This week, Aleen and Sami are joined by registered dietitian Colleen Christensen (@no.food.rules on IG) to talk about what it means to be a “non-diet” dietitian. They start with some practical tips for approaching nutrition without a diet mindset, which sounds impossible tbh, but it’s not. She tells us how to focus more on what makes our bodies feel good, not just what might make us lose weight. They talk about being honest with yourself about what you actually enjoy eating, and examine the urge...
Oct 25, 2020•55 min•Ep. 158
This week’s Dear DST episode starts with a recap of Sami and Aleen’s weekend getaway and a story about stargazing that resulted in an embarrassing fall. Then they respond to a listener who had been working with a diet coach but transitioned to intuitive eating, even though the people close to her have continued with their hardcore diets. How do you maintain your intuitive eating journey if you’re constantly being inundated by triggering comments from dieters? They offer some strategies for stayi...
Oct 22, 2020•18 min•Ep. 157
Sami and Aleen are back and talking all about the reactions people have to the anti-diet culture conversation. They start out with their response to a social media post about feeling inundated by anti-diet messaging and why being told to “listen to your body” doesn’t work for everyone. Is this a genuine backlash or simply a misunderstanding of the intuitive eating message? They discuss the most common misconceptions about intuitive eating and share more about their progress. Next, they talk abou...
Oct 18, 2020•51 min•Ep. 156
On this week’s Dear DST, an emailer asks why it has become so hard to carve out time for herself to work out during the pandemic. They discuss the way we all have adjusted to the new free time we each have (or lack thereof) and how that has changed in the past few months. They also talk about not beating yourself up for the habits you’ve formed during quarantine, and share some strategies for getting motivated without it coming from a place of “should”. Finally, they remind us that we’re only wo...
Oct 15, 2020•13 min•Ep. 155
This week Aleen and Sami are joined by Sarah Nicole Landry (aka @thebirdspapaya) to talk about learning to love your body and leaving diet culture behind. They talk about early experiences with having your body commented on by others and unlearning the lessons of that trauma. They discuss Sarah’s transition from dieting to embracing body positivity and what that recovery process feels like. Plus, they talk about basing your self-worth on something other than how your body looks in front of other...
Oct 11, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 154
On this Dear DST episode, a listener writes in to ask why she’s suddenly afraid of the number on the scale for the first time in her life. They talk about the factors that lead to this change, including living in a time when we’re all less active than ever before. Plus, they discuss the pressures to go back to dieting, and how to actually confront the emotions surrounding the scale. Finally, they reflect on what that number represents for each of us, beyond simply a measure of our weight. Learn ...
Oct 08, 2020•21 min•Ep. 153
This week Sami and Aleen are joined by Helen Phelan, fitness instructor and founder of Helen Phelan Studio, to talk all about intuitive exercise. They start with a conversation about why it’s time to cancel “shedding for the wedding” and the cultural context that pressures us into wedding norms. Next, they discuss the concept of intuitive exercise, how it relates to intuitive eating, and why it might be the workout answer you’ve been looking for. Plus, they talk about why people exercise to puni...
Oct 04, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 152
This week’s Dear DST email features a question about body positivity, and whether or not our insecurities are a bigger turn off than our actual flaws. A listener writes in to ask how to project confidence when you struggle with your own body image. Plus, they read a listener Non Scale Win all about moving on from monitoring and restricting food, then share their own NSWs, which leads to a conversation about avocado toast and letting yourself have that second slice of bread. Learn more about your...
Oct 01, 2020•21 min•Ep. 151
Aleen and Sami are back and talking all about confronting our body image issues. They start the show with their thoughts on the passing of RBG and the troubling state of the world. Then they discuss a personal story about stepping on the scale for the first time in months, and how a mental shift away from dieting actually worked. Plus, they talk about the 100 calorie snack rule and why no diet company actually cares about your mental health. Next, they talk about obsessing over photos (especiall...
Sep 27, 2020•54 min•Ep. 150
On this Dear DST, Sami and Aleen are talking all about confiding in a loved one about your own personal struggles. A listener writes in to explain how she opened up to her boyfriend about her eating disorder, and asks how to tell him that some of the words he uses are triggers for her. They share their own experiences with confiding in their significant others, and tell us how to open up without pushing someone away. Plus, they talk about the difference between being vulnerable and being clingy,...
Sep 24, 2020•13 min•Ep. 149
Sami and Aleen are joined by Alexis Barber (@wellnessalexis on Instagram) to talk about getting pulled into the F-Factor drama last week. They start with her feelings on trying the diet, how it made her fear certain foods without even realizing it, and what led her to become a public participant in the conversation. They talk about moving away from diet culture, including how the diet world is tied to race and privilege, and what she realized about her own disordered habits. Next, they discuss t...
Sep 20, 2020•47 min•Ep. 148
On this Thursday’s episode of DST, Sami and Aleen are joined once again by Jared Freid (of the U Up? podcast) for a game of Red Flag or Deal Breaker: DST Edition. They debate everything from obnoxiously giant water bottles to working out in total silence, and tell us where their limit lies when it comes to weird behaviors from your partner. Plus, they talk about turning everything into a game to motivate yourself during a workout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 17, 2020•22 min•Ep. 147
Aleen and Sami are back and start the show with a post-honeymoon reflection and a conversation about Fall vacationing. Then they discuss the urge to change your body to fit in certain outfits, and explain how the clothes we choose are often tied to the thin self that could potentially wear them. Plus, they examine where these self-imposed rules (about food and otherwise) really come from. Next, they talk about all the things that go into being healthy, why it’s not all about dieting to fit into ...
Sep 13, 2020•51 min•Ep. 146
On this Thursday’s episode Sami and Aleen are back with an impromptu podcast responding to the F-Factor IG Live that took place last night. They talk about the non-apology that was begrudgingly offered to viewers, and explain what went down as soon as the comments were turned back on. Plus, they react to the attempted use of a wellness influencer to help with damage control, share their latest feelings on the controversy, and explain why this story isn’t going away any time soon. Learn more abou...
Sep 10, 2020•38 min•Ep. 145
Sami and Aleen are joined this week by Jared Freid, comedian and host of the U Up? podcast. They start with Jared’s take on the F-Factor drama and a conversation about acknowledging your critics gracefully. Next, they talk about adjusting your eating patterns (and even paying for a food schedule) but still snacking at 2am. Plus, they discuss the challenge of finding a shirt that you feel comfortable wearing. Finally, they go into Jared’s Twitter feed and break down his recent food tweets, leadin...
Sep 06, 2020•55 min•Ep. 144
Sami and Aleen are back and ready to dive even deeper into the F-Factor drama discussed earlier this week. They share all their thoughts on the backlash to the diet, how this story gained so much attention, and where it goes from here. Plus, they share their own experience with F-Factor and tell some stories from behind the scenes (including one about a very awkward post-interview conversation). Finally, they talk about how people can find closure in this story and top things off with a convo ab...
Sep 03, 2020•33 min•Ep. 143
Aleen and Sami are joined once again by Emily Gellis Lande to talk about the overwhelming reaction to her recent social media posts about F-Factor. They start with a timeline of how Emily even got involved with talking about F-Factor in the first place, how the story gained so much traction, and eventually ended up in the NY Times. Plus, Emily shares how people tried to pressure her into silence by shaming her for past mental health struggles. They talk about the public response from F-Factor ov...
Aug 30, 2020•57 min•Ep. 142
Aleen and Sami are back to answer another Dear DST email, this time with a question about dealing with toxic reactions from others. A listener writes in to share her experience with feeling judged by her mom’s comments when she reaches for the bread. How do you stand your ground with a parent and explain that you don’t want to hear the commentary? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2020•12 min•Ep. 141
This week Sami and Aleen are joined by nutrition therapist and originator of the Intuitive Eating movement, Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S, Fiaedp, FADA, FAND. They start with an explanation directly from the source about what intuitive eating actually means, and dispel the myths associated with it. They also talk about the fear of gaining weight we inevitably feel when trying intuitive eating, and share the concept of “radical acceptance” of our bodies. Plus, they talk about the getting started,...
Aug 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 140
This week Sami and Aleen are joined by DST listener and wellness influencer @FreckledFoodie, aka Cameron Rogers. They begin by discussing Cameron’s journey from working in the world of finance to becoming a wellness influencer. Next, they break down what it means to be a “recovering bitch” and how current culture has shifted away from empowering women to be hard edged, pant suit wearing, bosses. Later, they talk about why social media filters are toxic for your mental health and how they literal...
Aug 16, 2020•59 min•Ep. 139
Sami and Aleen are back for another DST bonus episode. This week a listener writes in wondering how to handle feeling like her husband’s active lifestyle is affecting her relationship with food and body image. They give advice on ways to bring up the conversation with the listener’s husband, and lend their thoughts on productive ways to not let his behavior affect her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2020•12 min•Ep. 138
Sami and Aleen are back to answer another listener-submitted ‘Dear DST’ question all about how to respond to compliments you receive after losing weight, even if you’re not dieting. How do we overcome diet culture when these comments reinforce our desire to be skinny? Plus, they talk about the challenge to accept compliments in general, even when they’re not the best thing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 13, 2020•11 min•Ep. 137
Aleen and Sami return to share some recent food stories and talk about the urge to count calories. They start with a convo about food sensitivities limiting what you can have, and hate-eating in the run up to a wedding. They also talk about the pitfalls of calorie counting and how to kick the habit. Next, they dive into a listener-submitted question all about maintaining mindfulness when you’re feeling angry. Plus, they talk about difficult experiences early in life preparing you for challenges ...
Aug 09, 2020•41 min•Ep. 136
On this episode presented by Midol®, Sami and Aleen are joined by Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a practicing gynecologist who provides care to women of all ages and has delivered thousands of babies, to talk about how your cycle might be different in a pandemic. They start with a conversation about the stress of quarantine, and why it’s a factor in the severity of symptoms. They also talk about the value of tracking your cycle, how hormones drive our cravings, and why exercise might help with cramping. Next...
Aug 05, 2020•28 min•Ep. 135
Sami and Aleen are joined once again by registered dietician (and fan-favorite) Lisa Hayim, aka @thewellnecessities, to talk all about mindfulness. They start with a reflection on the overwhelming anxiety many of us are feeling right now, and share some emotional tools to deal with these feelings. They talk about connecting with resources to help you, including breathing techniques and physical touch, and share how to use these tools in your own life. Next, they discuss staying in the moment, wh...
Aug 02, 2020•53 min•Ep. 134
Aleen and Sami return to answer a listener ‘Dear DST’ question all about balancing an anti-diet intuitive eating lifestyle with losing weight for her wedding. Is it possible to both practice intuitive eating and also actively try to lose weight? Sami shares her own experience with the final stretch of planning for her wedding, and how it’s getting in the way of her pizza eating. Then they share their Non Scale Wins of the week and preview an upcoming episode all about mindfulness. Learn more abo...
Jul 30, 2020•21 min•Ep. 133
Aleen and Sami are back to talk all about intuitive eating. They start with an explanation of what exactly intuitive eating means, including how Aleen first gave it a chance after returning from her honeymoon. They talk about the lack of pressure involved, and describe what an intuitive eating therapy session is like. Plus, they discuss the role of fatphobia in our eating habits, and how important it is to acknowledge that role before you can make a mental shift. Next, they discuss what it’s lik...
Jul 26, 2020•57 min•Ep. 132
Sami and Aleen are back to talk about Sami’s upcoming wedding ceremony and how to plan a wedding in a pandemic. They start with a recap of her original wedding plans, how they got disrupted by coronavirus, and why it’s so difficult to plan a normal-sized event right now or possibly even in the next couple of years. They talk about how she settled on a backyard wedding, and explain the precautions in place for ensuring guest safety. Next, they discuss the pressure to lose weight for your wedding ...
Jul 19, 2020•55 min•Ep. 131
Aleen and Sami are joined by Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity medicine doctor and health policy expert from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. They start by talking about how she got into obesity medicine, both as a researcher and practitioner, and just how new the field really is. They discuss the definition of obesity, whether or not BMI is a useful measurement, and why it’s important where you’re carrying weight on your body. Next, they talk about the ‘health at every...
Jul 12, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 130
This week Sami and Aleen are joined by Chrissy King, fitness coach and creator of the Body Liberation Project, to talk about anti-racism in the wellness industry and why a woman’s self-worth should not be tied to how her body looks. Chrissy starts with the story of how she got into fitness and eventually found self-acceptance by hitting rock bottom, inspiring her body liberation philosophy. They discuss the #takeupspace movement and explain why you shouldn’t shrink yourself for the comfort of ot...
Jul 05, 2020•53 min•Ep. 129
