Good Bodies

This week, Aleen and Sami are joined by registered dietitian Colleen Christensen (@no.food.rules on IG) to talk about what it means to be a “non-diet” dietitian. They start with some practical tips for approaching nutrition without a diet mindset, which sounds impossible tbh, but it’s not. She tells us how to focus more on what makes our bodies feel good, not just what might make us lose weight. T...

This week’s Dear DST episode starts with a recap of Sami and Aleen’s weekend getaway and a story about stargazing that resulted in an embarrassing fall. Then they respond to a listener who had been working with a diet coach but transitioned to intuitive eating, even though the people close to her have continued with their hardcore diets. How do you maintain your intuitive eating journey if you’re...

Sami and Aleen are back and talking all about the reactions people have to the anti-diet culture conversation. They start out with their response to a social media post about feeling inundated by anti-diet messaging and why being told to “listen to your body” doesn’t work for everyone. Is this a genuine backlash or simply a misunderstanding of the intuitive eating message? They discuss the most co...

On this week’s Dear DST, an emailer asks why it has become so hard to carve out time for herself to work out during the pandemic. They discuss the way we all have adjusted to the new free time we each have (or lack thereof) and how that has changed in the past few months. They also talk about not beating yourself up for the habits you’ve formed during quarantine, and share some strategies for gett...

This week Aleen and Sami are joined by Sarah Nicole Landry (aka @thebirdspapaya) to talk about learning to love your body and leaving diet culture behind. They talk about early experiences with having your body commented on by others and unlearning the lessons of that trauma. They discuss Sarah’s transition from dieting to embracing body positivity and what that recovery process feels like. Plus,...

On this Dear DST episode, a listener writes in to ask why she’s suddenly afraid of the number on the scale for the first time in her life. They talk about the factors that lead to this change, including living in a time when we’re all less active than ever before. Plus, they discuss the pressures to go back to dieting, and how to actually confront the emotions surrounding the scale. Finally, they...

This week Sami and Aleen are joined by Helen Phelan, fitness instructor and founder of Helen Phelan Studio, to talk all about intuitive exercise. They start with a conversation about why it’s time to cancel “shedding for the wedding” and the cultural context that pressures us into wedding norms. Next, they discuss the concept of intuitive exercise, how it relates to intuitive eating, and why it mi...

This week’s Dear DST email features a question about body positivity, and whether or not our insecurities are a bigger turn off than our actual flaws. A listener writes in to ask how to project confidence when you struggle with your own body image. Plus, they read a listener Non Scale Win all about moving on from monitoring and restricting food, then share their own NSWs, which leads to a conversa...

Aleen and Sami are back and talking all about confronting our body image issues. They start the show with their thoughts on the passing of RBG and the troubling state of the world. Then they discuss a personal story about stepping on the scale for the first time in months, and how a mental shift away from dieting actually worked. Plus, they talk about the 100 calorie snack rule and why no diet com...

On this Dear DST, Sami and Aleen are talking all about confiding in a loved one about your own personal struggles. A listener writes in to explain how she opened up to her boyfriend about her eating disorder, and asks how to tell him that some of the words he uses are triggers for her. They share their own experiences with confiding in their significant others, and tell us how to open up without p...

Sami and Aleen are joined by Alexis Barber (@wellnessalexis on Instagram) to talk about getting pulled into the F-Factor drama last week. They start with her feelings on trying the diet, how it made her fear certain foods without even realizing it, and what led her to become a public participant in the conversation. They talk about moving away from diet culture, including how the diet world is tie...

On this Thursday’s episode of DST, Sami and Aleen are joined once again by Jared Freid (of the U Up? podcast) for a game of Red Flag or Deal Breaker: DST Edition. They debate everything from obnoxiously giant water bottles to working out in total silence, and tell us where their limit lies when it comes to weird behaviors from your partner. Plus, they talk about turning everything into a game to m...

Aleen and Sami are back and start the show with a post-honeymoon reflection and a conversation about Fall vacationing. Then they discuss the urge to change your body to fit in certain outfits, and explain how the clothes we choose are often tied to the thin self that could potentially wear them. Plus, they examine where these self-imposed rules (about food and otherwise) really come from. Next, th...

On this Thursday’s episode Sami and Aleen are back with an impromptu podcast responding to the F-Factor IG Live that took place last night. They talk about the non-apology that was begrudgingly offered to viewers, and explain what went down as soon as the comments were turned back on. Plus, they react to the attempted use of a wellness influencer to help with damage control, share their latest fee...

Sami and Aleen are joined this week by Jared Freid, comedian and host of the U Up? podcast. They start with Jared’s take on the F-Factor drama and a conversation about acknowledging your critics gracefully. Next, they talk about adjusting your eating patterns (and even paying for a food schedule) but still snacking at 2am. Plus, they discuss the challenge of finding a shirt that you feel comfortab...

Sami and Aleen are back and ready to dive even deeper into the F-Factor drama discussed earlier this week. They share all their thoughts on the backlash to the diet, how this story gained so much attention, and where it goes from here. Plus, they share their own experience with F-Factor and tell some stories from behind the scenes (including one about a very awkward post-interview conversation). F...

Aleen and Sami are joined once again by Emily Gellis Lande to talk about the overwhelming reaction to her recent social media posts about F-Factor. They start with a timeline of how Emily even got involved with talking about F-Factor in the first place, how the story gained so much traction, and eventually ended up in the NY Times. Plus, Emily shares how people tried to pressure her into silence b...

Aleen and Sami are back to answer another Dear DST email, this time with a question about dealing with toxic reactions from others. A listener writes in to share her experience with feeling judged by her mom’s comments when she reaches for the bread. How do you stand your ground with a parent and explain that you don’t want to hear the commentary? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

This week Sami and Aleen are joined by nutrition therapist and originator of the Intuitive Eating movement, Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S, Fiaedp, FADA, FAND. They start with an explanation directly from the source about what intuitive eating actually means, and dispel the myths associated with it. They also talk about the fear of gaining weight we inevitably feel when trying intuitive eating, and...

This week Sami and Aleen are joined by DST listener and wellness influencer @FreckledFoodie, aka Cameron Rogers. They begin by discussing Cameron’s journey from working in the world of finance to becoming a wellness influencer. Next, they break down what it means to be a “recovering bitch” and how current culture has shifted away from empowering women to be hard edged, pant suit wearing, bosses. L...

Sami and Aleen are back for another DST bonus episode. This week a listener writes in wondering how to handle feeling like her husband’s active lifestyle is affecting her relationship with food and body image. They give advice on ways to bring up the conversation with the listener’s husband, and lend their thoughts on productive ways to not let his behavior affect her. Learn more about your ad cho...

Sami and Aleen are back to answer another listener-submitted ‘Dear DST’ question all about how to respond to compliments you receive after losing weight, even if you’re not dieting. How do we overcome diet culture when these comments reinforce our desire to be skinny? Plus, they talk about the challenge to accept compliments in general, even when they’re not the best thing for you. Learn more abou...

Aleen and Sami return to share some recent food stories and talk about the urge to count calories. They start with a convo about food sensitivities limiting what you can have, and hate-eating in the run up to a wedding. They also talk about the pitfalls of calorie counting and how to kick the habit. Next, they dive into a listener-submitted question all about maintaining mindfulness when you’re fe...

On this episode presented by Midol®, Sami and Aleen are joined by Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a practicing gynecologist who provides care to women of all ages and has delivered thousands of babies, to talk about how your cycle might be different in a pandemic. They start with a conversation about the stress of quarantine, and why it’s a factor in the severity of symptoms. They also talk about the value of t...

Sami and Aleen are joined once again by registered dietician (and fan-favorite) Lisa Hayim, aka @thewellnecessities, to talk all about mindfulness. They start with a reflection on the overwhelming anxiety many of us are feeling right now, and share some emotional tools to deal with these feelings. They talk about connecting with resources to help you, including breathing techniques and physical to...