The Diet Diaries

I am thrilled to share today’s episode with you featuring plus size model, former fashion editor and plus size clothing designer Lauren Chan.

Lauren was recently featured on the pages of the 60th anniversary Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and she’s here talking today about her experience shooting for the magazine, the changes in plus size modeling over her 10 years in the business, how she manages her own body image and so much more.

I discovered Lauren through Sarah Landry of The Birds Papaya when she posted an unposed photo of herself at the end of her SI shoot day—and seeing my own body reflected in her photo was one of the most powerful and significant experiences I’ve had for my own body image. 

Here’s a peek at what you’ll hear during our conversation:

• How and why we need to stop comparing ourselves to models and influencers 
• The evolution of plus size modeling and body inclusivity
• The specific skills and tools Lauren uses to work on her own thoughts and body image issues
• A behind the scenes breakdown of everything that goes into the final image we see in a magazine or on social media and how to not compare your self to what you se
• Lauren’s experience of coming out and experiencing the female gaze vs the male gaze
• How Lauren navigated her body size and shape as a girl and young adult
• What does the word flattering actually mean and should we be using it? 
• Lauren’s experience with disordered eating and how she has healed from it

This conversation is no question a top 5 moment of my career—I am incredibly grateful to Lauren for honesty and vulnerability. She reminds us that we are never alone in doing this work, that beauty is in bodies of all shapes and all sizes and how to truly learn to see and believe that.

Lauren Chan is a size-inclusion activist, having made an impact on the fashion industry over the past decade as a model (JAG), fashion editor (Glamour), and exited plus-size clothing brand founder (Henning, acquired by Universal Standard). In 2023, she became a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie and has since branched into television hosting. Chan identifies as AAPI and LGBTQ+; her pronouns are she/her. 

Follow Lauren on Instagram
Lotte Van Ejk, the influencer Lauren referred to during the episode

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Hey everyone! In this episode, we're diving into the skill of eating on vacation without falling into the "fuck it" mindset.  You’ve heard me say it before and I’m saying it again today: if vacation is all about your chance to eat what you want, then the way you’re eating at home isn’t working for you.

So today I’ll share simple tips on how to enjoy your favorite vacation foods while also feeling great in your body.

We'll discuss:

• Strategies to eat what you enjoy and stay mindful 
• The importance of protein and veggies, even on vacation
• Simple tricks to avoid overeating and feeling uncomfortably full

Whether you're traveling for 2 weeks or just planning a weekend getaway, this episode will help you enjoy your trip to the fullest without compromising your goals. 

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Hey friends! Welcome to episode 183 of The Diet Diaries. 

Today’s topic is one that hits home for many of us: what to do when you're frustrated with not making progress on your goals. Whether it's weight loss, getting stronger, or improving your relationship with food, we usually throw up our hands, say it’s not working and give up entirely or jump to another new quick fix program. But that’s not actually going to change anything.

Here’s what I’m talking about today:

• Are you really being consistent with your efforts? We’ll explore what true consistency looks like and how to achieve it.
• How to assess whether your expectations are realistic and aligned with your efforts.
• Discover practical tips for aligning your daily actions with your long-term goals.
• Tips for maintaining consistency and progress during the summer months when routines often change.

Let’s figure out how to work through these all too common challenges while being kind and honest with yourself. Let’s get real about what it takes to achieve the results you want.

Here's the episode all about how I ate during our 2 week trip to Greece.

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Today, we’re diving into a super important topic that comes up all the time with clients and friends alike: the difference between losing weight and losing fat. This is something that might seem straightforward but is actually a bit more complex than it appears.

Here’s what I’m talking about today:

• What does the number on the scale really represent? Spoiler alert: it's WAY more than just body fat.
• Learn why protein and strength training are crucial for losing fat while maintaining muscle.
• What’s actually a better indicator of fat loss than the scale?
• Why you shouldn’t panic over daily changes in your weight.
• Discover the importance of looking at long-term trends rather than short-term changes.

The scale is just one tiny part of the puzzle when comes to your health goals and how to better measure your progress. Let’s get some clarity around how and why to use it and prioritize what what really matters when it comes to losing weight without counting calories. 

Here's a link to the protein episode I mentioned!

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Hey friends! In today’s episode, I'm tackling a question we've all faced at some point: who should we really listen to when it comes to nutrition, wellness, and exercise advice? With so much conflicting information out there, it can be super overwhelming to figure out what's right for you.

Let’s break it down:

• Information Overload: Ever feel bombarded by all the different diet and exercise tips? We’ll chat about the confusion and how to navigate it.
• Finding Balance: I’ll share my thoughts on how to spot the red flags of extreme diets and why moderation is key.
• Listening to Your Body: Discover some simple ways to tune into your own body’s signals and figure out what works best for you.
• Living Your Values: We’ll discuss how aligning your eating and exercise habits with your personal values can make a big difference.
• Practical Tips: Get some straightforward advice on how to discern where to focus your attention in the crowded wellness space.

Join me for this episode as we sort through the noise and find a path that truly supports your health and happiness. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Today, I'm diving into a big topic that's been coming up with many of my clients: recognizing and responding to our automatic, reflexive thoughts about food and body image.

These thoughts are deeply ingrained and often feel uncontrollable, and while we can't stop them from happening we can learn to respond to them.  Listen in for exactly how to do that:

• Understanding the automatic thoughts about food and body image.
• Separating our autonomous selves from our brain's reflexes.
• How acknowledging these thoughts can lead to more productive responses
• Skills and techniques to handle reflexive thoughts.
• How these concepts apply beyond food and body image.

Our bodies and brains are capable of adapting and changing to the input we give them—where you are now is not where you will be forever. 

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

In this episode 179 of The Diet Diaries I explore our complex relationship with photos and negative body image as I dive into the emotional and psychological impacts of seeing ourselves in pictures.

Why do hate how we look in photos?  How can we see ourselves more kindly and objectively?  You'll discover why diets aren't the solution and learn practical skills to improve your relationship with your body.

We'll discuss:

• The surprising ways photos can distort reality and how to use this knowledge as a skill
• Practical strategies for dealing with negative feelings when you see your photos
• How to shift your focus from appearance to the joy and experiences captured in photos
• The role of self trust 

You’ve already spent too much time, energy and attention obsessing over how you look in photos. Don’t spend another summer doing the same thing.

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Welcome back to episode 178 of The Diet Diaries, where I’m sharing an intriguing and unexpected aspect of self-care and body image—working with a stylist.

What I learned through this process is that a stylist is essentially a wardrobe coach. Because getting dressed is a skill—choosing clothes, putting together outfits, identifying your personal style and what makes you feel like you—these aren’t actions we necessarily know how to do and we get SO easily influenced by outside opinions that we quickly lose connection to what matters to us.

Here’s some of what I talk about today:
* The process I went through cleaning out my closet and the big ah ha I had as a result
* What a stylist can teach us about our own body image and personal style
* How decision fatigue affects our daily choices when trying to get dressed
* How this connects back to self care
* How to figure out what you like and what it means for something to look good

And, Soft Body Summer is open for sign up today! A 3 week self guided course to learn the 3 key skills you need to feel at ease in your body so you can have your most confident summer ever. Click here for all the details and to join us.

Learn more about Selby

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Thanks for listening to episode 177 of The Diet Diaries.

Today’s conversation is really close to my heart, especially as we lead up to the launch of Soft Body Summer in 2 weeks!!

I’m talking about something that’s been on my mind a lot: how we talk about other people’s bodies.  And whether we are inadvertently causing other people's body image issues.

We often default to complimenting weight loss as if it’s always a positive thing, but let’s unpack that. What are we really saying when we comment on someone’s size change? How might this impact them if the reasons behind their appearance changes aren’t happy or healthy ones?

There is SO much nuance to this that we need to think through. 

We're taught since birth to see weight loss as universally good and weight gain as bad, but the realities are far more complex. This conversation is about questioning our reflex reactions and considering a more thoughtful approach to how we interact with each other about our bodies.

Some questions I’m thinking through in today’s episode:

• Why do we find it acceptable to comment on weight loss but not weight gain? 
• What does this say about our cultural attitudes towards body size? 
• How can we shift away from compliments that focus on body size/shape?

And just a heads up that Soft Body Summer is coming! May 20—June 9. A three week self guided mini course and private Instagram chat group. Learn 3 essential skills so you can feel at ease in your body and have your most confident, relaxed summer yet. At any size and in any shape. Sign up opens May 13!

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries

Hey everyone! Thanks for listening to episode 176 of The Diet Diaries.

Today’s episode is an "I see you, I hear you, and we're in this together" kind of episode that came out of an accidental trip into the Instagram black hole of summer body transformations, before and after photos and flat ab recipes. 

It’s infuriating to see so much emphasis on one "ideal" body type—especially coming from other women. It's even tougher to swallow how we glorify such unrealistic standards. If you’ve ever wondered why you have body image issues, listen up. 

As always, this got me thinking about the deeper issues of body image that affect all of us, regardless of size. From size 2 to size 22, the struggles are real, but the representation? Not so much. We idealize the smaller sizes and shame the larger ones, which just perpetuates the cycle of insecurity and unrealistic expectations.

In this episode, you’ll hear real talk about the pressures and frustrations that come with these images and messages. I talk about the importance of recognizing the diversity of body types and accepting them all. Why is there only one "acceptable" way to look? 

As summer approaches and we start shedding layers of clothes, it’s essential to address the body image issues that can surface. I always want you to know you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed or frustrated by what you see online. We’re in this together, and we can choose to follow and support voices that make us feel better, not worse.

So...Soft Body Summer is coming. Three weeks to create your own personalized step by step guide to deal with summer focused body insecurity alongside a community of women. Over these three weeks you'll, learn, customize and practice 3 specific skills that you can take with you all season (and beyond) to have your most confident, easeful summer yet 😎 More details very soon!

Connect with Jordana
Find me on Instagram
Sign up for my weekly letter with personal stories and nutrition, body image and mindset tips
Schedule a free discovery call to talk more about working together
Listen to more episodes of The Diet Diaries