Lisa is joined by Susan, an OOTC group coaching alum from Rochester, Minnesota, who shares her challenges related to body image, trauma, and personal growth. It highlights her resilience and transformation through radical acceptance and self-compassion, showcasing her ability to adapt and find healing amidst adversity. 

Topics Include:

[1:11] Lisa and Susan begin the conversation with Susan introducing herself and sharing her early memories of feeling envious of her sister’s thin body and internalizing negative comments about her own “stocky” body. She recalls being aware of her family’s concern about her weight from a young age.

[7:40] Susan recounts experiences of sexual abuse by her grandfather and how the lack of support or acknowledgment from her family contributed to her feelings of shame and isolation. Lisa and Susan discuss her early attempts at dieting, starting in seventh grade. 

[25:16] Susan discusses using food as comfort during high school, leading to weight gain. Lisa and Susan reflect on dieting and the impact of starvation on weight gain, acknowledging both emotional eating and physical effects of dieting. Susan shares with Lisa the desire to fit in socially and be asked to dance, influenced by her mother’s comments. She discusses the impact of social expectations on her self-image and dieting habits.

[29:05] Susan recounts significant life events, including marriage, teaching, and family illnesses, highlighting resilience through personal and family health crises, including her son’s cancer and her own health struggles. Susan describes to Lisa how she used food, reading, and learning as coping mechanisms during stressful periods, emphasizing the struggle to manage weight amidst life’s challenges.

[43:02] Susan shares her journey of focusing on health and wellness, including walking marathons and taking fitness classes, despite not achieving significant weight loss. Susan describes her struggles with eye health, including macular degeneration, which led to her retirement in 2005. 

[47:58] Susan recounts her experience at a school for the blind, learning to adapt to vision loss, and her involvement in political activities during this time. Susan also shares with Lisa the challenges of finding the right care for her son and dealing with the grief of his passing in 2017. Susan describes the isolation and challenges she faced during the COVID-19 pandemic while living alone and her journey towards self-compassion and healing through various resources, including meditation.

[1:05:12] Susan and Lisa discuss the importance of radical acceptance in transformation, emphasizing that feelings are not fatal and that transformation begins with accepting what is. They discuss how the OOTC group coaching curriculum design brings together various teachings into a cohesive understanding. They also talk about the importance of embodying knowledge and practicing it, rather than just memorizing it which involves being present in the body and sitting with feelings.

[1:14:56] Lisa and Susan concluded with a discussion about the practice of journal speak as essential for processing emotions. Susan also shares her gratitude to Lisa for holding a safe space for her through the interview and group coaching program. 

*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.

Reclaiming Peace With Food Retreat at the Omega Institute - September 7-12, 2025

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