This is the 19th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today! The magic happens on the mat.

Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

Today's insightful interview is with Lauren Harding, LSW. Lauren is a psychotherapist and certified eating disorder coach. She received her masters in social work at IUPUI and has experience working with a variety of clients including those who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also has experience working at an eating disorder residential eating disorder treatment center and over time has developed a passion for helping individuals who struggle with eating disorders/disordered eating, chronic dieting, activity addiction, and negative body image. She completed an independent eating disorder recovery coaching training and certification through the Carolyn Costin Institute and is specially trained to support a client and the client’s treatment team in making day-to-day behavior changes necessary for recovery. Lauren is passionate about helping others to heal their relationship with food, their body, but most importantly with themselves. You are going to love her!

Today you will hear about...
1. Common misconceptions about eating disorders like...

• That people with eating disorders look emaciated.
• That people with eating disorders always make themselves throw up.
• That its an eating disorder only when people have really OVERT behaviors.

2. How do you recognize if there is an eating disorder present?
-It’s tricky because our culture has normalized so many behaviors that COULD BE a red flag, so look for CONSTANT...

• preoccupation with external self
• always trying to change self
• dieting
• exercising
• trying to better themselves & become perfect defined by external & unreal expectations

-Do you or your teen struggle with anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders? They are more at risk to develop an eating disorder.

3. So what do we do?!

• First look at yourself. There might be something going on with your OWN relationship with food that you need to work on.
• Let go of the shame of inevitable failures.
• Important to ask questions to understand where your kid is at BEFORE it becomes a disorder. Have “help me understand” conversations.
• Get help from a therapist, psychotherapist, counselor etc
• Educate yourself. Knowledge is power.

NEDA https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Youtube Search: "Parents and eating disorders"
"Your Dieting Daughter" by Carolyn Costin
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Dieting-Daughter-Dissatisfaction-Disordered/dp/0415890845

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This is the 18th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today! The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

Christy is a certified Functional Nutritionist and has a dietetic degree from Michigan State University. She is also a Certified Lifestyle & Functional Medicine Coach and certified personal trainer. Her passion for health and fitness is fueled from own her personal journey of healing from anorexia nervosa and bulimia. And today we get to hear the tools that have helped her reach her best health over the last 4 decades. Every day, Christy turns the painful experiences of her past into a purpose to help others reach their ultimate health as well.

Instagram: @coachchristy_emerginghealth

What led a ten year old to eating disorders?

1. Book “Gaining”by Aimee Liu points out some kids are just more prone to wanting perfection.
2. Need for control.
3. Felt a need to punish myself for feeling “bad” emotions.
4. I got compliments on my maturing thin figure. Fed my obsession.
5. Because I was anorexic, my body craved food…then I couldn’t stop binging and then I HAD to purge to relive myself of the guilt and disgust I felt for eating food.
6. Cutting out certain foods made me feel clean. It took me decades to realize this need to feel clean stemmed from sexual abuse I experienced from a close relative. Parents need to know that sexual abuse is often a trigger for eating disorders…Because of shame, confusion and guilt. I never told my parents. I never told anyone.

You said you were in such a dark place…What flipped the light bulb on for you?

• One my dad came crying to me and in a very sincere and loving way helped me understand that I was not only hurting myself. I was hurting my family. “I am only hurting myself” is the biggest lie someone with disordered eating tells themself.
• I started to educate myself.
• My mom had me put more input into what was made for dinner and planning out meals.
• I went on to study nutrition in college and absorb everything I could about food and how it affects the body and brain.

What would you tell parents?

1. Break the secrets and the hiding wide open. Have very open conversation with them. “You are only as sick as the secrets you keep.”
2. Come from a place of love not judgement. They are already feeling so much shame.
3. Help them connect what food does for their body versus telling them food is good or bad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNvkSi0XrL0
4. Help them understand how it is affecting their health and their family
5. Educate yourself and offer resources to your loved one so they can

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This is the 17th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today! The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

"Diet Culture" defined.

• Smaller bodies are the goal.
• Losing weight is the norm. We all should be doing it.
• If you are bigger…you will have to go on a diet to lose weight to live a better life.
• We see hunger as a problem that needs to be solved through extremes.
• I will become a different version of myself that is skinny = happy/better
• The diet will be worth it no matter the time or cost.

Tools to thrive in life.

1. Talking about our struggles. It takes away the power that the struggle has over us. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.
2. Have the courage to ask for help!
3. Acknowledge the thoughts that are keeping you stuck. When you feel gross/fat etc “I don’t love how I am feeling right now-I wonder what is happening outside of my life that might factor in to why I am feeling this way?” DO NOT IGNORE THE THOUGHTS .
4. Be open to the statement, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS" ie Diet Culture's definition of beautiful, happy, strong, etc
5. The food isn’t actually the problem-it’s the thoughts about food.
6. Look at picture of younger self and talk to that inner child kindly!
7. Practice BODY NEUTRALITY.
8. Practice food neutrality-Instead of food is good or bad.
9. Body & food neutrality is NOT glorifying obesity
10. Don’t assume that thin people are happy “thin-ness does not = happiness”
11. What we REALLY want is to feel pretty, to be seen, to being valued AND YOU CAN FEEL THOSE THINGS IN EVERY BODY TYPE.
12. Be ok with leaning into discomfort, so you do not miss out on life experiences.
13. Take time to ask yourself "Why am I feeling ugly, etc? What is happening in my life right now that might be the real culprit?"
14. Life is so much easier when you free up all the brain space and the energy you used to worry about all those things.
15. It is HARD TO BELIEVE IT IS TRUE…give yourself grace as you practice.
16. “I don’t like how my stomach looks and I am still funny, loving, Ella.”
17. My body is the least interesting thing about me.
18. We don’t need to bond over "hating ourselves" comments
19. Set boundaries in your life so you don’t surround yourself with triggering circumstances and people
20. Don't wait “till things get bad” to get help. Seek professional help now.
21. Don’t be afraid to TAKE UP SPACE.
22. Eating disorders THRIVE ON SHAME. So talk about it. Yep. it's important enough to repeat!!

BOOKS:
"The F*** It Diet" by Carolyn Dooner
"More Than A Body" by Lindsay & Lexi Kite
"Breaking Free From Body Shame" by Jess Connolly
"8 Keys to Recovery from an Easting Disorder" by Carolyn Cos

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Join me live this Sunday, October 13th 2024 with the Body Positive Alliance Community.

ZOOM LINK
Passcode: 122285

This is the 16th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Support Alli Louthain in getting more of the Awesome out into the world! Share, Rate, Review or Subscribe to Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors!!

And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today!
The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

Lydia Beiriger is a senior in high school in Indiana and takes Ivy Tech college classes in Horticultural Studies. She loves doing 4-H, crocheting, gardening, horseback riding, running, hiking and camping. She also loves doing yoga and has personally been blessed by listening to Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors and wants to bless the lives of others by sharing her story of struggling with anorexia and how she is striving to conquer it every day with the help of loved ones.

Lydia wants teens to understand the dangers of anorexia and negative ramifications she now has to deal with in her life because of the choices she made when she was younger and how it is OK to ask for help and keep asking for help because "eating disorders don't discriminate nor do they go away in a day...it is a rollercoaster ride that goes up and down...you are likely to relapse...so don't ever try to do it all on your own!!"

Show notes:
-Comparison started the downward spiral
-Anorexia is like a "2 year old I couldn't get away from, barking orders in my head; my constant companion."
-Because of anorexia:

1. Had no energy.
2. Had no motivation.
3. Was depressed.
4. Was constantly in pain/joints ached.
5. Gave myself arthritis.
6. Damaged my kidneys and liver.
7. I looked like a ghost.

-Things I do to help me be the boss of that toddler and get through the relapses.

1. Accept that you have an eating disorder.
2. Ask for help & keep asking for it.
3. Do yoga.
4. Connect with a dietician & therapists.
5. Learn the science behind the brain-change your mindset.
6. Surround yourself with amazing people.
7. Practice positive dialogue with yourself.
8. Dress for yourself. Find your favorite color and wear it!
9. Treat yo self-because you love yourself.
10. Do service or fulfill YOUR love language. (words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, physical touch and receiving gifts).

Here is a link to the episode that gave Lydia the courage to go seek help.

Check out "Confessions of a 16 yr old Perfectioni

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Support the show

Please consider clicking below to make a one time donation to help "Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors" reach more people across the world!

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This is the 15th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Support Alli Louthain in getting more of the Awesome out into the world! Share, Rate, Review or Subscribe to Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors!!

And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today!
The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

Maryam Faisal, a proud Muslim and Pakistani American, is currently attending Rice University in Houston Texas. Maryam's own experiences with an eating disorder as well the experiences of those that recovered with her inspired her to found the Lone Bench Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit working to make eating disorder treatment more accessible for Muslims.

Maryam hopes to bring eating disorder treatment access to even more people, while simultaneously breaking the stereotypes regarding people of color with eating disorders and eating disorders within religious communities.

https://www.lonebenchinitiative.org/

Other resources Maryam recommends:

For Muslim (and non-muslim, but faith-based) mental health resources, more broadly:

https://khalilcenter.com/

https://naseeha.org/

Body positive/Eating Disorders books:

More Than a Body by Lindsay and Lexie Kite

Sick Enough by Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani

The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color by Virgie Tovar, MA

Episode Footnotes:

• Problems with the current way insurances cover/don't cover eating disorder treatment.
• Unique challenges Muslims have with receiving treatment for disordered eating.
• Cultural stigmas of "who can have mental illnesses"
• Cultural ideology behind well intended statements that are toxic and need to change!
• The connection between eating disorders and suicide rates.
• How yoga helps you feel seen and is a reset.

Check out all our other episodes in our Body Positive series!

hugs,
Alli

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Support the show

Please consider clicking below to make a one time donation to help "Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors" reach more people across the world!

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This is the 14th episode in our incredible Body Positivity Series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Support Alli Louthain in getting more of the Awesome out into the world! Share, Rate, Review or Subscribe to Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors!!

And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today!
The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

Cate Navarrete is a second generation Cuban-American from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. At 16, she started the Body Positive Alliance and its associated podcast, Generation Body Positive, to advocate for and represent all bodies regardless of physical ability, size, gender, race, or appearance. Cate’s mission and advocacy work has been shared on Emmy-nominated Nickelodeon program “Nick News,”and more. Cate is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia with a triple concentration in finance, organization and management, and film and media management. She is interested in ESG/impact investing with a focus on empowering marginalized entrepreneurs and is dedicated to promoting greater inclusivity in entertainment.

Body Positive Alliance Website
Follow on Instagram here
Start your own Body Positive Chapter

Show note highlights:

• How Body Positive Alliance started from Cate's own struggle with disordereed eating in high school.
• How social media affects us and how you can use it to benefit you
• What is "diet culture" and how can consumers combat it?
• What is a "body checking cycle" and why it's toxic.
• Why is "fitspiration" so dangerous.
• How does yoga help with body positivity

What is Orthorexia?

Why is it so hard to love ourselves?

Mental Shortcuts that Kill

Confessions of a 16 year old perfectionist

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Support the show

Please consider clicking below to make a one time donation to help "Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors" reach more people across the world!

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This is the 13th episode in our incredible Body Positivity series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Support Alli Louthain in getting more of the Awesome out into the world! Share, Rate, Review or Subscribe to Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors!!

And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today!
The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

Amy Pickett-Williams is a seasoned psychotherapist with over 25 years of expertise in grief and loss. Her career began in oncology and pediatric care, where she provided compassionate support to patients and families navigating the challenges of illness and death. As she transitioned into community mental health, Amy broadened her focus to address various forms
of loss—ranging from death and illness to relationship breakdowns, identity shifts, financial struggles, loss of sense of safety/peace, and more. This holistic approach led her to open her private practice, where she integrates somatic tools and therapies inspired by her study of yoga and mind-body-spirit/soul healing.
In 2023, with her personal and professional experiences, Amy founded The LIGHT Movement. This transformative non-profit has reached close to 5000 people through offerings of donation-based yoga, workshops, training, retreats, and community support. The mission is to make somatic healing accessible to all people, helping individuals integrate their grief, rediscover purpose, and grow through their experiences. Through her work, Amy continues to bridge the
gap between therapeutic counseling, yoga, and other somatic-based tools to offer powerful education and support that empowers people to grow from their grief and thrive.

Check out the LIGHT Movement!
Website
LIGHT Movement Offerings
Contact: info@lightmvmt.com

Show Highlights:

• How the LIGHT Movement began.
• What does somatic mean and how do you implement somatic tools?
• What is the science of grief, how is your nervous system impacted by grief and trauma and and what does it mean to grow with your grief?

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Support the show

Please consider clicking below to make a one time donation to help "Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors" reach more people across the world!

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This is the 12th episode in our incredible Body Positivity series. This life changing series will help you see, think and feel differently about your body. Listen to all the episodes and share them with the people you love! Support Alli Louthain in getting more of the Awesome out into the world! Share, Rate, Review or Subscribe to Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors!!

And start being proactive about how you think and feel about your body today!
The magic happens on the mat.
Learn more about 6 Week Body Positivity Yoga Series with Isha Warriors

I am a huge fan of my guest today!! Brooke Romney is a writer, speaker, and connector and is committed to sharing real life with a hopeful twist. She is the best-selling author of three books: 52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens Volume 1 and 2 and I Like Me Anyway: Embracing Imperfection, Connection, and Christ. Her fresh perspective and relatable style has engaged millions of readers in The Washington Post, Deseret News, Studio 5, Time Out for Women, and on her own blog and Instagram @brookeromneywrites where she has created a vibrant community of women who learn and lift. Brooke comes from girly roots but has morphed into an outdoor adventuring, dirt loving mom of 4 boys, one daughter-in-law, and a new grandbaby. When she is not writing or mothering, you can find her in a good book, speaking to groups, volunteering in the schools or on a walk with a friend.

Show Highlights:
When you realize that even if you work hard and make good decisions-life doesn’t go just as you planned…how do you lean into that discomfort and work through it?

What helped you with eating disorder?
-doesn’t miraculously go away
-has a husband who loves me exactly how I look
-seeing the miraculous things my body could do through pregnancy
-seeing my body as a gift
-wanted to take care of my body for my children
-I have slowly learned to not define myself by my looks… I want to spend my energy on things I can control.
-God loves variety.
-used to think that the world will love me better if they don’t see my flaws…Now I know that I connect with people because I am willing to be real about my flaws.
-people don’t love my home because it’s perfectly decorated-they come because they got an invite.
-being a mom of teen boys; they have helped me not take myself so seriously.

More from Brooke:
Instagram
Book "I Like Me Anyway"
Modern Manners For Teens Vol. 1
Modern Manners For Teens Vol. 2

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Please consider clicking below to make a one time donation to help "Monday Mindset With Isha Warriors" reach more people across the world!

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