Sarah and Stef review the book Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. Dopamine is a fascinating neurotransmitter when it comes to binge eating for its role in the pain and pleasure connection in the brain. This episode covers:  What is dopamine's role in the brain and body? Is it helpful to focus on dopamine when it comes to disordered eating recovery? Addiction to food and the chase of food The pain and pleasure see-saw What if our pain and pleasure balance doesn't work? For example, in the case of neurodivergent brains and/or the excessive amount of dopamine available in our environment in the modern world Stef talks about those darn M&Ms; again The barrier strategy: is it too slippery? When does it make sense? Cold water plunges The role of stress and impulsivity The intersection of depression and the pain/pleasure mechanism Sarah talks about that darn TV again The strategy of radical honesty and what it has to do with shame -- and pain tolerance  Join the LAD Membership Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/ Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com   Connect with Stefanie Michele Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele Work With Stef - www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application   Connect with Sarah Dosanjh Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist  Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon  

120. Dopamine and Binge Eating: a Review of Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

Many people are waking up to the fact that diets don't work, but if we're not dieting, now what? How are we supposed to find balance with food and reach intuitive eating?

Join Sarah and Stef, a psychotherapist and a health coach, as they talk about all things related to disordered eating, bad body image and creating a life that's free from food and body obsession.

The hosts draw on their own eating struggles and openly share the highs and lows of pursuing food freedom over weight loss.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Self-Improvement

    This episode is a review of "The Hunger Habit" by Judson Brewer, MD, PhD. Is this a book that can help people who struggle with binge eating and disordered eating? Will Sarah and Stef come to the same conclusions about the book? Most importantly, will Stef remember her note-to-self about making her points of contention calmly? I guess you'll have to tune in to find out! Sarah's Connect and Recover groups: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/connect-recover-groups/   Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want to improve your relationship with food and become more comfortable in your own skin. Community membership includes invites to live episode recordings (online), support meetings, a private Facebook group and monthly Q&As.; For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets   Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast   Email – hello@lifeafterdietspod.com      Connect with Stefanie Michele binge eating health coach   Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com   Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele   Work with Stefanie -  www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application   Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024   Body Image Webinar + Workbook:  https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/get-started/p/bodyimage      Connect with Sarah Dosanjh psychotherapist   Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com   Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist   YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist   Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon    

149. Review of The Hunger Habit by Judson Brewer

We are back with another recovery story -- this time from Louise, a member of our community (which you can join here, by the way!) Louise explains her story of disordered eating and restriction starting in adolescence, eventually leading her to give up dieting to lean into an anti-diet approach. Like so many others in ED recovery, Louise had to deal with weight gain and body image issues in exchange for food freedom -- but came out with this story to tell. Listen to her inspirational message about sex, attraction, and empowerment in this very cool, real-story episode.  Join the LAD Membership  Life After Diets on Instagram  The LAD Website Email us @ lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com  Stefanie's Website  Stefanie on Instagram Join Stef's Body Image Workshop! (click here)  Sarah's website  Sarah's YouTube Channel Sarah’s book, I Can’t Stop Eating, is available on Amazon

148. A Recovery Story: But What If No One Is Attracted to My Body? with community member Louise

     Join us live on Monday 20th May 2024 in Brighton:  https://www.lifeafterdietspodcast.com/evening-in-brighton/   And on Thursday 23rd May 2024 in Bournemouth:  https://www.lifeafterdietspodcast.com/day-retreat-on-the-beach/       Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want to improve your relationship with food and become more comfortable in your own skin. Community membership includes invites to live episode recordings (online), support meetings, a private Facebook group and monthly Q&As.; For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets      Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast   Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com      Connect with Stefanie Michele binge eating health coach   Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com   Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele   Work with Stefanie -  www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application   Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024   Body Image Webinar + Workbook:  https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/get-started/p/bodyimage      Connect with Sarah Dosanjh psychotherapist   Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com   Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist   YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist   Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon In this bonus episode Marcus Cain addresses community questions and discuss broader perspectives on fitness beyond mere weight loss. Marcus addresses the first question about decoupling exercise from the desire to lose weight, highlighting the challenge many face in reconnecting with exercise as a source of joy rather than a tool for body modification. He suggests exploring activities enjoyed in childhood and experimenting with movement without pressure, echoing the need to redefine personal relationships with fitness. The dialogue shifts towards finding enjoyment in exercise, especially for those who may feel demotivated by the routine aspects of training. Marcus empathizes with this sentiment, discussing his own structured training regimen that supports his hobbies, like skiing, illustrating the concept of exercising for pleasure and functionality rather than for aesthetic changes. The discussion also covers the psychological hurdles in fitness, such as dealing with plateaus and maintaining motivation amidst slow progress. Marcus underscores the importance of understanding that progress is non-linear and managing expectations realistically to sustain long-term fitness goals. Another significant portion of the conversation focuses on inclusive fitness practices. They discuss the challenges faced by individuals with bigger bodies, emphasizing the importance of creating positive and accommodating exercise environments free from judgment and stigma. Marcus advocates for a gentle approach to fitness that respects individual experiences and promotes healing from past traumas related to exercise. Throughout the conversation, there's a recurring theme of questioning traditional fitness narratives and encouraging a more holistic, inclusive, and enjoyable approach to physical activity. The hosts and Marcus emphasize shifting the focus from weight-centric goals to embracing exercise as a part of a fulfilling lifestyle. Prilepin's chart  https://precisionpowerlifting.com/2020/04/20/prilepins-chart-and-powerlifting/                           

BONUS Ep. w/Marcus Kain – Exercise After Dieting

This episode was a toughie, not gonna lie. It's really, really hard to have this discussion without potentially triggering some folks -- and we only know that because at one time, it triggered us, too. But this podcast is valuable because it does explore nuances, including the things less talked about in the anti-diet world. At the end of the day, the desire for weight loss remains after we stop dieting. And for some people the question of: can I pursue this intentionally without regressing or sacrificing my values and myself? comes up a lot.  This is an individual question with individual answers, and we're having the conversation for people who want to have the conversation. Please note that if you have found peace in the skin you're in, this episode may not be for you. It's for people who feel lost, confused, and stuck and want to explore more angles of weight concerns post-recovery. We'll touch on:  safety in the body (of course!) attachment to the idea of weight loss physiological and psychological factors why our appetite changes on vacation (or in other situations where stress is lower) the idea of "releasing trauma to release weight"   Join the LAD Membership  Life After Diets on Instagram  The LAD Website Email us @ lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com  Stefanie's Website  Stefanie on Instagram Join Stef's Body Image Workshop! (click here)  Sarah's website  Sarah's YouTube Channel Sarah’s book, I Can’t Stop Eating, is available on Amazon

147. But Is It Possible to Pursue Weight Loss After Giving Up Dieting?

In this episode, the hosts really get into how scarcity affects us, especially when it comes to food. They start by breaking down what scarcity truly means—it's not just about running out of something, but feeling like you never have enough of what you need. This feeling can lead to behaviors like hoarding or binge-eating, not just with food, but in many parts of our lives. They share personal stories and observations from society to show how the fear of not having enough drives us to overcompensate in different ways, like stockpiling items or overindulging when certain foods seem rare or unavailable. They talk about "window of opportunity" eating, when we eat not because we're hungry, but because we're afraid we won't get another chance to enjoy that particular food. The hosts also delve into how these behaviors often stem from emotional needs rather than physical hunger. They discuss how past traumas or emotional gaps can lead us to act out of scarcity, affecting how we see our current situations, often without even realizing it. Throughout the episode, they offer strategies to deal with these impulses, like mindfulness and asking yourself why you feel the need to act on scarcity. Understanding these feelings better can help us control them. The episode ends on a thoughtful note, stressing the importance of self-awareness and kindness in facing scarcity. By recognizing and addressing the emotional roots of our behaviors, we can make more thoughtful choices that lead to healthier and more fulfilling lives. It's a really insightful conversation that helps us see how deep-seated feelings of scarcity can affect us and offers ways to handle them.  Join the LAD Membership  Life After Diets on Instagram  The LAD Website Email us @ lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com  Stefanie's Website  Stefanie on Instagram Join Stef's Body Image Workshop! (click here)  Sarah's website  Sarah's YouTube Channel Sarah’s book, I Can’t Stop Eating, is available on Amazon

120. Dopamine and Binge Eating: a Review of Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

Download our free app to listen on your phone