Diet Culture Dropout

Today I am joined with a fitness professional Jessie Mundell. She is sharing her personal journey about how her relationship with fitness and her body has dramatically changed over the years. Jessie is a fitness coach for pre and postnatal women helping them build strength, recover and embrace all the body changes throughout this time. 

Here is what we chat about:

Jessie shares about why she pursued fitness at university and further went on to complete her masters. Exploring her intention at that time.  Her education and training experience that was saturated in diet culture and fatphobia.

Reviews how she started working with clients and the shift she took to transform this from a non-diet space.

Talk about the shifts that are happening in the gym and sport culture to be more body-inclusive. 

She shares her advice for anyone curious to get back into movement after having bad past exercise experiences rooted in diet culture.

Strategies for anyone working to repair their relationship with movement.

Ideas for people who reside in higher weight bodies to navigate the fitness world while being able to  advocate for themselves.

Resources mentioned:

This week's episode we are exploring all the covert factors that may arise when feeding your kids. These factors may not be as obvious when managing food battles at the table. We all know dinner time would be more enjoyable without the constant struggle some families face. Tune in to learn more about the commonly missed factors and how we can get to a place of connection and enjoyment. I am joined with Rosanne Robinson a pediatric Registered Dietitian to discuss the matter. 

Here is what we discuss in the episode: 

- How to describe a food battle 

- Review some of the more common reasons parents and kids get into food battles

- Review more complicated factors that could be contributing to meal time battles for the adults, parents or caregivers

- Discuss experiences that may make it difficult for our kiddos to be settled at a meal

- How families can work through these factors to set up a “safe as possible” space at meal times

-  Tips for navigating a more peaceful mealtime experience

Joined today on the podcast is Cara Kasdorf a sports Registered Dietitian located in Waterloo Ontario. She has dedicated her practice to sports nutrition and quite often is helping clients with this unique syndrome RED-S. Today we talk and define what RED-S (Relative Energy Deficit in Sport) is. Please know this can impact all types of athletes from recreational to professional level.

This episode we chat about:

Defining what RED-S is

Review how common it is amongst athletes

Discuss red flags a athlete would see this syndrome presenting

Along with red flags for coaches, loved ones in families to recognize

How other allied health professionals can screen or ask questions to assess if this is impacting their client

How can we try our best in the competitive or recreational sport environment to prevent this from happening to athletes

What treatment looks like for athletes

Connect with Cara Kazdorf by: 

Here is a supportive solo podcast on how to manage your bad body image day or moment.

Have you been having a hard time with you’re here and now body? Feeling the urge to try that next diet or “fix it” solution to solve all your body problems? But know that it is not a solution because it has never worked in the past.

The thing with body image work is that it is not about the body at all. It is all about the work we do within our head and our mindset.

Joined today with Kayla Stansberry a fat positive therapist from Maryland USA. She shares some tangible ways people can move towards more body acceptance. 

Here is what we chat about:

Begin by describing what body acceptance is

Kayla shares how this process usually starts to unfold for people

Discuss some elements that help support people move from body hate to body neutrality and/or body acceptance?

Shares her best tips on moving towards a body liberated place

Ways one would know when they are moving along the trajectory towards body liberation

Ideas for parents on how they can start this work in the home for their kids

Connect with Kayla Stansberry  by:

Today's interview is with Nicole Otto which is exploring disordered eating and how it relates to physical activity and sport culture. 

Here is what we review:

Discuss how common are disordered eating is for athletes and the general population. 

How sport culture influences disordered eating and in many ways normalizes it. 

Review the types of activities or sports that are “more common" for having disordered eating issues.

Explore how a coach, loved one, or parent would recognize disordered eating behaviours for themselves or in their child. 

Discuss how an athlete would identify an unhealthy relationship with food.

Strategies parents can take to help their child. 

Some key nutrition interventions to support healing from disordered eating.

Resources mentioned:

This week's episode is all about Eating Disorders 101.  We are honoring National Eating Disorder Awareness week which is celebrated from Feb 20-26 2023. Joined today with Brittaney Berendsen who is an eating disorder dietitian in Ontario. 

Here is what we discuss:

Resources mentioned:

In this solo episode I review the eating behaviour spectrum. Which is the diverse eating behaviours a person can have. I explore how a person's relationship with food can ebb and flow throughout their life. 

You will learn more about:

The different areas on the spectrum from intuitive eating, disordered eating and clinical eating disorders

What these three areas look like in terms of behaviors, thoughts and food patterns 

Defining diet culture and the wellness industry

How diet culture fits it's way into this spectrum

I review how your relationship can change overtime into different spaces on the spectrum

When you can begin to identify if you are engaging in disordered eating or intuitive eating. 

Today I have the pleasure of talking with Surabhi Veitch a passionate physiotherapist located in Toronto Ontario.  We talk about the much needed topic of postpartum bounce back culture. If you are a mom, mom to be or a mom deep into her postpartum journey this episode is a must for you. 

Here is what we chat about in the episode:

Surabhi shares her perspective of toxic cultural expectations of what postpartum should look like.

Reviews the various elements that contribute to this “ridiculous idea”.

Discuss  how the medical community feeds into this bounce back culture. 

How this goal can this be harmful from a physiotherapist point of view. 

Explores how women can be safe when returning to movement.

What women can do when they are triggered by social media, someone making a comment or a body-based inner comment comes up.

Connect with Surabhi Veitch by:

Today we focus an entire episode to teens, tweens and adolescents. I am joined with Bracha Kopstick and we have an in depth conversation about how disordered eating impacts teens. Bracha is a Registered Dietitian located in Toronto Ontario who specializes in adolescent nutrition.

Here is what we discuss:

Start off by defining disordered eating.

Review how common is it for teens to engage in disordered eating. 

Explore some unique challenges that contribute specifically to disordered eating for this population.

Talk about how normal puberty and weight gain is for teens. 

Review some red flags parents may notice in their teen that could indicate a challenging relationship with food. 

Discuss some strategies parents can focus on to help their teen to provide a supportive eating environment at home. 

Connect with Bracha by:

Are you celebrating the holiday season this year? I bet you are!! Than you need my top 8 tips on how to manage it more successfully when working on food freedom! We all know diet culture comes up in these gatherings and let's support you in not derailing.

In this solo episode I review how to manage:

Unsolicited body comments

Navigating the table with food police or food pushers

What to do when people share their food rules onto your child

How to thrive at a gathering for the holiday's 

Two supportive practices that can get your mindset ready and decompress after

How to chat with your child following a diet culture explosion.

I wish everyone a very restful holiday and I look forward to taking down more diet culture in 2023. Enjoy you food, family, friends and rest!

Is making behaviour change difficult for you? You are so not alone! Today I host Shawn N. Hondorp and we chat all things motivation and how it connects to adult behaviour change. Shawn is passionate about helping women heal from diet culture and have positive relationships with food. 

Here is what we cover in the episode: 

Resources mentioned: 

Today I speak with Ella Van Bruinessen a Pediatric Physiotherapist from Peterborough. She shares her expertise in managing bowel and bladder challenges for kids and sheds light of her role as a Physiotherapist.

Today’s topic: Managing bowel and bladder dysfunction in kids

You can connect with Ella Van Bruinessen by 

This week on the podcast is a personal story shared by Nicole Lemke. All about her relationship with her body and how it has drastically changed overtime. I am sure this episode will deeply resonate and validate other people’s experiences. 

Here is what we cover:

Nicole shares what she learned about bodies from family when growing up

Discusses what was deemed acceptable or valued and what was not

She shares what her earliest memory of when you began to notice that “her body was a problem” 

What fuelled her understanding that she needed to change/fix your body

Nicole shares other experiences that encouraged her down the disordered eating path

When she knew she hit “rock bottom”

How did she began to drop out of diet culture and learned how to trust her body?

Shares her best advice for anyone struggling in their body 

Connect with Nicole Lemke by:

In this solo episode Atheana shares her best tips for managing Halloween. Tips that will help facilitate your intuitive eater and help decreasing the parental stress around managing candy this time of year. We all know Halloween and candy is not going anywhere. So we must learn some more sustainable long-term approaches when managing this holiday.

What is discussed:

- How to approach candy when promoting a positive relationship with food.

- Parental tips for making a successful Halloween plan.

- Answers the common question of "What to do when your kid feels ill after eating candy?"

- Provides ideas of how to manage Halloween and candy consumption for kids under two.

- How to manage hyperactivity following sugar consumption and our perspective of this common idea.

Lastly, how to approach candy consumption for any child that resides in a larger body. 

Today’s guest is Sylvi Martin an Ontario based Naturopathic Doctor, Registered Nurse & Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor. We review how underfueling impacts clients and what clients see as "failure."

Here is what we cover:

Define and describe what under fueling is

Review some reasons a client may be seeking help that would be red flags in Sylvie's practice. 

Diffuse how does diet culture promotes this narrative

What the risks of under fueling or not consuming enough energy are

What symptoms are felt within the body 

Discuss how some clinicians and health care providers may perpetuate disordered eating

Review the invalidity of food sensitivity testing and other unvalidated tests

Sylvie shares her top tips for anyone straddling the decision between another diet and taking a non-diet approach to their health

Connect with Sylvi Martin by:

Today's show I am joined with Jenna Kelly a local psychoeducation consultant in the Kawartha Lakes. To talk all about anxiety and ways you can help your child manage it. 

Here is what we discuss:

- Explore how anxiety may show up in a child

- Review factors that contribute to elevated states of stress and anxiety for a child

- Discuss how common it is along with the impact Covid has had

- Jenna shares what her role as a psychoeducation consultant consists of 

- Some tips parents can take to help their child manage anxiety 

- The current gap locally with our pediatric mental health care services 

Today I am joined with Jenn Messina a Vancouver based dietitian. We talk all about tips, tricks and mindset shifts for parents to support their intuitive eaters within the school environment. 

In this episode we discuss:

Resources mentioned:

Today I speak with Shelley Restall an eating disorder therapist in Ontario. We explore pediatric weight bias that comes from medical professionals and family members. 

Here is what we cover:

Connect with Shelly by:

Have you ever caught your kid sneaking food or eating in secrecy? Did this stir up some big feelings or emotions for you? You are not sure if you approached it the right way? Or want to know what to do in the future?

I provide tips on how to navigate this and a framework to follow. 

I get real by sharing this personal situation happening with my three year old. 

P.S You are so not alone, this happens. We cannot possibly monitor our kids 24/7.

Body security "I feel accepting and excited about the body I am in, despite still perceiving some of those problematic messages."

Jessica Curran is a local psychotherapist who helps clients disentangle their self-worth from their bodies.

In this episode we discuss:

Connect with Jessica Curran by:

Today I interview Sarah Kendell who is a dietitian in Ontario who specializes in binge eating disorder. We work on unpacking this eating disorder.

Here is what we review:

You can connect with Sarah by:

Today's episode is all about plus size shopping from an expert with loads of lived experience. Shelly shares the challenges, distressing moments and biggest advice for anyone dressing their plus size body with fashionable well-fitting clothes. 

Today’s episode is coming from a collaborative conversation I had with Kerri Fullerton ND. A Naturopathic doctor who is doing radical work in her field. We dive into the topic: Are food interventions low risk or high?

Here is what we cover:

Julie Sweeney and I discuss the heavy topic of weight stigma and fatphobia. The first of many conversations about this topic on the podcast. 

What we cover in this episode:

You can connect with Julie by:

In this solo episode I review the final principle in the Intuitive Eating series. Principle #10 which is Honour Your Health with Gentle Nutrition.

Here is what I discuss in this episode:

This week I review the Intuitive Eating principle #9 Exercise: Feel the Difference. I dive into this principle with Natalie Hastings a Registered Dietitian located in northern Ontario. She shares her wisdom and advice for anyone interested in improving their relationship to movement. 

Here is what we chat about:

- Explore the word exercise and what people typically think this includes.

- How exercise is usually measured  in diet culture.

- How movement and physical activity can be more inclusive and resonate better with listeners. What this looks like and can be for people. 

- The two components to physical activity that impact health.

- How we can pursue movement in a more positive manner.

- Natalie shares her tips when engaging in joyful movement.

- She also shares her personal experience of how her relationship with movement has changed overtime. 

- Review warning signs of problematic relationship with exercise.

You can connect with Natalie by:

Instagram: @_wild_chive

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This week I review the principle #8 Respect Your Body. I dive into this principle with Renee Hamati a Zumba instructor and Intuitive Eating Counsellor.

In this loaded episode we cover:

- How do you begin to define body respect?

- Is this place accessible to everyone?

- Renee's journey with respecting her body and how this has evolved for her. 

- What are some ways to begin showing your body respect?

- Explain how you can measure one’s body appreciation and positive body image.

You can connect with Renee by

Instagram: @sensiblyyou

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This week I review the principle #7 Cope with Your Feelings With Kindness. I dive into this principle with Dr. Megan Gallagher a Clinical Psychologist at Integrated Wellness in Ottawa.

In this loaded episode we cover:

What coping mechanisms are

Why they are essential and can build a sense of resilience

What influences the development of various coping mechanisms (hear, see, and life experience)

Emotional eating and explore how it can be supportive

Identify when unattuned eating is happening and if it is supportive

How to approach emotional eating with kindness and self-compassion

How to be proactive in changing your typical patterns to move away from autopilot mode

How does diet culture come up in elementary schools? 

In this episode Gwen and I discuss the various ways diet culture sneaks into the schools for our children. The impact teachers and support staff have on their student’s relationship with food is significant. It is always most supportive to work collaboratively with the school and your child when tackling these dilemmas.

Gwen shares how diet culture has recently shown up in her home with her son. She discusses how she handled the situation in partnership with her son. Along with how she empowered him in making a choice that best served him in that moment.

We also dive into the most common ways diet culture comes up in elementary schools. Which is usually through:

We also talk about short- and long-term harms of diet culture on our kids such as:

She then shares some tangible tips for parents to manage these conversations effectively moving forward. Using a compassionate perspective to discuss an incident or concern you may have.