If you're like me, you have a complex relationship with food and body image. Back in the day, I even had a diagnosable eating disorder and received treatment for it. Thankfully, I've been in recovery for quite some time, but more stressful phases of life have challenged my ability to stay in recovery. 

Let's consider the fertility journey. Most of us gain some weight while undergoing treatments, and as female physicians we are taught that the lower the BMI, the better (in most cases). This is confounded by the fact that most REI's use the BMI to determine who may and may not receive certain treatments (usually for anesthesia reasons), and there are data about weight being a variable in fertility. 

How do we begin to unpack this and have a healthy relationship with food and body during this time? This episode is full of hidden gems. 

We discuss the following:

• why as female physicians we are wired to focus on weight, and how to unlearn this
• challenging the notion that a lower weight is better
• allowing for changes in body shapes and sizes throughout our lifespan
• embracing our current body as it is now 
• a new look at emotional eating and how our awareness of it may serve us
• permission to slow down and enjoy food
• the importance of teams in terms of teaching us how to eat well in all of the senses 
• how to allow this journey to make us more human (ie go from a dissociated state to a fully present and embodied experience of the fullness of life)

May we walk this journey together. Rooting for you always!

Guest Details: 

Dr. Rebecca Berens is a board-certified family physician and the founder of Vida Family Medicine in Houston, TX. She provides compassionate, weight-inclusive, trauma-informed healthcare with a special focus on supporting individuals with metabolic health concerns who are recovering from disordered eating. Dr. Berens is committed to reshaping healthcare into a more inclusive, respectful, and healing space for every body.

www.vidafamilymed.com

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

www.loveandsciencefertility.com/contact

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Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove