The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

We're back with another episode in our Untold Stories series. That's what these client interviews feel like -- stories from "normal" folks (AKA: not celebrities, influencers, or "experts") who have been there, and who are still in the thick of it. We're all navigating the messiness of our healing, and bringing folks on this podcast who I know will make you feel seen and heard is so important to me. My client, Amy, joins the pod today. Amy's awesome, so don't miss this! We go from Weight Watchers to Paleo in this episode, and cover all the ways dieting and over-exercising wreak havoc on our health.  Topics covered include... The Food Network and disordered eating How clothing shopping triggered Amy's first diet Going to Weight Watchers as a child with her mother ROTC in college and her entry-point into obsessive exercising Diving into Paleo and Keto for "health" and "athletic performance" The mental toll of dieting Realizing dieting doesn't "work" How the pandemic was the spark she needed to divest from diet culture Rediscovering joyful movement Receiving a Diabetes diagnosis while transitioning away from dieting Navigating medical weight stigma and speaking up at the doctor's office Body neutrality versus body positivity   SUPPORT THE SHOW: Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate   TRANSCRIPTS: Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.    FOLLOW ALONG: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   MORE SUPPORT: Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apple 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

Let’s chat about SUGAR (diet culture's favorite food to fear-monger). We're revisiting a favorite episode and digging into the concept of “sugar addiction”. As the summer holidays begin, and we're surrounded by others' diet talk, the question of sugar and desserts is always one that comes up. This topic has been requested countless times, and it's no wonder why: Diet and wellness culture have both demonized sugar in a myriad of ways, leaving so many of us to feel like we “can’t control ourselves” around sweet foods, or fearful of what those foods will do to our bodies and health. If you’ve ever felt like you are "addicted" to sugar (or food in general, for that matter), tune in to this one, because we're taking a hard look at the research. Abbie talks through the most recent evidence and scientific literature reviews on sugar addiction, including: How it impacts the reward centers in our brain What it means that it lights up neural pleasure pathways How deprivation and restriction (including “intermittant access” play a fundamental role in our behaviors with sugar Cravings for sugar Psychological impact of avoiding sugar Behavioral patterns associated with restriction of sugar Neurochemical components of addiction and food   Patreon Support: Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon. Social Media / Abbie's Website: Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Abbie’s website: www.abbieattwoodwellness.com Abbie's Group Program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Studies / resources mentioned: Sugar Addiction: The State of The Science Exposure Therapy In Binge Eating Intuitive Eating Improves Health Indicators Episode 35: Addiction, Sobriety, and Disordered Eating: An Interview With Abbie & Her Husband 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

Today, we're getting into what's on my plate (and, briefly, Jeb's!). From food, to a big move happening in our life, to some real talk about the fear and anxiety brought on by change of any kind. Abbie talks about her experience with anxiety, how it was a risk factor and cause of her ED, and how it plays a role in her life now. Plus: a metaphor for explaining anxiety to loved ones in your life, ways to cope without maladaptive coping tools (like restriction, exercise, and anything else diet culture pushes our way). Thank you for hanging with us through this transition. Sending compassion your way!   Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon. Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   Looking for more support? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group    Thank you to you for listening, and to the wonderful folks who help make this podcast possible! Podcast editing by Brian Walters Podcast cover photography by Anya McInroy 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 an episode you CANNOT miss. It encompasses the core of what we are doing on this show -- in divesting from diet culture, examining anti-fat bias, healing our relationship with food, and reclaiming body autonomy through weight-inclusive and fat-positive recovery. Sharon Maxwell joins Abbie to talk about weight stigma in the medical field, in eating disorder treatment, and most importantly, what has been happening in the media with NEDA (the National Eating Disorder Association). We unpack a lot of definitions upfront: what is weight stigma, how does it present in the eating disorder field, and how it impacts EVERYONE in EVERY type of body.  Sharon is a mental health advocate, fat activist, weight inclusive consultant, public speaker, and all around bad ass incredible rainbow goddess of a human being (I added that last part - Sharon, you should include that in your bio).  Sharon joined Full Plate on episode 64 and told her full story, so if you haven’t listened to that yet, werecommended doing that before or after listening to this episode. Another episode that is relevant and informative on this topic is a conversation with Shira Rosenbluth, which is episode 55. You can follow Sharon @heysharonmaxwell on IG and Twitter. You can also learn more about her through her website: https://www.heysharonmaxwell.com/  Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon. Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching 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

Today we're exploring a really common (and very hard) situation through the lens of a listener question: When you're healing from a complicated relationship with food, but your partner is still dieting, or may not think they're dieting, but are deeply steeped in beliefs that are informed by wellness culture and diet culture. How do you cope? What do you do? How do you protect yourself while honoring their needs? This episode will also be helpful for navigating friendships or other family relationships (anyone who is important to you!).  Abbie provides some thoughts on: Having meaningful and productive conversations with your partner about their food beliefs Creating a safe space for yourself with food and bodies Setting compassionate boundaries Discussing anti-fat bias and fat-phobia Approaching cooking and meals with a person who is concerned with their food choices Focusing on your lived experience Connecting to your truth and values Building community   Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate   Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.    Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness   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   Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apple 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

Come for the dietetics hot takes, stay for the memes and reality TV advice. Clara Nosek (@yourdietitianbff) joins Abbie to talk about how she navigates the discussion of "healthy foods" with her kids and family, why we need more diversity in dietetics, what gives her the biggest "ick" on social media in the anti-diet spaces, intuitive eating as a tool that isn't built for everyone, why she uses humour and memes to convey complex and nuanced topics in nutrition, and how we can all get better at trusting our own "ick". Abbie also gets all the advice on where to start her reality TV journey. Clara Nosek is a registered dietitian, a big fan of non-diet nutrition, and self-proclaimed curator of lazy-girl wellness.  Find Clara on IG: @yourdietitianbff Learn more about Clara: https://www.claranosek.com/   Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.   Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness 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  Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apple for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group  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

Today Debra Benfield, RDN, joins the pod to speak with Abbie about the intersection of diet culture, anti-fatness, and anti-aging. This is one you won't want to miss. Because guess what? We're all aging, and it's a privilege. But diet culture continues to sell us a myriad of ways to "prevent" or hide that natural process. Tune in to hear more about how women in mid-life are particularly susceptible to developing disordered eating and what messaging to be wary of. More topics dicussed: Peri-menopause and menopause diet culture messages How aging creates vulnerability to damaging diet/wellness culture Mid-life marketing and disordered eating advice Belly fat, strength training, and other incessent messaging about aging Ableism, sexism, and agism coinciding How wellness culture capitalizes on our fear of aging and death Wrinkles, botox, and the skin-care industry Fear-mongering around food and disease The impact of stress and restricive eating on longevity What we can do to reclaim our time and energy and power Debra has helped hundreds of women heal their relationship with food and their bodies over her 35-year career as a Registered Dietitian. She specializes in the prevention and treatment of disordered eating, and brings her passion, expertise, and lived experience to the intersection of pro-aging and body liberation work. Deb’s work is rooted in helping clients recognize internalized ageism and end it, dismantle internalized diet culture and fatphobia, see midlife and beyond as a time of Emergence, nourish their bodies to support vitality and aging, and develop a respectful partnership with their bodies. Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.  Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Find Debra on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agingbodyliberation/ 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 the second episode in a series of episodes I plan on doing with current and former clients. The feedback from the first episode with Dory was so powerful, and I heard you loud and clear: You want to hear from more folks in the messy middle.  Today I speak with the wonderful Shelby, a client who was part of my group program last fall, a nd someone I care deeply about. We talk through her story, including what sparked body image concerns as a child, how food became fraught with anxiety and obsession, the impact of chronic illness on body dissatisfaction, how diet culture makes us feel like our bodies are broken, and how we can learn to stop hiding and instead decide to take up space in this world. Specific topics discussed: How body image is impacted by culture and lack of diversity Damaging diet culture messages during pregnancy Body changes postpartum How wellness culture preys on chronic illness The harm of body compliments Realizing it's not about health, it's about thinness How chronic illness impacts body image and embodiment Not letting your body hold you back from living your life Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate   Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.    Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness More on Abbie's group coaching program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching  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

Today's episode is a grab-bag of topics! Abbie answers two listener questions -- one about whether protein bars are "diet culture", and the other about the "Almond Moms" trend. She also talks about social media in the context of mental health, sharing her own relationship with Instagram (posting, scrolling, and engaging), and some tips on how to create a safe space in your own feed. Topics discussed: Abbie's relationship with Instagram Following accounts that support your mental health Are protein bars "diet culture"? The hyper-fixation on protein in diet culture How to approach foods you ate a lot of throughout disordered eating and dieting Having aversions to "safe" foods How to know whether your food preferences are based in a restrictive mentality What is an "Almond Mom"? Having parents who have their own disordered relationship with food Generational dieting trauma and passing down body shame   Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate   Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.    Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast    Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness    Learn more about working with Abbie: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/  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 amazing and brilliant Dr. Rachel Millner is on the pod to talk about what's on her plate (literally, and figuratively!), her own journey with an eating disorder as a clinician, and to share wisdom and insights into parenting in our thin-obsessed culture. We also get into the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelnes and how they will harm the mental and physical health of this generation of children, as well as future generations.  Topics discussed: Raising children from a HAES / weigh-inclusive perspective Weight stigma in childhood from parents and doctors Rachel’s relationship with food growing up, and how it differed from her siblings Growing up without body trust “Atypical anorexia” as a diagnosis of weight bias and anti-fatness The harm of complimenting weight-loss Knowing you have an eating disorder and not wanting to recover What it takes to recover when you don’t feel committed to healing The AAP guidelines on higher weight children, and the damage it will do to the health and wellbeing of kids Marginalized communities, anti-fatness, and anti-blackness Fighting back against weight stigma in the doctor’s office Dealing with diet culture in schools and with teachers Addressing your own anti-fat bias on the path to healing   Rachel Millner, Psy.D. (she/her) is a psychologist, supervisor, and fat activist in private practice in Pennsylvania. Rachel has been working with those with eating disorders, disordered eating, and those wanting to heal their relationship with food and body since 2005. Rachel provides fat positive therapy that is rooted in social justice, body trust (r), and fat liberation.  In addition to her clinical work, Rachel frequently gives talks on topics such as eating disorders in higher weight people, providers struggling with eating disorders, and providing fat positive therapy. Rachel has been interviewed for numerous publications about eating disorders and has been interviewed on many podcasts about her work. More on Rachel: https://www.rachelmillnertherapy.com/   Full Plate is listener-supported (no ads!) so please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes at Patreon.com/fullplate   Patreon is also home to the episode transcripts (which are publicly available to everyone, not just our patrons!). If you’re looking for those, head over to Patreon.    Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast  Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Learn more about working with Abbie: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/  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