CAN WEIGHT LOSS & BODY POSITIVITY COEXIST? - Michelle Shapiro on restrictive diets, the “right way” to lose weight, and functional nutrition for anxiety & gut health
Jul 21, 2023
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Holistic RD Michelle Shapiro, Queen of the Middle Ground, discusses weight loss, body positivity, and functional nutrition. She shares her journey losing 100lbs the wrong way, the root causes of anxiety and digestive disorders, and the misconceptions around intuitive eating. The podcast explores the gut-brain connection, the impact of certain fibers on IBS, and the role of practitioners in functional nutrition. They also delve into the importance of eating enough, managing internal voices, and the challenges of weight stigma in the body positivity movement.
Anxiety is a sacred messenger signaling something unsettled in the body, and should be acknowledged and understood rather than suppressed or ignored.
The root causes of gut-brain anxiety can include nutrient deficiencies, gut inflammation, and erratic blood sugar patterns, which should be addressed through proper nutrition and a grounding diet.
Gut inflammation is a chronic condition caused by various physical and mental factors; healing the gut involves addressing damage and incorporating a nourishing diet.
Binge eating is a complex issue driven by emotional, physiological, and neurological factors; gaining non-judgmental awareness can help identify alternative ways to meet underlying needs.
Deep dives
Anxiety as a Symptom and Messenger
Anxiety is not just a diagnosis but a symptom that signals something is unsettled in the body. It is a sacred messenger trying to communicate with us. Rather than trying to suppress or ignore anxiety, it is important to acknowledge it and sit with it. This is a way of listening to our body and understanding what it may be trying to tell us.
Root Causes of Gut-Brain Anxiety
The root causes of gut-brain anxiety can include nutrient deficiencies, gut inflammation, and erratic blood sugar patterns. Nutrient deficiencies and gut inflammation can trigger anxiety as the body sends signals for attention and nourishment. Erratic blood sugar patterns, both high and low, can also lead to anxiety. It is important to address these underlying causes and stabilize blood sugar levels through proper nutrition and a grounding diet with nourishing foods.
Unpacking Gut Inflammation
Gut inflammation is often a buzzword, but it refers to a chronic and silent inflammation that occurs over time. This inflammation is accompanied by leaky gut, where food particles can escape and trigger an immune response. Gut inflammation can be caused by various factors, including both physical and mental states. It is important to address the cascade of factors contributing to gut inflammation and focus on healing the gut through a comprehensive approach.
Navigating Gut Inflammation
When addressing gut inflammation, it is important to understand that food alone is not the healing agent, but rather the cascade of processes that occur as a result of consuming certain foods. Avoid focusing on single foods as the cause of inflammation, but rather consider the overall environment and factors contributing to chronic inflammation. Healing the gut involves addressing damage and incorporating a nourishing, grounding diet.
Understanding the Complexity of Binge Eating and the Multifactorial Factors Involved
Binge eating is a multifaceted issue that involves emotional, physiological, and neurological factors. It is a way for individuals to regulate their nervous system and cope with various emotions. Understanding the different voices that contribute to binge eating, such as the Screw It voice, can help shed light on the underlying needs and desires that drive this behavior. By developing non-judgmental awareness and exploring the experience of binge eating, individuals can gain insights into their patterns and identify alternative ways to meet their needs.
The Nuance of Weight Loss and Acknowledging Societal Stigma
When it comes to weight loss, it is essential to acknowledge the societal stigma and pressures that individuals may face due to their body size. Validating these experiences and understanding the urgency behind weight loss goals can be important. However, it is crucial to approach weight loss in a body-neutral way, focusing on health and balance rather than solely striving for a specific body size. Weight loss should not compromise an individual's relationship with food or their self-acceptance.
Navigating Intuitive Eating in Today's Food Environment
Intuitive eating is a valuable approach, but it can be challenging to implement in today's food environment, which is filled with hyper-palatable and highly processed foods that can trigger addictive responses in the brain. This may require individuals to navigate their relationship with these foods, considering factors such as dopamine rewards and the balance between indulgence and listening to body cues. It is crucial to honor individual preferences and experiences while recognizing that intuitive eating may need to be adapted to suit the current food landscape.
Exploring the Intersection of Traditional Medicine and Intuitive Eating
Traditional medicine, such as TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) or Ayurveda, may have different principles and guidelines regarding food choices and eating patterns. In today's modern world, where highly processed foods and diet culture prevail, it can be difficult to align intuitive eating principles with traditional medicine practices. Understanding the nuances of both can help individuals find a personalized approach that takes into account their unique needs and health goals.
Ep 80. This week's episode is with none other than the amazing Michelle Shapiro! In this insightful conversation, Michelle, a Holistic RD and self-proclaimed "Queen of the Middle Ground," shares her expertise after years of working with over a thousand clients. Michelle's approach to functional nutrition involves understanding the unique story of each individual, their environment, and the timeline that led them to their current situation. By identifying the root causes, she aims to heal issues rather than just managing them superficially. For instance, there's a big difference between avoiding certain foods for acid reflux versus understanding the deeper reasons behind the issue.
Here's the juice:
how Michelle lost 100lbs the WRONG way before becoming a dietitian (and how this led to hypothyroidism)
how almost anything that happens emotionally manifests physically, giving a whole new level of validation to symptoms that are "all in your head”
anxiety is a sacred messenger telling you something that needs to be addressed in your body (nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar dysregulation, etc.)
the root causes of anxiety and digestive disorders
what “intuitive eating” actually is + misconceptions
the extremes in the nutrition world of “no foods are toxic everything is a chemical" vs “all food must be perfectly clean”
why there are no “gut healing foods” that work for everyone
emotional and physical factors that contribute to binge eating and how to have compassion for our bodies trying to cope with big emotions
