The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

We're revisiting this conversation with Dr. Diana Gordon, and it's everything. Big picture, Abbie and Diana discuss how to approach mental health in a sea of diet and wellness misinformation -- including whether or not movement and nutrition have a meaningful impact on anxiety and depression. They get into what it's like to ping pong back and forth between dieting and intuitive eating, how diet culture seizes on our fear of uncertainty to sell us a faulty product, and how to sit with and process our collective health anxiety.  Topics discussed... Being an empath in the midst of overwhelming global events How to affect positive change in your own community Diana's story & her passion for helping people who have struggled to eat intuitively How the diet industry makes money off of our shame What it looks like to have dieting take over all aspects of your life Developing and overcoming health anxiety How we can practice true self-care Actively undoing our core beliefs about food and our bodies Weight stigma in therapy and psychotherapy spaces The truth about exercise and mental health Why we latch onto diets when we're going through a health challenge Healthism and assumptions based on appearance How much control we actually have over our health Embracing the messy and often chaotic experience of food freedom   Dr. Diana Gordon is a licensed psychologist, coach, and content creator specializing in Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size (HAES). She combines evidence-based skills, such as mindfulness, cognitive behavioral skills, and other coping tools with Intuitive Eating principles. As both a psychologist and an IE-certified provider, she offers evaluation and treatment for both eating-related concerns as well as other mental health concerns. As a person of size, she draws on both her personal and professional experience to dismantle fatphobia and to help people live a life free from dieting. You can find Diana on her website or Instagram.   Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate   Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those at  www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast    Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching   Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group    Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a bonus episode! You can access the full podcast episode here when you support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/fullplate. Abbie’s husband, Jeb, joins the pod (back by popular demand!) to help answer holiday questions from listeners. The questions get at the heart of all the ways the holiday season can impact our thoughts, anxieties, and behaviors around food, body image, and close relationships. Topics include reverting to only eating safe foods when presented with a lot more food than usual, feeling restless with unplanned time, dealing with other people’s food rules when you’re in their homes, and how to deal with judgement while eating what you truly want (regardless of other people’s comments). Tune in to hear about... What's on their plates right now (food, chronic illness, work stress) Wrestling with guilt over needing to rest Why old thought patterns come up when we're in pain Comparisons and similarities with sobriety and diet culture True safety versus routines that feel “safe” with food and our body Reframing slowness and lack of structure as liberation Releasing the productivity mindset Handling other people's judgement about your food choices and body Managing buffet anxiety while you're in recovery Tips on putting together a plate for yourself using self-compassion  How to state your boundaries with loved ones Figuring out which of other people’s routines to compassionately respect and which to set boundaries around  Prioritizing your own needs and wants during the holiday This is a bonus episode, so to hear a free preview, listen on whatever app you're using. And, to listen to the whole conversation, come hang out on Patreon. You can find the other episodes that Jeb did with Abbie right here, here, and here. They are great ones, too! Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters Administrative Support by Alexis Eades This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Author and podcaster Mary Jelkovsky (@maryscupofteaa) joins us to share her journey about the harms and toxicity of becoming a fitness influencer, how fitness culture pushed her further into an eating disorder, and how she's healed from the damage to her sense of self. We also get into self-love versus self-compassion, confidence versus self-worth, healing from comparison, and why it's so stressful to worry about what other people think of your body. "I prided myself on being this person who didn't give a s**t what anybody thought of her. I was doing this food and body stuff for me and my own health and fitness and whatever. Then I was called out in a compassionate way, and saw that I was obsessed with how others viewed me." - Mary Jelkovsy, Full Plate episode #145 Listen to hear more about: What’s been on Mary's plate (food, travel, movement) Her early experiences as a body builder How being a teenage fitness influencer effected her relationship with her body Developing an eating disorder, hidden in plain sight The dangers of too much protein How fitness culture praises disordered eating behaviors Why changing environments can help us find room to heal Letting our love for others guide our way to loving ourselves  Fighting the patriarchy without fighting our husbands  Self-love as self-compassion, self-worth, and self-esteem   Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness About Mary: After recovering from a lifelong battle with food and body obsession, Mary Jelkovsky started her Instagram @maryscupofteaa to inspire people to accept their bodies and learn to love themselves unconditionally. Now Mary is the author of the bestselling book The Gift of Self-Love as well as the journal 100 Days of Self-Love. Over the past five years, she's been leading worldwide self-love retreats and her message has been highlighted in TEDx, Teen Vogue, Shape, and Health Magazine. She is also the host of the Mary’s Cup of Tea Podcast: the Self-Love Podcast for Women, which has more than 1 million downloads. By openly sharing her personal journey to self-acceptance, Mary has helped inspire millions to accept their bodies and love themselves unconditionally. When Mary's not writing, podcasting, or hosting retreats, she is spending time with her little sister Ilana, who is her biggest inspiration. Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters Administrative Support by Alexis Eades This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Kevin Green, a disabled, mad, and queer artist from Massachusetts, shares their insights on Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and its links to neurodivergence. They challenge the stigma around 'picky eaters' while discussing sensory sensitivities and the societal pressures on eating habits. Compassionate strategies for parents are highlighted, promoting autonomy in children's food choices. Kevin's unique experiences with ARFID and autism underscore the importance of curiosity and respect in fostering healthy relationships with food.

“I believe in body liberation and anti-diet culture. But what if I’m just uncomfortable being fat?” This is a free preview of this week’s bonus episode, and truly, it’s not to be missed. It just might be my favorite conversation we’ve had yet on this podcast. This is the second part of a conversation with Therapist Edie Stark and Fat Activist Sharon Maxwell, and we’re answering a very important – very hard – listener question.  To listen to the full conversation, you can upgrade to paid on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fullplate The full question comes from Amanda, who asks: “I'm really struggling to accept my own body as I do this work to unlearn weight bias in our culture. It's frustrating, because I do believe all bodies are worthy. What if I'm just uncomfortable being in a larger body? What if I just don't want to be fat? Is it possible to desire weight loss for myself while believing in weight inclusivity?” Tune in on Patreon for the full conversation to hear about... How Sharon relates to this listener, and moments where she's worked through similar thoughts Whether changing your body can change discomfort Internalized fat-phobia, and if pursuing weight loss is anti-fat Neutral health goals versus weight-loss goals How the Ozempic conversation impacts the desire for weight loss How mental discomfort effects our physical symptoms Body autonomy and personal choices with weight Self-care ideas for fat bodies How to practice self-compassion while living within systemic anti-fatness Times when eating disorder thoughts creep in the most Discomfort as a signal of something deeper Finding providers who can hold space for you, and your body grief, from a weight-inclusive and liberation lens Navigating the medical system when it blames body size for everything  SO much more!   About Edie:  Edie Stark, MSc, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Stark Therapy Group, a psychotherapy group practice specializing in eating disorders, trauma, and anxiety from a humanistic, fat-positive, and inclusive lens. She believes in the value of lived experience being met with clinical knowledge to create a collaborative therapeutic experience for all of the clients. Edie is passionate about Trader Joe's snacks– we talk a little bit about that–dismantling the US healthcare system, and the complete and total takedown of diet culture in no particular order. Learn more at https://starktherapygroup.com/ About Sharon: Sharon Maxwell (She/Her) is a mental health advocate and fat activist. She works as a weight inclusive consultant, providing education to treatment centers and healthcare providers on the immense harms of weight stigma. Due to her lived experience facing weight stigma, Sharon provides unique insight and offers practical tools to make treatment centers and healthcare settings safe and accessible for fat folks. Sharon is passionate about breaking down the stigma around eating disorders and working to eradicate societal anti-fat bias. When she’s not studying or engaged in her activism work, Sharon can be found exploring San Diego with her dog and her best friend. Read "You Don't Look Anorexic" in New York Times Magazine Connect with Sharon on IG: @heysharonmaxwell Learn more about Sharon: https://www.heysharonmaxwell.com/   Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate   Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching   Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group   Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast   Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Two returning guests join us (who happen to be my amazing friends and colleagues): therapist Edie Stark and fat activist Sharon Maxwell. We're getting into the impact of GLP-1s (like Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.) on disordered eating recovery, body acceptance, and generally navigating this world in a human body amidst the constant chatter about weight loss medications.  Edie and Sharon share their wisdom and lived experience as we talk about how we can keep hopeful in the face of increasingly problematic diet culture messaging, GLP-1s, and general uncertainty in the world. We explore the differences between individual and macro change, and the need for tangible ways to resist diet culture and comparison. It gets real, and honest, and I think it is a timely episode for anyone who has felt hope waiver these past few weeks.  Tune in to hear more about: What’s on their plates, literally and metaphorically Eating easy things when you’re feeling uninspired or overwhelmed How Ozempic and GLP-1s are impacting weight-inclusive and anti-diet movements What to do when the weight loss conversation feels louder than ever (especially in disordered eating recovery) Hope in the context of both diet culture and the world right now The role of macro and micro efforts in overcoming systemic issues  Differences between body positivity and body liberation Social media's role in perpetuating the Ozempic craze and misinformation What it looks like to invest in the fat-liberation movement How we can overcome moments of doubt and body grief Ways to cultivate community around our values Sharon's call for more fat joy So much more!   This episode is the first of two parts, so stay tuned for next week's second act! About Edie:  Edie Stark, MSc, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Stark Therapy Group, a psychotherapy group practice specializing in eating disorders, trauma, and anxiety from a humanistic, fat-positive, and inclusive lens. She believes in the value of lived experience being met with clinical knowledge to create a collaborative therapeutic experience for all of the clients. Edie is passionate about Trader Joe's snacks– we talk a little bit about that–dismantling the US healthcare system, and the complete and total takedown of diet culture in no particular order. Learn more at https://starktherapygroup.com/ About Sharon: Sharon Maxwell (She/Her) is a mental health advocate and fat activist. She works as a weight inclusive consultant, providing education to treatment centers and healthcare providers on the immense harms of weight stigma. Due to her lived experience facing weight stigma, Sharon provides unique insight and offers practical tools to make treatment centers and healthcare settings safe and accessible for fat folks. Sharon is passionate about breaking down the stigma around eating disorders and working to eradicate societal anti-fat bias. When she’s not studying or engaged in her activism work, Sharon can be found exploring San Diego with her dog and her best friend. Read "You Don't Look Anorexic" in New York Times Magazine Connect with Sharon on IG: @heysharonmaxwell Learn more about Sharon: https://www.heysharonmaxwell.com/ Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate   Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching   Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group   Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast   Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Shana Spence, a registered dietitian (who you might know as @thenutritiontea on social media), joins the pod to bust myths about processed foods and to discuss how family, culture, privilege, and societal influences shape our relationship with food. Listen Ad-Free on Patreon! We recorded this conversation before the election, but given the outcome, we're going to see an influx of misinformation about wellness, health, and nutrition -- so this episode feels timely. Shana shares how her initial career path and disordered eating fueled her decision to become a dietitian, and reflects on how dietetics education perpetuates diet culture, focusing on BMI and stereotypes. She talks about her perspective shift over time, the process of moving toward an anti-diet and weight-inclusive approach, and why the social determinants of health matter more than individual food choices. Tune in to hear more about… The pressure of food restriction as a badge of honor Privilege affecting food choices The misleading fears about processed foods The oversimplification of food into good vs. bad categories.  How family and cultural background impact dieting External societal pressures on our relationship with food Diet culture and healthism Dietitian education's role in perpetuating diet culture Stereotyping in healthcare Shana’s perspective shift on nutrition and dieting Restriction as a form of validation Black-and-white thinking in nutrition Why we don't need to "fix" people's eating habits Shana Spence is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based in New York, who considers herself an “eat anything” dietitian, and counsels on a HAES (Healthy At Every Size) and an Intuitive Eating approach. She is also the author of Live Nourished - Make Peace with Food, Banish Body Shame, and Reclaim Joy. Find her website here https://www.thenutritiontea.com/  and find her on instagram at @thenutritiontea.   Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate   Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching   Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group   Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   WalkingPad Discounts: Use code ABBIEATTWOODWELLNESS for 30% off their WalkingPad Use code ABBIEWELLNESS for 20% off their treadmills   Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast   Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters Podcast Administrative Support by Alexis Eades Listen Ad-Free on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fullplate     This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, my friends. In this last-minute episode, I am talking to you about election anxiety, and why times of political and personal uncertainty can stir up disordered eating thoughts and behaviors. From control to distraction, we often tend to turn to bodies as a coping tool. Join me for this brief (but hopefully meaningful) conversation about these thoughts, why they surface, and  supportive tools to nurture yourself through challenging times. I hope this is a compassionate reminder on why and how we are reclaiming our power when we choose food, rest, and radical self-care. We're in this together -- you are not alone. PS: This is an expanded version of my newsletter from Friday. You can read that newsletter as a member of Patreon right here.   Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate   Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching   Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group   Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast   Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a BONUS episode! To hear the full episode, make sure you're subscribed on Patreon. Your support is what keeps the lights on around here, so, thank you! It's Halloween time. And that means...plenty of candy. Maybe more than usual? Maybe not. In this special bonus episode, I'm answering a listener question about what to do if you feel like you can't eat candy without binge-eating it, how to approach candy with your kids, and whether we can truly give ourselves unconditional permission to eat all that sugar. 👉 Listen to the full episode right here! You'll hear more on: Whether it's possible to no longer feel out of control around candy, especially if you've had a history of binge eating Dealing with the fear and anxiety of having tons of candy around Strategies for helping kids develop a positive relationship with candy Fears associated with eating "too much" sugar or being "addicted" to sugar The truth about health impacts of eating a lot of candy Interacting with other people's perspectives on sugar What self-compassion has to do with all of this Releasing the scarcity mindset to feel more at ease around food (and candy)   Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate That's where you'll find this bonus episode, right at the top of the feed.  If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Patreon or on my website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Enroll for Group Support: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program, which kicks off in January: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group  Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Author and well-being educator Nakeia Homer joins us to talk about releasing things (habits, people, beliefs) we've clung to for years—sometimes decades. As Nakeia beautifully explains, letting go is rarely about the thing or person itself, but rather what it symbolizes for us. We discuss self-forgiveness, finding our people, making peace with other people’s opinions of us, and what real self-care is all about. Nakeia also walks us through the process of building habits that help us heal; that help us become whole; that help us find ourselves. Things that stood out to me most: How to know when it’s time to let go, and what it might be costing you to hold on The courage required to "give up" on something that no longer aligns with your values How we can reframe letting go as a powerful act of self-care and strength Why we seek validation and how we can get what we actually need instead How to know when you've found your people Practical tools for caring less about external judgment and other people's opinions Not comparing our experiences to others', especially when it comes to trauma Nakeia Homer is a Well-Being Educator, Author, and the founder of Heal & Grow Daily, a well-being community and private membership. Through programs, speaking, workshop facilitation, and corporate wellness consulting, Nakeia helps people sustain their well-being, operate in their brilliance, and show up in their lives and work as the best versions of themselves. Her first books, I Hope This Helps (2020) and All the Right Pieces (2022), have been great resources for those seeking healing and growth all over the world. Her thrid book, Habits For Healing: Reclaim Your Purpose, Peace, & Power was released in the Fall of 2024 and is already dubbed "A Roadmap to Healing". Nakeia is a sought-after wellness & well-being expert and trauma-informed educator, facilitating powerful workshops and keynotes on the power of story, self-love/self-care, and purpose. You can find her course, Healing Inequality Through Allyship, at David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah. To stay connected, hire her to speak at your next event, or join her community, visit nakeiahomer.com and follow Nakeia on social media @nakeiahomer. Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate   Group program: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching   Group membership: Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group   Social media: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   Transcripts: If you’re looking for transcripts, you can find those on Abbie's website, www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/podcast   Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy Podcast Editing by Brian Walters This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe