I was recently part of a panel discussion on the topic of processed food and mental health. In this episode, I share a few thoughts about this topic from the perspective of Intuitive Eating as well as some of what the research has to say on this topic.

I referenced a couple of different papers in this episode, so here are those links:

"Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies" (Lane et al 2022):

Intuitive eating and its psychological correlates: Ameta-analysis (Linardon et al 2021):

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I share some thoughts on moving away from meticulously tracking calories, macros, WW points, etc. As you'll hear me point out, you don't need to go cold turkey! Intuitive Eating is not a rigid framework or new set of rules but a process of exploration, curiosity, and growth. If you're interested in exploring Intuitive Eating but don't think you're ready to delete MyFitnessPal just yet, have you considered a stepwise approach? Listen in as I share several ideas for how you can get this process started. 

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at: 

IG: @intuitive.eating.men 

Web: hopedrivesme.com

In this episode, I share some thoughts on chronic health issues, hospitals, vending machines, and stress in the context of Intuitive Eating. I literally recorded this episode immediately after returning home from visiting my wife who has been hospitalized for the past couple of weeks. During this short discussion, I compare and contrast how I navigated this type of life-disruption back when I was calorie/macro counting vs. now as an Intuitive Eater.

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I share some thoughts on my recent experience taking a cruise with my wife and some friends. The cruise included essentially unlimited access to food and alcohol from early morning until 3:00 am.

For some, this may sound like heaven. Honestly, going in, I was really looking forward to it because of the way that I have embraced Intuitive Eating and incorporated that into my life. I generally feel very free around food.

For others, especially those who are currently dieting it might sound absolutely horrifying or at least bring up some feelings of uneasiness and anxiety.

How can we navigate all-inclusive resorts, cruises, buffets, conferences, and even parties when there is going to be an unlimited supply of food? Listen in as I share 5 key things that helped me to navigate this environment without feeling anxious or overwhelmed so that I was able to completely focus on just enjoying the time with my wife and friends.

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Wood who turned his battle with orthorexia into a mission to break the stigma around men's mental health and eating disorders by launching his blog Orthorexia Bites in 2021 and publishing his memoir, "Starving for Survival" earlier this year. Through numerous podcast appearances, speaking engagements, and his writing, Jason is starting an important conversation that encourages everyone - especially men - on how important it is to speak up and get the help they deserve.

From the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), "Although not formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, awareness about orthorexia is on the rise. The term ‘orthorexia’ was coined in 1998 and means an obsession with proper or ‘healthful’ eating. Although being aware of and concerned with the nutritional quality of the food you eat isn’t a problem in and of itself, people with orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being."

There is a lot of stigma, shame, and lack of understanding when it comes to eating disorders in general but men (and those who don't fit the stereotype) often find it very difficult to recognize an eating disorder and subsequently find help because so many think of eating disorders as affecting primarily thin, young, white, more affluent women. The reality is that eating disorders and disordered eating affect people across the socioeconomic, gender, ethnic, and size spectrum.

If you'd like more information or to connect with Jason and his work:

IG: @orthorexiabites

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Vanessa Preston about trauma and its impact on various aspects of our lives including our relationship with food. Vanessa is a Mental Health Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Nutritionist in Australia (originally from Kentucky). She has provided assessment and therapy services for 14 years and specializes in treating posttraumatic stress disorder and complex trauma. Vanessa is the Body and Food Freedom Program creator and the host of the Body and Food Freedom Podcast where she supports women to make peace with food and their bodies. Vanessa’s group program focuses on self-compassion, shame resiliency, body image healing, and intuitive eating.

Some of the topics we discussed include:

This was such a wonderful conversation that I know I'll return to again and again and will be sharing with my clients.

If you'd like to connect with Vanessa and her work or if her Body and Food Freedom Program sounds like it might be a good fit for you (if you're a woman) or a woman in your life:

Instagram: @vanessa_preston_

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I had a fantastic conversation with Amanda Fitt. Amanda is a nutrition coach for rock climbers and outdoor athletes who want to fuel their bodies and level up their performance, without dieting or restriction.

Rock climbing is a sport where the strength to weight ratio can impact performance. It's common for climbers to carefully control or drop weight for the purpose of improving performance or "send" (make it to the top of) that elusive project. However, is there another approach that may be better for improving performance, overall health, and long-term well-being?

The practical insights Amanda shares in this episode are not only applicable to climbers but to other athletic pursuits where we might initially think intentionally losing weight may be the answer to improving performance.

For more information about Amanda, to follow her content, or to work with her:

IG: @purely_nourished

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Dr. Greg Dodell, MD. Dr. Dodell is a board-certified endocrinologist. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He completed his internal medicine and endocrinology Fellowship at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, affiliated with Columbia University. He is in private practice at Central Park Endocrinology, PC.

This is an important discussion where we talk about his non-judgmental, weight-neutral, weight-inclusive approach to patient care. In a field where prescribed weight loss is quite common (if not the norm) as a significant part of treating type 2 diabetes, PCOS, and other conditions, Dr. Dodell takes a refreshing approach that does not focus on weight loss as an outcome measure. In fact, he doesn't prescribe weight loss!

If you're someone who has been constantly told to lose weight when seeking medical care or if you hesitate to seek medical care because of the stigma and inevitable conversations around weight that you may have experienced in the past, this episode is for you!

Connecting With Dr. Dodell:

IG: @everything_endocrine

Research References In This Episode:

Jeff's comment related to physical activity improving/protecting against liver fat accumulation independent of changes in BMI:

Dr. Dodell's reference to the Look AHEAD Trial:

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

IG: @intuitive.eating.men

In this episode, I give 4 different ideas for small steps to help you along your Intuitive Eating journey. Intuitive Eating is a significant change compared to the way our culture and society address health and nutrition so taking a stepwise approach means you can focus on small, less overwhelming changes.

Here's a quick summary of the ideas that I discuss in this episode:

The idea is to pick one that might be most helpful to you and where you are right now on your journey (not all at once). If you're currently working with a therapist, RD, or coach, I would highly recommend discussing it with them first so that you make sure it aligns with anything else you may be working on currently.

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason you can find me at:

Instagram: @intuitive.eating.men

Web: hopedrivesme.com

In this episode, I have a great conversation with Katy Harvey, a non-diet dietitian who specializes in Intuitive Eating and body acceptance. She is based in Kansas City, and through her online resources and programs, she teaches people from all around the world to listen to their bodies, trust themselves with food, and ditch diet culture. Katy is also the host of the Rebuilding Trust With Your Body podcast (which happens to be one of my favorites, personally).

We discussed an important topic about how men can help support their female spouses/partners on their Intuitive Eating journey if they are not themselves ready to move away from dieting and weight-centered fitness. We also talked about how fathers can support their kids and family overall around food and body image when mom is working on Intuitive Eating and how to prevent kids from having food/body image problems as they grow up.

You can also find a video version of our conversation if you on my YouTube channel.

To learn more about Katy and/or contact her for help/support, here's how you can do that:

Website: katyharvey.net

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If you'd like to contact me to work together, provide feedback on the podcast, ask clarifying questions, provide a suggestion for a guest or future episode, or for any other reason (other than to sell me something) you can find me at:

Instagram: @intuitive.eating.men

Web: hopedrivesme.com