Hey rebel. In this deeply reflective episode of the Diet Culture Rebel Podcast, we’re talking about something that hits close to home for many: how to cope when someone you admire—whether it’s an influencer, friend, or family member—loses a significant amount of weight while you may be on a journey to body acceptance.

Inspired by the recent public conversation surrounding former plus-size model Remi Bader, this episode isn’t about her—it’s about you. Because these moments can stir up a mix of emotions like jealousy, confusion, pressure, even shame. And it’s not a one-time thing. You will encounter this again.

In this episode, we're covering:

• The emotional impact of weight loss announcements

• How to protect your peace and stay grounded in your values

• Why intentional weight loss isn’t inherently wrong—but deserves nuance

• How anti-fat bias and cultural messaging shape our body image and beliefs

This episode is a space to reflect, get honest about how these moments affect you, and redirect the blame from yourself (or influencers) to the system that created these pressures in the first place.

Links referenced:

IG reel referenced: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH82pSkx8fi/?igsh=dWR2bWl5bHRvbjlu

https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/

Episode 143: What Weight Loss Research Is and ISN’T Telling You with Ragen Chastain

Harvard Implicit Bias Test

-----

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel. 

In this powerful and uplifting episode, I’m joined by comedian Lauren Hope Krass, who uses humor to challenge anti-fat bias, diet culture, and the unrealistic expectations placed on all of us—especially women in bigger bodies.

Lauren shares her journey from self-deprecating humor to empowering comedy, how she found her voice (and her people), and the impact of resilience and body acceptance in a world that constantly tries to shrink us.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Lauren uses comedy to challenge fatphobia and diet culture

• The realities of anti-fat bias—including career discrimination

• The shift from self-depricating humor to self-empowerment

• Why finding your people matters more than changing for others

• & Behind-the-scenes stories from her standup career

If you’ve ever felt judged for simply existing or struggled to fully accept yourself, this conversation will remind you that you don’t have to change to be worthy—and that laughter can be one of the most powerful forms of resistance.

-----

Ready to Heal Your Relationship with Food?

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel! 

There’s so much pressure to eat more and more protein, but is it really necessary? In today’s episode, I’m unpacking how diet culture has hijacked protein messaging, what you actually need to know about protein as an intuitive eater, and why stressing over grams and macro tracking does more harm than good.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How diet culture has turned protein into an unhealthy weight loss tool
• The truth about protein needs (and why carbs matter more than you think)
• How to approach protein without tracking or micromanaging your intake
• Practical ways to include protein while honoring satisfaction and body cues

If you’ve ever felt pressure to eat more protein, track grams, or justify your food choices based on protein content, this episode will help you let go of the stress and trust your body instead.

----

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel! Our relationship with food starts in childhood, shaped by the messages we absorb early on. In this episode, I’m joined by Megan McNamee of Feeding Littles, a registered dietitian who helps parents raise intuitive eaters while also exploring how our own upbringing impacts our food choices today.

In this episode, we cover:

• How childhood food messages shape adult eating habits
• The one thing Megan sees in childhood that negatively impacts food freedom
• How to stop putting sugar on a pedestal—for kids and yourself
• Ways to support kids’ natural ability to self-regulate hunger and fullness
• How to talk about body diversity and avoid passing down diet culture

Whether you're a parent or simply reflecting on your own food journey, this episode will help you reconnect with intuitive eating and break free from harmful food beliefs.

-----

Connect with Megan: http://feedinglittles.com/

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel. Today, we're looking at the link between substance use and eating disorders. I’m joined by Amanda White, a licensed therapist, author, and the owner of Therapy for Women, a group practice specializing in mental health, eating disorders, and addiction. Amanda is in recovery from both an eating disorder and substance use, and she openly shares her journey to help others feel less alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Amanda’s personal journey with food struggles, disordered eating, and addiction
• The connection between eating disorders and substance use, and their differences in the path to recovery
• Why Amanda identifies as in recovery rather than recovered 
• How healing leads to deeper connections, presence, and a richer life

Amanda also shares how her recovery has shaped the way she raises her daughter in a home that supports a positive relationship with food—something many of us didn’t grow up with. Listen in and I know you'll enjoy this impactful, nuanced conversation!

Check out amanda: https://therapyforwomencenter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/therapyforwomencenter

-----

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel. Exercise can feel complicated, especially when diet culture has shaped how we think about it. If you’ve ever felt pressure to work out to earn your food, struggled with guilt around movement, or felt like exercise was more of an obligation than something enjoyable, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by sports dietitians Riley and Jenna, who help athletes and active individuals fuel properly, improve performance, and heal from a disordered relationship with exercise. They’ve lived these struggles firsthand and bring their personal experiences to this conversation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why exercise can feel like a struggle when stuck in a cycle of stress and food guilt
• Red flags that signal an unhealthy relationship with movement
• Myths about exercise, sports nutrition, and supplements that actually help
• Questions to ask yourself to assess your relationship with movement

This episode will help shift your mindset and build a healthier, more balanced relationship with movement where you fuel your body to perform well and ENJOY the process.

https://reillybeatty.com/sports-dietitian/

----

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel. It’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week — but this episode is for everyone. Diet culture doesn’t take a break, and the truth is, dieting and eating disorders are deeply connected. Most eating disorders start with seemingly small, “harmless” choices, like eating less to control weight — choices often praised by others.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into:

• How dieting fuels disordered eating. 
• Why food worry can harm your health.
• The power of intuitive eating in healing your relationship with food.
• How to challenge diet culture and support yourself and others.

You don’t need to have an eating disorder to benefit from this conversation — if you've ever felt guilt, shame, or anxiety around food, this is for you.

The Intuitive Eating Book

-----

My team of registered dietitians accepts insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel. In this episode, I’m talking with former client Patricia about her journey of unlearning diet rules and finding food freedom. Like many of us, she thought she was just being healthy, but in reality, those beliefs kept her stuck in restriction, worry, and self-judgment.

In this episode, Patricia shares:

• How internalized diet culture shaped her food choices without her realizing it
• The mindset shifts that helped her break free from food rules and restriction
• How prioritizing satisfaction helped her discover new foods and let go of guilt
• Why learning the science behind nutrition was key to improving her body image

If you’ve ever felt stuck in food rules without questioning where they came from, or if you struggle with food but don’t know why, Patricia’s story will resonate with you. Tune in to hear how she reconnected with her body’s needs and finally found peace with food.

-----

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel

Hey Rebel. Today, I’m answering a listener question from someone who feels surrounded by diet talk at every family gathering and wants to know: Should I leave the table? Should I speak up? How do I protect my peace while still being with my loved ones?

In today's episode, we're covering:

• How to handle diet talk with family
• Setting boundaries that feel right for you
• Focusing on what you can control in these situations
• Ways to take care of yourself before, during, and after these conversations

Because the truth is, you deserve to enjoy your meals and time with loved ones without feeling like you’re backsliding into old patterns with food and your body. Let’s dive in!

Holiday survival guide https://dietculturerebel.kit.com/a9be28cce7 

Get Support With 1:1 Nutritious Counseling Covered By Insurance!  dietculturerebel.com/insurance

Episode 183: Healing for Herself and Her Family: How Kayla Found Food Freedom

Hey Rebel. Today I’m joined by fellow registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor, Chelsea Levy, to unpack a common concern I hear often: Can intuitive eating really work for all body sizes? Many people feel like food freedom is only possible if you're already in a smaller body, and today, we’re diving into why that’s not true.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What fat positivity truly means and why it matters
• The societal barriers that perpetuate weight stigma
• How intuitive eating can be a tool for healing, regardless of body size
• Practical ways to unlearn anti-fat bias and cultivate self-compassion

Whether you’re working on your own relationship with food or want to better support loved ones in marginalized bodies, this conversation will equip you with the tools and perspectives to make meaningful changes.

Chelsea Levy (she/her) is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD). She is the founder of Chelsea Levy Nutrition, a virtual private practice based in NYC. Chelsea is a self-identified fat, Jewish health care provider committed to utilizing a weight-inclusive medical model for the treatment of eating disorders and chronic illnesses related to the endocrine system, including diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). At the intersection of eating disorder recovery, body image healing, and the endocrine system, Chelsea centers gender-affirming care.

Chelsea Levy Nutrition offers three group programs:

• Somatic Group: Sensing Safety, Seeking Pleasure – A virtual group offered nationwide.
• Recovery Supper Club – For individuals in stable recovery looking for in-person community and connection over meals. Learn more here (In-person in NYC).
• Body Image Healing Group – A virtual group for folks in larger bodies seeking body image support (available nationwide).

----------

My team of registered dietitians is now accepting insurance for one-on-one nutrition counseling! Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to start your journey toward food freedom, visit dietculturerebel.com/insurance to learn more!

Connect with Bonnie on Instagram: @diet.culture.rebel