Understanding Disordered Eating: For anyone whose relationship with food feels harder than it should

Recovery is overwhelming. If it feels like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded, you're not alone. But guess what? There's one (okay, maybe two, but let's not split hairs) thing that's crucial for recovery to happen. Just one. And that is: eating adequately and consistently. It's the magic bullet that helps decrease food obsessions, restores physical health, boosts focus and memory, and—drum...

"This intuitive eating thing is BS, I tried it and it didn't work." Sound familiar? Trust me, you're not alone. Today we're talking about another hot topic that's been buzzing all over social media, popping up in emails and filling my DMs. \ That's right, we're talking about critical thinking in the realm of anti-diet messaging. Tweetable Quotes "I love the fact that intuitive eating and anti-diet...

Saying "no" sometimes means saying "yes". Okay, don't let me misguide you here. What I mean, is that sometimes when you say "no" in one area of your life, you're often saying "yes" to another. When you say "no" to working overtime, you are saying "yes" to spending time with your family. When you say "no" to going out for drinks on a Friday evening, you might say "yes" to an early morning trip to t...

Remember the last time we dipped our toes into the hot world of Ozempic and other GLP meds? Yeah, we barely scratched the surface. The world is absolutely obsessed with GLP medications, and the more we know, the better we can make informed decisions—without all the drama, please. But honestly, conversations around Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP medications can get super heated with not nearly enou...

Ah, summer—the time of year when the sun is blazing, the BBQs are sizzling, and the body image issues are... lurking. If the thought of putting on your swimsuit and being invited to a pool party sends shivers down your spine, you're not alone.    There's an often misunderstood world of intuitive eating. Sure, it's all about "all foods fit" and "no food rules," but let's get real—sometimes you need...

You know, parents have an intuition for a reason. If you ever feel like your child is getting worse or not receiving the right treatment, trust your gut and seek alternatives. Many listeners have requested episodes focused on parents and families dealing with eating disorders. We usually address the issues from the perspective of those struggling or the clinicians working with them. But families n...

Are you team strict diet or team intuitive eating? Or maybe, the team thing is kind of ridiculous. When it comes to nutrition, it often feels like we're stuck between two opposing camps: those who are all about strict diets and scientific nutrition, and those who advocate for intuitive eating. It's like there's an invisible line, and folks tend to stick to their side, often mocking the other witho...

What is really considered an "expert" opinion? When we talk about topics like weight loss or body positivity from an emotional angle, it's easy to paint the other side as the villain. It's tempting to accuse those advocating for weight loss of spreading misinformation or manipulating the truth. It's tempting to speak with cynicism and sarcasm and scoff at the other side.  This mindset can lead us...

Communication shapes our world. The words we use don't just reflect our thoughts; they shape our experiences, both internally and in our relationships with others. We often ask: What's the deeper meaning behind someone's struggle with food? What could be going on beneath the surface? While these questions are important, we should also be thinking of how we can apply this understanding to create po...

Food, desire, intuition, and… sex. We often get stuck in the food and body image loop when discussing eating disorders. But let's be real, it's so much more than that! Our relationship with food and our bodies spills over into every aspect of our lives, especially anything that connects with our desires, including our sexual desires and intimacy. This week, I am welcoming back Dr. Judith Brisman....

Check out all of the things we have going on this month! Body Image. WTF Even Is it? - Body Image group hosted by myself and Sydney Green. Book your intro call with Sydney to sign up today!  Resistance in Treatment - Eating Disorder Edition Webinar - happening on May 31st at 11am EST! Grab your spot now! 

"The food industry pays 'influencer' dietitians to shape your eating habits". Yep, you read that right. Recently, the Washington Post put out an article, and it's stirring the pot on a topic close to my heart: the Anti-Diet movement. So let's stir the pot on this article. Basically, the gist of the article is that big food companies, like General Mills, are teaming up with anti-diet dieticians to...

Last Episode in April! See you in May!   From an early age, we're taught that lying is bad. But, is it? What drives someone to lie? Is all lying inherently bad? How does lying intersect with our internal struggles and vulnerabilities? These are just a few questions I had before my conversation with Tom. There are a lot of reasons as to why someone may lie. But here's the thing - lying isn't a blac...

Pregnancy is beautiful (for some). Postpartum is raw. There is so much more to a person's fertility journey than just pregnancy. But there seems to be a universal narrative surrounding pregnancy - the glow, the anticipation, the miracle of life. But what about what comes next? As a mother myself, I've experienced firsthand the pressures of bounce-back culture. It's everywhere - from social media a...

Has the eating disorder community pushed the envelope a little too far? It's a nuanced conversation, one that doesn't lend itself to easy answers. As we endorse concepts like health at every size, intuitive eating, and body love, are we inadvertently alienating those who need our message the most? At the core of it all lies a fundamental question: How did we get here, and what can we do to prevent...

When we talk about eating disorders, the conversation often revolves around body image – from the harmful effects of body shaming to the empowering message of body positivity. But there's another aspect of this conversation that often goes overlooked: beauty ideals. There are so many tough questions to answer: Is there such a thing as a "perfect" beauty standard? How does makeup fit into the narra...

Everyone knows Ozempic. Everyone wants Ozempic.   There's a sea of misinformation out there because medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have become so popular. But the real question is why? These aren't necessarily brand-new medications but lately, we've seen them "prescribed" right and left and it leaves us wondering if it's something we should consider.  What are these medications for...

"Here's what I eat in a day as an *insert social media influencer title here*" If you're active on social media, chances are you have scrolled through posts like these. Whether they are "what I eat in a day" or "what I earn in a month" or whatever it may be, they are so common but to be honest, a little toxic.  Tweetable Quotes "For the most part, every single person that I talk to when they get o...

There's a fine line between disordered eating and an eating disorder. These are terms we've all heard, but have you ever stopped to consider the difference between these labels?   Better yet, does it truly matter what the difference is? Tweetable Quotes "I think that when we narrow ourselves into boxes and say, this needs to be labeled as disordered eating or an eating disorder, we pigeonhole ours...

"You don't look like you would have an eating disorder." Crazier things have never been said. Here's the thing, eating disorders don't have a look. It's a myth that eating disorders are typically portrayed by a "skinny" individual. But the reality is far from that stereotype. Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of their outward appearance. They don't discriminate based on size, shape, o...

Parenthood can be both beautiful and stressful. Firstly, it's okay to admit that. There are no sick days, there is no PTO, you work 24/7 shifts and you get paid nothing. It's sometimes a thankless job, and you'll never get a break. But, it's the toughest job you will ever love.  If we really dive into the rut of parenting, it can feel incredibly overwhelming, and sometimes it's enough to send some...

Weight loss and Eating disorder treatments? Pft. Talk to the hand. Okay, let me clarify. This used to be my point of view. I couldn't quite understand how these two topics really played into each other. Now, I don't necessarily disagree, but I do think this is a lot more complex, and it's far from black and white. We should be exploring questions around the perception that excessive weight is a he...

Just last year, The American Academy of Pediatrics put out (terrible) guidelines, that in a nutshell, give the "go-ahead" to evaluate children for weight loss medication and/or surgery. Weight loss surgery is completely irreversible. So why is it being recommended? There are many challenges that individuals will face when deciding to undergo weight loss surgery. Not only the painful physical chall...

Why does it feel like everyone is anti-recovery? It's like we live in this world where everyone is either dieting, jumping on a health trend, or counting calories. Wanting to "feel healthy" is great, but the pressure to fall into some standard of health is overwhelming. Everyone seems to have an opinion, you've probably encountered unsolicited advice and opinions from well-meaning (or not-so-well-...

As a therapist, there are so many things I wish that psychiatrists knew when it comes to eating disorders. Now before we hash this out, here's my caveat–I am not a prescribing provider, I never went to medical school. I am a psychotherapist and these are all of my personal thoughts but from my professional experience. When we view mental illnesses as medical illnesses, we are going to miss the nua...