Healthy At Any Size

Anne Mahlum is the entrepreneur, brain trust and #ladyboss behind [solid core]! She is the owner and CEO of the business, which she founded in DC in 2013. In just a few short years, Anne has grown her company into a nationwide fitness sensation, with dozens of studios across the country--and more on the way! 

[solid core] was really born out of Anne’s own personal journey with her body, fitness, and self development. The entire experience of attending a class at [solid core] reflects the heart, the determination, and the authenticity that Anne oozes in everything she does.  

In this episode, Anne opens up about what it’s like to run this amazing fitness company, her own experience with fitness, and her past history with eating disorders. Her own journey with her body hasn’t been straight and narrow, and she’s super authentic in sharing that, which is awesome! 

Looking at the woman that Anne is today, it’s hard to imagine that she ever struggled with loving her body! But it just goes to show that we all struggle from time-to-time, in our own way. And we can all learn from how Anne has applied those experiences to creating this awesome brand, and business, and experience that is becoming available to more and more of us! 

Key takeaways: 

• What it’s like to be the CEO of [solid core] 
• What led Anne to the [solid core] method, and why she decided to turn it into a business 
• Anne’s own personal struggle with fitness, her body, and her eating disorder 
• What it’s like to be a type-A, addictive personality, and how Anne’s learned to harness that energy into being a #ladyboss! 
• Why so many of us stay “10 pounds away” from a state where we’re happy with our bodies 
• How Anne got to a place of food freedom and happiness with her body 
• Why positive body image and acceptance are a core value for the [solid core] community 
• Major hurdles that Anne and her team has overcome, from lawsuits to creating their own “Sweatlana,” and more! 

• Why we all need to celebrate and support one another as women, particularly in business! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) 

Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) 

[solid core] website 

[solid core] Instagram 

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15,000 girls entered the Torrid Model Search 2017 competition, and we’re now to the final four, in the final few days of their journey (voting ends October 29!). I caught up with Haley Rudolph of Toronto, ON; Seairra Thompson of Berkeley, CA; Sophia Ervin of Dallas, TX; and Julia Rose Miller of Round Rock, TX. Each girl dished about her experience, and what she’s gained from being a part of the competition.  

Torrid has created a really great mechanism to take young women in our society from the sidewalk to the catwalk with this model search. But more than that, they’ve created a movement that makes all women in our society feel included, and catered to, by the fashion world. No matter what shape, size, skin tone, or age you might be, this model search is a great source of inspiration and body positivity! 

Talking to these ladies really took me back to what it’s like to be a plus size teenager in our society, and how meaningful the plus size fashion movement has been in giving these girls a place in society where they “fit,” literally and figuratively! These girls exude body confidence, positivity, and hope for the future. Just hearing their stories can make us all feel a little better in our own skin. We could all use a little more of that! 

Key takeaways: 

• Background on the “Torrid Model Search 2017” competition 
• What motivated each girl to want to enter the competition 
• What it felt like for each girl to walk in NYFW 
• What they’ve learned from participating in the competition 
• Each girl’s unique background and perspective, and how that’s helped them in the competition 
• The challenges each girl has overcome in order to succeed in the competition 
• The plans each of these girls have for giving back to society, whether or not they win! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Torrid Model Search 2017 ( voting ends on Sunday, October 29!) 

“Torrid’s Debut NYFW Runway Showcased This Season’s Hottest Trend: Inclusivity” 

Torrid’s YouTube miniseries 

Haley Rudolph’s Instagram 

Seairra Thompson’s Instagram 

Sophia Ervin’s Instagram 

Julia Rose Miller’s Instagram 

Torrid’s Instagram 

Share the Body Love! 

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

Zlata Sushchik is an award-winning fitness competitor, lifestyle coach, and creator of the Sexyfit Method, author Zlata Sushchik spent more than a decade perfecting a simple five-step method to help every woman experience complete food freedom, create the body she loves, and reclaim her life. 

Zlata grew up in Moscow, Russia, and moved to the U.S. at age 16. From a bullied teen immigrant to a bodybuilder and a beauty pageant queen, Zlata went through her fair share of struggles with yo-yo dieting, extensive gym workouts, and feeling like getting in shape was a full-time job – which, for her, it was. After winning or placing in the top five in more than 26 state, national, and international shows, Zlata was forced to leave her career after experiencing health complications caused by traditional approaches to getting in shape. 

In this episode, Zlata and I discuss her journey with dieting and fitness competition, which ultimately has led her to a place of wanting to show her body more love, respect, and care. For Zlata, taking care of her body is no longer about fitting into her skinny jeans, or achieving a standard of perfection--it’s about showing her body as much love as possible! We can all learn from Zlata’s journey, and apply her insights to our own relationship with our bodies! 

Key takeaways: 

• Zlata’s experience growing up as a Russian immigrant in the United States 
• The first time someone body shamed Zlata 
• How Zlata got started in (and hooked on) fitness competitions 
• The extreme toll that training for fitness competitions took on Zlata’s body 
• Why Zlata decided to get into coaching and sharing her method with other women 
• The cornerstones of the Sexyfit Method, and why it’s really about emotional freedom, simplicity, accountability, and community, not just aesthetic results 
• How to balance our masculine and feminine energies in attaining Food Freedom 
• Why Zlata believes that every meal is a cheat meal 
• Why you need to be very leary of the supplements being marketed to fitness competitors 
• Why when you’re your true, radiant, amazing best self, you no longer need to worry about what size you are 

Mentioned in this episode: 

The Sexyfit Method, and the new Sexyfit Method Book 

Share the Body Love! 

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

Ginny Gane is a Law of Attraction expert, coach, author, and podcast host. She also studied Kinesiology and worked as a Physical Trainer for many years. She marries up the teachings of Abraham Hicks and classic LOA truths with a deep understanding of how to manifest the relationship with your body that you are seeking! 

In this episode, Ginny and I discuss ways to apply the Law of Attraction to consciously creating a routine for you and your body that will get results! We are all tired of yo-yo dieting, rigid meal plans, and complex workout routines that are tough to really put into action. So Ginny demystifies how we can work on a transformation from the inside out! 

[Text Wrapping Break]Whether you’re actively seeking to lose weight, or improve your health, or just feel better in your body, this episode is packed with practical takeaways to help you create a body and a lifestyle that you love! 

Key takeaways: 

• Ginny’s journey to discover the Law of Attraction as a Kinesiology student, Athlete, and Physical Trainer 
• Whatever you’re feeling most often is what you’re going to attract, and the fundamentals of the Law of Attraction 
• Creating small shifts in your thoughts so that you can create more of what you want when it comes to your body and your health 
• My “bathtub moment” and how I personally began to change my thoughts so I could create a body and a life that I love 
• If you are taking most of your action from a place of external motivation, it’s tough to create lasting change 
• Ginny’s LOA Action Plan, and four steps to consciously create a routine that brings you more of what you want! 
• It really is as simple as thinking more positive thoughts about yourself than negative ones. Your lifestyle, decisions, actions, and ultimately your experience, will reflect that. 
• Consciously creating a routine that is going to make you feel the way you want to feel, and not just look the way that you want to look (although you can have both!) 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Abraham Hicks and The Law of Attraction 

My bathtub moment 

The 7-Minute Workout app 

Ginny’s LOA Action Plan 

The Manifest it Now podcast 

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! 

If I had to quantify my investment in diet and weight loss products in the past ten years, I would estimate that it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000. In this episode, I share the nitty gritty details of how I got to that number, and how it adds up quicker than you might realize! 

You might be shocked by that number. You might think, “That will never be me.” However, we as a society spend over $60 Billion per year on dieting and weight loss. So, I know that I’m definitely not alone in this, which is why I’m laying it all out there for others to learn from my experience. 

This week’s guest, money manifesting expert Cassie Parks, is a bestselling author of multiple books, many of which are on the subject of how to manifest the life and financial situation you desire, such as Manifest $10,000. In my conversation with her, we unpack the reasons so many of us tend to give our money away unconsciously based on our feelings of unworthiness, rather than investing our money intentionally from a place of abundance! 

Learn the sneaky ways you might be parting with your money without realizing it, and unconsciously funding the dieting industry rather than creating the financial situation (and life) of your dreams! Also, how to turn that around. 

Key takeaways: 

• The sneaky ways we give our money away to the dieting industry 
• The exact breakdown of the $10,000 I spent on dieting and weight loss--you might be surprised how many of these things are in your monthly spend, as well! 
• Cassie Parks’s tips on how to go from being a mindless spender to a conscious investor 
• Why many of our diet and weight loss purchases are motivated by our own feelings of unworthiness 
• Other places in our lives that this type of mindless spending might show up, outside of diet and weight loss 
• Why understanding how you want to feel should be at the root of your investment decisions 
• How to pivot from mindlessly spending money on diet and weight loss to consciously investing in your physical health and well-being 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Cassie Parks and her book, Manifest $10,000 

Mint.com 

How much Americans spend on dieting each year 

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! 

So many of us are striving to create the lives (and the bodies) that we love. But it can get discouraging because it seems like we’re inundated with examples of women who are having to compromise their health and well-being in order to achieve success in their career, and vice versa. Is it really possible to be successful in business, engaged in your community and family life, and live a healthy lifestyle? 

Kiana Cabell, co-founder of Kopari Beauty, is an example that shows us we can have it all! She is an example of a woman achieving low-key, high velocity entrepreneurial and life success. As she prepares to become a mom (like me!), Kiana and I caught up to talk all about how she got to where she is today. 

[Text Wrapping Break]Kiana shares her take on balance when it comes to food, business, and life. She shares how her upbringing on the beaches of Hawaii, and her passion for healthy, natural ingredients shaped her as a person, and as a founder. She talks about the road to success for her brand, which is really cementing its place in the beauty industry, and disrupting long-held notions about what we should expect from natural, organic products. 

There’s so much wisdom Kiana shares here that we can all apply to our own experiences! 

Key takeaways: 

• Kiana’s childhood, growing up in Hawaii and being raised by her pro surfer (and founder of Chart House restaurants) Dad 
• Kiana’s studies as a chef at a traditional culinary school, and then NYC’s Natural Gourmet Institute 
• How Kiana applies a balanced approach to exercise and food choices 
• Hypnobirthing classes and the ways that Kiana is preparing for motherhood 
• Kiana’s long-time love affair with coconut oil, and how Kiana got her start as an entrepreneur 
• The wisdom of staying low-key when you’re in the process of creating something 
• The importance of surrounding yourself with the right partners, in business and life 
• Failing forward, and how Kiana’s been able to turn every challenge into learning 
• Why delegating is key to Kiana’s formula for success 

• Believing in yourself, and not letting yourself get in your own way, is the key to creating a  business and lifestyle you love! Go for it. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Kopari Beauty 

Kiana’s legendary Dad 

The Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC 

Hypnobirthing 

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! 

I was struggling with a combination of binge eating disorder and bulimia while I attended the Naval Academy from 2003 - 2007. My experience as a woman in uniform, and an NCAA Division I athlete for the Naval Academy, were directly related to the development of my eating disorder. 

As a disclaimer, I’m a huge supporter of the military and am incredibly honored to have served. I have deep reverence for the military and everyone serving. I’m not sharing my story to cast blame upon the military, or to paint this organization, which I hold in incredibly high esteem, in a negative light. But the reality is that many women have suffered and continue to suffer, as I did.  

Ultimately, my eating disorder is what led to me being (honorably) medically discharged from military service in 2008. But you won’t see anything about an eating disorder anywhere in my medical or service records. It’s through my recovery, years later, that I’ve come to understand the connection between my disordered behavior and the injury which ended my naval career. 

My experience is unique in its specifics, but not unique to women in the military. 34% of women in the military suffer from eating disorders. We as a country miss out when women end their term of service prematurely (like I did), or aren’t able to serve at their full capacity, because they are battling an eating disorder. Now that we know this, we can begin to address it! And that starts with increasing funding for treatment, research, prevention, and awareness of eating disorders for those in uniform. 

The entire military suffers when as many as 34% of its service women are at a limited capacity due to illness. That’s why I’m testifying before members of congress on September 28, 2017 alongside a panel of experts, so I can use my experiences to better life for so many women still serving. 

Key takeaways: 

• The ways the food and eating were stigmatized for me during my time in the military 
• Why I turned to eating large amounts of food in secret to cope with my environment  
• The first time I binged and purged 
• Ways that I pushed my body to extremes to counteract my binge eating 
• The single event that changed the course of my entire life 
• Why this problem, which impacts 34% of women in the service, is truly a problem for 100% of the military 

• The ways that NEDA and the EDC are working to address these issues, and what you can do to help! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

National Eating Disorders Association 

Eating Disorders Council 

Speaker, Author and Researcher Brené Brown 

Healthy at Any Size podcast, Episode 3 

The Reality of Struggling with Binge Eating Disorder in the Military 

The “Weakest Link” 

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! 

Kelly Augustine is one of the leading voices in the body positivity and plus size fashion conversation right now. Recently, she was featured in a national television & print #thenewskinny campaign for Lane Bryant, which only solidifies her rank as one of the most influential bloggers in this community! 

In this episode, Kelly and I discuss the importance of us using our voices as women, particularly with all the political turmoil we’ve experienced as a nation this past summer. Kelly is very outspoken, and does a great job voicing her opinion while keeping her message and overall presence positive, empowering, and inclusive.  

The conversation about our bodies, and how we as women should be treated in the world, is more important now than ever before. Kelly shares how she’s navigating the conversation, the importance of choosing your words wisely on social media, and where she’s finding inspiration and positivity these days.  

We also cover the increasingly blurred lines between models slash bloggers, her making the leap to freelancing, and why more brands need to start featuring visibly plus size women in their campaigns. And Kelly shares all her go-to resources for information, fashion, beauty, and inspiration!  

There’s so much to learn from Kelly that we as women can all apply to our everyday lives. 

Key takeaways: 

• Kelly’s recent Lane Bryant #thenewskinny campaign and her success as a plus size fashion blogger 
• How the political turmoil of the summer has impacted the conversation we’re having about our bodies as women 
• What influencers like Kelly are doing to infuse more positivity into the world during heartbreaking world events 
• The importance of using our voice as individuals to comment on troubling world events 
• Choosing our words carefully when it comes to the content that we put out into the world 
• Being over 30 in the modeling industry, and the increasingly blurred lines between being a blogger / influencer and a model 

• Why more brands should be featuring more body diversity, and showcasing visibly plus size women, in their campaigns 
• Kelly’s go-to brands for information, fashion, beauty, and inspiration 
• The importance of protecting our sanity in this age of information overload 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Kelly’s Lane Bryant #thenewskinny campaign 

Vice’s coverage of the Charlottesville tragedy 

Models slash influencers Alex LaRosa, Candice Huffine, Ashley Graham, Philomena Kwao 

Eloquii’s extended sizing lookbooks, the launch of Preme, Asos’s representation of visibly plus size models, and Glossier’s range of skin tones 

Kelly’s “go-to” brands for information, fashion, beauty, and inspiration: Elvi, NYDJ, Asos, Fashion to Figure, Refinery29, Glossier  

Share the Body Love! 

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

If you’re a plus size woman like me, you know how frustrating it can be to find clothing that’s comfortable, fits well, is made from quality materials, and is also stylish, reflective of your own personal aesthetic. Sometimes, it feels like the fashion industry just doesn’t care.

But as someone who has the privilege to interact with those behind-the-scenes of many fashion brands in my role as a plus size model, I know that this is far from true! Lots of designers care deeply about giving plus size women what they want, and are working hard to make that happen.

In honor of New York Fashion Week, currently underway, I’ve assembled a panel of fashion design insiders from the plus size fashion world to talk about the challenges (and joys!) of bringing gorgeous, high-quality, and functional fashion to plus size shoppers. Because from my perspective, the purpose of fashion is to make sure we can all leave the house feeling amazing, so we can go out there and do our great work in the world!

Some of the women you’ll hear from in this episode, like Lisa Aviva, I’ve worked with and know personally. Others, like Erin Cavanaugh and Yi Zhou from See Rose Go, and Shireen Jamehdor of Jaanuu Scrubs, I’m getting to know right along with you, listeners! Whether or not you’re a plus size fashion insider, it’s fascinating to hear about the journey these women go on behind-the-scenes, and what inspires them to create. The plus size fashion world is moving forward! And these are some of the ladies making that transformation a reality.

Key takeaways:

• How these brands got started
• What inspired the brands, and the women who are creating the clothing, to take on the challenge of bringing fashionable, high-quality, functional clothing to plus size shoppers
• The financial challenges of starting a fashion line
• The technical, manufacturing, and production challenges of creating a fashion line for plus size shoppers
• What these women each see as the #1 thing needed to move plus size fashion forward
• The brands that these women are looking to currently, who are doing a great job of moving fashion forward for plus size shoppers
• What’s on the horizon for each of these women, and the brands they represent

Mentioned in this episode:

Lisa Aviva

See Rose Go

Jaanuu Scrubs

Universal Standard

Elloquii

Torrid

Lane Bryant

Plus size subscription services, like Gwynnie Bee, Dia & Co., and Trunk Club for plus

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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!

So many of us have grown up buying into the diet myth, which teaches us that we have to lose weight and get a “perfect” body in order to have the life of our dreams. But for curve model, top beauty influencer, and makeup artist Lauren O’Leary, the exact opposite has been true! 

Rather than putting off living the life of her dreams until she felt she had the perfect body, she decided to learn how to accept the body she had. Lauren cultivated a more loving, positive mindset about herself and her body. This has proven to be jet fuel for her in achieving her career goals and creating a life that she loves! 

In this episode, Lauren opens up her beautiful heart and shares about her eating disorder, her recovery and the ways that she healed herself, and her rise to success as a makeup artist, beauty influencer, and curve model. Lauren is such an amazing person, inside and out, with lots of insights and inspiration to offer us all! She’s living proof that you don’t have to necessarily lose weight in order to have a body and a life that you love. 

Key takeaways: 

• How I met Lauren O’Leary, and some of the projects we’ve done together 
• When Lauren first became uncomfortable in her body, as her eating disorder developed 
• Lauren’s process of recovery from her eating disorder, and how she healed herself 
• The one realization the really fueled Lauren’s rise to a healthier relationship with her body, as well as success in the beauty industry, and life in NYC 
• Becoming a curve model with TRUE Model Management 
• The amazing companies & celebrities that Lauren has gotten to work with 
• The secret to staying grounded with all of the success Lauren is experiencing in her career 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Lauren O’Leary Beauty 

Lauren O’Leary Instagram 

TRUE Model Management 

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!