MyoMinds Podcast

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Today on the MyoMinds Podcast, I speak with Professor Gerome Breen who is the Principal Investigator for EDGI (Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative).

In this episode Gerome and I discuss topics such as:

• How genetics can influence the likelihood of developing an ED
• How EDGI's genetic research hopes to progress
• Prof. Breen' aspirations for the implementation of this research
• How YOU can be involved in EDGI's research
• Prof. Breen's opinion on the recent UK government scheme hoping to track the diet and exercise behaviours of the UK population

Todays' Devils Advocate question: "Isn't it more important we focus on research about care? Who cares about genes?"

To sign up to EDGI's research you can click the link here: https://edgiuk.org/

You can also take a look at some of the papers we mentioned during the podcast below:

• Genetics of eating disorders in the genome-wide era
• Genome-wide association study identifies eight risk loci and implicates metabo-psychiatric origins for anorexia nervosa

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer - In this podcast we talk about disordered eating and body dysmorphic behaviours and thoughts.

In this episode, I spoke with P.h.D student and powerlifter Luisa Vargas about her recently published paper titled "Weight on the bar vs Weight on the scale". Luisa and I delve into the pressure women are subjected to as strength athletes, and how this contrasts with societal pressures.

We also discuss the different pressures on men and women in powerlifting, the role of the coach and suggest good practice for coaches in the sport.

To find Luisa you can follow her on:

Instagram: @the.luisavargas

Twitter: @LuisaFPVargas

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

In this episode, I speak with Amy-Rose and Tamar, the duo behind [Mask]ulinity.

[Mask]ulinity is a documentary-style photo project exploring the diverse themes affecting every man in today's world. Be it generational, environmental, societal, emotional or mental, everyone falls victim to pressure. For athletes, the heat is turned up on these, where performing in the public eye goes beyond trophies and accolades, often adding expectation and public labeling into the mix.

Please help turn this project into a book by pledging via Kickstarter (link in @guns_for_roses Instagram bio).

The team has until 15th August 2021 to rise £11,000 to get this book to print.

To find Amy-Rose and Tamar you can head to Instagram:

Amy-Rose: @guns_for_roses

Tamar: @fuelledbymacros

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer - within this episode we talk about muscle dysmorphia and related mental health concerns, including steroid use and poor wellbeing. This includes examples of behaviours and thoughts from anonymised stories.

In this episode, I speak with Dr Christian Edwards a senior lecturer and researcher at Worchester University. Chris specialises in muscularity, muscle dysmorphia and the narratives that surround it.

Together we go through:

• The difference between a drive to be more muscular and a clinical presentation of muscle dysmorphia
• What pushes people towards muscle dysmorphia
• Why people are drawn to steroid use and how it can trap people, making it difficult to stop.
• How people struggling with muscle related issues can begin to move away from it
• How friends, family and organisations can start to help people experiencing muscle dysmorphia.

To find out more and to get in touch with Christian go to:

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christian-Edwards

Twitter: @ChrisJEdw

Email: [email protected]

Christain also mentioned other thing throughout the podcast that you can check out here:

• Men and Boys Coalition resources http://www.menandboyscoalition.org.uk/boys-and-young-mens-education-toolkit/
• Dove self-esteem project https://www.dove.com/uk/dove-self-esteem-project.html
• ASUK https://www.anabolicsteroids.org.uk/resources-anabolic-androgenic-steroids-aas/
• Overcoming body image problems - https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/overcoming-body-image-problems-including-body-dysmorphic-disorder/rob-willson/david-veale/paperback/9781845292799.html

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

In this episode, I talk to Lucie Clement, A.K.A The Dance Psychologist. Lucie is a former researcher and lecturer who now specialises in educating dancers and people working in dance about psychology and the evidence-based choices dancers can make to support their well-being.

Within this conversation, we touch on a wide variety of topics spanning over the dance and sporting world. Lucie explains her work around creativity and how she feels it is the opposite of perfectionism. We talk about the roles coaches can play to influence athlete well-being both positively and negatively, and we talk about how organisations are playing their part in dance.

To see more of Lucie's work you can head to her website:

WWW.thedancepsychologist.com

Her twitter: @LucieDancePsych

And her Instagram: @Thedancepsychologist

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer – In this episode we talk about different experiences of disordered eating and body image issues.

I have to apologise for my mic in this episode, I sound a little strange from time to time (more strange than normal at least). This should hopefully be fixed by the next pod!

In this episode, I speak to British, European and World taekwondo champion and now hypnotherapist, Stuart Wade. Stuart shares his experiences of being bullied at school which led to low self-esteem and low self-confidence. He explains how combat sports helped with this but may have also been a mask for some disordered thoughts around the way his body looked and the way he should eat. He shares with us how this all affected his life, particularly at university where friends would point out his mood swings due to intense dieting.

We then go onto Stuart’s more recent venture, hypnotherapy. Stuart delves into the physiology of hypnosis and gives us an in-depth explanation of how he runs his therapy sessions with athletes.

To find Stuart you can go to his Instagram: @hypnoptstu

Thanks for listening!

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer - In this episode we talk about eating disorders and suicide. Please take care when listening.

In today's episode, I speak to the comedian and author Dave Chawner.

This conversation is full of laughs and still dives into Daves and my personal experiences. This is also the first time I have ever spoken about the relationship between sex, relationships, and eating disorders, as Dave explains how the three are closely related for him.

Dave explains his experiences with anorexia, including when he first realised he had an eating disorder and some of the misconceptions he's noticed from others.

Finally, we talk about Dave's comedy, including his answer to "when did your eating disorder become funny?" and "who do you write your comedy for?".

You can follow Dave on twitter: @DaveChawner

You can watch Dave's work through his TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqbL-UhhyPk

Here's a link to Dave's book: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/dave-chawner/weight-expectations/9781785923586?gclid=CjwKCAjw8cCGBhB6EiwAgORey7RPsdHgznLsHb1FsmZPr1JdBeiv6TwhZloVSD3zYnlBcy3bHailGBoC334QAvD_BwE

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer - In this episode we talk about eating disorders and other mental health issues, please take care.

I had the pleasure of recording this podcast with mental health campaigner James Downs. Touching on our shared interests as well as James' lived experience.

We talk about the sheer lack of research investigating the nuances in eating disorder experience, and why it is so important that this changes. We also talk a lot about how, often due to this lack of understanding, society and services can take a simplified and reductionist view of the eating disorder experience. Things such as " ALL people with eating disorders have an ED voice" or "eating disorders are ALL about control".

James goes on to talk about his experiences having ADHD, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and an eating disorder, including his time in eating disorder services and undertaking Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).

Finally, James shares his newfound love for dance and yoga, including his views on how it helped with his recovery and how it may help others.

To find James you can check him out on:

Instagram: @Jamesldowns

Twitter: @Jamesldowns

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer - In this episode we talk in-depth about eating disorders and how they have affected both of us, please take care when listening.

In this episode, I talk to England cross country athlete Lucie Tait-Harris. Lucie goes deep into her experiences with anorexia and bulimia. She describes how they took over her life, putting her in hospital and causing serious depression.

Lucie also describes her journey away from her eating disorders and how she uses exercise in a way to help her recovery.

This is such an honest and open episode and we both hope you enjoy it!

Please remember that no episode of the MyoMinds podcast can be used as a replacement for medical advice and/or care.

Disclaimer - In this episode we talk about disordered eating, mental health issues and other potentially triggering topics.

I spoke with 2 x Olympian Marilyn Okoro about her incredible story from a single-parent home to Olympic athlete. Marilyn gives advice to any student-athletes, sharing her experience of working two jobs and still accomplishing her first call-up to the Commonwealth games during her 3rd year of her undergrad! We also go into the struggles Marilyn experienced during her years in sport, with many coaches acting abusively towards her and labeling her as "too big".

Marilyn has overcome adversities time and time again and now is looking to teach others. She is in the process of writing a book and provides mentoring for people going through similar experiences to her.

You can find Marilyn on social media:

Twitter: @mokoro4

Instagram: @marilynokorooly