Consilience Podcast

Think men don't experience body image concerns? You're wrong! With the rising rates of steroid usage and association of muscularity with masculinity, men are subject to body pressures too. Learn more about the pressures men face, how to spot the signs of poor body image and how to support your health whilst protecting your self esteem in this episode with Dr. Olivardia and Shannon Beer. Dr...

Welcome to a new series on the show, where I answer your questions and coach you through your food and body concerns. Today I'm answering the question: 'How can improved body image help with my fat loss efforts?' Although I don't advertise fat loss, I do support body autonomy and informed choices. In this episode, I discuss how working on your body image can help you to settle at a...

When we don't feel good about how we look, some of us avoid physical activity. Why might that be the case? I am joined by Vanessa Coulbeck, a researcher at Body Image and Health Research Lab, a Research group studying the body, self, and (mental) health at Western university in Toronto. We explore the fascinating intersection of body image, self-compassion, and mental health among female adole...

'I'm scared to work on my body image in case I let myself go. I don't want to gain weight. It's hard enough as it is.' These are some common concerns that might be preventing you from improving your relationship with food and yourself. Totally understandable if you're coming from a place of control and restriction. In this episode, I talk about why working on your body imag...

You know there's more to life than looking good. You want to be a good role model for others and you're angry with yourself for caring too much. Here's what you need to know. We all care about our appearance to some extent. It doesn’t make you vain or self-absorbed, it just makes you a normal human being. In this episode I explain why this is the case and give some advice for when you&...

We've all felt fat at some point. And we probably blamed our bodies, and resolved to diet to lose weight. But it turns out that feeling fat has a whole lot less to do with our physical body size than we might think. ‘So why do I feel fat?’ I hear you ask. Well, ‘feeling fat’ encompasses a range of factors, including physical sensations, heightened self-consciousness about your body, and negati...

Why do we care so much about how we look? Why is it so hard to regulate our eating behaviours in our modern day environment? In this episode, we discuss the role of social comparisons, feelings of inferiority, shame & self-criticism in the role of eating pathology. You might be surprised to learn that our perceived need to control our appearance is a strategy to compete for social acceptance....

Many of us believe that self-criticism is necessary to hold ourselves to a high standard. In this episode I discuss the problem with self criticism and how it keeps you stuck in the binge - restrict cycle. Developing self-compassion is a necessary step to break this cycle and achieve your health and fitness goals. I give you some pointers on where to start. THIS is the article I reference if you w...

Are you a high striving perfectionist who is struggling with burnout and the pressure you place on yourself to achieve your goals? This episode is foy uo. Dr. Josie Perry is a chartered psychologist working with those in sport, on the stage and in business to help them overcome their barriers to success so they can achieve their goals. We discuss what successful people have in common, including: W...

What about clients who don't have body image concerns, but want to lose fat to feel better about themselves? Why do our clients report feeling better in a smaller body, if it's not about body image? In this episode I talk about the limitations of pursuing fat loss to boost our self esteem, and what the alternative is. You can make gradual shifts in the service you offer, and become a bette...

Tessa Peters is the founder of charity Been There, a mentoring app for adults struggling with their body image. Been There harnesses the power of connection, hope and shared experiences by providing individuals with real and relatable Mentors who support, empower and listen to those in need. Tessa’s mission is to encourage self-acceptance and self-worth in everybody. Hear Tessa's story about h...

The fitness industry is largely a body-image focused market, frequently communicating messages about weight and shape. We may be unwittingly perpetuating harm by promoting narrow appearance ideals. This podcast episode discusses why this not only causes harm to our clients, but to our businesses as well. You can read the full Sigma Statement HERE . WORK WITH SHANNON Join the  Body Image Fundamenta...

Why is body image important? Most coaches don't realise that a client's body image plays a large role in their motivations for changing their diet or exercise behaviours. The way we eat and the way we train can be considered the behavioural expression of our body image. If we are dissatisfied with how we look, and it's important for us to look good, we are at a higher risk of developin...

Disordered eating is a complex topic. There is no clear cut definition and the signs are hard to spot. So how do we know if we are really helping our clients? To help answer this question, I am joined by Michelle Carroll, an online nutrition coach and body image researcher. Her primary research interest lies in disordered eating and improving body image amongst fitness professionals. We discussed:...

Our communication with clients is critical to their success. Yet we often find ourselves unsure how to respond when clients are struggling, or afraid to say something our clients may disagree with. I walk through an example of how to approach a client who is picking their body apart, discuss a recent conversation I found challenging, and share my plan for development. WORK WITH SHANNON Join the  E...

Dr Kat Schneider is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research. Her research interests include body image, disordered eating and eating disorders, weight stigma, and the intersection between body image and movement. We discuss: What is weight stigma and how does it influence one’s physical and psychological wellbeing? How is weight stigma associated with binge eating disorder? (Aetiol...

How can we help fat loss clients with their body image? How can we start integrating body image work when we're not really confident in what we're doing? I outline the approach that I took and offer some suggestions to coaches new to this approach. WORK WITH SHANNON Join the Body Image Course Get coached by Shannon. CONNECT Join the weekly newsletter Connect with Shannon on Instagram . DM...

What do we mean when we say flexible control and rigid control have shared variance? Is it possible to promote flexible control without promoting rigid control? If we don't promote flexible control, what do we do? I cleared up these questions in today's episode. Find me here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ Get my emails: https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in

Fitness professionals often report pressure to look the part and many rely on their appearance to attract clients. I speak about the limitations of this approach and how it can undersell your value as a coach. What do you really want to help clients achieve? How else can you prove that you can actually help? Find me here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ Get my emails: https://coachshannonbeer.co...

Fitness practitioners will often endorse flexible dietary control, which is generally considered a more adaptive and sustainable alternative to rigid approaches. Yet research has not consistently supported the link between flexible control and positive health outcomes. So what does it really mean to have a healthy relationship with food? Find me here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ Get my email...

Some people may report feeling better after weight loss, others may not. So what's really going on? How do we actually learn to feel comfortable and confident in our bodies? Can we still pursue weight loss? I answer these questions in today's episode. Find me here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ Get my emails: https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in

What do we mean when we talk about discipline? Many of us view discipline as a punishment, a way to hard-knuckle ourselves into doing the things we promised we'd do.  Turns out, this isn't the most effective way to achieve our goals. I talk with Tobias Johnson, online coach and neuroscience nerd, about how we can become more disciplined. We covered: What is discipline really? The difference b...

Our society tends to highly value discipline. But is it really what we need? How can we truly take more consistent action towards our goals? Find me here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ Get my emails: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in

Today I am answering the question: 'I want to improve my relationship with myself but I don't know where to start. Can you help?' I start by defining what a healthy relationship with ourselves is not.  It's not about loving every part of yourself or eradicating your flaws. It's not about achieving success or meeting external standards. A healthy relationship with yourself comes from within. C...

Dr Emily Matheson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research who investigates the development and evaluation of body image and sports-based interventions for girls and coaches. In this episode we discussed: Importance of role models & social justice Why a positive body image is not about loving every part of your body Reimagining what it means to be an athlete Redefining...