Shows
Life After Diets207. I'm Not Bingeing But I'm Not Healed, EitherRecovery from disordered eating doesn’t end the moment bingeing stops — that’s often where an entirely new phase begins. In this episode, Stef and Sarah unpack the often-overlooked “middle ground” of recovery — the stage where the chaos of bingeing has quieted, but true peace with food still feels out of reach. Stef describes this phase as a kind of emotional limbo: the urgency is gone, but now there’s loneliness, uncertainty, and a disorienting sense of now what?. Sarah shares how she moved from bingeing to occasional overeating, and how easy it was to slip into black-and-whit...
2025-08-2042 min
Feelings...and Other Inconveniences9. The Secret Emotional Life of Laziness Think you’re lazy? In this episode of Feelings and Other Inconveniences, therapists Sarah Dosanjh and Stefanie Michele pull apart one of the most loaded labels we give ourselves: laziness. Is it a real trait—or just a label we slap on something deeper? From resistance to overwhelm, passive rebellion to the emotional weight of impossible expectations, they dig into the psychology behind why we sometimes can’t (or won’t) act. Stefanie shares personal moments when she mistook depression for laziness, and Sarah reflects on how “doing nothing” can actually be an act of protection...
2025-08-1338 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences8. Live Authentically! (Whatever That Means)What if your biggest regret at the end of your life was never truly living as yourself? In this episode, Sarah and Stef crack open the #1 regret of the dying—wishing they’d had the courage to live authentically, not just follow the script written by others. With raw honesty and a dash of humor, the hosts swap stories about breaking free from expectations—whether it’s skipping university, ditching a “dream job,” or proudly embracing cat-lady status. They dig into why it’s so hard to know what you really want, how people-pleasin...
2025-07-3043 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences7. I’m Being Good… And I Need You to Notice Do our good deeds really count if they also make us feel good? In this episode, psychotherapist Sarah Dosanjh and coach Stefanie Michele unpack the messy middle between selflessness and self-interest. From love languages to financial guilt, they explore how early conditioning, ego, and the need for connection shape our most generous acts. With personal stories and candid reflections, this conversation invites you to rethink what it means to give—and whether “selfish” is really a bad word after all. 00:12 Exploring Selfless Acts 00:58 Client's Struggle with Gift Giving 02:10 Love Languages and Self-Interest 04:43 Personal Stories of Generosity 08:34 Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset 16:27 Reflecting o...
2025-07-1638 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences6. Outgrowing You Feels Rude (But Here We Are) This week, Stefanie Michele (coach + somatic practitioner) and Sarah Dosanjh (psychotherapist + author) explore the tender, often confusing territory of outgrowing friendships—and why it can feel more complicated than a breakup. They unpack what it’s like to feel the slow drift, the quiet mismatch, or the emotional flatness in relationships that once felt vital. When values change, life phases shift, or emotional reciprocity feels lopsided, it’s hard to know whether to let go, hang on, or renegotiate the dynamic. The episode weaves in personal stories, including reflections on feeling loyal to people we've quietl...
2025-07-0251 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences5. Waiting For the Other Shoe to Drop (and other genius coping mechanisms)Do you ever get that feeling like something bad is just around the corner—even when things are going fine? In this episode, Sarah and Stef unpack the sneaky mindset of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Is it intuition? Is it trauma? Is it your hormones? From personal stories to psychological insight, they dig into the difference between gut feelings and hypervigilance, why calm can feel suspicious, and how to start trusting safety when you’re wired for threat. If you’ve ever struggled to feel peace without also feeling suspicious of it—this one’s for you. 00:45 Understanding...
2025-06-1839 min
Find Your Strong PodcastDoing The Work. Recovering From Binge Eating Disorder, with Sarah DosanjhSend us a textOh wow - we had Sarah Dosanjh on the pod!!! And how lovely is she? Sarah is a qualified and BACP-accredited psychotherapist specialising in binge eating — not just through training, but lived experience too. After over a decade of struggling with binge eating and bulimia, it was deep inner work that finally transformed her relationship with food. That journey now informs how she supports others.Since publishing I Can’t Stop Eating (an Amazon bestseller) in 2020, she's raised awareness through BBC Radio One, Sky’s Roundtable, BBC Breakfast, and deliver...
2025-06-0549 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences4. Being Misunderstood: It's Not Me, It's You...or Is It Me?Not everyone is going to "get" us—but being misunderstood still stings. In this episode, Stefanie Michele (coach + somatic practitioner) and Sarah Dosanjh (psychotherapist + author) dig into the uncomfortable and triggering feeling of being misunderstood—especially in a world that thrives on hot takes and out-of-context clips. From the chaos of YouTube comments to subtle miscommunications in daily life, they explore what gets activated when people don’t “get” us, why it’s not always about ego, and how to stay rooted in your own truth without needing to over-explain. They’re not here to convin...
2025-06-0443 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences3. I Tried to Change but My Personality Said NoIn this episode, psychotherapist Sarah Dosanjh and coach/somatic practitioner Stefanie Michele unpack the messy truth about personal growth. Can we actually change who we are, or are we just managing symptoms with nicer language? They get real about procrastination, personality quirks, self-perception, and the parts of us that therapy just won’t touch. Through personal stories and client insights, they explore the line between acceptance and accountability — and why some things evolve, while others might be here to stay. It’s not a self-help pep talk. It’s a nuance...
2025-05-2145 minFeelings...and Other Inconveniences1. Feelings: The Original InconvenienceIn this episode, Stef & Sarah (the duo behind Life After Diets) kick off a new podcast project exploring emotional awareness, self-understanding, and mental wellness. Drawing inspiration from Carl Jung and Eckhart Tolle, they unpack how we actually experience our emotions — especially the tangled web between anger, sadness, and shame. Through personal stories and candid reflections, they explore how emotions shape our behaviors, relationships, and sense of self. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your feelings or unsure what you’re even feeling in the first place, this episode will resonate. With their signature mix of dep...
2025-05-1040 minLife After Diets197. But My Body Image Is All Over the Place In this episode, Stef and Sarah are talking about body image fluctuations. They kick things off with Stef admitting she’s been in a bit of a funk lately, which has her feeling some body image blues. They chat about how our moods can totally mess with how we see our bodies—like when you're tired or anxious, everything feels heavier and more irritating. Stef talks about the importance of recognizing these mood shifts and working on regulating them before trying to 'fix' anything else. They also tackle the topic of 'flo...
2025-04-2342 minLife After Diets196. But I Can't Forgive Myself for My Unhealthy BehaviorsIn this heartfelt episode, Sarah and Stef explore the concept of self-forgiveness, including that it isn't about excusing harmful behaviors but rather about understanding and acknowledging the underlying causes of our actions. Sarah emphasizes the role of self-forgiveness in her personal growth, sharing how recognizing our inherent innocence can change the way we address self-blame and guilt. Stef reflects on the interplay between self-forgiveness and accountability, discussing the importance of balancing compassion with the acknowledgment of our responsibilities. Listeners will find relatable anecdotes about personal struggles with self-forgiveness and practical insights into how t...
2025-04-1644 minLife After Diets195. But Everyone is Losing Weight on Weight Loss Drugs -- and Frankly I'm StrugglingThe main topic of the episode addresses the recent cultural emphasis on thinness and the use of weight loss drugs like GLP-1 medications. Stef and Sarah explore the societal pressure for thinness, the resurgence of weight loss as a value, and how it impacts people on a personal level, particularly those in recovery from eating disorders. They delve into their own experiences and observations about how the culture of weight loss drugs affects our body image. Stef discusses the guilt and pressure experienced by both those who choose to take or avoid these medications and shares personal...
2025-04-0936 minLife After Diets194. But I Can't Diet (and I'm Mad/Sad About It!) - Part Two In this episode, Sarah and Stef explore the topic of why they decided to make this a rare two-part series. Stef sparked the idea due to a client's suggestion to dive deeper into the emotional aspects tied to realizing one can't diet anymore. They chat about their personal experiences and how differently they feel about the inability to diet. Stef shares that she often felt anger, stemming from the frustrating feeling of being controlled by an uncontrollable force. Sarah, on the other hand, felt sadness and a bit of unease about not being...
2025-04-0247 minLife After Diets193. But Now I Can't Diet Even if I Want To!Sarah and Stef delve into the complex emotions around dieting and the struggles of non-diet living. To kick things off, Sarah brings up the topic of feeling stuck between wanting to diet and feeling like you can't, even if you wanted to. This sets the stage for a thoughtful discussion about how dieting, and the decision to step away from it, evokes a range of emotions—from failure to empowerment. Stef offers personal anecdotes and client stories, revealing how the dieting mindset is often ingrained in us from a young age, making it a tough cycle to break. She highlights the...
2025-03-2636 minLife After Diets191. The Father WoundIn this heartfelt episode of the Life After Diets podcast, Sarah and Stef dive into the complex topic of "the father wound." Sarah Dosanjh, a psychotherapist, and Stef, a binge recovery health coach, share personal stories and insights about how their relationships with their fathers have impacted their lives and emotional well-being. Sarah opens up about her father's unpredictable nature, oscillating between fun, adventurous moments and explosive anger, which left her feeling punished and bewildered. Stef adds her perspective, sharing how her father’s volatility has rendered her feeling helpless at times and describes how she has na...
2025-03-1238 minLife After Diets189. But is Food Freedom Eating Whatever I Want?In this episode, Sarah and Stef dive into the topic of food permission, addressing the intriguing question: “Can you really eat whatever you want whenever you want?” They share personal insights and client experiences to unpack the concept of intuitive eating, discussing the common misunderstandings and the nuanced approach necessary for true food freedom. They emphasize the importance of balancing permission with consideration, understanding emotional and mental restrictions, and the role of gentle nutrition. They also highlight how different individuals might need to approach intuitive eating uniquely based on their personal history and rela...
2025-02-2638 minLife After Diets188. Acceptance vs Defeat; Toastmasters and speed-puzzling; therapeutic techniques for resistance; being in a larger body on an airplane; body allowance vs body acceptanceIn this episode, Sarah and Stef explore how body acceptance might feel like defeat for many who have struggled to change their bodies and feel oppressed by their circumstances. They dissect how acceptance is a proactive practice that differs from the feeling of defeat, which is reactionary and involves a perceived loss against external forces. Stef shares personal insights on how acceptance can feel oppressive when it seems to invalidate self-advocacy, while Sarah discusses how resistance to acceptance often stems from fear and shame. The conversation touches on therapeutic techniques to work through resistance, the importance of...
2025-02-1940 minLife After Diets186. But Are Weight Loss Injections a Ticking Time Bomb?Welcome to Episode 186 of "Life After Diets," where Stef and Sarah dive into a topic we've surprisingly not tackled before—GLP-1 medications and their implications. GLP-1, commonly known from brands like Ozempic, has been generating buzz for its use in weight management. In this episode, Stef and Sarah unpack the complexities of this tender subject, sharing their personal and professional insights. We kick things off by reminiscing about a previously unreleased episode that touched on similar themes. From there, Sarah candidly discusses the difficulties she faces when speaking about GLP-1s, including the delicate balance of expressing pe...
2025-02-0541 minLife After Diets185. But How Do I Stop Body Checking?This episode delves into topic of body checking—when individuals habitually monitor their body size or shape. Sarah and Stef share personal experiences, discussing their different relationships with body checking. Stef candidly describes how body checking was a way to manage her anxiety and provides insights into her journey towards recovery, detailing strategies such as changing her response to body checking rather than trying to stop the behavior outright. Sarah contrasts with Stef by explaining that during her episodes of binge eating and rapid weight gain, she avoided body checking because it was too distressing. Sh...
2025-01-2940 minLife After Diets179. Exploring the Emotion of Sadness in a Healthy Relationship with FoodIn this insightful episode, Sarah and Stef delve into the complex interplay of emotions like sadness, anger, and disconnection. They explore how sadness is often a front for deeper emotional experiences and how it contrasts with the energizing force of anger. Stef shares her struggles with collapsing into sadness and explains how food was a coping mechanism for her during emotionally trying times. Sarah discusses the nuanced responses to sadness and the importance of grieving effectively. The episode touches on topics like childhood conditioning, parental responses to emotions, and the societal expectations around gender and emotional expression.
2024-12-1845 minLife After Diets176. But Getting Sick Increases My Appetite!In Episode 176 of our podcast, titled "Sickness and Appetite," hosts Stef and Sarah delve into the intricate relationship between illness and appetite. They share personal stories and theories on how sickness affects hunger, exploring varied reactions ranging from increased appetite to the desire for comfort food. Stef discusses a potential connection between eating disorders and an increased appetite during illness, while Sarah reflects on emotional responses to being sick. The conversation also touches on the psychological impacts of illness, orthorexia, and strategies for managing fluctuating appetites during and after sickness. This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for...
2024-11-2736 minLife After Diets174. But I Eat to Manage StressIn this episode, Sarah and Stef dive into the complex relationship between stress and eating habits. They share personal anecdotes (starting with Sarah's recent Domino's Pizza ordering experience) about how stress impacts their food choices and delve into the psychological and physiological reasons behind these patterns. Topics discussed include the challenges of stress-induced cravings, the role of carbohydrates and comfort foods, and practical strategies for managing stress. The episode also explores the benefits of somatic and cognitive approaches to stress. Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want a safe space to w...
2024-11-1345 minLife After Diets169. But How Do I Experience JOY?In this lively and unique episode, Sarah and Stef delve into the concept of joy. They share their personal experiences and struggles with finding joy, reflecting on moments that brought them happiness and the impact those moments had on their mental states. From a sunny drive to Brighton listening to summer reggae (Sarah) to a rollercoaster ride with her daughters (Stef), they explore how joy can stem from both big and small moments. They also discuss the complications of linking joy to external validation (like viral YouTube success or getting asked out by a crush) versus the pure joy f...
2024-10-0939 minLife After Diets165. But I Can't Stop Overeating In this episode, hosts Stefanie and Sarah dive into the complexities surrounding overeating, especially in the context of recovery from binge eating. They discuss the difference between binge eating and overeating, and explore how habits, stress, and emotional regulation play into our eating behaviors. Using real-life anecdotes and client experiences, they offer compassionate insights into understanding and managing overeating without demonizing it. Listeners will also learn about the psychological and physiological factors that can contribute to this behavior, including the role of hormones and histories of ED. They also speak to those who suffer from chronic overeating patterns in the...
2024-09-1142 minLife After Diets160. But Why is Mindful Eating SO Hard?!In this engaging episode of their podcast, Stef and Sarah dive deep into the topic of mindful eating. Stef shares some insightful anecdotes about how clients often come to her with a preconceived notion of how they "should" be eating. Sarah chimes in with practical advice from her workshops, suggesting that eating mindfully isn't about being perfect but more about being present. Throughout the episode, they explore the challenges and misconceptions surrounding the practice. They emphasize that mindful eating isn't one-size-fits-all. For some, it can exacerbate issues like perfectionism or diet culture pressures. They also talk about...
2024-08-0743 minLife After Diets157. But I'm Trying To Recover from Disordered Eating with DepressionIn this episode of the "Life After Diets" podcast, we explore the journey of coping with depression in eating disorder recovery. Join us as we discuss personal stories, coping strategies, and nervous system theory with our hosts, Sarah Dosanjh, psychotherapist and author of I Can't Stop Eating, and Stefanie Michele, Certified Intuitive Eating Coach and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, both recovered from binge eating. Episode Highlights include: Anxiety and Depression: are they linked? How? What depression feels like Polyvagal Theory as it applies to the stigma of mental health Who is the "real you?" Parts Theory (IFS...
2024-07-1737 minLife After Diets151. But What Do Attachment Styles Have to Do With Food Boundaries?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...
2024-06-0543 minLife After Diets130. But What If Recovery Isn't Worth It?What if you're recovering from an eating disorder and it's not all it's cracked up to be? What if the "better life" everyone talks about doesn't feel true for you, and you wonder if it was actually better before? In this episode, we look at this very nuanced, delicate, and lesser-talked-about aspect of some people's experience. Does it matter if you have other "things" in your life to fall back on? Needing something else to fill the gap of a sense of "purpose" What does it mean to "create" a relationship with yourself Book recommendations for cultivating a...
2024-02-0732 minLife After DietsBack To Basics 3/4 : Tools For RecoveryThe third in a four-part series of Back to Basics; this episode reviews helpful tools for recovery from disordered eating and eating disorders. Tools include cognitive, somatic, emotional, behavioral/practical resources to support your recovery with a list of helpful accounts, books, podcasts, and links below. Education from social media, books, podcasts, etc The case for regular eating How ghrelin works "All-in" recovery or a gradual approach? Does body size matter if you do all-in? Is it easier to do in a smaller body? The part of the conversation that gets glossed over on social media. Is it t...
2024-01-1753 minLife After Diets128. Reflections & ProjectionsTwo annoucements! Join our mailing list if you want to be in the know about upcoming events in the UK this May 2024; and our next four episodes will be a Back To Basics Series. Now on to this week's episode...we're reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the new one, but not in the mainstream fashion of toxic positivity or or New Year New Me crap. If you need to get away from that energy, this one's for you. It's a silly-ish one. Our words and intentions for 2023 -- how did we do...
2023-12-2741 minLife After Diets124. Permitters and RestrictorsGeneen Roth coined the terms "permitters" and "restrictors" to differentiate between two types of (disordered) eaters -- the latter, who tend to restrict food and adhere to food rules and regulations; and the former, who reject food rules and regulations. The rule-followers vs the rebels, if you will. Which camp do you identify with? What can we learn about ourselves and our relationship with food through the lens of these concepts? We'll discuss: What does it look like to be a permitter vs a restrictor? Overeaters Anonymous meetings felt like a meeting of restrictors f...
2023-11-2939 minLife After Diets120. Dopamine and Binge Eating: a Review of Dopamine Nation by Anna LembkeSarah and Stef review the book Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. Dopamine is a fascinating neurotransmitter when it comes to binge eating for its role in the pain and pleasure connection in the brain. This episode covers: What is dopamine's role in the brain and body? Is it helpful to focus on dopamine when it comes to disordered eating recovery? Addiction to food and the chase of food The pain and pleasure see-saw What if our pain and...
2023-11-0157 minLife After Diets114. But Do I Need To Do Inner Child Work?Embracing your inner child is a concept that you might see coming up when you work on ditching diet culture and embracing a nondiet or intuitive eating approach to disordered eating recovery. What is this all about? Do we need to do this in order to heal? This conversation explores: What is the inner child? Being “too much” What is the point of inner child work? Where did you first learn your body was “wrong”? Stef’s adolescent period of restrictions Stef’s three moments of “splitting” at ages 8, 10, and 13 Sarah’s padded bra Overriding origina...
2023-09-2046 minLife After Diets112. Food & Body Image at Yoga Teacher Training (Sarah's story)This episode was recorded after Sarah’s return home from yoga teacher training in India. Sarah explores some of the human ups and downs (including body image and food difficulties) she experienced while away during training. Transitioning to the retreat and the impact of culture shock Indian eye flu, anyone? Toxic positivity “Everyone else can do it, I should be able to, too” The discomfort of being misunderstood The book that Sarah turned to in moments of extreme discomfort Being one of the largest (and oldest) bodies in the room Not having enough access to food The bis...
2023-09-0649 minLife After Diets110. But I Can't Eat Without A ScreenIn a world of technology, how many of us find it easy to sit down to eat without the distraction of a screen? Is there a difference between eating in front of a TV versus eating in front of a laptop or cell phone? And more importantly, how is this impacting us? How do we work on Intuitive Eating if we feel like we need this type of distraction, or can't break the habit? We'll also talk about: Sarah’s experience of separating screens from bingeing Stef’s transition from dinner in front of the TV to family meal...
2023-08-2339 minLife After Diets109. But I Hate Meal Prepping & PlanningEating is more than just eating. It's also all of the things surrounding eating -- like thinking of what to buy; actually going out and buying it; bringing it home, unpacking it, cooking it. What do we do if it's all too much? This episode also looks at: Stef’s attitude to food changing through having a family Black and white thinking/perfectionism getting in the way of food preparation Sarah’s digital nomad lifestyle and recipe boxes Exploring resistance Cooking as an act of ‘adulting’ Sarah’s quick and easy go-tos Intentionality in preparation Decision making for family mea...
2023-08-1636 minLife After Diets108. But IT'S NOT FAIR that recovery is so hard.When we stop trying to control food and body size, it can feel unfair. It's not fair that some people are smaller and others aren't. It's not fair that some people can "eat normally" and others can't. In this episode, Stef & Sarah talk extensively about their feelings of resistance around various topics related to their bodies, plus... My body isn’t small – it’s not fair! My body can’t work like it used to – it’s not fair! Would you rather be at the top-of-the-bottom or the bottom-of-the-top? Sarah’s relationship with her body pain and yoga Stef’s relatio...
2023-08-0935 minLife After Diets107. But Should I Journal?Are you a journal-er? Do you want to be a journal-er? In this episode, we explore the benefits and drawbacks of journaling from the perspectives of Sarah (a journaler) and Stef (an ex-journaler). As you might expect, this is not a black and white issue; what feels helpful for some might not be as helpful for others. We'll look at: Stef’s journaling experiment Can journaling make us more anxious? And if so, what else can we do? Rambling, stream-of-consciousness journaling versus intention journaling What if someone finds my journal?? Sarah pulls out one of her journal entries fr...
2023-08-0250 minLife After Diets106. But How Do I Deal With JealousyHave you ever felt jealous of someone else's body? (Or anything else, really?) Comparison is normal, but if jealousy's got you down, this episode will teach you how to banish it, forever, from your life. Just kidding. But we WILL discuss: The difference between envy and jealousy What does jealousy feel like in the body? A technique for jealousy Sarah wants Stef’s house but Stef wants Sarah’s freedom If we had the thing we were jealous of, it might play a supporting role, but would it really change things at the core? Are we more prone to j...
2023-07-2740 minLife After Diets100. Our 100th Episode! What We've Learned...It's our 100th episode! We sat down at a recording studio in NYC to celebrate 100 episodes and counting. This episode recaps the lessons we've learned doing this podcast, especially from one another, and how that has shaped our professional and personal perspectives over the past couple of years. The value of a regulated voice "Regul-eating" Control as a mechanism of safety The dynamic of differing opinions The concept of Self-abandonment (as opposed to numbing) Sarah’s concept of “states” as opposed to “being recovered.” Revisiting boundaries and rules Vulnerability and self disclosure on the podcast Stef’s episode with her Mom...
2023-06-1435 minLife After Diets99. But My Inner Rebel Sabotages MeNo conversation about dieting and restricting is complete without talking about the inner rebel! Is binge eating rebellious? Is restriction rebellious? How is our inner rebel at work when it comes to our relationship with food? Stef grew up as a people pleaser, but deconstructed that when her binge eating became out of control. Sarah's most important factor in keeping peace with food: feeling like she has choice. We think of the "rebel" as a bad, naughty thing; but the rebel acts in the name our our very human need for autonomy. Our baseline understanding of our own au...
2023-06-0742 minLife After Diets98. But How Would I Cope Without my Disordered Eating?Most of us develop disordered relationships with food because that food serves a purpose; it becomes a coping tool. So when we no longer have it as a way of comforting ourselves, what happens? How do we deal with that vulnerability and the huge gap it leaves in our emotional support system? What does the disordered eating help solve? Stef finds restriction the bigger gap; for Sarah, it’s the binges. How do we make our own cocoons if it’s not with food? Stef’s somatic practice for overwhelm Depression energy coming up without the ED How yoga h...
2023-05-3149 minLife After Diets94. But What Does Recovery from an Eating Disorder Really Look Like?In this episode, Sarah and Stef go behind the scenes of their lived experience of being in recovery from eating disorders and body image issues. What does "recovery" really look like for the hosts? Expectations of a "recovered life" Sarah’s experience with the cupcake shop that doesn’t actually sell cupcakes, and sitting in bed with fast food Stef: to eat or not to eat the rest of the Cadbury eggs? Stef’s “Marble in the middle” concept What is Body image recovery? Sarah’s “two states” concept The role of time and familiarity with how recovery feels Do Sarah a...
2023-05-0341 minLife After Diets92. Life Transitions/Sarah in NYCSarah packed her bags to head to NYC -- and this episode was recorded just a few days after she arrived. The conversation focuses on the disorientation and overwhelm we can feel during times of transition, captured in real time. How did Sarah interact with food and body image as she left her home and ventured into a new chapter? Sarah’s just arrived in NYC for seven weeks! Rerouting the original plan for this weeks’ topic because Sarah is in the middle of an identity/existential crisis and we want to talk about it! Food choices during the t...
2023-04-1932 minLife After Diets88. But I Keep Failing at Recovery The definition of failure Stef’s motherhood “failures” When we feel like our appetite is a failure I have the tools but I don’t use the tools The failure of not showing up to an event because of your body image How do you want to show up for yourself with you fail? The importance of recognizing our “parts” Sarah’s story of customer service Sarah & Stef discuss their future personal dynamics for all to hear Join the LAD Membership Connect...
2023-03-2238 minLife After Diets86. But I Know What I Should Be Doing -- So Why Don't I Do It?The voice of the "should" -- the things we know we should be doing but can't seem to do. Maybe we consume so much self-help information and don't feel like we can apply any of it. Why does this happen? What can we do about it? Shift of language: “I’d like to” or “I can” instead of “I should” or “I need to” Stef’s experience of the should voice in yoga Permission to do things inconsistently Do we feel better about doing things that are non-negotiable? How do we deal with the disappointment in ourselves? The somatics of “shoulds”...
2023-03-1142 minLife After Diets84. Transition Eating and Autopilot EatingHave you noticed difficulty or discomfort in the small transitions of life, like coming home from work or preparing to wind-down for the night? Why are transitions a time we turn to food for help? In this episode, we talk about: What is transition eating Sarah’s afternoon walk Stef’s nighttime transition and home/work transition When the kids go to bed Transitioning back to work after lunch Eating while traveling Eating after a nap Eating on autopilot after bingeing Autopilot can be a form of dissociation Tools: naming, slowing down, speeding up, rituals Join the LAD...
2023-02-2242 minLife After Diets82. But How Do I Dress This Body? Feat. Dacy of Mindful ClosetHas your body changed in recovery, or as a result of your disordered eating patterns? This can be hard enough in our fatphobic society, but there is often an added layer of “clothing grief.” Fashion can be part of a creative expression that feels like part of our identity; and its not secret that fashion culture caters to smaller bodies. In this episode, we talk to Dacy of Mindful Closet. Dacy empowers women “to be their authentic selves through their clothes” even when body image feels like a barrier to that expression. We discuss: Clothing as a gatewa...
2023-02-0842 min
Life After Diets81. A Conversation About Brain Over BingeMany people who've struggled with binge eating for a long time have come across the book "Brain Over Binge" by Kathryn Hansen. Sarah and Stef, co-hosts, both read the book as they tried to recover and are discussing how the method landed for them. The episode looks into: Stef’s history and experience with reading BOB and taking the official BOB course Sarah’s experience of “looking forward to” the next binge urge to learn a new response. Dismissal of urges as irresponsible – what if those messages from the primal brain are valid, asks Stef Weight and eating as patholo...
2023-02-0139 min
Life After Diets80. But I Eat to NumbRestricting and bingeing (and the spectrum of these behaviors) can be attempts to numb our emotional experience. This episode looks at different ways of numbing and how Sarah & Stef experienced using food as an escape. We cover: Numbing via eating and numbing via restriction Do binges make us “not feel” or feel more? Stef’s recollection of numbing in London circa 2000 The feeling that tomorrow it will be different. Connection to break the numbing cycle Somatic practices, embodiment, checking in with the body Difficulty with empty time, in the gaps of life Numbing doesn’t exist in a vacuum...
2023-01-2542 minLife After Diets79. But I Just Want Some ControlControl is an unavoidable theme in the subject of eating disorder recovery. What is your relationship to control and how do you define it? The hosts explore their own experience of the concept and also highlight its important (and at times, healthy) role in navigating recovery. Sarah & Stef discuss: Light podcast banter. What podcasts do we listen to? The thrill of control/restriction Stef feels like control is safety; Sarah feels like control is dominance. The role of control in bulimia and/or restriction The illusion of control; if we see that it’s an illusion, does it br...
2023-01-1848 minLife After Diets78. Grief, Break-Ups, & FoodWhat role does food play in grief (around death, breakups, or existential itchiness)? In this episode Sarah & Stef share some personal stories, including a little cry! Sarah’s loss of her Mum Stef’s losses of relationships The idea of a “revenge body” Weight gain as a “sign” of a breakup? Stef’s loss of a primary friendship in college, and what happened after Nostalgia (grief) for places and eras of life Searching for food that will take that feeling away Existential grief, even as experienced by 11 year olds The role of acceptance Sarah literally working through a grief moment in...
2023-01-1140 minLife After Diets77. But Do Binge Urges Ever Completely Disappear?In this episode, Sarah and Stef talk about their relationship with food from a recovered perspective. Do we ever feel binge urges? Does a disordered tendency ever really disappear? Stef’s experience of over-hunger and how it impacts her urge to eat Sarah’s experience of brunch last Sunday Cake as a habit and compulsion (minus guilt) – Sarah’s story Food neutrality does not mean some foods aren’t more appealing What about dopamine? What about emotional urges to eat? And cravings? Do urges to restrict ever go away? Binge eating as something we always have to manage, and the di...
2023-01-0446 minLife After Diets74. But Will I Ever Recover From Disordered Eating?In this episode we answer the following question from a listener: is it possible to hit a wall in recovery and not be able to go any further? How do you know if you’re in true recovery? What if our behaviors change but the disordered thoughts remain? We discuss: Is full recovery even possible? Recovery on a spectrum Are Stef & Sarah fully recovered? The role of patience What comes first: self acceptance or recovery? What if we get stuck in semi-recovery Are we recovered if we emotionally eat? Join the LAD Membership Connect with th...
2022-12-1437 minLife After Diets73. But Is The Way You Eat the Way You Do Everything?Have you ever heard the phrase: the way we eat is the way we do everything? Do you agree? What parallels to you notice between the way you feel around food and the way you feel about other things? In this episode we talk about: Food as distraction Pace and slowing down (eating fast --> doing everything fast) What else did/does Sarah “binge” on? Ending the eating experience as another version of loss, ending Bingeing information, attention, sex, TV Food playing out through self-care, planning, avoidance, trust, boundaries If it is, it’s hopeful! We can tackle it in...
2022-12-0730 minLife After Diets72. But How Do I Manage Food and Festivities?It’s that time of year again! More food, more parties, more alcohol, more people to see. In this episode we talk about the many topics that come up during a season that can be tricky in a life without dieting. How the holidays “ruined” Sarah’s Paleo streak Alcohol, work parties, and eating How Sarah developed her inner alcohol threshold voice Drinking as an excuse to eat Dealing with getting dressed up after weight gain Seeing photos of party pics Eating with and/or in front of others Takeaways and tips for this time of year Join the...
2022-11-3036 minLife After Diets70. But Why do I Self-Sabotage Around Food?**LONDON LIVE EVENT** Click here for more info and to purchase tickets Do you feel like you have good intentions for yourself but somehow end up "ruining it"? In this episode we look at why we self-sabotage, including how we might thwart our efforts at weight loss and also how the term itself might be misleading. We'll discuss: Why Stef isn’t a fan of the term Self-sabotage as an identity or confirmation of beliefs Sarah’s dating story Stef’s wardrobe sabotage The inner child component: are we acting out? Are we afraid of our own...
2022-11-1637 minLife After Diets68. But Depression and Anxiety Mess Up My EatingDepression and anxiety are common partners with binge eating, overeating, restricting, and other forms of disordered eating. What do we make of this intersection? How can we have more influence over our relationship with food if we are also dealing with these conditions? In this episode, we discuss: Definitions of depression and anxiety (and spectrums of each) Stef & Sarah’s experiences of how depression feels Nervous system theory of depression: the freeze state Shame as part of the freeze/depression state The impact of depression and anxiety on the eating cycle Sarah asks Stef if she’d prefer her...
2022-11-0942 minLife After Diets67. But I'm Scared to Feel FullPart Two in a two-part series about hunger and fullness: what about the fear of fullness? Last week we discussed why feeling hungry can be triggering for some people, and this week we are looking at how fullness can activate belief systems and automatic behaviors. We explore: Sarah’s experience of fullness with spaghetti bolognese Fullness and guilt Fullness and feeling like we “should” stop Fullness and being in the body What if I eat and never feel full? Delayed fullness cues and extreme hunger Discomfort tolerating even slight fullness What was fullness associated with growing up? What if I s...
2022-10-2637 minLife After Diets66. But I'm Scared to be HungryWhat is your relationship with hunger? Do you ever eat to prevent the feeling of hunger? What do you think this is about? In this episode, we talk about: Stef’s internal hunger “alarm bell” The difference between hunger and deprivation What if we have hunger AND anxiety? Eating prophylactically to avoid hunger What does hunger actually FEEL like for you How somatic awareness helps us feel safer with hunger (or safer to experiment with it) Sarah’s phobia of wasps (and what this has to do with fear of hunger) Beliefs about hunger Join the LAD Membersh...
2022-10-1935 minLife After Diets65. But Is It OK To Weigh Myself?To weigh or not to weigh? This question can interrupt many an intuitive eater's journey, so we dedicated a whole episode to the topic. We cover questions like: Do Stef & Sarah know their weights? Can weight just be data? What stories do we attach to numbers What about getting weighed at the doctors office? How to decline being weighed at the doctor Why do we need to know our weight? Hard evidence over self-trust Does weight tell you how to feel? https://more-love.org/free-dont-weigh-me-cards/ Join the LAD Membership Connect with the show!
2022-10-1234 minLife After Diets64. 5 Things We Learned in Recovery From Disordered EatingSarah and Stef share the lessons they learned through their recovery from disordered eating. 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
2022-10-0530 minLife After Diets58. But I Hate Wasting FoodIf we overeat or find it hard to stop eating because we don't want to waste food, how can we navigate this conflict? This episode talks about: Sarah’s experimental task to throw away one bite of food What about throwing away food so you don’t eat it? What about leftovers? Kids’ lunchboxes Being a “good girl” or “good boy” by finishing what’s on your plate Grieving the end of a meal Top 5 most wasted food items Eating to overfullness in an effort not to “waste” Different types of overeating Throwing food away as a choice Rate and review!
2022-08-2435 minLife After Diets56. But What About Food Logging and Meal Planning?Food logs and meal planning are hallmarks of weight loss efforts and diet culture. Is there any place for them in a non-diet approach? In this episode, we talk about: Do we like food diaries? Food structure reduces decision making Is intuitive eating about meal variety? But I don’t like meal planning because I don’t know what I’ll want to eat Sarah’s lunches this week What’s the difference between not being satisfied and not being full? Did Stef get too hungry when Sarah visited NYC? Meal times and boundaries Join the LAD Membership...
2022-08-1037 minLife After DietsBut I Can't Eat in ModerationWhy is eating in moderation so hard? In this episode, Sarah & Stef discuss: What does moderation mean? Is the 2000 calorie RDA based on moderation? Satisfaction and extreme hunger Why are some people able to eat in moderation more easily? Is moderation a challenge for impulsive people? How other parts of our lives can influence the reward aspect of food and impact the ability to eat in moderation. Does it make sense to leave certain foods out of the house? Join the LAD Membership Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/...
2022-07-2045 minLife After Diets52. But I'm a Fussy Eater and I Don't Like "Healthy" FoodIntuitive Eating advocates may have us believe that we will naturally start to crave nutritious food after allowing ourselves to eat what we want, but is this true? What does it look like if you're someone who feels more selective around food or doesn't really like vegetables? In this episode, we talk about... The foods that Sarah and Stef don’t like Do you say cilantro or coriander? What do you do if you don’t like vegetables? Are there foods we don’t like or foods we believe we don’t like? And vice versa Do processed foods be...
2022-07-1335 minLife After Diets50. But How Do I Become More Intuitive With Food?If intuitive eating is the gold standard of a healthy relationship with food, how do we actually become more intuitive? In this episode, Sarah & Stef talk about: The definition of Intuition (UK vs US) What role does conscious reasoning play in intuition? The role of intuition in Sarah & Stef’s lunches this week How long does it take to become more intuitive? Things that get in the way of our intuition How community might help us access intuition Is there a difference between intuition and instinct? JOIN OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP Connect with the show! ...
2022-06-2935 minLife After Diets48. But I Can't Stop Disconnecting From MyselfDieting can promote disconnection from self. Sometimes we use food to further disconnect from our experience or our shame. As we heal our relationship with food, body, and self, how do we address the tendency to disconnect? What is the difference between disconnection and self-abandonment? Sarah’s airport story of accepting the moment How to stay connected to the Self during a body image flood Stefanie’s “flood” concept The slippery slope of emotional eating Commitment to self vs discipline of self We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with the show!
2022-06-1549 minLife After Diets45. But What About Bulimia Recovery?We talk a lot about binge eating in this podcast, but this episode is dedicated to our experiences with bulimia – how it looked, how it felt, and how it was different from binge eating disorder. We’ll discuss: What is bulimia? Purging as an aggressive emotional expression Purging as a perceived boundary against binge eating Bulimic behavior feeling like defiance for Stef versus collapse for Sarah The addictive nature of purging How recovery looked for Sarah v Stef We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with the show! Instagram – https...
2022-05-2530 minLife After Diets44. But My Inner Critic is so LoudIn this episode, Sarah and Stef discuss the role of the inner critic, and how each host dealt with the evolution of the critic during recovery from binge eating. We'll cover: Sarah’s embarrassment of her self critic versus Stef’s comfort with her own Binges as a criticism of being “out of control” Identifying as a Critic or not Does your critic speak in first person or in third? Our various “best selves” ebb and flow Do we need support to leave our critic? Practical tools for dealing with our inner critic We are now on Patreon! Sup...
2022-05-1840 minLife After Diets42. But How Can Humility Help My Eating?What does humility have to do with binge eating recovery? In this episode, we discuss: Is it wrong to be self-focused? Stef’s “fall from grace” during college and how humility diminishes the ego The power of letting go of how things “should be” The relationship between our humility and our insecurities Leaning into our insecurities to see that they don’t destroy us Sarah’s memory of a Clubhouse event with Stef The role of humility with an inferiority complex We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with the show! Instagra...
2022-05-0438 minLife After Diets41. But Being Tired Makes Me EatThere is a relationship between fatigue, tiredness, and food. In this episode, we discuss: The evolution of Sarah & Stef’s fatigue over the years "Fatigue" versus "being tired" Sarah naps! Rest: Splitting attention versus single-focus restoration Connection and purpose to mitigate fatigue Routines, intentions, and structure as coping tools We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/ Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com Connect with Sarah Dosanjh Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEa...
2022-04-2741 minLife After Diets40. A Look Inside Our Eating Disorder Journals!In this episode, Sarah and Stef pull out old journals to read excerpts from their deepest binge eating days. In this vulnerable episode, we share: Stef’s entries from college: feeling like the cycle never stop repeating, and themes of loneliness and disconnection Sarah’s “Fasting Journal” The difference between Sarah’s despair and Stef’s inner critic Sarah’s experience in OA and ups and downs from one day to the next What we see in the entries now versus what we saw then We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with t...
2022-04-2040 minLife After Diets39. A Conversation About The F*ck It DietIn this episode, Sarah and Stef review Caroline Dooner’s book: The F*ck It Diet. We’ll talk about: The book that changed Stef’s life The power of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment Caroline’s Five Tools The parts of the book most helpful to Stef versus Sarah Orthorexia and “in defense of sugar and carbs” Does food become a “non-issue” after we heal from binge eating? Is all binge eating rooted in restriction? We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdiets...
2022-04-1336 minLife After Diets38. But How Do I Improve My Body Image? Improving body image is one of the most popular topics in this field. In this episode, we talk about our own stories of making more peace with our bodies and offer concrete tools we use with clients and ourselves. We discuss: Stef’s initial body image recovery journey in a group Sarah’s sense of “splitting” from her identity Stef’s story of being called “fat” on the ice rink Do body gratitude journals work? Word scanning as a body image tool Writing a letter from your body to yourself People pleasing and authenticity Little tips and favorite bo...
2022-04-0637 minLife After Diets36. But How Do I Talk To Loved Ones About My Disordered Eating?Talking to loved ones about recovery from disordered eating (or the choice to give up dieting) is complicated. We created this episode to share with friends and family who want to support your journey but aren’t quite sure what to say. We’ll discuss: Sarah & Stef’s experience of talking to friends about binge eating When your disorder is not taken seriously The difference between support and “getting it” What do we need from loved ones to support us? When supporters are “concerned for your health” Defensive conversations with family members When people assume recovered means thin, or that this i...
2022-03-2339 minLife After Diets35. But What If Everyone Around Me Is Dieting?Deciding not to diet anymore can feel empowering…especially from the safety of social media communities or inside of a pandemic. But what happens when we go out into the world and get confronted with people who actively trying to lose weight and eat “healthy?” What comes up for us? In this episode, Sarah & Stef discuss: Dieting with others as a form of community and connection Wanting other people to “fail” at their diet Why can other people do it and I can’t? Stef’s friend who has a “dieting personality” Asking people to stop talking about dieting The “healt...
2022-03-1635 min
Life After Diets33. But How Can I Be More Consistent?Do you struggle to be more consistent in your life? Whether its with food, exercise, self-talk, or pretty much anything else in life, what is the story with consistency (or lack of it)? In this episode, Sarah & Stef talk about: What consistency looks like for Sarah & Stef Consistency depends on your context of the day How do you know when to push yourself or not? Example: journaling How consistency is related to self-trust Why might we resist being consistent? The power of the present moment We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group HERE!
2022-03-0235 minLife After Diets32. A Conversation About Geneen RothIn this episode, Sarah & Stef talk about the influential Geneen Roth, author of books like "Breaking Free from Compulsive Eating" and "Women, Food, and God." The hosts discuss how Geneen's work influenced their own recovery and ways in which they still agree and depart from her message. We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB group. Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/ Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com Connect with Sarah Dosanjh Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist Sarah’s book I Ca...
2022-02-2339 minLife After Diets31. But Can I Eat "Healthy" Without Dieting?The Intuitive Eating approach sometimes gets portrayed as a “junk food free for all.” So does eating nutritious food only happen in the context of a diet, or are there ways to incorporate nutrition intentionally without dieting? In this episode, we explore: What is your definition of “healthy eating”? The role of flexibility in a non-diet world What if you don’t automatically crave nutritious food when you give yourself permission to eat all foods? Adding in versus taking out “Do It For Future You” – is this a diet/fitness culture philosophy? Sarah doesn’t enjoy meal planning and prep! The Mill...
2022-02-1639 minLife After Diets30. But I'm A Secret Eater!Have you ever heard people talk about their experiences of eating in secret? How does secret eating make us feel? In this episode, Sarah and Stef talk about: Shame as it relates to secret eating Binge eating with roommates Eating privately as a way to focus on pleasure and “me time” Feeling more “in control” when eating in front of others The connection between eating alone and loneliness or disconnection The lows of feeling like we need to hide all the time Is the “secret self” the true self? We are now on Patreon! Join the private FB g...
2022-02-0937 min
Life After Diets26. But I Don't Want To See People After Weight GainHave you ever thought: “I’ve gained weight and now I don’t want anyone to see me?” In this episode, Sarah & Stef talk about: Stef & Sarah’s family reactions to weight changes How it feels to see ex-partners The opinion of the collective versus the personal How our brains recalibrate weight changes Do you like someone less when their weight changes? The power of appearance based hierarchy systems Seeing people at your own pace Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/ Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com Connect with Sa...
2022-01-1235 min
Life After Diets24. But I Hate Photos of MyselfHave you ever looked at a photograph of yourself and moved into a bad body image spiral? What is it about photos that feels so triggering? In this episode, we discuss: Why Sarah changed the topic of this episode at the last minute The difference between intellectual body image and emotional body image How a photo feels in the moment vs how it feels a few days later Stef’s photo shoot experience Anticipating an emotional reaction to photographs Should you avoid looking at photographs if it feels triggering? Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www...
2021-12-2944 minLife After Diets*Bonus* Guided Meditation to Reset After OvereatingGUIDED MEDITATION TO RESET AFTER OVEREATING, BINGE EATING AND/OR EMOTIONAL EATING – Sarah shares her guided meditation to help you find balance after an episode of out-of-control eating. Compulsive eating is a cycle and sometimes the place to break in the cycle is how we treat ourselves AFTER we have binged by shifting our emotional state and setting an intention that will help to restore balance. Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com Connect with Stefanie Michele binge eating health coach Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com
2021-12-2414 min
Life After Diets22. But I've Been Struggling With My Eating For Years!This week, Sarah & Stef answer a listener question: is there hope for healing even after having an eating disorder for decades? We discuss: The role of social media in recovery Is recovery a real thing, anyway? The emerging role of somatic experiencing The difference between younger clients and older clients in therapy and coaching Readiness that comes with age References: Somatic Experiencing The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lif...
2021-12-1536 min
Life After Diets21. But Who Am I Without Dieting?Has dieting been center-stage for so long that you don’t know who you would be without it? In this conversation, we discuss: Dieting, body image, and the pursuit of recovery as an identity The Diet Personality vs the Restricting Personality How our identities can feel black and white in a dieting mentality Why is dieting “bad” if it helps us create a sense of purpose? How dieting behaviors show up in other parts of our lives How Sarah & Stef’s self-perceptions have shifted post-recovery The role of capability in identity formation Connect with the show! Instag...
2021-12-0849 min
Life After Diets20. But How Can I Lose Weight Without Dieting?So many people are on board with the idea of not dieting anymore, but does that mean giving up on weight loss entirely? In this episode, we dive into: Can you diet and heal from dieting at the same time? Can you heal your relationship with food and return to the pursuit of weight loss? Does “taking better care of yourself” mean you’ll lose weight? Why can some people diet “successfully” then? Sarah & Stef’s experience with weight fluctuations in recovery What are we seeking through not dieting? Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram...
2021-12-0147 min
Life After Diets19. But How Do I Handle Friends and Family? But How Do I Handle My Relatives? As we head into the holiday season, discussions about family dynamics and boundary setting with loved ones is a relevant conversation post-dieting. Do you find it difficult to stay grounded in the presence of family members? Is it harder to stay in a protected headspace? Join the conversation where we talk about: The roles we play with our family members The difference between being “close” and not having boundaries Stef’s experience of enmeshed family dynamics vs Sarah’s experience of reserved communication dynamics When family intervention feels welcome vs unwelcome Recovery...
2021-11-2448 min
Life After Diets17. But What About Messages from My Childhood?Are you still influenced by the diet culture messages you received in childhood? Does your family conditioning still impact your beliefs and behaviors about food and eating? In this episode, Sarah and Stef take a look at: Jane Fonda, Nair commercials, and Disney princesses Beliefs about the “ideal feminine” and gender hierarchies, especially in previous generations Sarah’s memory of mangoes and Stef’s memory of ravioli Sundays When one parent has a troubled relationship with food Happy memories of sweets in childhood do not have to be pathological Mes...
2021-11-1039 min
Life After Diets16. But I Can't Stop Thinking About FoodDo you feel obsessed with thoughts of food? In this episode, Stef & Sarah talk about the reasons this may be happening for you -- none of which include being selfish, addicted, or gluttonous! We cover: The role of restriction in food obsession (including the role of ghrelin, the hunger hormone) Food obsession driven by feelings of food guilt, including guilt about not eating “clean” enough Is it food obsession or anxiety? Thinking about food as a way of escaping your thoughts or reality The role of emotional suppression to thin...
2021-11-0339 min
Life After Diets15. But Food is My RewardIn this episode, Sarah and Stef discuss the role of rules, comfort, joy, creativity, and boundaries in relation to food-as-reward. We’ll take a look at: Food as a pressure-release system at the end of a long day How diet culture has manipulated happy, comfort foods as something we have to earn Sarah & Stef’s memories of food as rewards or treats Stef’s concept of “joy reservoirs” The interplay of body image and reward What does creativity have to do with this concept? Saying No more of...
2021-10-2740 min
Life After Diets14. But Why Am I Still Eating?In this episode, Sarah and Stef make sense of the impulse to eat when your rational brain doesn’t want to be eating. Do you ever feel conflicted about eating? Do you feel like you self-sabotage? We’ll take a look at: Why the conscious brain and the subconscious mind have different agendas Eating just to “get it over with” Eating from rebellion or to access pleasure Can you talk yourself out of a binge? Is non-consenting eating just a habit? Connect with the show! Ins...
2021-10-2039 min
Life After Diets13. But I Can't Cope With My Emotions But I Can’t Cope With My Emotions In this episode, Sarah and Stef talk about the role of emotions in binge eating versus emotional eating recovery. Do you feel like you’ve tried “sitting with” your feelings but it doesn’t make a difference? Or that you don’t know what to do with your emotions at all? We’ll take a look at: Why addressing emotions doesn’t always “work” to stop binge eating The issues of existential loneliness How food distracts us from our emotions What boundaries have to do with emotional eating Shame around specific emotions
2021-10-1336 min
Life After Diets12. But I Can't Cope With My Weight Gain But I Can’t Cope with My Weight Gain In this episode, Sarah and Stef talk about how difficult it is to deal with weight gain that we experience from binge eating or overeating, as well as the weight we may gain after giving up diets.. Do you feel like you want to give up diets but feel torn about the possibility of gaining weight? Or do you feel distress about the weight you’ve gained during overeating or binge eating periods? We take a look at: Feeling a sense of panic that weight gain will never end
2021-10-0646 minLife After Diets11. But I Can't Separate Exercise From Weight LossIn this episode, Sarah and Stef talk about exercise, movement and impact on weight, hunger and mental health. Do you struggle to approach exercise in a non-diet way? If you’re not losing weight do you find it difficult to motivate yourself to get moving? We take a look at: Our relationship to exercise Having a routine vs flexibility When to move and when to rest Examining self-talk about exercise Exercise vs “movement’ Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/ Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com Connect with Sarah Dosan...
2021-09-2940 min
Life After Diets10. But I Eat When I'm BoredDo you find yourself eating when you’re bored? In this episode, Sarah & Stef interrogate the feeling of boredom and how it relates to eating urges. We cover things like: What is boredom, really? Why Sarah dislikes terms like "tolerate" and "sit with" when it comes to emotions. What do you DO to cope with an emotion like boredom? Boredom, eating, and watching TV If you eat when you're bored, can you still feel the emotions? Structure as support Do we have to fix it? Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/l...
2021-09-2230 minLife After Diets9. But What If I Need to Diet For My Health? But What If I Need to Diet For My Health? In this episode, Sarah and Stef discuss the idea of dieting for health reasons. Do you believe weight loss will improve your health? Are there foods you need to avoid and feel guilty for still having them? We take a look at: How linked are weight loss and health? Food intolerances and bingeing Dealing with guilt about the impact of our eating on our health Stef’s experience with IGG tests Self-sabotage and rebellion Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifea...
2021-09-1543 min
Life After Diets8. But Don't I Need Boundaries with Food?In this episode, Sarah and Stef talk about the difference between food rules and food boundaries. Have you ever felt like you don’t want food rules, but you feel lost without some kind of structure? We talk about: The definition of rules vs the definitions of boundaries Why rules feel good at first Stages of setting boundaries When are you ready to set a boundary? Sarah’s morning video technique Stef’s “go-to” list technique Why can some people follow rules and I can’t?
2021-09-0839 minLife After Diets6. But I'm Confused About My HungerIn this episode, Sarah & Stef discuss the different ways hunger can show up and different ways of responding to it. Does it matter if hunger is physical, mental, hormonal, or emotional? How should we handle each kind of hunger? We discuss things like: Should we listen to hunger signals when we're not physically hungry? Why Sarah gets triggered to eat when she's cold Symptoms of hunger Why our brains won't stop thinking about food Why you can last so long without feeling hungry and then feel it all at once Why making "mistakes" are good experiments The difference b...
2021-08-2536 min