Ever feel like food is the only way you’re allowed to rest? In this episode, we dive into the complicated overlap between rest, productivity, and eating — especially when slowing down feels wrong . We talk about using food to procrastinate, to collapse, or "let go" … and the cultural guilt that makes true rest so hard to claim. If you’ve ever felt anxious doing nothing (unless snacks are involved), this one goes there. 00:49 The Struggle with Rest and Productivity 01:38 Exploring the Concept of ...
Jun 25, 2025•38 min•Ep. 203
This week, we’re talking boundaries—the invisible lines that protect our time, energy, and sanity (when we actually enforce them). Stef and Sarah unpack what boundaries really are (hint: not just saying “no”), how they show up in our bodies, our relationships, and our work—and why so many of us struggle to hold them. From family dynamics to friend drama, people-pleasing traps to food boundaries, they share real stories of what it takes to define and defend your limits without guilt. They also ge...
Jun 11, 2025•40 min•Ep. 202
In this episode, the hosts introduce their guest Nicola Salmon, a fertility coach with a medical science background who advocates for fat-positive fertility. Nicola shares strategies for navigating the biases in fertility healthcare systems, especially for those in bigger bodies. She discusses her journey, the myths around fertility in fat bodies, and the challenges posed by current medical practices, including BMI restrictions and the implications of GLP-1 medications. Nicola also offers insigh...
May 28, 2025•44 min•Ep. 201
In our epic 200th episode, we celebrate nearly four years of non-stop conversations without missing a single week! We dive into listener questions, sharing our (sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious) insights on binge eating recovery, talking to kids about food, and handling body insecurities. We reveal a little about ourselves with a fun quiz—you'll find out who’s the over-packer and who’s likely to adopt a stray pet on impulse. Stick around for the grand finale: a HUGE announcement that’ll h...
May 14, 2025•57 min•Ep. 200
In episode 199, the hosts introduce and interview Anny Johnson from The Fat Ugly Blog . Anny shares her personal story of recovering from binge eating disorder and discusses the complexities of her journey as a black woman in recovery spaces. Despite technical hiccups during the introduction, Anny remains a captivating guest, shedding light on her experience of achieving her dream job as cabin crew, the ongoing challenges in body image, and the power of self-compassion. She speaks about reclaimi...
May 07, 2025•49 min•Ep. 199
In this live-streamed episode, Stef and Sarah explore the nuanced world of cravings — what drives them, how they differ from binge or overeating urges, and why they’re often more complicated than they seem. They discuss the physiological and emotional undercurrents behind cravings, from hormonal shifts to nervous system dysregulation, weaving in personal experiences — including Stef’s two most memorable pregnancy cravings. The conversation unpacks how cravings show up differently for restrictors...
Apr 30, 2025•41 min•Ep. 198
In this episode, Stef and Sarah are talking about body image fluctuations. They kick things off with Stef admitting she’s been in a bit of a funk lately, which has her feeling some body image blues. They chat about how our moods can totally mess with how we see our bodies —like when you're tired or anxious, everything feels heavier and more irritating. Stef talks about the importance of recognizing these mood shifts and working on regulating them before trying to 'fix' anything else. They also t...
Apr 23, 2025•42 min
In this heartfelt episode, Sarah and Stef explore the concept of self-forgiveness, including that it isn't about excusing harmful behaviors but rather about understanding and acknowledging the underlying causes of our actions. Sarah emphasizes the role of self-forgiveness in her personal growth, sharing how recognizing our inherent innocence can change the way we address self-blame and guilt. Stef reflects on the interplay between self-forgiveness and accountability , discussing the importance o...
Apr 16, 2025•45 min•Ep. 196
The main topic of the episode addresses the recent cultural emphasis on thinness and the use of weight loss drugs like GLP-1 medications. Stef and Sarah explore the societal pressure for thinness, the resurgence of weight loss as a value, and how it impacts people on a personal level, particularly those in recovery from eating disorders. They delve into their own experiences and observations about how the culture of weight loss drugs affects our body image. Stef discusses the guilt and pressure ...
Apr 09, 2025•37 min•Ep. 195
In this episode, Sarah and Stef explore the topic of why they decided to make this a rare two-part series. Stef sparked the idea due to a client's suggestion to dive deeper into the emotional aspects tied to realizing one can't diet anymore. They chat about their personal experiences and how differently they feel about the inability to diet. Stef shares that she often felt anger, stemming from the frustrating feeling of being controlled by an uncontrollable force. Sarah, on the other hand, felt ...
Apr 02, 2025•48 min•Ep. 194
Sarah and Stef delve into the complex emotions around dieting and the struggles of non-diet living. To kick things off, Sarah brings up the topic of feeling stuck between wanting to diet and feeling like you can't, even if you wanted to. This sets the stage for a thoughtful discussion about how dieting, and the decision to step away from it, evokes a range of emotions—from failure to empowerment. Stef offers personal anecdotes and client stories, revealing how the dieting mindset is often ingrai...
Mar 26, 2025•37 min•Ep. 193
This episode delivers a nuanced discussion to help you differentiate between health concerns and health anxiety/disorder . Stef shares her personal journey of health with her development of orthorexia, sharing insights into how she navigated fear and eventaully learned to balance awareness with emotional regulation. The hosts both highlight the impact of diet culture and wellness culture on their perceptions of health and food, and how diverging from these influences helped them take care of the...
Mar 19, 2025•38 min•Ep. 192
In this heartfelt episode of the Life After Diets podcast, Sarah and Stef dive into the complex topic of "the father wound." Sarah Dosanjh, a psychotherapist, and Stef, a binge recovery health coach, share personal stories and insights about how their relationships with their fathers have impacted their lives and emotional well-being. Sarah opens up about her father's unpredictable nature, oscillating between fun, adventurous moments and explosive anger, which left her feeling punished and bewil...
Mar 12, 2025•39 min•Ep. 191
In this guest episode, Stef's former client Melissa shares her story of leaving Overeaters Anonymous after twenty years to heal her "inner munchie." Melissa, a therapist from Michigan who also has ADHD, explains how her disordered relationship with food began at a young age when she couldn't "control" her sweet cravings and inherited shame about this part of herself. Working to integrate all of her Parts through Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Melisssa worked towards an Intutive Eating mo...
Mar 05, 2025•49 min•Ep. 190
In this episode, Sarah and Stef dive into the topic of food permission, addressing the intriguing question: “Can you really eat whatever you want whenever you want?” They share personal insights and client experiences to unpack the concept of intuitive eating, discussing the common misunderstandings and the nuanced approach necessary for true food freedom. They emphasize the importance of balancing permission with consideration, understanding emotional and mental restrictions, and the role of ge...
Feb 26, 2025•39 min•Ep. 189
In this episode, Sarah and Stef explore how body acceptance might feel like defeat for many who have struggled to change their bodies and feel oppressed by their circumstances. They dissect how acceptance is a proactive practice that differs from the feeling of defeat, which is reactionary and involves a perceived loss against external forces. Stef shares personal insights on how acceptance can feel oppressive when it seems to invalidate self-advocacy, while Sarah discusses how resistance to acc...
Feb 19, 2025•40 min•Ep. 188
In Episode 187, we dive headfirst into the popular yet contentious world of diet psychology with our review of “Never Binge Again” by Glenn Livingstone, PhD. This episode is for anyone interested in behavioral psychology, eating disorder recovery, or just looking for a candid conversation that challenges traditional expert opinion. Join Sarah and Stef as they dissect Livingstone’s approach to defeating binge eating, which promotes calling our cravings “pig squeals” and embracing extreme black-an...
Feb 12, 2025•46 min•Ep. 187
Welcome to Episode 186 of "Life After Diets," where Stef and Sarah dive into a topic we've surprisingly not tackled before—GLP-1 medications and their implications. GLP-1, commonly known from brands like Ozempic, has been generating buzz for its use in weight management. In this episode, Stef and Sarah unpack the complexities of this tender subject, sharing their personal and professional insights. We kick things off by reminiscing about a previously unreleased episode that touched on similar th...
Feb 05, 2025•42 min•Ep. 186
This episode delves into topic of body checking—when individuals habitually monitor their body size or shape. Sarah and Stef share personal experiences, discussing their different relationships with body checking. Stef candidly describes how body checking was a way to manage her anxiety and provides insights into her journey towards recovery, detailing strategies such as changing her response to body checking rather than trying to stop the behavior outright. Sarah contrasts with Stef by explaini...
Jan 29, 2025•40 min•Ep. 185
In this insightful episode of Life After Diets, hosts Stef and Sarah delve into the topic of planned versus unplanned binges. They explore the complexities behind both types of binge eating, including personal anecdotes and psychological insights. The discussion covers how factors like anxiety, stress, and emotional triggers contribute to these behaviors. They also examine the role of planning in providing a sense of control and how unplanned binges often feel more impulsive and uncontrollable. ...
Jan 22, 2025•41 min•Ep. 184
In this episode, Stef and Sarah delve into the emotional topic of the mother wound. The discussion begins with light-hearted banter but quickly deepens into a profound conversation about the impact mothers have on their children. They explore insights from books like "Mother Hunger" by Kelly McDaniel and "Discovering the Inner Mother" by Bethany Webster but also bring personal experiences into the room. The hosts discuss the different ways mothers can nurture and unintentionally wound their chil...
Jan 15, 2025•45 min•Ep. 183
In this episode, a therapist and a certified coach delve into the intricacies of 12-step programs, focusing on Overeaters Anonymous (OA) and its newer counterpart, Food Addicts Anonymous (FA). They discuss the challenges and potential benefits of these programs for those struggling with food issues, citing personal experiences and client stories. Key topics include the principles of abstinence, the impact of restrictive eating, the role of sponsors, and the delicate balance between support and c...
Jan 08, 2025•52 min•Ep. 182
If you're tired of "new year, new you" energy, tune into this lower-pressure episode where Sarah and Stef meet the new year with gentle intentions and "words for the year." We'll give you the space to have goals for yourself without the pressure of "pass/fail" or completely reinventing yourself overnight. Stefanie's Somatic Experiencing and Nervous System Regulation Course is enrolling now! Use code: LADLISTENS for a discount at checkout Join our growing support community. This community is for ...
Jan 01, 2025•42 min•Ep. 181
This episode was supposed to be about self-care during the holidays...and it turned into a ramble between Stef and Sarah about Christmases past and present, how to cope during the week between Christmas and New Years, and...productivity? We're just here to keep you company this week. So settle in with your cup of hot chocolate and join us for this Christmas Day ramble. Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want a safe space to work through your daily struggles with...
Dec 26, 2024•37 min•Ep. 180
In this insightful episode, Sarah and Stef delve into the complex interplay of emotions like sadness, anger, and disconnection. They explore how sadness is often a front for deeper emotional experiences and how it contrasts with the energizing force of anger. Stef shares her struggles with collapsing into sadness and explains how food was a coping mechanism for her during emotionally trying times. Sarah discusses the nuanced responses to sadness and the importance of grieving effectively. The ep...
Dec 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 179
In this episode, the hosts delve into the complex relationship between alcohol and eating disorders, particularly binge eating. They start the discussion by sharing personal anecdotes about how alcohol influences their social interactions and how different cultures toast and drink. The conversation then shifts to how alcohol can trigger binge eating and decreases inhibitions, leading to loss of control around food, and sometimes serves as a substitute for food-related restrictions. Various facet...
Dec 11, 2024•37 min•Ep. 178
In this week’s episode, Sarah and Stef welcome Laura Khoudari, a trauma-informed personal trainer, writer, and the author of "Lifting Heavy Things." Laura shares her unique approach to strength training, which prioritizes the nervous system and emotional well-being over traditional fitness goals. Throughout the interview, Laura opens up about her personal journey from dealing with chronic pain and binge eating disorder to finding empowerment through strength training. She also discusses what it ...
Dec 04, 2024•45 min•Ep. 177
In Episode 176 of our podcast, titled "Sickness and Appetite," hosts Stef and Sarah delve into the intricate relationship between illness and appetite. They share personal stories and theories on how sickness affects hunger, exploring varied reactions ranging from increased appetite to the desire for comfort food. Stef discusses a potential connection between eating disorders and an increased appetite during illness, while Sarah reflects on emotional responses to being sick. The conversation als...
Nov 27, 2024•36 min•Ep. 176
In this episode, we dove deep into the topic of evening snacking (and how complicated it can be). We explored various reasons why people might snack at night, from emotional triggers (like seeking comfort or reward) to biological factors (like needing a full stomach to sleep better). We also talked about personal experiences with nighttime eating habits and how different strategies can help, such as being more intentional with snacks or considering the role of movement. This episode really highl...
Nov 20, 2024•39 min•Ep. 175
In this episode, Sarah and Stef dive into the complex relationship between stress and eating habits. They share personal anecdotes (starting with Sarah's recent Domino's Pizza ordering experience) about how stress impacts their food choices and delve into the psychological and physiological reasons behind these patterns. Topics discussed include the challenges of stress-induced cravings, the role of carbohydrates and comfort foods, and practical strategies for managing stress. The episode also e...
Nov 13, 2024•45 min•Ep. 176
