Dear Peloton, I write to you as a member, a psychologist specializing in eating disorders and body image concerns, and long-time fitness professional. In fact, I’ve been certified as a personal trainer for 25 years, am certified as a lifetime spinning instructor, and have taught hundreds, if not thousands, of group exercise classes. And whileContinue reading Dear Peloton, Where Are Your Fat Instructors?
Intuitive Exercise – Healing Your Relationship with Movement
So many people struggle to have a healthy relationship with exercise. For some, it’s difficult to move in a way that feels easy, joyful, and sustainable. For others, the concern is that physical activity because repetitive and compulsive. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Exercise can be an affirming, joyful part of yourContinue reading Intuitive Exercise – Healing Your Relationship with Movement
How To Make Fat Bodies Unhealthy
A Recipe For Poor Health People in higher-weight bodies are not inherently unhealthy. Any research that shows a correlation between weight and poor health is just that, correlational. Is it that higher weights result in poorer health outcomes? Or is it that those in bigger bodies face weight stigma – pathologizing, oppression, and inadequate medicalContinue reading How To Make Fat Bodies Unhealthy
The Truth About Weight Loss
You’ve heard it so many times: “Calories in, calories out.” It’s simple, right? Well, not really. It turns out, our approximately 30-trillion-cell selves are much more complicated than a reductive equation. And our body size, as much as we’re led to believe otherwise, is largely impacted by factors beyond our control. Twin and adoption studies,Continue reading The Truth About Weight Loss
Body Acceptance Practices – Stop Hating Your Body Today
Struggling with body acceptance – It’s Not Your Fault But It Is Your Problem Most of us are socialized to be critical of our bodies. Whether it’s our families, communities, or our culture at large, we are bombarded by messaging regarding what constitutes an acceptable body. Children as young as preschoolers learn that certain bodiesContinue reading Body Acceptance Practices – Stop Hating Your Body Today
3 Things to Do Following a Binge
Let’s face it – most people aren’t feeling so great after a binge. Whether it’s physical discomfort or the mental and emotional experience of guilt, frustration, or self-attack, the moments (or hours) following a binge can be rather unpleasant. But there are some things you can do to reduce your distress, as well as theContinue reading 3 Things to Do Following a Binge
What’s the Health at Every Size® Approach and Why Should You Care?
The Health at Every Size® Approach Defined If the phrase Health at Every Size® has been popping up lately on your feed and you’re wondering what it’s all about, here’s a brief guide to the approach and how it can help you and those around you. According to the Association for Size Diversity and HealthContinue reading What’s the Health at Every Size® Approach and Why Should You Care?
Home for the Holidays: Coping with Triggers
Going home for the holidays For some, the holidays evoke family, connection, and cheer. But, this time of year can be tough for many folks, particularly those in recovery from an eating disorder, substance use disorder, trauma, depression, or other mental health concern. Visiting people or places that bring up uncomfortable memories – or causeContinue reading Home for the Holidays: Coping with Triggers
5 Reasons to Leave the Gym
As a certified personal trainer since 1996 (and fitness instructor on and off since then), I’ve put a lot of energy into motivating folks to move their bodies in the name of health and wellness. Exercise comes with a host of physical and mental health benefits, and engaging in even a single episode of physicalContinue reading 5 Reasons to Leave the Gym
Why I Don’t Make My Kids Eat Vegetables
Are you sure you don’t want some cauliflower? A Bite of broccoli? A carrot drowned in ranch? Anything? Please? If you ask my kids if they eat vegetables, they’ll probably say no. Actually, it’s possible that one kid will tell you about the time he tried a cucumber in Ms. Vivian’s class (1.5 years ago).Continue reading Why I Don’t Make My Kids Eat Vegetables