Over the past week, I have been filled with a flood of thoughts and emotions related to the death of George Floyd and the resulting groundswell of anti-racist protests. While issues of race in America might not seem directly related to my work as an eating disorder specialist, I wanted to share with you why […]
I wanted to let you know about a couple of exciting talks I’m giving in the Boston area in April. I have the privilege of teaching about two of my passion topics – body image counseling for dietitians and counseling techniques for dietitians! Woohoo!!! I hope that you may be able to join me. Here […]
I opened the doors to my private practice exactly 11 years ago this month. It seems impossible that so much time has passed! And in those 11 years, I have welcomed 5 dietitians to my team. All of them compassionate, smart, hardworking, and fun! I have been truly blessed to be surrounded by women I […]
I am a planner. Always have been. So when I suddenly became very sick during my pregnancy and delivered my son nearly two months early, some of my well thought-out plans had to be tossed out the window. I had plans for how I would use those last two months, preparing both myself and my […]
I’m happy to be sending you a quick hello from my maternity leave. I’ve been reflecting on some of the principles I’ve taught my clients over the years and how they have been immensely helpful to me as I’ve transitioned into this new and very busy role as a parent. And what I love about […]
This is a guest article by my colleague, Sarah Patten, one of the Registered Dietitians with the Marci RD Nutrition team. The cold days of February are upon us and the winter doldrums have settled in for many. On the days when I’m most longing for warm weather and sunshine, I try to remain grateful […]
For many of us, the months between October and December are filled with a flurry of celebrations with the holiday season. This can be a time filled with joy and excitement but also a tremendous amount of overwhelm and financial stress. As this week marks the celebration of Thanksgiving here in the United States, I […]
Negative body image plagues most women and many men. It’s a truth that makes me sad but an issue I care deeply about because negative body image threatens our capacity to follow our passions, feel connected to and accepted by others, and experience joy. Negative body image is not a matter of vanity because it […]
I am so excited to be finalizing plans for the very last, live and in person Body Image Workshop, being held in London, England this September. Fiona Sutherland and I wanted to let you know that we still have some spaces for our final Body Image Workshop being held on September 1st and 2nd in […]
Do you struggle with your relationship with their body? Do you struggle with your confidence around body image? Would you like to heal your negative body image and move towards a place of body peace? Body image dissatisfaction and distortion are key issues for many people regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, or background. […]
Traveling across the United States, training clinicians on body image work with my Aussie side-kick, Fiona Sutherland, was not something I ever envisioned for myself. In fact, just about everything I’ve done in my career thus far fits under the category of “things I never envisioned.” But the process of developing and giving this training […]
In the spirit of body image healing, my dear friend, Alex Amorosi, has graciously accepted my invitation to share his story. Alex is a masterful yoga instructor, trainer, and healer. And I have no doubt that his personal journey of body image healing will inspire your own. Thank you Alex. I’m not quite sure how […]
Are you considering the notion of body acceptance. Or perhaps someone in your life is urging you to consider body acceptance. Maybe you have heard the word body acceptance and thought to yourself, “Why in the world would I accept THIS body?” Body acceptance is a super challenging idea for nearly everyone. We have been […]
I originally wrote this video blog for Recovery Warriors which is a phenomenal community and resource for anyone looking for additional support in their eating disorder recovery. But you don’t have to have an eating disorder to have crappy body image. So if you’d like to feel better about your body, this one’s for you. […]
Body Positive. It seems to be a term that’s getting a little more press these days. As a self-described “body positive dietitian” you’d think I’d be thrilled! Truthfully, I’m conflicted. I’m conflicted because “body positive” began as a term used to promote body inclusivity, meaning all bodies (fat, thin, short, tall, able-bodied or not) deserve […]
Is Thowback Monday a thing? I’m making it a thing with a republishing of this blog post I originally wrote in the summer of 2011. I think you’ll enjoy it. A client asked me a question recently. It was a semi-personal question and I felt that it was something worthy of sharing here. To be […]
I found this 7 1/2 minute story from NPR fascinating! If you have body image issues and/or an eating disorder, take 10 minutes to read this post and list to this podcast. The thing I find so fascinating about this story is that introduces neuroscience research that explains why the way we speak to ourselves […]
Alright everyone, let’s talk clothes and shopping. It seems to be one of the biggest topics for me at work right now. The seasons have changed and thankfully, warmer weather is here! This means more shorts, tanks tops, and even…swimsuits. I thought it might be helpful if I passed along some tricks of the trade […]
Women are tired of feeling crappy about their bodies. I know you are. If you are like most women, you feel bad about your body and then guilty that you feel so bad about it. Taryn Brumfitt was in that exact place until she decided to make a change. Please please take 5 minutes to […]
This post is part 2 of what will likely be a 5 part series on understanding bod image. My first post in the series can be found here. To reiterate, body image is actually really complex. The series is aimed to help you understand more completely what the phrase “body image” actually means in order […]
When you read the words “body image” what does that mean to you? Body image is actually a pretty complicated topic. I google searched a definition and there were over 4 million results and quite the variety of definitions. For our conversation, I decided to select my favorite definition: A term that refers to […]
*Please note, the article originally appeared in the Summer 2011 Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group newsletter. We live in a world where thin is glorified and unrealistic images of feminine beauty are plastered online, in print, and on TV. These images are hard to avoid and they present serious challenges for clients struggling with […]
A client asked me a question recently. It was a semi-personal question and I felt that it was something worthy of sharing here. To be quite honest, this is a bit unusual for me as I don’t talk in a personal way very often on this blog. I hesitate to do so for a number […]
As the weather grows warmer and people begin shedding layers, it’s common for body dissatisfaction and anxiety to grow. A recent Glamour magazine psychologist-designed poll (1) states that 97% of women experience “I hate my body” thoughts on a daily basis, with an average of 13 negative thoughts each day. With these statistics, it’s no […]
This past weekend I was chatting with a group of therapist buddies. We were discussing the number of “perfect body” and pro-dieting messages we are all exposed to on a given day. These “perfect body” messages are not only unrealistic and false but also self-esteem crushing. Let’s face it, we live in a world that […]
Or a “beach” body, or a “bikini” body? Why not a “rake-the-leaves” body or a “shovel-the-snow-then-go-cross-country-skiing” body? While we’re at it, how about a “clean-the-house-then-go-grocery-shopping-and-carry-the-case-of-water-yourself-’cause-you’re-just-that-strong” body? And just how IS a summer body supposed to look when compared to a winter body? Assuming you even have a “winter” body in the first place (whatever that […]
Today’s blog is brought to us by Elizabeth Jarrard, social media diva and co-owner of the blog “Guiltless”, my favorite positive body image blog out there! When was the last time you looked in the mirror and loved every part of your reflection? Who among us has not compared themselves to our peers? Can you […]
Many of the clients that I see for individual nutrition counseling struggle with their body image. I was scoping out some resources and came across a couple I thought were worthy of sharing. I hope they may be of use to you or someone you know. 1.) The Body Image Workbook: An 8 Step Program […]