Slate Daily Feed Death, Sex & Money | The Internet Taught Me to Diet, Then Saved Me With Weightlifting
10 snips
Aug 19, 2025 
Casey Johnston, author of 'Physical Education' and writer behind the Substack, She’s a Beast, shares her inspiring journey from diet culture to strength training. She reveals how a Reddit post changed her perspective on fitness and body image. Casey discusses navigating familial pressures around food and her transformative experiences in weightlifting, emphasizing community support in fitness. She also reflects on personal challenges, including loss and self-discovery, showcasing how empowerment through strength transformed her relationship with her body.
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Early Dieting And The Reddit Turning Point
- Casey Johnston grew up in a family where thinness was emphasized and learned dieting and calorie math in college.
- A Reddit post about lifting later redirected her relationship with food and exercise.
Years Of Secret Calorie Counting
- At 20, Casey went on a 1,200 calorie diet and later added long runs to jumpstart weight loss.
- She tracked calories mentally for years and isolated the habit from friends.
The Reddit Post That Changed Everything
- One night Casey scrolled Reddit and found a before-and-after lifting post that changed her thinking.
- The woman ate more, trained less, and didn't lose weight but gained tone, which stunned Casey.
