Jessi is flying solo in today's episode to talk about the pro's and con's (ok they're all con's) of doing the Whole 30 diet (lifestyle, protocol, program etc). She talks openly about how she used to sell a similar "program" and why she will *never* do it again. She also lays out why the Whole 30 is so harmful to your health (both physical and mental) and hopes you can use this framework to think critically when you find similar programs as seductive as this one!

Resources

• Jessi's Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi's 1:1 Coaching Services
• Christy Harrison's Intuitive Eating Course
• Paige Smather's Intuitive Eating Course
• Intuitive Eating Book
• BLP Episode 23
• BLP Episode 26
• BLP Episode 46
• BLP Episode 48

To celebrate ONE  YEAR of the BodyLove Project Podcast I'm re-releasing an episode with the women who inspired me to start this podcast in the first place: Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole, the dietitians who literally wrote the book on Intuitive Eating. 

Give it a listen and make sure to download my free Intuitive Eating Audio Guide if you're ready to dig in for more!

Caroline Dooner is a former food & dieting addict turned writer and storyteller. She is also the founder of the only diet I will ever recommend: The F It Diet. This diet (although literally not a diet at all) was created after Caroline decided to get off the diet-binge rollercoaster and stop measuring her self worth by the number on the scale. In this episode Caroline shares her personal story with dieting and disordered eating, talks about the difference between a good teacher and a cult leader, and shares some information about her upcoming course: How to Be Your Own Damn Guru. She is hilarious and insightful and I can’t wait for you to give this episode a listen!Resources:

• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Support Group
• The F It Diet Website
• How to Go On the F It Diet
• Intuition for Lazy People
• How to Be Your Own Damn Guru: Intuition Intensive (Email [email protected])

Haley Goodrich is a registered dietitian fiercely passionate passionate about helping others create flexible, joyful eating habits and cultivate a peaceful relationship with their body. Haley is the founder of her Pittsburgh-based private practice, INSPIRD Nutrition. She specializes in intuitive eating, eating disorder recovery and digestive health from a Health At Every Size perspective. She is currently pursuing her Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (CEDRD) Certification. In addition to her full-time private practice she is also the co-founder of INSPIRD to SEEK, a community- based learning experience designed to mentor and guide nutrition entrepreneurs to build amazing businesses.

In today's episode we're digging into Brene Brown's new book, Braving the Wilderness and how it relates to our wok as advocates for body justice and fat acceptance. 

• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Support Group
• INSPIRD Nutrition
• INSPIRD to SEEK

Dr. Laura Douglass is the Academic Dean of Professional Studies at Endicott College, where she also serves as the faculty advisor for the Trauma Studies Club. She is an interdisciplinary scholar with research interests in trauma, eating disorders, and the integration of yoga as pedagogy in higher education settings. She also owned her own yoga studio in Watertown for five years.

In this episode, Dr. Douglass talks about learning through our bodies, how we use verbal narratives to describe how we’re feeling in our bodies, and how we shift from hyper- and hypo-aroused states through physical activity in order to feel safe in our bodies. She talks about the importance of slowing down to listen to our bodies in their present moment and to break down the communication between the body and the narrative to create a new, more intuitive narrative.

It is typical human nature not to trust our bodies, not to connect with them in the present, and to constantly chase what they "used to be" or what we want them to be. Dr. Douglass feels that the loss of communication in the relationship between self and body translates to how we treat other relationships we have, with ourselves and with others. To learn more about how to learn from your body, to stop chasing your “past self,” and to connect with your body through movement, listen to the full episode.   

Resources:

• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Support Group
• Dr. Douglass' Website

For years, Rachel Estapa felt that, in order to get people to like her, she needed to change her body. Comments like, “you have a big belly,” or “you’re not graceful” defined who she was in the world. In college, she successfully pursued a weight loss journey that she thought would open up more opportunities that were previously off limits due to her body size. When this didn’t happen, Rachel felt angry and betrayed by both herself and society. In a moment of grief, Rachel cried to her husband, “there has to be more to love about me than this!” Thus was born, More to Love Yoga.

As soon as Rachel embraced herself as a person, that’s when the opportunities began to open up for her. Rachel’s first experience with yoga was challenging as she unknowingly took a hot yoga class and wound up outside in the middle of a Boston February, grateful for the cold air. But, she kept going until she found a yoga class that, in yoga’s true and authentic form, allowed her to just be. No judging, no comparing, no overthinking. After that, she chose to study at Kripalu, learning yoga skills specifically for teaching to larger bodies.

Rachel currently teaches weekly yoga classes in Somerville, MA and offers an online WELL by MTL wellness program. She aims to educate and support plus size people on body acceptance and self-worth. Tune into the whole episode to learn more about Rachel journey to ditching diet culture, embracing her body and learning to live an authentic and abundant life.

Resources:

• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Support Group
• Rachel's Website
• WELL by MTL

Michelle Vina-Baltsas spent decades struggling with her relationship to food and body. Feeling like an outsider in her community and experiencing trauma at an early age drove Michelle to turn to food as her companion, her friend, her comfort when times were tough. In college, Michelle knew her eating patterns weren’t “normal,” and looking back, she believes she had Binge Eating Disorder. At that time, that wasn’t a term people were using.

After college, Michelle turned to Overeaters Anonymous, which helped her feel connected, like she wasn’t alone. During her ten years with OA, she was able to unravel and begin to understand her deep connection with food, eventually realizing that she wanted more freedom in her relationship with food. This led her to stumble upon Intuitive Eating. Michelle’s skepticism and curiosity kept her committed to this new journey and inspired her to become an Intuitive Eating Counselor.

In this episode, Michelle talks about her constant battle with self worth, how she turned to food to protect her against outside triggers, and the fear she faced as she learned to give herself unconditional compassion and permission. She talks about the stigma of emotional eating and how it’s actually a positive thing. You eat because it makes you happy, because it tastes good. Through her own experiences and her journey with Intuitive Eating, Michelle has been able to repair her relationship with food, her body and exercise. Exercise is now about feeling good and having fun, not changing her body. She is able to nurture and respect her body and where she’s at right now. She’s happy.

Today, Michelle works with women heal their relationship with food and body through Intuitive Eating. She helps women relearn self-compassion, self-awareness and how to trust in themselves again. Through self care and coaching, you can learn how to love yourself and food again. Tune into the whole episode to learn more about Michelle’s path to self-love and how she believes that you can reach that, too.  

Resources:

• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Support Group
• Michelle’s Website
• Michelle's Intuitive Eating Online Course
• No Diet Sisterhood Facebook Group

Dr Stephanie Waitt specializes in treating eating disorders at her practice, Texoma Specialty Counseling. In her work with people she aims to help men and women find balance, peace, confidence, and happiness with their bodies, relationships, and life. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and encourages people that being a little selfish is a really good thing.

Stephanie is also an online recovery coach. In her recovery coaching Stephanie helps people learn to find peace with their bodies and ditch dieting. She helps people find confidence and the power to live the life they want right now! You can learn more about her practice and online recovery coaching at www.texomaspecialtycounseling.com.

Resources

• Stephanie's Webiste
• Stephanie's 7-Day Challenge
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Audio Guide
• Jessi’s Intuitive Eating Support Group

Today I’m speaking with Melissa Carmona, a HAES therapist in North Carolina. Melissa talks about her experience growing up in Columbia, South America and what messages she received about body image from a Latino Country and what it was like making the transition to live in the US. We dig into how mental health stigma runs deep in South America, and how there are so few resources for women especially, to receive help.

Resources

• Jessi’s Free Intuitive Eating Audio Download
• BodyLove Project Premium Podcast
• Intuitive Eating Support Group
• Three Bird’s Counseling Website
• Melissa’s Facebook Page