This week Sami and Aleen are joined by fitness influencer and DST favorite Kelsey Wells. They start with a conversation about being grateful in a pandemic, the way repetitive routine leads to anxiety, and how Kelsey has used fitness as a form of reward. They discuss the mental shift to treating exercise as a tool for self-empowerment and gratitude toward your body. Kelsey shares three steps for changing your mindset toward exercise, including how to be proud of yourself for what you’ve accomplis...
Feb 07, 2021•50 min•Ep. 188
This week’s Dear DST is all about the oh-so-familiar dining hall experience and how to overcome the challenges of keeping good habits when you can only (binge) eat twice a day. They start with some dog talk with Sami training a new puppy and Aleen dealing with revenge sh*ts from Sansa. They read a listener NSW all about shifting your mindset from dieting to personal finance, and share some Non Scale Wins of their own. Then they read a Dear DST email from a college student who overcame disordered...
Feb 04, 2021•19 min•Ep. 187
Sami and Aleen are joined once again by everyone’s favorite registered dietician, Tracy Lockwood Beckerman. She talks about getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes, giving birth while wearing a mask, and how her food preferences have shifted since having a baby. They discuss the best place to get advice as a new mom (virtual support groups exist btw) and some of the biggest challenges you may face. They talk about “mom guilt” and all the unnecessary drama around breastmilk vs. formula, then ...
Jan 31, 2021•56 min•Ep. 186
On this Dear DST episode, Sami and Aleen start with a recap of their conversation with Shay Mitchell this week and share what it’s like to openly acknowledge your disordered eating in front of others (even strangers). Is your willingness to talk about disordered eating the best sign that you’re making progress? Then they read a Dear DST email from a listener who always feels worse about her body image when she’s hanging out with her oldest group of friends, but never with her college friends. Wh...
Jan 28, 2021•24 min•Ep. 185
On this Sunday’s episode Aleen and Sami are joined by actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell. She tells us what it’s like to be a new mom in a pandemic and offers her top three tips for people who are looking to have their first kid. Plus, she tells us what she’s been binging on TV these days and shares her current fitness routine in quarantine. Then they play a game of ‘What Would Shay Do’ featuring her take on what a 2020-themed Met Gala outfit would look like, and which pizza Shay would choos...
Jan 24, 2021•26 min•Ep. 184
This Thursday’s episode starts with a groundbreaking NSW: skipping desert without even thinking about it. Plus, they react to a listener Non Scale Win about haircuts and body shape. Next, they read a Dear DST email from a listener whose former personal trainer posted her progress pics without asking for permission, leading to a lot of self doubt. What’s the right way to tell someone that they’ve violated your trust and privacy by posting your pics? Plus, they talk about the urge to take progress...
Jan 21, 2021•17 min•Ep. 183
Sami and Aleen are joined by Jessica Jones, registered dietician and host of the Food Heaven podcast. They start with a reflection on how the social justice movement in 2020 impacted the health and wellness conversation, and why there still needs to be room to rest for hosts like Jess. Next, they talk about the lack of diverse body size in film and television (we’re looking at you The Bachelor) and why we’re often taught that weight loss equals health. Jess explains how she came to the conclusio...
Jan 18, 2021•49 min•Ep. 182
On this week’s bonus episode, Sami and Aleen read a Dear DST from a woman who’s mother-in-law gave her a gift two sizes too big. Would you be offended if someone saw you as bigger than you were? On top of that, how do you deal with being a part of a family where you look different from everyone else? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2021•17 min•Ep. 181
This week, Aleen and Sami talk about the shift away from the “new year, new me” resolution mindset and towards a more accepting version of intention-setting. They react to resolutions from DSTers (hint: vegetables and more alone time) and ask if quarantine was the real reason for the shift. Are we only accepting our bodies more because we’re seeing less people? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2021•36 min•Ep. 180
This Thursday’s episode starts with a listener NSW about creating a vision board that doesn’t include pics of “skinny” women with unrealistic body expectations. They also talk about the art of putting together a comfortable outfit and the exciting debut of the Morning Announcements' podcast. Then the Dear DST email features a question about plateauing in your workout goals and how to avoid an exercise rut. Is there a secret to breaking out of a rut, and how do you get motivated when a new year s...
Jan 07, 2021•15 min•Ep. 179
It’s finally 2021 (thank f*cking god) so Sami and Aleen are taking the time to react to some DST highlights from the past year. They start with some of the listeners’ fav moments from the show, including their top guests and the biggest shift for the show (hint: intuitive eating is kinda a big deal). Next, they respond to some year-end listener Non Scale Wins which leads to a convo about how they’ve each grown over the past twelve months. Finally, they close the show with a game called “It’s All...
Jan 03, 2021•44 min•Ep. 178
On this New Year’s Eve Dear DST, Aleen and Sami start things off with a listener NSW and some wins of their own about food neutrality (sometimes your body just tells you to eat the pizza for breakfast, nbd). Then a listener writes in to ask how to be more gentle with herself when setting resolutions for the new year. Is it possible to find a middle ground with resolutions, or is this a recipe for failure? Plus, they talk about the challenge to be a less-perfect perfectionist and the perils of ha...
Dec 31, 2020•16 min•Ep. 177
This week, Aleen and Sami are listening and reacting to the resolutions they set for 2020. From working out more to self care to personal goals, the girls are listening to all their resolutions that they met (or more likely… didn’t meet) throughout the year. They also discuss whether or not they plan on setting goals this year, continuing their intuitive eating journeys, how they’ve grown throughout the pandemic, and what they have planned for 2021. Thanks to our sponsors: Mint Mobile: To get yo...
Dec 27, 2020•53 min•Ep. 176
On this Thursday’s Dear DST, Aleen and Sami read a listener email from a woman who wants to to get her double chin removed and asks whether or not it’s a step back on her intuitive eating + body acceptance journey. Where is the line between enhancing yourself with cosmetic surgery and accepting your body for what it is? When does it become unhealthy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2020•17 min•Ep. 175
Remember Aleen and Sami’s “Favorite Things” episode? They’re back again, bringing you some of their new favs. This year has been stressful to say the least and after a quick chat about feeling hopeful and positive for the vaccine and the new year, the girls dive right into all of their favorite things. They share it all, from unnecessary kitchen gadgets and embarrassing childhood items still in their apartments, to how many tabs they leave open and their guilty pleasure movies. (Yes, there is a ...
Dec 20, 2020•56 min•Ep. 174
We kick off today’s bonus ep with a very well written non-scale win about a mom learning to love her new body because of her daughter. Then Sami and Aleen share their own non-scale wins for the week including sizing up in ski clothes and a breakthrough in therapy. Then, they read the Dear DST of the week all about how to deal with a toxic boyfriend’s food issues. (Spoiler: you don’t) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 17, 2020•23 min•Ep. 173
Today, Sami and Aleen are talking to Victoria Garrick, former D-1 athlete, Ted Talk speaker, and mental health advocate. They kick off the convo talking about her experience as a college athlete and how she developed a toxic relationship with food. Victoria shares how she turned it into intuitive eating, unfiltered photos, and her journey to stop trying to please society. Why do we care so much about what other people think? They discuss whether competitive athletics are always toxic AF or actua...
Dec 13, 2020•42 min•Ep. 172
This week’s bonus ep is KIND OF a big one because we have on Mindy Kaling, aka Aleen’s dream dinner guest. We start by finding out who Mindy’s own dream dinner companion would be. Then, she tells us about mom life in quarantine and the projects she’s been up to. (Hint: This part of the episode will make your productivity look like sh*t.) Finally, we talk about Mindy’s secret pregnancy, her new book, and how being single is actually great for being productive. We wrap up by basically pinching our...
Dec 10, 2020•18 min•Ep. 171
On this Sunday’s post-Thanksgiving episode, Sami and Aleen start with a recap of their holiday weekends, what they ate, and why the diet really doesn’t start tomorrow anymore. Plus, they talk about values-based thinking, how our beliefs are tied to our identity, and why it’s so f*cking hard to keep up with affirmations. Then they dive into a *SPOILER* filled recap of the season finale of HBO’s The Undoing (so, catch TF up now if you haven’t yet) complete with all their favorite thoughts and theo...
Dec 06, 2020•41 min•Ep. 170
On this Thursday’s episode, Sami and Aleen dive into how they’ve been doing lately (not well, b*tch) and why it felt like they had more control when they were still dieting. Aleen gives us updates about her recent move before they answer the Dear DST of the week. The email comes from a nanny who has been noticing how the parents she works for are policing the snacks their children can and cannot eat. Is she right to think that these rules will affect the kids’ relationship with food later in lif...
Dec 03, 2020•19 min•Ep. 169
This week, Sami and Aleen talk to Caralyn Mirand Koch, @caralynmirand, a content creator and curve model. Caralyn starts off telling Sami and Aleen about her high school experience and how being in a plus sized modeling competition at an early age shaped her future career. Caralyn also talks about confidence, where it comes from, and how she maintains it everyday. Then, she explains how to know if the bra you’re wearing is actually the right size for you. They wrap it up by sharing their fashion...
Nov 29, 2020•55 min•Ep. 168
On this Thanksgiving edition of Dear DST, a listener asks how to respond to her sister after she blew up the family group chat with demands for the Thanksgiving menu. Should she feel compelled to accommodate her sister and include “healthy” options on the table? They discuss how these siblings may be projecting their own food issues onto each other and why they are at odds over their respective choices. Plus, they talk about Thanksgiving etiquette and why it differs from family to family. Finall...
Nov 26, 2020•24 min•Ep. 167
To help celebrate Thanksgiving (and all the food anxiety that comes with it) Sami and Aleen are joined once again by comedian Jared Freid of the U Up? podcast. They start by sharing their Thanksgiving plans and discuss how to navigate family gatherings this year. Jared shares his experience working with a registered dietician, including how DST led him to try it out, and tells a story about allowing himself to finish a container of peanuts. They talk about the challenge of setting fitness goals ...
Nov 22, 2020•58 min•Ep. 166
On this week’s Dear DST, we hear from a listener who is concerned about visiting her boyfriend’s family and sticking to the way she’s used to eating. How do we manage anxiety in a setting like that? They tackle how it’s okay to bring her own snacks and vocalize when she’d like to eat. But, it’s also okay to allow yourself to try the coffee creamer you’re not used to, instead of your usual skim milk — you might end up liking it so much more. Then they talk about some of the foods they’ve realized...
Nov 19, 2020•22 min•Ep. 165
After a week of post-election anxiety, Sami and Aleen are back to talk about how they’re feeling (and how we’re all feeling) at the moment. They explain why even through tons of election stress, there is still hope. They share some of their favorites ways to cope with COVID stress lately, using everything from the new Real Housewives franchise to lamps for seasonal depression just to get through it all. They also dive into their vices right now, like how they both feel addicted to their phones, ...
Nov 15, 2020•38 min•Ep. 164
On this week’s Dear DST, Aleen and Sami read a NSW about taking a solo workout class and talk about what other experiences have made them feel liberated lately. Then they tackle an email about binging and the anxiety that comes with it when you’re in recovery. They explain how they avoid feeling so hard on themselves when they don’t have a “good day” and why it’s normal to have moments or days where you don’t feel proud of your progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Nov 12, 2020•17 min•Ep. 163
On this episode of DST, in an attempt to keep things light during a chaotic week, Aleen and Sami are answering all your questions and random hypotheticals. They start with an update on Aleen’s moving situation, who Sami would choose to be president, and what diet they would love to never talk about again. Then, they move onto hypotheticals and Would You Rather’s questions like what workout class describes them best, and who has more expired food in their house. The entire episode will be sure to...
Nov 08, 2020•47 min•Ep. 162
`On this week’s Dear DST, a listener writes in to ask how to handle going home from college for the upcoming holidays after losing weight. What’s the best way to respond if her family makes unwanted comments about her weight loss? Plus, they give advice regarding her concerns that being back at home (and returning to that all-too-familiar environment) will cause her to gain the weight back, because who hasn’t. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 05, 2020•16 min•Ep. 161
On this pre-election episode, Sami and Aleen are back to talk about overcoming election anxiety and getting yourself out of a self-care rut. They start by recognizing a major omission from last episode’s Halloween candy conversation: the almighty Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Then they dive into how stress has caused a “relapse” in their intuitive eating journey, and how they figured out a healthy way to get out of the rut. They talk about stocking up on election-night snacks and tell us what they’...
Nov 01, 2020•47 min•Ep. 160
Sami and Aleen start this week’s Dear DST episode with a debate about their favorite Halloween candies (and try to figure out WTF nougat is anyway). They tell us how they plan to spend the holiday and which candies they’ll be eating. Then they respond to an email from a listener who felt insulted when she got confused for a coworker, leading her to question her body image. How should we respond when someone compares our body to others in an unflattering way? Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Oct 29, 2020•15 min•Ep. 159
