The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

Have you ever thought about how diet culture has impacted your professional life, the career path you've chosen, or how you've been able to show up in that area of your life more generally? In this conversation, Abbie is joined by career and leadership coach Rachel Garrett (who is also a client of Abbie's!). We explore Rachel's story with her body and food -- from childhood influences and coping mechanismsm, to her ongoing struggle with self-acceptance, and the constant pursuit of aligning her life with her values. In particular, we focus on the intersection between diet culture and professional growth, the parallels between societal pressures in career and diet culture, focusing on productivity, appearance norms, and power dynamics. Tune in to here more about the impact of diet culture on mental space, personal values, and professional achievements, along with the effects of childhood trauma on disordered eating behaviors. Rachel Garrett is a Career and Leadership Coach supporting clients in designing careers on their own terms. With a combination of mindset shifting tools and personal branding know-how from her 15-year career in marketing, she inspires clients to confidently “speak elevator pitch", build out career paths based on their priorities and step into their worth. Prior to starting her coaching practice, Rachel built a successful career in digital and social marketing at brands like American Express, Reader’s Digest, and VNS Health. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Rachel just celebrated one year of her anti-diet journey (WOOT!) after joining one of Abbie's group programs. It's been a healing time and also one of noticing how much her eating/body road has intertwined with her career failures and successes. Learn more at rachelbgarrett.com and rachelbgarrett.com/connections.   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 listen to the full conversation, you'll need to be a paid supporter on Patreon. Join the Full Plate Patreon right here! Ragen Chastain is back for part two with us this week. This time, we continue our "is being fat bad for your health?" conversation by answering your questions about GLP-1s. We chat about the current hype around weight-loss drugs, how they "work" (or don't), and the truth about their risks and side effects. If you haven't listened to part one of my conversation with Ragen, head back to episode 116. It's a really good one, and sets the stage for our discussion about weight-loss drugs in this episode.  Ragen Chastain is a speaker, writer, researcher, Board Certified Patient Advocate, multi-certified health and fitness professional, and thought leader in weight science, weight stigma, health, and healthcare. Utilizing her background in research methods and statistics, Ragen has brought her signature mix of humor and hard facts to healthcare, corporate, conference, and college audiences from Kaiser Permanente and the Diabetes Education Specialists National Conference, to Amazon and Google, to Dartmouth, Cal Tech and canfitpro. Author of the Weight and Healthcare newsletter, the book Fat: The Owner's Manual, co-author of HAES Health Sheets, and editor of the anthology The Politics of Size, Ragen is frequently featured as an expert in print, radio, television, and documentary film. In her free time, Ragen is a national dance champion, triathlete, and marathoner who holds the Guinness World Record for Heaviest Woman to Complete a Marathon. Ragen lives in Oregon with her fiancée Julianne and a rotating cast of foster dogs. PS: I highly recommend signing up for Ragen’s Weight and Healthcare newsletter.   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

The idea that fatness and weight gain are synonymous with poor health has become a seemingly incontestable truth in our society. So much so that you have undoubtedly heard that “we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic”. But where did this claim originate? And what does the research actually say about the relationship between weight and health outcomes? These two things may be connected, but not in the way we’ve been led to believe. This week, I am joined by the incredible and incomparable Ragen Chastain — who is a groundbreaking researcher in weight science, as well as a writer, speaker, and thought leader (among so many other things.) We explore the assumption that continues to uphold diet culture and anti-fat bias: “Isn’t being fat bad for your health?” Ragen helps us unpack the science — as well as the social rhetoric — that continue to perpetuate lies about fatness, health, and disease. And oh yes, we get into pharmaceutical companies, weight loss drugs, and celebrity culture. Topics discussed include: What's on Ragen's plate Ragen's food and body story, starting as a young kid Dance culture and body image The origin of the word "obese" The many problems with the term "obesity epidemic" Weight stigma in healthcare and its impact on health outcomes Weight cycling, yo-yo dieting, and cardiovascular risk How the weight-loss industry pathologized bodies for profit Public opinion, medical guidelines, and the myths about weight and health How weight loss studies are funded and designed The flaws in the research on how weight and health are related Medical education and anti-fat bias If not weight loss for health, then what?   About Ragen:  Ragen Chastain is a speaker, writer, researcher, Board Certified Patient Advocate, multi-certified health and fitness professional, and thought leader in weight science, weight stigma, and health. She is the author of the Weight and Healthcare newsletter, the blog Dances With Fat, the book Fat: The Owner's Manual, editor of the Praeger Anthology "The Politics of Size," co-author of the HAES Health Sheets. In her free time, she is a national dance champion, triathlete, and marathoner who holds the Guinness World Record for Heaviest Woman to Complete a Marathon. She lives in Oregon with her fiancée Julianne and their adorable foster dogs.   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

You're in for a treat! This week on the pod we’re chatting with the incredible Becca King (who you may know as @adhd.nutritionist on Instagram), a registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor who specializes in helping folks with ADHD heal their relationship with food. Becca is an ADHDer herself, so we chat about her personal experience with disordered eating, the interplay of neurodivergence with the binge/restrict cycle, and how she approaches nutrition now for herself and for her clients. Becca is here to help us bust myths about nutrition for ADHD as we delve into what it really means to support yourself, use nourishment as self-care, and create a more peaceful relationship with food (and your body!) as an ADHDer.   Tune in to hear more about… What’s on Becca’s plate (a favorite food combination she's eating, and what's on her life plate right now) How Becca was diagnosed with ADHD What ADHD feels like for her The impact of ADHD on her eating disorder, and vice versa Going from anorexia to binge eating Feeling out of control with food Why ADHDers are at a higher risk for disordered eating How body signals like hunger and fullness can be dulled in ADHDers Navigating medication and loss of appetite Why binge eating is so common with ADHD Recovering from the binge-restrict cycle Whether you should eat processed foods if you have ADHD How dopamine and carbohydrates are related The research on sugar and ADHD symptoms Becca’s favorite snacks for ADHDers   About Becca: Becca King is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor from Charlotte, North Carolina. As an adult with ADHD who struggled for years with disordered eating, Becca is passionate about helping other ADHDers who struggle with binge eating, chronic dieting, and body image issues find food freedom and improve their self-esteem. She uses the Principles of Intuitive Eating and a weight-inclusive approach to nutrition for ADHD in her virtual practice. Follow Becca on IG @adhd.nutritionist   Support the show on Patreon: 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! You can hear the full episode at patreon.com/fullplate.  This week, I’m joined by body image coach and children’s book author, Debbie Saroufim. We delve into why it's vital to adopt a fat-positive, anti-diet perspective when it comes to children's well-being, and how parents can take an active role in supporting their children’s body image. We also discuss practical strategies to help kids foster body acceptance, navigate conversations about weight and health, and cultivate body autonomy with food.   Listen to hear more about… What’s on Debbie’s plate right now Going on her first diet at the age of six The impact of having a mother with an eating disorder Ways to make your home a safe-haven from food and body shame Disordered eating in the acting world Using body neutrality rather than body positivity The moral messages we get about our bodies as kids How schools are perpetuating diet culture and weight bias What you can do as a parent if you notice diet culture in your child’s school environment How to talk to your kids about food choices Speaking with teachers about food and body talk Debbie’s book, Fat and Beautiful, and how it promotes body neutrality for children Language and phrases to avoid when talking to children about bodies Examining the word “beauty” and reclaiming it   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

"Dress for your body type", "define your waist", and "only wear what is flattering". How about...no.  As our bodies change (as they will continue to do throughout our life), many of us are met with barriers to body acceptance. And our clothes are a massive part of that. But they can also be a pivotal part of our liberation. Tune in to this week's episode to hear my conversation with Dacy Gillespie, a weight-inclusive anti-diet personal stylist. We untangle the mess of our closets, dismantle from patriarchal ideas of fashion, and challenge our sense of what we "should" be wearing based on our body shape and size. What’s on Dacy’s plate right now (and importantly, what's not) How she got into personal styling Being raised to think having a passion for clothing was vain The conversations that made her realize the ways patriarchy and white supremacy have informed our fashion choice How to approach shopping for new clothes as your body changes What steps to take to identify your personal style separate from patriarchal ideas of beauty and fashion  What to do with old clothes that no longer fit How clothing sizes impact our body image  The life-changing magic of finding your authentic style Challenging the inner critic when shopping Barriers to accessing clothing in a larger body The fashion rules we need to ditch  How to deal with your closet  All about the word “flattering”   About Dacy: As a weight inclusive, anti-diet personal stylist, Dacy Gillespie helps her clients reject fashion rules and ideal standards of beauty imposed by the patriarchy, white supremacism, and capitalism so that they can uncover their authentic style. Through their work building a functional wardrobe, Dacy’s clients make a mindset shift from thinking they need to wear what’s flattering to unapologetically taking up space in the world. After a lifetime of jobs in high-stress careers that didn’t suit her highly-sensitive, introverted personality, Dacy started mindful closet in 2013 in an attempt to create a more emotionally sustainable lifestyle. Her work has been featured in Forbes and Real Simple and she is a frequent podcast guest. Dacy is married and has two boys, ages 5 and 9. You can find more from her at mindfulcloset.com, @mindfulcloset on ig and tt, makingspacecourse.com for her group program.    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

On this week's episode, we're joined by Leslie Schilling, registered dietitian and author. We focus on themes in her second book, Feed Yourself, which explores the intersection of diet culture and religion — how diet culture shows up in the safest spaces, including places of worship. We discuss interrogating the church, and how diet culture is perpetuated through its messaging and ideologies. From weight to food choices, to health and morality, to the lies that instill shame and guilt – specifically when it comes to our bodies. I’ve really admired and respected Leslie for years. We’re connected on social media, and hold similar values. I was really looking forward to in this conversation about faith and religion, because it’s not something that has been a big part of my life. And this is exactly why I have this podcast – to bring on all different lived experiences; discuss hard things; dig into the nuance and make sure that nuance is shared. I hope you enjoy this one, I know I did. Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDS-S, owns a Las Vegas-based private practice specializing in nutrition counseling for families, people with disordered eating concerns, professional athletes, and performers. Leslie has served as a performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil® and the NBA and an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report. You may know Leslie best as the creator and co-author of the award-winning book Born To Eat. Her new book, Feed Yourself, about how diet culture shows up in our safest places, is available anywhere books are sold.   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 free preview of a paywalled episode, which is available to our wonderful supporters on Patreon. To listen to the full episode, you can upgrade to paid on Patreon!   This episode is an answer to a question submitted on Patreon from Erica, who asked: “How can I manage my acid reflux without restriction? I've been told over and over that I should eliminate certain foods, but just thinking about restricting is triggering me. Other than limiting my caffeine intake I'm really trying not to cut out any specific foods because honestly I know that's what got here got me here to begin with. Supplements and some over-the-counter medications don't really seem to do much. I'm sure I can't be the only one in your community who is struggling with this as I heal my relationship with food. Do you have experience with this, or have you had success with any remedies with your clients that don't involve restriction? Thanks so much for what you do!"   Abbie dives into so much in the answer, including: How restricting food impacts acid reflux Where acid reflux occurs in the body How irregular eating and fasting can impact the digestive system How we can become even more sensitive to the foods that we restrict Why certain foods may feel like the culprit for acid reflux How stress and anxiety can worsen acid reflux symptoms Cultivating a compassionate, low stress eating environment How intense exercise can exacerbate acid reflux symptoms Updating your wardrobe to reduce anxiety and promote comfort Talking to your doctor about medications to help mitigate acid reflux symptoms Not slipping back into disordered eating patterns when trying to manage acid reflux symptoms Centering compassion and body trust    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 on Abbie's website, 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

Former weight-loss surgery dietitian turned intuitive eating specialist, Kirsten Ackerman Morrison, discusses the lack of post-operative support for bariatric patients, issues with informed consent in weight loss interventions, and societal pressures surrounding weight-loss surgeries. She sheds light on the disconnect between public image and private struggles, emphasizing the importance of informed, compassionate decision-making.

This week we are joined by the incredible Lauren Fleshman, New York Times bestselling author of "Good for a Girl", to discuss the systemic ways that our sports culture fails women and girls, and how we can create a better future for the next generation of female athletes.  We dive into how the natural and expected changes in a young women’s body during adolescence are met with misunderstanding and pathology, and how the sports systems that girls and women find themselves in are built by men, for men and boys. They don’t currently account for or support the experience of the female athlete. Even if you aren’t a female-bodied human or an athlete, I hope you’ll tune into this episode. This is such an important conversation about challenging the patriarchy and policing of women’s bodies, far beyond athletics and running. As always, please listen with compassion and empathy for yourself and any past (or current) experiences this may bring up for you. Tune in to hear more about… The inspiration behind Lauren's book, Good for a Girl How prevalent disordered eating is when girls in adolescence, even into their college years The objectification of female bodies during adolescence How the US sports systems are built for around a default male body The significant differences between young girls and boys when training for sports The lack of normalization and support that girls and young women receive in sports during adolescence What happens when girls fight against natural body changes The rate that young girls drop out of sports What is viewed as "essential equipment" for boys in sports versus girls The financial pressure of athlete scholarships and ensuring performance at the expense of health If weight loss and losing a menstrual cycle is "normal" during sports training The extended time period to truly recover from undereating and overtraining in a women's body Redefining excellence for women in sports beyond race times and body-focused numbers How high risk women athletes are funneled into college sports Performative health and how food choices are policed in athlete spaces What's next for Lauren in her career  About Lauren: Lauren Fleshman is an award winning author and one of the most decorated American distance runners of all time, having won five NCAA championships at Stanford and two national championships as a professional. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Time and Runner’s World. Her debut book was an instant New York Times Bestseller, and won the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. She is the brand strategy advisor for Oiselle, a fitness apparel company for women, and the co-founder of Picky Bars, a natural food company. She lives in Bend, OR. Find Lauren on IG: @fleshmanflyer 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 on my website, 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