Podcast

#2: Defining and Dismantling Diet Culture

Welcome back to "Make Peace with Food," I'm your host Emily LaVoie, a certified eating psychology coach committed to breaking down the oppressive norms of diet culture and fostering a space where food is a source of joy, not guilt. Today, in episode 2, we're diving deep into the murky waters of diet culture to understand its complexity and harm it causes to our mental and physical health.

Diet culture is like water to a fish; it's all around us, shaping our thoughts and behaviors in ways we might not even realize. It worships thinness, equating it unfairly with health, and promotes weight loss as the golden ticket to higher social status. But the reality is, not only are these notions unfounded, they are also damaging and exclusive, affecting women, femmes, trans individuals, people in larger bodies, people of color, and people with disabilities most of all.

We'll unpack the four pillars of diet culture as defined by Christy Harrison—worshipping thinness, equating thinness to health, promoting weight loss for improve status, demonizing and prioritizing certain foods and eating styles—and talk about the tangible consequences these ideas have. From the way we view our bodies to the foods we label as 'good' or 'bad,' we must call out diet culture in order to never be victimized again.

Join me as we explore the emotional rollercoaster and social pressures that stem from this obsession with body size and weight, the pitfalls of intentional weight loss, and most importantly, how we can start making peace with food.

Remember, you're not alone in this journey. After the episode, head over to my website for a free 30-minute Zoom consultation where we can talk more about your personal relationship with food. And if you love what you're hearing, show your support by following or subscribing, leaving a rating and review, and consider becoming a paid supporter on Patreon to help keep our conversation going.

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#1: Our Cultural Obsession with Worshipping Thinness: Thinner Does Not Equal Happier

Welcome to the Make Peace with Food podcast, where we believe that food is not the enemy and that eating should be bring joy, not stressful. In this episode, host, Emily LaVoie, delves into some of the more common root causes of our struggles with food and negative body image. She challenges our culture's obsession with thinness, highlighting the harmful impact it has on our physical and mental well-being. With insights into the damaging lies perpetuated by diet culture, Emily offers a fresh perspective on health and happiness. Join us as we uncover the truth about weight, health, and the pursuit of happiness through this enlightening and thought-provoking discussion.

Resources Mentioned: 

My website:  https://emily-lavoie.com

Schedule a free 30-min Zoom consultation here: https://schedulewithemilylavoie.as.me

Support the show on Patreon:  patreon.com/MakePeaceWithFood

Support the Show.

#0: Let’s. Burn. Diet. Culture. To. The. Ground: Make Peace with Food Podcast

Welcome to Make Peace with Food, where we believe that food is not the enemy and that eating should bring joy, not stress and guilt. I'm your host, Emily LaVoie, and in our introduction episode, I share pieces of my journey from growing up in the era of supermodels and fat-free diets to becoming an eating psychology coach. I discuss my experiences as a competitive gymnast, collegiate athlete, and fitness industry professional, how those things contributed to disordered eating & poor body image, but ultimately led me to realize the importance of transforming our relationship with food. I explain what eating psychology coaching is and what it isn't, emphasizing the focus on mental health and the relationship with food, rather than weight loss. Join me as we dive into topics such as Health At Every Size®, Intuitive Eating, and body acceptance. I can't wait to embark on this transformative journey with you.

Resources Mentioned: 

My website:  https://emily-lavoie.com

Schedule a free 30-min Zoom consultation here: https://schedulewithemilylavoie.as.me

Support the show on Patreon:  patreon.com/MakePeaceWithFood

Support the Show.

Food Freedom Begins Here: Make Peace with Food

In this teaser for "Make Peace with Food", host Emily LaVoie empathizes with the struggles many people have with food, body image, and emotional eating. She offers hope and a promise of food freedom, encouraging listeners to make a healthy relationship with food and stop hating their reflection. As a certified eating psychology coach, Emily invites listeners to join her on a journey towards a happier, healthier relationship with food. Stay tuned for the first episode launching on Tuesday, March 26th.

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#3: How much thought space are you giving food, your body, & exercise?

In this episode of Make Peace with Food, host Emily LaVoie invites listeners on a reflective journey to understand the mental space dedicated to thoughts about food, exercise, and body image. As an experienced eating psychology coach, Emily provides a safe haven for individuals struggling with their relationship with food and body image.

Emily deep dives into the significance of one's thought space, asking listeners to pause and analyze the percentage of their daily thoughts occupied by future meals, diet culture, and body ideals. She challenges the pervasive guilt and shame associated with eating choices and urges us to reconsider the societal pressures dictating our self-perception.

Listeners will receive real-life examples from Emily's coaching practice, as she discusses the tools, such as journaling prompts, she employs to guide her clients toward setting more realistic goals for their relationship with food and appearance. Discover why striving towards an 'ideal body image' might hinder rather than help, and why a neutral approach to appearance can lead to a healthier mind and body.

Emily gets personal, sharing a revealing moment post-engagement, where her focus unintentionally shifted to food—a common occurrence in the complex web of food relationships.

Drawing upon the concept that movement and exercise are morally neutral, Emily encourages embracing a new perspective on physical activity that isn't tethered to self-worth. Additionally, she offers complimentary Zoom consultations for deeper engagement with the ideas discussed, providing a first step for those ready to venture into a more positive thought space.

At the heart of this episode, Emily champions mental liberation from the binds of diet culture and societal standards, opening the floor for self-discovery and genuine progress.

Remember to follow, subscribe, rate, and review Make Peace with Food on your favorite podcast platforms, as your support means we can continue to share vital content and foster a community of understanding and healing. Join our mission to spread the word and assist others in making peace with food.

This episode is made possible by listeners like you at patreon.com/makepeacewithfood.

Tune into this episode for a transformative conversation that could be the catalyst for your improved relationship with food, body, and mind.

Support the Show.