In this episode, we’ll be exploring the cycle of fear and blame the diet industry has created and how this impacts our body image and relationship to food. We’ll also look at some of the nuances, including the erasure of fat folks from history, and why it appears to be socially acceptable to discriminate against someone based on their body size/weight. We’ll also take a look at how the diet industry uses fear based marketing practices to sell their products, and the outcomes when the ‘solution’ doesn’t work.

If you’d rather not hear my life, podcast and business update, skip forward to 12:21

Content Warning: use of the word o*esity within context at 13:40

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Chapters

00:00 Halloween Preparations and Personal Updates

07:02 Reflections on the Podcast Journey

12:09 Haunting Diet Myths: Introduction to the Topic

20:15 The Diet Industry Cycle Explained

32:03 Understanding Body Diversity and Acceptance

In this episode, Melanie discusses the themes of food, body positivity, and the impact of diet culture, particularly during Halloween. She emphasises the importance of food neutrality and intuitive eating, sharing personal experiences and insights on how to navigate societal pressures around food. The conversation challenges fear-based messaging and promotes self-acceptance, encouraging listeners to find joy in their food choices without moral judgement.

Takeaways

Food is often associated with guilt and shame due to diet culture.

Finding joy in food can lead to a healthier relationship with it.

BMI is an outdated and flawed measurement.

Practising food neutrality means recognizing that all foods have value.

The diet industry thrives on creating fear around food choices.

Self-trust is essential in developing a positive relationship with food.

Food can evoke memories and emotions, which are important to acknowledge.

Challenging societal norms around food can empower individuals.

Engaging in non-food related activities can help reduce food focus during holidays.

The nutrition content of food does not define one's worth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Embracing Food Neutrality During Halloween

12:05 Understanding Diet Culture and Its Impact

31:06 Practising Food Neutrality and Intuitive Eating

Welcome to your October Myth Busting Minisode!

Following on from last weeks regular episode, I wanted to highlight some of the shameful language used when talking about fitness and movement. Personally, this language feels outdated but I recognise this is only because I left business and fitness spaces where the idea that “we all have the same 24 hours” is commonplace.

"We don't owe anybody fitness."

In this episode, I’ll be discussing the complexities surrounding movement and fitness, particularly in relation to privilege and societal expectations. We’ll explore the impact of diet culture, and the outdated narratives that often accompany discussions about prioritising movement.

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