Episode 164: Kara Bazzi of Opal Food & Body on Identity in Sport and ED Recovery

Kara Bazzi, LMFT, CEDS is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has worked in the field of eating disorders for almost 20 years. Her passion for the work was born out of her own experience of struggling in her relationship with food and exercise as a collegiate athlete. Kara, along with two colleagues, opened Opal: Food+Body Wisdom in early 2012, an eating disorder treatment center in Seattle, WA, whose mission is to free people from diet culture. Kara is the head of the Exercise+Sport program at Opal, ensuring that people's relationship to movement, sport and exercise is adequately addressed in treatment. Topics we discuss with Kara include: -Give us a glimpse into your own athletic background and professional pursuits -- how did you become passionate in sport, identity, and the work you are involved in now? -What role does identity play in running? How can we prevent or help not get our whole identities wrapped up in running? -What are some exercises (or practices) we can do to assess our relationship with sport, identity, and eating behaviors? Anywhere you would recommend starting? -Opal Food & Body -- more about the organization as a whole, how you got started, and where it's headed -Advice to your younger self or someone in their late teens, early twenties? -Any words of wisdom for coaches, parents, or mentors of young girls to cultivate a healthy relationship with food, body, identity, and sport -What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you? Connect with Kara and the team at Opal Food & Body: www.opalfoodandbody.com Show Notes: http://www.strongrunnerchicks.com/episode-164-kara-bazzi-of-opal-food-body-on-identity-in-sport-and-ed-recovery/ Special shout-out to today's sponsor, FEM Protein Powder! FEM is a women-founded company and a vegan, plant-based protein powder with all-natural ingredients and a delicious cinnamon vanilla flavor. Use code "STRONGRUNNERCHICKS" to save 15% off your order.