Life After Diets Sarah Dosanjh / Stefanie Michele

This episode is all about relapse in the context of eating disorder recovery. We cover topics such as shame, self-awareness, boundaries, dopamine regulation, catastrophization, and the impact of life circumstances on relapse.
Relapses can be very distressing; it's tempting to think we've failed or that we'll "never really get better." In the second half of this episode, we talk about the idea of "remembering and forgetting" as a muscle that actually builds resilience over time in eating disorder recovery -- even if the "forgetting" is relapsing.
Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want a safe space to work through your daily struggles with food and body image. Community membership includes livestream episode recordings (online), monthly Zoom support meetings, a private Facebook group and member-only Q&A episodes. For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast
Email – hello@lifeafterdietspod.com
Connect with Stefanie Michele, Food & Body Image Coach, Somatic Therapist IT
Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele
Work with Stefanie - www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application
Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024
Connect with Sarah Dosanjh, Author & Psychotherapist
Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist
Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon
Sarah's Connect and Recover groups: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/connect-recover-groups/

This week we are talking about attachment styles.
The psychological concepts of anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and disorganized attachment have been used to understand our relationship dynamics with other people, but can it also be used to understand our relationship dynamics with food?
For example, anxious attachment in relationships looks like constantly seeking validation and having porous boundaries with ourselves and others for fear of losing connection. Might this also translate to having porous boundaries with food? Would we consistently seek out and overeat because we have scarcity around that, too?
Tune in to see how an understanding of attachment theory might help you understand why Intuitive Eating feels difficult and binge eating, compulsive eating, and/or restricting feels so primal...
x Stef & Sarah
Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want a safe space to work through your daily struggles with food and body image. Community membership includes livestream episode recordings (online), monthly Zoom support meetings, a private Facebook group and member-only Q&A episodes. For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast
Email – hello@lifeafterdietspod.com
Connect with Stefanie Michele, Food & Body Image Coach, Somatic Therapist IT
Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele
Work with Stefanie - www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application
Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024
Connect with Sarah Dosanjh, Author & Psychotherapist
Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist
Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon
Sarah's Connect and Recover groups: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/connect-recover-groups/

The world talks a lot about self-care, but many people in this community feel selfish taking care of themselves. It can be seen as indulgent to take the time to tend to our own needs, especially as mothers -- check out the second half of the podcast where Stef addresses this from her perspective as a parent (her take might surprise you). So what's the difference between self care and self indulgence?
Speaking of indulgence, we also look at the way we talk about food under this lens. Are the connotations of this word inherently problematic? Are we just gluttons or is there a case for the healthy pursuit of food as pleasure, or even as self-care?
Tune in...
Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want a safe space to work through your daily struggles with food and body image. Community membership includes livestream episode recordings (online), monthly Zoom support meetings, a private Facebook group and member-only Q&A episodes. For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast
Email – hello@lifeafterdietspod.com
 
Connect with Stefanie Michele, Food & Body Image Coach, Somatic Therapist IT
Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele
Work with Stefanie - www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application
Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024
 
Connect with Sarah Dosanjh, Author & Psychotherapist
Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist
Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon
Sarah's Connect and Recover groups: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/connect-recover-groups/

This episode is a review of "The Hunger Habit" by Judson Brewer, MD, PhD. Is this a book that can help people who struggle with binge eating and disordered eating? Will Sarah and Stef come to the same conclusions about the book? Most importantly, will Stef remember her note-to-self about making her points of contention calmly?
I guess you'll have to tune in to find out!
Sarah's Connect and Recover groups: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/connect-recover-groups/
Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want to improve your relationship with food and become more comfortable in your own skin. Community membership includes invites to live episode recordings (online), support meetings, a private Facebook group and monthly Q&As. For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast
Email – hello@lifeafterdietspod.com
 
Connect with Stefanie Michele binge eating health coach
Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele
Work with Stefanie - www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application
Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024
Body Image Webinar + Workbook: https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/get-started/p/bodyimage
 
Connect with Sarah Dosanjh psychotherapist
Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist
Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon

We are back with another recovery story -- this time from Louise, a member of our community (which you can join here, by the way!) Louise explains her story of disordered eating and restriction starting in adolescence, eventually leading her to give up dieting to lean into an anti-diet approach. Like so many others in ED recovery, Louise had to deal with weight gain and body image issues in exchange for food freedom -- but came out with this story to tell. Listen to her inspirational message about sex, attraction, and empowerment in this very cool, real-story episode.
Join the LAD Membership
Life After Diets on Instagram
The LAD Website
Email us @ lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com
Stefanie's Website
Stefanie on Instagram
Join Stef's Body Image Workshop! (click here)
Sarah's website
Sarah's YouTube Channel
Sarah’s book, I Can’t Stop Eating, is available on Amazon

Join us live on Monday 20th May 2024 in Brighton: https://www.lifeafterdietspodcast.com/evening-in-brighton/
And on Thursday 23rd May 2024 in Bournemouth: https://www.lifeafterdietspodcast.com/day-retreat-on-the-beach/
 
Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want to improve your relationship with food and become more comfortable in your own skin. Community membership includes invites to live episode recordings (online), support meetings, a private Facebook group and monthly Q&As. For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets
 
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast
Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com
 
Connect with Stefanie Michele binge eating health coach
Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele
Work with Stefanie - www.iamstefaniemichele.com/application
Stef’s body image workshop – https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/bodyimageworkshop2024
Body Image Webinar + Workbook: https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/get-started/p/bodyimage
 
Connect with Sarah Dosanjh psychotherapist
Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist
Sarah’s book I Can’t Stop Eating is available on Amazon
In this bonus episode Marcus Cain addresses community questions and discuss broader perspectives on fitness beyond mere weight loss.
Marcus addresses the first question about decoupling exercise from the desire to lose weight, highlighting the challenge many face in reconnecting with exercise as a source of joy rather than a tool for body modification. He suggests exploring activities enjoyed in childhood and experimenting with movement without pressure, echoing the need to redefine personal relationships with fitness.
The dialogue shifts towards finding enjoyment in exercise, especially for those who may feel demotivated by the routine aspects of training. Marcus empathizes with this sentiment, discussing his own structured training regimen that supports his hobbies, like skiing, illustrating the concept of exercising for pleasure and functionality rather than for aesthetic changes.
The discussion also covers the psychological hurdles in fitness, such as dealing with plateaus and maintaining motivation amidst slow progress. Marcus underscores the importance of understanding that progress is non-linear and managing expectations realistically to sustain long-term fitness goals.
Another significant portion of the conversation focuses on inclusive fitness practices. They discuss the challenges faced by individuals with bigger bodies, emphasizing the importance of creating positive and accommodating exercise environments free from judgment and stigma. Marcus advocates for a gentle approach to fitness that respects individual experiences and promotes healing from past traumas related to exercise.
Throughout the conversation, there's a recurring theme of questioning traditional fitness narratives and encouraging a more holistic, inclusive, and enjoyable approach to physical activity. The hosts and Marcus emphasize shifting the focus from weight-centric goals to embracing exercise as a part of a fulfilling lifestyle.
Prilepin's chart https://precisionpowerlifting.com/2020/04/20/prilepins-chart-and-powerlifting/