often led to despair or fear-based decision-making. In this conversation, we explore what catastrophization is, why we do it, and strategies to deal with it. We also discuss: Feelings of catastrophization post binge "Meta-eating" as a version of catastrophizing (meta-eating is Stef's terminology for eating more because you're upset that you're eating) What's the problem with catastrophizing,...

Aside from body image, health seems to be one of the biggest concerns about gaining weight. Because weight gain is common for many people recovering from eating disorders, health is a big sticking point making recovery harder and more complicated. In this episode, we're looking at the relationship between weight and health, to include: Stef explains why she can't look at her bloodwork results as the episode records Separating the impact of binge eating (and restriction!!) on health versus...

Geneen Roth coined the terms "permitters" and "restrictors" to differentiate between two types of (disordered) eaters -- the latter, who tend to restrict food and adhere to food rules and regulations; and the former, who reject food rules and regulations. The rule-followers vs the rebels, if you will. Which camp do you identify with?  What can we learn about ourselves and our relationship with food through the lens of these concepts? We'll discuss: What does it look like to be a permitter...

If we're no longer dieting, should we keep all of our trigger foods and/or "fear foods" in the house? Will we just end up eating them all and feeling MORE out of control? On the other hand, would it be restricting to not have them around? It's complicated! We're here to talk about the nuances of this question, including: Does not keeping foods in your house mean the same thing as abstaining from those foods altogether? Stef’s client story: can it be a bad idea to bring foods into the house?...

This week we talk to Marcus Kain, a nutrition coach and trainer specializing in binge eating recovery. Marcus, who also hosts the Strong Not Starving Podcast, shares with us his own journey into and through an eating disorder.  Marcus discusses his journey with food and body image issues, tracing back to childhood and the influence of his environment. He highlights the impact of early experiences, including body composition tests during adolescence, which led to a fixation on appearance. His...