Sami and Aleen start the show with a listener Non Scale Win about not finishing the burrito and forgetting it was even in the fridge (can you imagine!). Plus, they share a win about buying the cereal you’re craving, and another about posing in front of the mirror in a way that makes you feel empowered. If we avoid the mirror, are we just avoiding the body acceptance piece of recovery? Then they read a listener-submitted Dear DST all about gaining weight after she bought her wedding dress and whether or not she should start dieting or just buy a new dress altogether. Are intuitive eating and losing weight for the wedding even compatible? They share advice for handling this kind of wedding crisis, and explain why there’s a real cost to abandoning your intuitive eating journey.

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This week Sami and Aleen are joined by fitness influencer and DST favorite Kelsey Wells. They start with a conversation about being grateful in a pandemic, the way repetitive routine leads to anxiety, and how Kelsey has used fitness as a form of reward. They discuss the mental shift to treating exercise as a tool for self-empowerment and gratitude toward your body. Kelsey shares three steps for changing your mindset toward exercise, including how to be proud of yourself for what you’ve accomplished. They discuss the way disordered eating is tied to self-worth and why that type of thinking won’t serve you. Finally, they close the show with a visit from the Internal Refrigerator Service as Kelsey tells us what’s in her kitchen (spoiler: her pantry contains pickles, pickles, and more pickles).

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This week’s Dear DST is all about the oh-so-familiar dining hall experience and how to overcome the challenges of keeping good habits when you can only (binge) eat twice a day. They start with some dog talk with Sami training a new puppy and Aleen dealing with revenge sh*ts from Sansa. They read a listener NSW all about shifting your mindset from dieting to personal finance, and share some Non Scale Wins of their own. Then they read a Dear DST email from a college student who overcame disordered eating but is struggling with the binge-restrict cycle since going back to the dining hall. Can you still intuitively eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet? They talk about getting used to the new way of feeding yourself (as an intuitive eater) and offer tips for sticking with your routine.

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Sami and Aleen are joined once again by everyone’s favorite registered dietician, Tracy Lockwood Beckerman. She talks about getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes, giving birth while wearing a mask, and how her food preferences have shifted since having a baby. They discuss the best place to get advice as a new mom (virtual support groups exist btw) and some of the biggest challenges you may face. They talk about “mom guilt” and all the unnecessary drama around breastmilk vs. formula, then Tracy also tells us how her nutrition views have changed since becoming a mom. They discuss why planning goes out the window at a certain point, along with the pressure to get back in shape after giving birth. Finally, they close on a positive note with some good news about what motherhood brings to your life.

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On this Dear DST episode, Sami and Aleen start with a recap of their conversation with Shay Mitchell this week and share what it’s like to openly acknowledge your disordered eating in front of others (even strangers). Is your willingness to talk about disordered eating the best sign that you’re making progress? Then they read a Dear DST email from a listener who always feels worse about her body image when she’s hanging out with her oldest group of friends, but never with her college friends. Why do some groups make us feel more insecure about our bodies than others? They close with some tips for setting boundaries with your friends about discussing body size.

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On this Sunday’s episode Aleen and Sami are joined by actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell. She tells us what it’s like to be a new mom in a pandemic and offers her top three tips for people who are looking to have their first kid. Plus, she tells us what she’s been binging on TV these days and shares her current fitness routine in quarantine. Then they play a game of ‘What Would Shay Do’ featuring her take on what a 2020-themed Met Gala outfit would look like, and which pizza Shay would choose if offered free pies for life. Finally, they close things out with their Non Scale Wins for the week, and Shay reveals why she calls herself a choose-a-tarian eater but still loves to binge from time to time (I mean, who doesn’t).

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This Thursday’s episode starts with a groundbreaking NSW: skipping desert without even thinking about it. Plus, they react to a listener Non Scale Win about haircuts and body shape. Next, they read a Dear DST email from a listener whose former personal trainer posted her progress pics without asking for permission, leading to a lot of self doubt. What’s the right way to tell someone that they’ve violated your trust and privacy by posting your pics? Plus, they talk about the urge to take progress pics and ask whether or not they get in the way of making actual progress toward self acceptance. Finally, they give a spoiler-free review of Bridgerton (and a shockingly accurate synopsis of what the show is really about).

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Sami and Aleen are joined by Jessica Jones, registered dietician and host of the Food Heaven podcast. They start with a reflection on how the social justice movement in 2020 impacted the health and wellness conversation, and why there still needs to be room to rest for hosts like Jess. Next, they talk about the lack of diverse body size in film and television (we’re looking at you The Bachelor) and why we’re often taught that weight loss equals health. Jess explains how she came to the conclusion that it’s not ethical to suggest weight loss to her clients. Plus, they talk about influencers going out of their way to emphasize their self-acceptance, even when it doesn’t reflect the reality for everyone. Finally, Jess explains how cooking can be a great tool for getting a handle on your food goals, and why it might be time to just add the butter back in.

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On this week’s bonus episode, Sami and Aleen read a Dear DST from a woman who’s mother-in-law gave her a gift two sizes too big. Would you be offended if someone saw you as bigger than you were? On top of that, how do you deal with being a part of a family where you look different from everyone else?

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This week, Aleen and Sami talk about the shift away from the “new year, new me” resolution mindset and towards a more accepting version of intention-setting. They react to resolutions from DSTers (hint: vegetables and more alone time) and ask if quarantine was the real reason for the shift. Are we only accepting our bodies more because we’re seeing less people?

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