Healthy At Any Size

Meaghan O’Connor was working for a hedge fund when she got laid off during the economic downturn of the early 2000’s. She went from sobbing on Lexington Avenue to thriving as a celebrity fashion stylist, working with major brands and celebrity clients, and living the life of her dreams.

Meaghan figured out a way for herself to both make money and enjoy her life pretty quickly. By throwing her head, her heart, and her hustle behind her brand, Little Lime Dress, her business has evolved from a personal shopping service that she advertised on Craigslist to dressing some of the most recognizable plus size (and not) women in the entertainment business.

Throughout her journey to become the Lady Boss she is today, Meaghan has stayed true to who she is, and tight with her family. No matter what setbacks or obstacles she’s encountered, Meaghan has always found a way to rise above by drawing on her optimism, humor, and creativity. She’s working every day to be the best version of herself she can be, and make the world a better place, particularly for plus size women. Who wouldn’t want to emulate that?!

Key takeaways:

• Megan’s own journey to become a Lady Boss

• Her journey from sobbing on Lexington Ave to thriving as a celebrity stylist

• Growing Little Lime Dress from a personal shopping service advertised on Craigslist to on-set and celebrity styling business

• Meaghan’s yearly “dream client list” and how she keeps herself going when the going gets tough

• The women that have inspired Meaghan throughout her life

• The importance of family in building your Lady Boss legacy

• What it’s like to be driving change in the fashion industry to make things more inclusive for plus size women

• How to cultivate positivity on a daily basis, and Meaghan’s personal daily mantras for positivity, inspired by the memory of her mother

Mentioned in this episode:

Meaghan’s blog, Little Lime Dress

Meaghan’s Instagram

Meaghan’s Instagram Portfolio

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Jenny H. Conviser, PsyD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Feinberg School of Medicine, and on staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Conviser is Certified in both Sport Psychology and Child and Family Therapy. She specializes in eating and weight-related disorders, couples therapy, sports psychology and women's' health. 

The UnWeighted model encourages individuals to embrace self-care; focus more on the process; focus less on the outcome; develop greater internal control; foster emotional awareness; engage in positive self-talk, and enable an individual to compare their success more with their own personally established goals, and less to a universal externally derived standards. An UnWeighted healthcare plan does not promise an ideal body or ideal health. It does, however, promise better health and better well-being. 

In this interview, Dr. Conviser and I unpack her findings and how we can apply them to our own journeys as women seeking to live healthy at any size. 

Key takeaways: 

• Why BMI isn’t the ultimate measure of your health 
• The problem with a BMI-based treatment model 
• Why weight loss is risky and should not be undertaken lightly 
• How a very simple lifestyle change can yield major health benefits 
• Why dieting programs you to binge eat 

• What diet cycling and set points are, and what they mean to your health 
• How dieting is slowing down your metabolism 
• What you can say to your doctor to get better treatment if you’re a higher weight person 
• Concrete steps we can all take to live the UnWeighted model 
• Why we shouldn’t let external sources tell us who we should be 

Mentioned in this episode: 

UnWeighted Nation 

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Nina Elliot and her husband Christian are the husband / wife duo behind True Whole Human. Nina balances her pursuit of a healthy lifestyle with her business, homeschooling her four children, and being the all-around awesome woman that she wants to be. 

Nina, like many of us, experienced weight gain in her early adult years which took her on a journey of self-discovery, research about “whole” foods, and ways of exercising that felt good for her body. She’s lived this journey, and today she shares with us what she’s learned along the way. 

[Text Wrapping Break]We dive into maternity and postpartum fitness and body image, the “cow share” that Nina and her husband participate in, and the importance of healthy habits in helping Nina to achieve food freedom for herself and her clients. In our conversation, we dispel so many diet myths and Nina downloads some quick, practical things we can all do to move towards healthier living in 2018. Nina’s story, and this interview, are great food for thought for those of us heading into the New Year and formulating goals related to our bodies and our health. 

Key takeaways: 

• Nina’s personal journey with weight loss 
• The beginning of True Whole Human 
• Nina’s postpartum fitness journey 
• Why real food is so important to making a health transformation 
• How to override the need for willpower with healthy habits 
• One easy, daily thing we can all do to kick-start healthier habits in the New Year 
• Health “experiments,” and why you should do them one at a time 
• How Nina and her husband approach transformation for their clients 
• The Health Audit and where to find it 

Mentioned in this episode: 

True Whole Human 

True Whole Human’s Health Audit 

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Kara Loewentheil, who I’m calling my podcast guest M.V.P. of 2017 (and that’s saying A LOT, because we have had many amazing guests!) is back for her second episode! If you haven’t already listened to her first episode, “Unf*ck Your Diet Brain,” hop back and do that before moving on! 

In this conversation, Kara and I dive into the food noise surrounding the winter holidays. It’s almost expected that we’re all going to overindulge, gain weight, and then go on a diet once the clock strikes midnight on January 1st. It’s a societally-induced cycle of binge / restrict. It can be very toxic, and a total mindf*ck for those of us that are trying to reprogram our diet brains and achieve a more balanced relationship with food. 

There’s many reasons that we feel the way that we do this time of year. But Kara gives us some great, practical ways that we can combat the diet culture conditioning and have a more freely-chosen out look on our bodies, our weight, and our health going into 2018. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s starting to formulate resolutions for the New Year! 

Key takeaways: 

• The societal expectation that we’re all going to binge / restrict around the holidays 
• Why this can be such a triggering time of year for those of us trying to unf*ck our diet brains 
• How we can separate ourselves from the social conditioning that creates all the food noise around the holidays 
• Why you don’t have to earn, or deserve, pleasure 
• Why the patriarchy wants you to obsess about your body 
• Why women’s pleasure has always been something we moralize and try to restrict 
• Why you should maintain a healthy level of skepticism when people attempt to link your weight and your food choices to your health 
• Health is not a moral issue 
• The importance of having frank conversations about how big a role your weight actually plays in determining your health with your healthcare provider 
• How to overcome the diet culture conditioning that makes you feel obligated to lose weight every year 

• Why you should just eat the cupcake already! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

The Health at Every Size movement 

Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program that Works by Evelyn Tribole 

Kara’s Unfuck Your Brain program 

Share the Body Love! 

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Post your own experiences, thoughts, and feedback to social media using the hashtag #healthyatanysize! 

Danika Brysha is a curve model with IMG models, food and wellness personality, and the founder and CEO of Model Meals, a healthy meal delivery company. She is also incredibly attuned to her body, its needs, and the constant pursuit of self-improvement. 

On her journey to her best self, Danika has battled substance abuse, disordered eating, career highs and lows, and finding her true purpose. She’s come out the other side of that journey as a model (and model human being!) who loves her body, her life, and her business. That’s something we can all aspire to! 

In this interview, Danika and I talk about how to engineer your life to bring about your own best self! From your morning routine, to loving your body, to positive affirmations, to putting your big goals into motion, Danika has so much wisdom and inspiration to share! This is the perfect shot-in-the-arm of self-reflection as we near the end of 2017, and begin contemplating our resolutions for 2018. 

Key takeaways: 

• Danika’s start in the modeling world 
• Danika’s first introduction Whole30, which drastically changed the course of her life and her career 
• Moving home to California and formally launching her business, Model Meals 
• Finding the balance between self-improvement and self-care 
• Why you can truly be healthy at any size 
• The importance of unscheduled / down time 
• How Danika built her passion into a thriving business 
• Why feeling your feelings is the key to navigating the world as your best self 

Mentioned in this episode: 

IMG Models 

Model Meals 

Whole 30 

Danika’s Self-Care Checklist 

Danika’s Instagram 

Share the Body Love! 

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Post your own experiences, thoughts, and feedback to social media using the hashtag #healthyatanysize! 

Denise Caldwell is a celebrity fashion stylist. From A-list, celebrity clients (and fashion heavy hitters) like Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jennifer Lopez, to the “everyday” women that she makes over for fashion outlets and morning shows, Denise has been in the thick of it with women of all shapes, sizes, and skin tones as she helps them look their best! 

In this interview, Denise and I discuss how she’s been able to build the career that she has today, working with so many amazing brands, magazines, and media outlets. We talk about how she navigates the fashion world, especially as a woman of color, and a curvy-bodied woman. Denise shares some of the ways that she stays sparkly, no matter what comes her way! 

As a partner with Marshall’s this holiday season, Denise has some very useful tips and tricks to navigating the holidays as your most confident, sparkly self. Especially if you’re a curvy woman! We unpack seasonal trends, plus some easy year-round ways you can infuse a little more sparkle into your look, and your overall self-presentation! This conversation with Denise is like a Vitamin B shot of holiday cheer, and who couldn’t use a little bump of that? 

Key takeaways: 

• Denise’s early career, and how she became the woman she is today 
• Navigating the fashion world as a curvy woman, and a woman of color 
• How to get up the nerve to create the life of your dreams 
• Strategies to project confidence, so you look and feel your best! 
• A breakdown of how to wear seasonal trends like red, faux fur, metallics, and more 
• How Denise dresses herself from head-to-toe every day 
• What to think about when building an outfit for day-to-night 
• Why higher heels can make you feel closer to god! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Denise’s Instagram 

Marshall’s 

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Kara is an insanely accomplished, empowered feminist who is also a master certified life coach and creator of the revolutionary program for feminist women, “Unf*ck Your Brain.” Kara discovered coaching, and learned how to coach herself, which has allowed her to put together the cognitive psychology that she found could rewire her brain with the feminist values that informed her life. 

Kara has figured out how to actually match her feelings and actions to her beliefs. This has allowed her to create the feelings of confidence, worth, and independence that she wanted and had long believed she should have in every area of her life, from work, to romance, to her body. In this episode, Kara unpacks how to apply her unique methodology to helping us all to rewire our thoughts about our bodies. 

The thought patterns we are caught in influence how we feel about our bodies, and the world around us, so much! I learned so much in this discussion from Kara, and her own podcast episode on this topic. Especially this time of year, this interview is a much-needed dose of reality, and empowerment, that we can all use to up-level how we view our bodies, and how we’re treating ourselves. 

Key takeaways: 

• Kara’s trajectory, and how she went from super-accomplished reproductive rights attorney to life coach 
• Kara’s unique coaching technique, and the cognitive psychology-based principles to help herself and her clients rewire their thinking 
• How the patriarchy has influenced how we view our bodies, and how we treat ourselves 
• Why everything we’ve been believing about our bodies is flawed--having the perfect body will not give us everything we want in life! 
• The danger of perfectionism and on-the-wagon / off-the-wagon thinking 
• The ways we are disassociating from our bodies and committing acts of self harm as a result 
• How to replace those old, outmoded beliefs with new, positive ones 
• The key habits and beliefs you need to change to unf*ck your diet brain 
• One key step to take as you start this journey 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Kara’s podcast, “Unf*ck Your Brain”[Text Wrapping Break]The work of Isabel Foxen Duke 

Kara’s “Healthy Habits” podcast episode 

Kara’s “Unf*ck Your Brain” coaching program 

Share the Body Love! 

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Subscribe on iTunes and leave a review. I love hearing what you have to say! 

Post your own experiences, thoughts, and feedback to social media using the hashtag #healthyatanysize! 

Isoke Salaam is an East Coast PR girl originally from New Jersey with private clients within fashion and the arts. When not reviewing a client portfolio, typing on an iPad and answering her cell phone while balancing in heels, Isoke practices ballet, enjoys running, writing, reading, traveling and learning about art! She is a PR powerhouse, an avid art fan and a fashion lover. 

I met Isoke when I became an advocate for the D.C. Humane Rescue Alliance and the 2017 Fashion for Paws event. I was instantly drawn to her because of her grace, her grit, and the way she exudes a certain calm and connectedness that is so rare in busy, professional types these days! After getting to know her, I learned that she cultivates this through a daily gratitude practice (along with a lifetime of being an exceptional human!). 

Isoke lives a very dynamic, jet-setting life. She is a true individual, with a very freely-chosen definition of success, and so much authenticity. It’s been a pleasure getting to know her, and developing a friendship with her. In our interview, we cover fashion, fitness, travel, self-care, and of course, a daily practice of cultivating gratitude! We can all learn something from Isoke and the fabulous life she’s created for herself! 

Key takeaways: 

• Isoke’s life as a PR maven in Washington, D.C. working with clients worldwide 
• How Isoke shows her body love through movement and her love of boutique fitness 
• Being a “non-judgy” vegetarian 
• Isoke’s adult gap year living in Paris and how she made that happen 
• What it’s like being a tall, striking, woman of color and a professional 
• Isoke’s daily spiritual practice, including her gratitude practice 
• The legacy that Isoke is working to create for herself (hint: it’s not marriage and kids) 
• The jet-setting life Isoke leads, and all the countries she’s visited this year 
• The importance of creating financial freedom, and how Isoke did this for herself 
• Life lists and how to use them to create a dream experience! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Isoke’s Daily Gratitude Practice  

Isoke’s PR business 

Fashion for Paws 

Isoke’s client, Kia, and her new book 

Share the Body Love! 

Share what you learned here via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter 

 

Subscribe on iTunes and leave a review. I love hearing what you have to say! 

Post your own experiences, thoughts, and feedback to social media using the hashtag #healthyatanysize! 

Madeline (Maddie) Jones is the editor-in-chief of Plus Model Magazine (PMM) and one of the pioneers of the plus size fashion industry. She is sometimes referred to as the Anna Wintour of plus size, and through her work has blazed a trail that many of us have the pleasure of following in. 

Maddie’s presence in the industry pre-dates the social media crazed world we live in now. From the beginning, Maddie has been using her voice to create a space for plus size women in the fashion industry. All along, she and her husband, photographer Lucas Jones, have been documenting the faces of plus size women and challenging society’s expectations of how plus size bodies should be photographed. 

In my own journey as a plus size model, Maddie has been there since the beginning. I did my very first test shoot with Maddie, and along the way she has supported me and guided me at every turn. Maddie has so much wisdom to share with models at any stage of their career, but she’s got an especially great perspective for women looking to launch their modeling career. 

Maddie’s advice is hard-hitting, straight talk about what it really takes to build a successful modeling career for yourself as a plus size woman. It’s not always an easy road, but it can be incredibly rewarding! And regardless of whether or not you wind up getting signed by an agency, Maddie has advice for all of us about how to use our voices, how to conduct ourselves in business relationships, and how to create our own opportunities as women. 

Key takeaways: 

• The early days of Maddie’s advocacy for plus size women, and how PMM got its start 
• What it takes to build a brand like PMM, and how Maddie put her publication on the map 
• Maddie’s journey of coming out from “behind-the-scenes” and putting herself out there as an influencer 
• Maddie’s journey as an Autism Mom 
• The importance of being authentic (don’t try to be “the next Ashley Graham,” or anyone else!) 
• Why you should never take things personally in your business 
• The importance of having your own, unique point of view when creating content as an influencer 
• How we can make a greater impact when we work together with other women, rather than just trying to advance our own image 

• The essential steps you must take if you want to launch a successful modeling career 
• Some reasons that you might not actually want to become a plus size model--it’s not just about being a pretty girl! 
• Why you don’t need to become a plus size model to validate your worth, or to make a positive impact in the world 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Plus Model Magazine 

Maddie’s personal brand 

Maddie’s husband, photographer Lucas Jones 

Maddie’s journey as an Autism Mom 

Share the Body Love! 

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Subscribe on iTunes and leave a review. I love hearing what you have to say! 

Post your own experiences, thoughts, and feedback to social media using the hashtag #healthyatanysize! 

Kristin Booker is a writer, blogger, and the creator of the site Fashion.Style.Beauty. Kristin has crafted stories for Marie Claire, ELLE, Refinery29, Lucky, xoJane, xoVain, and Yahoo Beauty, among others. I got to meet Kristin when she interviewed me for a piece on Self.com. Since then, it’s been amazing to get to know her and watch her flourish in so many ways! 

In this episode, Kristin is so brave and vulnerable in sharing her experiences, from early alcohol abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, and her struggle to find a place in the world. Kristin’s journey is an inspiration, and the things that she’s accomplished in her fiercely authentic journey to self-actualization prove that it is possible for all of us to create a life that we love! 

Kristin’s relationship with her body is at the core of her journey, and throughout the years she’s had ups and downs, just like all of us. When her doctor gave her a very loving, direct wake-up call a few years ago, Kristin embarked on the next chapter of her journey: weight loss, in the name of her health.  

So often in the body positive community, it can feel like we’re being torn between two extremes: dieting, weight loss, “all or nothing” thinking, and permission to be whatever size, eating whatever foods, and doing whatever exercise with no regard for our health. But the truth is that there is a middle ground. Kristin proves this, by sharing the very integrated ways in which her pursuit of health, and self actualization, has lead her to a very body positive mentality. She has reconciled weight loss with also loving her body, and accepting it as it is.  

Key takeaways: 

• Kristin’s early life, which includes some tough stuff like alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and feeling like she didn’t fit in as a creative 
• Kristin’s journey to find a place for herself professionally where she can use both her creative and her business brain 
• Kristin’s relationship with her body over the years, from extreme deprivation and an eating disorder, to dire health consequences in her later life 
• How Kristin got her start as a freelance writer, and what lead her to create Fashion.Style.Beauty 
• Kristin’s big break as a writer with SheFinds.com 
• Kristin’s wake up call with her health 
• How Kristin has come full circle to a body positive mindset, as someone who also lost weight and transformed her health 
• The importance of carving out your own definition of health, and how Kristin stays balanced in a world of extremes! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Fashion.Style.Beauty 

The forthcoming Fashion.Style.Beauty podcast, coming November 27th! 

Kristin’s piece on me and several other models for Self.com 

SheFinds.com 

Kristin’s blog  

Kristin’s Instagram 

Share the Body Love! 

Share what you learned here via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter 

 

Subscribe on iTunes and leave a review. I love hearing what you have to say! 

Post your own experiences, thoughts, and feedback to social media using the hashtag #healthyatanysize!