Women often struggle with confidence in their appearance. The media has a set ideal for "the perfect woman,” but very few women actually look like this. Join the four Amigas today to talk about their struggles with self-confidence and the events that shaped their perceptions of themselves. We hear how labels given to each of these women in their childhood stuck with them for life and what they do to make it through the day when they don’t feel their best. Find out how GG’s biggest insecurity as a teenager became one of her favorite features as an adult and why confidence is key, as well as how your parents' issues may have been projected onto you and why we should never comment on someone's appearance when discussing how they are doing. To learn more about how to raise a daughter without labels and change your attitude to ‘who cares?', don’t miss out on this honest conversation with the Amigas!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to the four Amigas: Marcy, GG, Michelle, and Daimy.
• How a label given to Marcy in the third grade affected her perception of herself for life. 
• Daimy’s struggles with being labeled “too skinny.” 
• How our family and friends scar us, and how we work through it. 
• Why GG doesn’t own a scale.
• How GG’s insecurity about her hair changed to confidence as she grew up. 
• Why the ‘don’t care’ attitude towards your appearance is important.
• How the attitude toward labels has changed compared to when the Amigas were growing up.
• How accepting a label gives away your power.
• The impact of our parents projecting their issues onto us.
• Embracing who you are: becoming comfortable in your skin.
• Michelle's struggles with her body from being a competitive gymnast to being a mother. 
• How to make it through the day when you don’t feel your best.
• Why body weight should not determine how a person is doing.
• How photos of the Amigas made them examine their flaws. 
• Being real and transparent and how this represents true confidence.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

Being diagnosed with the big C can be overwhelming and terrifying, not just for the patient, but for their family and loved ones too. There is also the chance of cancer spreading, returning, or occurring in other parts of your body. This week on the Chatting With My Amigas podcast we welcome our very first and very special guest, our good friend, Dori, who has survived multiple cancers and has learned a lot about herself and her body in the process. When Dori’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 60, Dori had already had multiple experiences with mammograms. But it was only after her mother’s diagnosis that she chose to get the BRCA genetic testing done. In our conversation, Dori recounts her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer and explains her reasoning for pursuing an aggressive approach through a double mastectomy, despite other options available to her. Dori’s pragmatism has been consistent. After being diagnosed with cancer a second time, the culprit this time being a mass on her ovaries, she opted to have a full hysterectomy. She goes on to share how that decision quite possibly saved her life since it meant doctors were able to discover that she also had uterine cancer. Dori shares how she has been able to remain energetic and positive throughout her treatments and why, for her, her breast reconstruction has been one of the most painful consequences of her journey with cancer. We also hear from Dori about survivor’s guilt, her unique experience with thyroid cancer, and why she has always trusted her doctors. It was such an honor and a joy having Dori on the show. Join us today for an expansive conversation, on life, friendship, navigating cancer, and more.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Get to know our first official guest, Dori.
• Dori shares her health journey and her experience with mammograms.
• What it meant for Dori when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Dori’s reaction when her BRCA test came back positive.
• The surprising amount of different specialists you need when you have breast cancer.
• Dori’s introduction searching for a surgeon.
• The options that Dori had for treating her breast cancer.
• Why Dori chose to have a double mastectomy.
• Why having a positive BRCA test result created a sense of guilt in Dori.
• Dori’s naturally positive demeanor and how it helped her remain calm throughout her journey with cancer.
• Dori’s complete trust in her team of doctors and how it prevented her from spiraling on a Google search.
• Some of the surprises Dori experienced during and after her surgery.
• Dori’s subsequent experiences with cancer and how she chose to have a hysterectomy.
• The iron infusions that Dori needed to prepare her for surgery.
• The mass that the doctors found on her uterus during surgery and the mass on her thyroid a few years later.
• Dori’s difficult experience with reconstructive surgery of her breasts.
• Why Dori’s reconstructed breasts feel like a reminder of her cancer.
• How the impact of thyroid surgery has been the most difficult consequence of cancer to live with.
• The challenge of knowing how to support a friend going through cancer treatment.
• The developments and innovations that are occurring in medical science
• Why it’s important to consult with a doctor who is aware of the latest developments.
• The important role that eating healthy has in supporting you when you’re ill.
• Why early screening is essential.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas

Welcome to the first episode of the Chatting With My Amigas Podcast! Meet Marcy, GG, Michelle, and Daimy, four close amigas who have a deep commitment to one another and their friendship. Marcy shares what inspired the podcast after carefully considering the media she was consuming, and how the COVID 19 pandemic facilitated her insights. This show will be an opportunity for her and her friends to explore a range of topics. Their opinions won’t always align, and some of the conversations may get heated, but they will always be underpinned by kindness and the respect they have for one another. Tune in today to join us on the first step in this exciting journey!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing our new podcast Chatting With My Amigas!
• Why we decided to start this podcast.
• How Marcy didn’t see herself and the conversations she was having reflected in the media she was consuming.
• Gigi’s response to being asked to be on the podcast, as a very private person.
• Why Michelle was excited about the podcast from the get-go.
• Jamie’s reaction to Marcy’s idea for the podcast and why it seemed like a natural extension of their friendship.

Tweetables:

“After many, many months of working on something and talking about it, we're here doing Chatting with My Amigos.” — Marcy [0:00:43]

“The end of last year, 2020, I think was a year of reflection and thought, and I think all of us in different ways looked at what was in our life and some of the things we were consuming.” — Marcy [0:00:53]

“I think it's just the perfect timing for us to get together and just be authentic. And we have such a great, great relationship, right?” — Daimy [0:14:43]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas