Find Your Strong Podcast

Christine Chessman & Ela Law
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Encouraging people to find what FEELS good in terms of food, movement and their bodies. Let's challenge the wellness w*nkery and start a new conversation.In each episode, Christine and Ela discuss their thoughts on diet and fitness fads, speak with fabulous guests about finding peace with food and movement, and interview experts so that they can share their insights and knowledge with you, the listeners.  The hope is that together we can change the narrative around fitness and nutrition, and help you find YOUR strong!

  1. 4d ago

    What We Resist, Persists

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore a simple but powerful idea: when we resist uncomfortable feelings, they tend to grow stronger, not weaker. This pattern shows up everywhere: for example anxiety on a plane, dental fear, body image, ageing, and cravings. Key threads we unpack: Resistance breeds shame. When we don't admit we're struggling — because we feel we shouldn't be — that gap between who we are and who we think we should be becomes a breeding ground for shame.Naming a fear diffuses it. How advocating for ourselves and how being seen rather than being dismissed or "fixed" can make all the difference.Eating disorder recovery parallels. How treating a difficult part of yourself as an enemy that needs defeating can backfire — versus understanding it as a protective part trying to help.Body image and the "messy middle." You don't have to love your body to accept it. Holding two truths at once — "I feel uncomfortable with this" and "I'm not going back to the diet train" — is 'healthier' than forced positivity.Cravings work the same way. Resisting a food craving by having a substitute often just prolongs the craving — sometimes having the thing you actually want is the kinder, more effective option.Permission to not be the "fun, positive" person all the time. Whether it's dreading a hot holiday, not wanting a birthday party, or feeling slower on a run than you were years ago — we both land on the idea that accepting discomfort (rather than fighting it or forcing yourself into positivity) is what actually creates ease.The takeaway: acceptance doesn't mean loving everything about how you feel or look — it means making room for the truth of where you are, without judgment, so the feeling doesn't have to fight so hard to be heard. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this - is there something you resist, that just doesn't get easier or go away? Is there something in your life where acceptance would bring about ease and peace? Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    31 min

  2. Jun 25

    Letting Go of the Athlete Identity, with Caroline Toshack

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by the wonderful Caroline Toshack for a thought provoking conversation about coming home to our bodies after an eating disorder or indeed years of chronic dieting. Caroline shares how her career evolved from personal training, sports coaching and competitive endurance sport into Pilates, yoga and body-led therapeutic work. We talk about her experience of living with an eating disorder, the pressure and identity that can become wrapped up in athletic performance, and the shift that came when movement became less about punishment and more about connection. We explore recovery, body image, neurodivergence, slowing down, and what it can look like to return to movement with curiosity rather than striving. This conversation is about permission: permission to change, permission to let go of old identities, move for joy, and choose the path that feels sustainable. Key takeaways Movement can be a way of coming home to our bodies.Pilates and slower, more embodied forms of movement can help us tune into breath, sensation and self-trust.Athletic identity can be difficult to release when performance, achievement and self-worth have always been interconnected.We can return to sport and exercise in a healthier way by loosening/ softening our attachment to pace, goals and external validation.Neurodivergence can shape our relationship with movement and routine.Goals do not always need to be rigid; sometimes it is enough to have something to explore, rather than something to prove.Letting go of who you thought you had to be can make room for who you actually areRecovery isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about building trust with yourself, one choice at a time.There is an important need for more informed conversations and training around movement and eating-disorder recovery. Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    49 min

  3. Jun 11

    Intuitive Eating isn't for everyone.

    Send us Fan Mail We've been thinking a lot lately about intuitive eating and whether it really is for everyone. There's so much confusion and misinformation out there, and we wanted to take a moment to cut through some of that.  At its heart, Intuitive eating isn't a diet, a religion, or a set of rigid rules to follow — it's a flexible framework designed to help you find freedom and peace around food.  The more we work with different clients, the more we believe that almost everyone can find an entry point into it, regardless of where they're starting from. Whether you're recovering from disordered eating, navigating a busy family life, working within a tight budget, or simply trying to untangle years of diet culture messaging — there is something here for you. These are our key takeaways from that conversation. 5 Key Takeaways Intuitive eating is a flexible framework, not a set of rules. A major source of confusion is people treating it as either a "hunger and fullness diet" or a free pass to eat whatever you want at all times. In reality, it's a guide with 10 different focus areas that can be adapted to your individual circumstances and needs.Some principles may not be accessible to everyone right now — and that's okay. People recovering from eating disorders, those who are neurodivergent, or those with limited food access may find certain aspects harder to engage with. The key is to work with the principles that are available to you and park the others for later.Structure and intuitive eating can coexist. You don't have to eat only when hunger strikes to be an intuitive eater. Having a loose meal schedule (especially helpful for ADHD brains that forget to eat) is entirely compatible — the intuitive part comes in making choices within that structure.Joyful movement follows the same logic. The movement principle isn't about doing minimal exercise or punishing yourself — it's about regularly asking yourself why you're moving and how you want to feel. This is accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or fitness level.Intuitive eating is not a weight loss tool. Your body has a natural set point range, and eating intuitively means allowing it to settle where it functions best — which may not align with cultural ideals. The goal is freedom around food and self-compassion, not a specific body size.So, don't dismiss it or give up on it, rather, explore where your entry point to intuitive eating might be and start there! Things we mentioned in the episode: Sandra Aamodt Ted Talk on set point theory: Why Dieting Doesn't Work https://youtu.be/jn0Ygp7pMbA?si=Lm6yBsFplo1L1M2Q Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch - Intuitive Eating book and worksbook https://www.intuitiveeating.org/our-books/ Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    39 min

  4. Jun 4

    Your Body Is Not a Project to Fix: Unapologetic Ageing with Deb Benfield

    Send us Fan Mail In a world determined to sell us anti-ageing solutions, what would it look like to trust our bodies instead? This conversation explores ageism, diet culture, menopause, embodiment, and the radical possibility of ageing without apology.  We just loved this conversation with Deb Benfield. Deb truly embodies her work and exudes an inner confidence and an ease with herself and her own body, that is at once disarming and encouraging. Key Takeaways:  Diet culture and ageism often collide in midlife, creating pressure to "fix" our bodies just as they're changing in normal ways.  Embodiment offers an antidote to body image struggles: moving, dancing, and inhabiting our bodies helps us remember we're bodies to be lived in, not objectified. Trusting the body becomes even more important through perimenopause and menopause, when appetite, energy, and physical needs naturally fluctuate.  The stories we tell ourselves about ageing matter. Research suggests that positive attitudes toward ageing can influence health, wellbeing, and longevity.  Unlearning ageism starts with noticing the assumptions we make about youth, ageing, and what bodies "should" look like at different stages of life.  Rather than chasing anti-ageing promises, we can focus on nurturing strength, connection, pleasure, and quality of life.  Ageing unapologetically means embracing change while staying rooted in self-trust, self-compassion, and respect for the wisdom of our lived experience. Here are some links if you'd like to find out more about Deb, or have a look at her offerings: Deb Benfield Website  Instagram Substack Buy Deb's book - Unapologetic Aging Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    48 min

  5. May 27

    Summer Bodies, Heatwaves & Unlearning Diet Culture

    Send us Fan Mail If you're based in the UK,  you'll know that at the time of recording it was SUPER hot here.  Hotter weather can often bring up body image concerns, that may have kept themselves hidden under the layers of autumn, winter and spring.   Key Takeaways: Summer can bring body image struggles back to the surface — especially when we’re wearing less and comparing ourselves to unrealistic images online.Feeling uncomfortable in your body doesn’t mean you’re failing at body acceptance; it means you’re human.There’s a huge difference between living in your body and constantly viewing it as an object to be judged.Seasonal eating is normal — craving lighter foods in hot weather isn’t automatically “being good.”Diet culture can make even intuitive choices feel moralised or tied to weight loss.Movement, cold water, and getting outside can help reconnect us to our bodies instead of staying trapped in self-criticism. Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    28 min

  6. May 21

    What If We Stopped Fighting Aging?

    Send us Fan Mail I recently turned 50 and Ela is hot on my tail, and as such we are thinking more and more about what it means to embrace our bodies as they inevitably change.*  We are swimming in a sea of diet culture which is compounded by anti-aging culture once we hit upwards of 35.  How do we reconcile our fears about our bodies changing, when they are now visibly aging?   What are our options if we want to reject botox, fillers and cosmetic procedures.  Are we destined to become invisible and lose our voice in society?  What does it mean for us to reject anti-aging culture and what are the positives about hitting midlife and finally standing in our power!   Key Takeaways  Midlife can make you question how much of your life has been shaped by worrying about your appearance.  Strength training can change the focus from how your body looks, to what it can actually do.  Amongst the gratitude, there’s grief in ageing, and that's ok. Many women were taught that being smaller, quieter, and less noticeable was somehow safer.  Muscle, balance, and mobility matter a lot more in daily life than looking youthful.  Getting older can bring a kind of relief from constantly thinking about how you look.  A strong body as we age gives you options, independence, and confidence.  Some of the hardest parts of ageing come from how women are treated, not ageing itself.  Midlife can be the first time some women start asking themselves what they actually want.  You don’t have to pretend ageing feels amazing in order to reject anti-ageing culture. *(We also have the wonderful  Deb Benfield, author of Unapologetic Aging on to chat in a couple of weeks time so this topic is very much on our minds.) Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    33 min
  7. Training for Our Old Lady Bodies, with Elizabeth Davies @thiswomanlifts.

    May 15

    Training for Our Old Lady Bodies, with Elizabeth Davies @thiswomanlifts.

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sat down with Elizabeth Davies (This Woman Lifts) to explore strength training, ageing, body image, and what it really means for women to feel strong. Together we unpack the lifelong pressure women face to stay small, youthful, and aesthetically “acceptable. The conversation covers everything from postpartum recovery and the fear of “getting bulky” to social media, midlife fitness culture, bone health, and raising the next generation of girls with a healthier relationship to movement. Warm, honest, and evidence-informed, this episode challenges diet culture narratives and reframes fitness around function, capability, and long-term wellbeing. If you’ve ever struggled with the idea that exercise should make your body smaller, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways - How a leaky bladder in an exercise class led Elizabeth to train as a PT and focus on functionality, mobility and strength rather than aesthetic goals - How strength training can become a powerful act of reclaiming space, confidence and physical resilience. - Why it's so important to encourage women of all ages to integrate progressive resistance training into their routine - The key benefits of strength training beyond aesthetics. - Reframing consistency and joyful movement (and what that could look like in YOUR busy life.) Elizabeth has just published her first book called 'Training for your old lady body', which is a wonderful resource for anyone at any age who is interested in a way of training that moves beyond a 6-week-bikini-body-transformation, and invites us to "understand out bodies, make informed decisions and build a long-term, compassionate relationship with movement" You can get in touch with Elizabeth via her website or socials (@thiswomanlifts) We know you will love this conversation - we certainly did! Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    57 min
  8. What Are You Really Training For? Fitness BEYOND Shrinking Your Body.

    May 7

    What Are You Really Training For? Fitness BEYOND Shrinking Your Body.

    Send us Fan Mail Why do you move?  Why do you exercise?  There are plenty of reasons, but when we ask people if they'd move in the same way, if movement didn't change how their bodies looked, we often hear a resounding NO.  You have full autonomy but..... While we believe that everyone has full autonomy over their bodies, we also know how beneficial movement and exercise can be for us. We are very passionate about empowering people to feel stronger, fitter, more mobile, just better. And at our stage in life we fully admit that the prospect of fragility in older age makes us want to build muscles, bone mass and mobility now, so that we can stay active and healthy as we get older.  Different Access Points to Movement.... There are different access points for different people based on age, physical capacity, time, financial resource - and whilst training for our old lady bodies (more on that in our next episode!) feels very appropriate for us now, if you are a younger listener you might resonate more with wanting to feel stronger, or improving your mental health. Adding In, Not Taking Away.... Exercise has soooo many benefits, and we want you to find something you enjoy. And whilst one thing is better than no thing, we invite you to feel the difference if you add something new in. For example, if you love Yoga that's great, but how would it feel if you added some cardio or strength training in? Or if you are into high energy workouts, how would it feel to add in some gentle walks in nature? Can You Reframe Your Why? How would it be to reframe your WHY and instead of focussing on exercising solely for weight loss (not effective), toning (just a marketing term), body transformation (short-lived and unsustainable), we moved with the aim of getting stronger, getting empowered, feeling better, being more mobile, having fun? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so please get in touch if you have any thoughts or questions! Some links we'd love to share with you: Elizabeth Davies, Training for My Old Lady Body : Elizabeth will be on the podcast next week! Steph Gaudreau: Steph specialised in strength for Women 40+. Tommy Brown, Celebrity Wellness Coach ‍♂️Goal‑Oriented Training for. Body • Mind • Spirit @fitness360plus @christinehobson60: 70 year old Christine, redefines aging gracefully. The Honest Channel : Journalist Clare Johnston, on Rebuilding Mum and Dad: My Parents' Strength Journey Support the show Please reach out if you would like some support with your relationship to food OR movement. Ela currently has limited spaces for Intuitive Eating coaching and if you'd like to reconnect with movement, contact Christine.  If you'd like exclusive access to our supporter-only channel click here. We appreciate you

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Encouraging people to find what FEELS good in terms of food, movement and their bodies. Let's challenge the wellness w*nkery and start a new conversation.In each episode, Christine and Ela discuss their thoughts on diet and fitness fads, speak with fabulous guests about finding peace with food and movement, and interview experts so that they can share their insights and knowledge with you, the listeners.  The hope is that together we can change the narrative around fitness and nutrition, and help you find YOUR strong!

Information

  • Creator
    Christine Chessman & Ela Law
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Find Your Strong Podcast
  • Show Website
    Find Your Strong Podcast

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