209. Navigating Loss of Identity (not like a Mean Girl); Q&A: How to cope with diet culture talk in the break room

In this solo episode of Life After Diets, Stefanie Michele takes a deeply personal look at identity — how it forms, how it gets tangled up with food and body image, and how it shifts in the process of recovery. With her co-host Sarah leaving the podcast, Stefanie reflects on what it means to carry the podcast forward on her own and how that mirrors the ways we all renegotiate who we are when familiar roles change. She shares vulnerable stories from her teenage years, including moments when dieting and comparison became tied to her sense of belonging, and how those early identities carried forward into adulthood. Stefanie unpacks the pull of societal validation — being seen as the "fit one," the "healthy one," or even the "struggling one" — and how these labels can feel both protective and limiting. The episode also explores the everyday challenges of navigating diet culture, from handling casual food and body talk to setting boundaries that protect your well-being. Stefanie discusses practical ways to self-soothe, create space for uncomfortable emotions, and question the narratives that no longer serve you. More than a story of food or recovery, this conversation is about identity itself: the parts of us we protect, the roles we cling to, and the freedom that comes with exploring new ways of being. Connect with Stefanie: Website: www.iamstefaniemichele.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele Substack: www.substack.com/@iamstefaniemichele Email: [email protected]