The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast

I had the opportunity to speak with Stefanie Michele , whose work I have been following for some time and who is one of these people with an amazing gift with words. She can put language to complex topics in a way that gets straight to the heart of the matter, and fits onto tiny Instagram squares!Her work is nuanced and touches on so many of the patterns I have witnessed time and time again, in my own clinical work. I hope you will enjoy this conversation as much as I did.Stefanie is a Binge Eating Recovery & Body Image Coach specializing in helping people overcome food and body image issues. She holds degrees in Human Development Psychology and Occupational Therapy with a certification in Integrative Health Coaching and Intuitive Eating Counseling, and is currently working towards her certification in Somatic Experiencing. However, she considers her lived experience of recovery her most valuable asset. Stefanie lives in NJ with her husband and 3 daughters.In this podcast episode we talk about:- Stephanie Michele’s own lived experience with dieting, disordered eating and her recovery journey into a kinder relationship with food, eating and her body- Body Neutrality as a catalyst for change- “Binge-permitters” as different to “binge-restrict” types- How trauma can impact how we experience binge eating and/or weight gain as “danger”- The complexity and layers of healing and how so much of what feels like barriers are not a willpower issue but often trauma reactions which takes place subconsciously- Binge Eating is a coping mechanism and sometimes giving it up can feel so hard, especially if there is nothing else to take its place- Intuitive Eating is not the place to start, however we do need to bring food along in the recovery journey, instead of simply learning to *not* engage in that behaviour- That we can (re)learn that saying no isn’t necessarily always restriction.Though this podcast episode is focusing in binge eating, there are definitely pearls of wisdom even if you are identifying more as a restictive eater, who don’t really binge or emotionally eat.Find more of Stephanie Michele’s work here:Website: www.iamstefaniemichele.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichelePodcast: Life After DietsSubstack: https://substack.com/@iamstefaniemicheleI am currently taking on new clients so if you are interested in exploring us working together please book in on the link below ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 workhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial sessionhttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speak with my former Centre for Mindful Eating board member colleague. This episode tackle a topic that I haven’t spoken much about before, here on the podcast, or elsewhere in my work.It is an important part of this work I think we often don’t get into much in eating disorder recovery. Maybe because most of us who are professionals in this space are nutrition professionals or therapists, and unless we are really into fitness or sport ourselves, it may not cross our minds to ask questions about someone’s relationship with exercise and movement.Though movement can be wonderful for most people, when in recovery from an eating disorder or disordered eating it can be a complicated relationship.I hope you will enjoy the conversation between myself and Gillian!Intuitive Eating Coach Gillian Hood supports women in breaking free from disordered eating, body hatred, and a life revolving around food.Women sick and tired of yo-yo dieting and the disordered or binge eating that follows, are able to create a peaceful relationship with food and a compassionate, positive relationship with their bodies as a direct result of their transformational work with Gillian.As a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, whose work is trauma-informed and aligned with the Health at Every Size® approach, Gillian knows these challenges are not about the food.“Your thoughts & beliefs are key in overcoming struggles with food and your body,” she says. Clients trust her because she faced many of the same issues and overcame them using what became her proven Mind-Body Mutual Trust™ approach she uses with her clients.For over 20 years, hundreds of women have embraced Gillian’s unconventional yet powerful and proven approach to rejecting diet culture, ever-changing food rules and unrealistic societal expectations for good.Instead, by making peace with food and cultivating body respect, they learn to use self-compassion in response to difficult emotions and they develop self-acceptance, often for the first time in decades.Clients say the best result from Gillian’s approach is their newfound freedom:Freedom from endless dietingFreedom from using food to cope with painful emotionsFreedom from the self-loathing & body hatred that drives more overeatingClients learn their body is on their side, and with Mind-Body Mutual Trust™ they work with it, instead of fighting it, for sustainable outcomes that don’t require dieting, restricting or punishing exercise ,allowing for more time and energy to enjoy life and pursue their dreams.Selected credentials:• Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor• ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP)• National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)• International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach (ICF-PCC)In this episode we speak about:- How Diet Culture and a desire to control her body was the catalyst for getting her primary degree in Exercise physiology, not an interest in sport…!- Binge eating and weight cycling- Finding Intuitive Eating and eventually through that process she found peace with food- What is exercise resistance, and how can we work through that?- Divesting exercise and movement from dieting and weight loss pursuits- Signs to keep an eye out for if you think yours, or someone close to you is engaging is compulsive exercise- Three things that can help if you have a challenging relationship with exerciseWhere to find our more about Gillian’s workFB page: https://www.facebook.com/gillianhoodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillianthood/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthieroutcomes/Substack: Website: https://HealthierOutcomes.comResource mentioned in the episode: https://www.safeexerciseateverystage.com/Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 workhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial sessionhttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speak with my friend and colleague Marcie Desmond.Marcie Desmond is a seasoned professional who worked as an executive manager for over 20 years in Technology and Management Consulting. She held positions as a Managing Partner, Chief Information Officer, and Vice President in both private and public organizations. She was known as a “fixer” and was brought in to build and/or overhaul programs, teams, and organizations. She is a skilled coach, mentor, facilitator, trainer, manager, and strategic planner.Marcie battled food and weight issues most of her life. Although she was a highly successful executive for over 2 decades, she wasn’t as successful with her food and weight as she was with her career. She finally broke free of unhealthy eating patterns and learned that diets just don’t work – but keep us stuck in cycles of yoyo dieting and feelings of frustration, guilt and shame.Now a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC with specialist training in emotional and binge eating and functional nutrition, she helps clients achieve healthier relationships with food. She is also certified as an ADHD coach and helps women with ADHD who struggle with emotional and binge eating.Marcie’s favourite quote is “The greatest power you have is knowing you have power.” She is passionate about helping women with “Food Empowerment” so that they can reclaim their power with food and rediscover joyful eating.In this podcast episode we cover:- Some of Marcie’s early experiences with food- How she had ADHD and how this impacted her college experiences both with studies and her food. (She was only diagnosed in her mid 60s)- How having a support system and structure around her, or not, impacted on her binge eating- What ADHD is and how it may present in people. There are many different types as it turns out!- The gifts that come along with ADHD- How ADHD and binge eating creates the perfect storm- Three ways to get started on your way to a binge less / binge free futureThere is a lot in this episode and I know that both Marcie and I hope that by sharing this conversation it may illuminate how binge eating can show up in people with ADHD / ADHD:ers, but that this doesn’t mean that you are broken or have to live with it for the rest of your life.And, it may also be really helpful to work with a practitioner who understands this specific dynamic.You can find more about Marcie’s work here: https://wellness-alternative.com/Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 workhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial sessionhttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

It is my intention to get Season 5 of The Nourishment Podcast out to you over the coming weeks and months as I have so many juicy conversations to share with you!This week I am speaking to Zuzanna Gajowic.Zuzanna is a Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist, first and only Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Consultant (CEDS-C) in Ireland with a profound dedication to supporting individuals and families on their journey towards healing and recovery. As the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) Chapter Chair of Ireland, she works hard on advancing awareness and understanding of eating disorders in my community.She has over a decade of experience in the field, and worked across all levels of care, from residential treatment centres to outpatient settings and private practice. Her comprehensive approach to recovery encompasses physical healing, body image issues, and the cultivation of deep connections within families.In addition to her clinical work, she is actively involved in teaching, consulting, and supervising other therapists, sharing knowledge and expertise with the next generation of professionals. Zuzanna is also a Clinical Lead in a Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Centre and maintain a small private practice.In this episode we speak about:- What brought Zuzanna to this work.- Looking beyond behavioural changes only, and towards neurobiology as both understanding the illness and finding a wider treatment path.- The complexity of Eating Disorders.- The stigma around EDs. It is not quiet as simple as “just stop” or “just eat”.- How trauma can impact on our general behaviours and that sometimes we may not realise how a specific event did have an impact.- How healing happens in relationships that are safe and supportive.- The importance of getting support for recovery and that sometimes higher levels of care is necessary (though it can be difficult to access).You can find more about Zuzanna’s work with her colleague Deirdre Reddan and their work supporting families here: https://supportedfamilies.ie/I also interviewed Deirdre back in Season 1 and you can find this conversation here.And you can find them both on their Instagram page here.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial sessionhttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

It is that time of year again, when food is plenty and the expectations are like so. I am bringing back this podcast episode I did a few year ago as I think it may be helpful again, right now.In a conversation I had with a client recently I found myself saying “I don’t feel like the societal energy at this time of year matches natures rhythm of this time of year”. What I mean by that is, for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere, this is the darkest time of year. A time that calls for slowing down, going inward and for rest.In nature, we see that everywhere. Many birds have migrated south, the trees stand naked and are conserving their energy for Spring, many animals are hirbernating. The days are shorter and the sun, when making an appearance in hanging low in the sky.Everything in nature is saying: rest, slow down. Yet the expectaions feels the complete opposite. It feels like the to-do list never ends. Presents to get, decorations to put up, food to make, and work committments to tie up before the end of the work year.I don’t know about you, but I feel tired. I want to rest. To sleep until the day breaks and to be curled up with a book and a hot mug of tea in the evening. I want to enjoy time and take things slow. It is the end of the year, it is mid winter and Spring with its fresh energy is still several months away.For those who are struggling with their relationship with food and their bodies this can be a particularly challenging time. What to eat, what not to eat, listeing to diet talk, body comparisions rearing its ugly head and having an impact on weather to go out or stay in.There is an anticipation of all the food that is expected to be eaten at one particular day, and then of course the looming promise of yet another “new year new you” in the weeks to follow…If you are actively working on healing your relationship with food and your body then you know that recovey is a continous work in progress that does not take a break just because it is Christmas. However, depending on where in your journey you are, this time can be a good opportunity to:* Keep focusing on eating regular meals and snack that are adequate (often more than you think!) throughout the period. If your typical eating rhythm is thrown off a bit by parties / nights out, adjust the best you can so you don’t end up skipping meals or snacks.* Don’t skip meal in an attempt to compensate! This is often a surefire way to end up bingeing later, from hunger or as way to rebel against mental restriction.This time of year, because it can be stressful and overwhelming also presents an opportunity to see how far you’ve come in your process.Maybe you are not finding yourself sneaking out and eating in secret. Or this year you are able to eat a food that caused a great deal of anxiety last year.Changes in our relationship with food and our bodies, when healing are often small and sometimes hard to notice. Often it is not until you look back that you can see how far you’ve come.I hope you take good, kind care of yourself over these next few weeks. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s podcast episode I am speaking with my Irish colleague Siobhan Hennelly about how we can support kids and young people to have a better relationship with their bodies.Siobhan is a primary school teacher, a nutritionist, and trained as personal trainer. She also has a masters degree in Psychology and specialist diploma in Eating Disorders. She is a mom of three, originally from Co. Galway but now living in Co. Mayo.Siobhan delivers talks for teachers, parents groups and sports clubs on the area of body image and body image for children. And she also has a social media presence where she share about body image for children.In this episode we talk about:- Siobhan’s personal and professional journey to how she got to focus on body image, and body image for kind specifically- What we mean when we talk about body image- The four components that make up our body image- The concept of ‘neutral’ body image- How the people in our environment have an impact on how we feel about and relate to our bodies- That simply refraining from commenting on our own bodies, or other people’s bodies can have a profound impact- Why it is important to foster a healthy body image in kids- Some of the positive ripple effects that can happen when we work towards improving body image- Some things we can do to nurture our children’s, and our own(!) body image in a positive wayFind more about Siobhan’s work hereFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work herehttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

The final episode of Season 4 is here! Looking back it’s been a great season, I think, with some very informative guests covering a variety of topics. You can always got to this page to access all previous podcast episodes.This week I’m talking with my Irish colleague Niamh, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting in person at an event a few years ago. Niamh is incredibly articulate and also a really lovely person full stop. I hope you will enjoy this interview and podcast episode as much as I enjoyed having this conversation with Niamh.Niamh Orbinski is a Nutritionist, Intuitive Eating Counsellor, Yoga Teacher and Trainee Psychotherapist who runs a weight-inclusive, virtual nutrition practice specialising in intuitive eating, disordered eating and body image. Her work is HAES aligned, meaning that she encourages health-promoting behaviours, regardless of their outcome on weight. As a nutrition counsellor, she likes to get to the root of food issues and habits through what is best described as food and body image therapy. She believes that when we look beyond weight, we open ourselves up to a healthier relationship with food, body and self. She is also the author of 'No Apologies: Ditch Diet Culture and Rebuild Your Relationship with Food', which was published by Harper Collins in 2023 and the host of the Food Body and Beyond podcastIn this episode we speak about:- A bit about Niamh’s journey from conventionally trained nutritionist supporting people with intentional weight loss to finding Intuitive Eating and embracing weight inclusive care.- The importance of having done your own work on understanding and divesting from Diet Culture- How the journey of breaking free from dieting and Diet Culture is a radical one, and that even though it is never easy, being in a body that is deemed culturally acceptable makes it easier as that person is more likely to be protected from weight stigma than someone in a larger body.- The definition of Diet Culture- How leaving Diet Culture behind can feel like a lonely place at time, as well as how insidious it is!- How moving from the rigid “rules” of Diet Culture can invite more flexibility and opportunities to make the best of situations to still meet our health goals- Clarifications on Intuitive Eating, what it is really about, and what it isn’t.Where to find Niamh Orbinskin onlineWebsite: nutritionwithniamh.comInstagram: @nutritionwithniamh Podcast: Food, Body and BeyondAdditional resources mentioned in the episodeOvercoming the Fear of Weight gain – from Niamh’s podcastWhy am I afraid of gaining weight - from my blogReclaiming Body Trust - An 8 Week Online Group Programme is starting next week on the 30th of April!If you are a listener of this podcast (or read my newsletter) this course may very well be for you. Especially you found that much of what we discussed in this week’s podcast episode resonating, but still feeling like you could do with some support.It will be a small intimate group with lots of space for some individual support and feedback. As we are making our way through the topics of each week there is space for both reflection as well as action.It is my my hope and intention that you will feel more at home in your body and less overwhelmed around food by the end of the 8 weeks.Even if you are new to the ideas of moving away from Diet Culture and diets / restriction / disordered eating, or if you you have been on this journey for awhile, I think you will get something out of it.Being part of a group makes the journey less isolating too, because once we open our eyes to Diet Culture and the harms of it, you will see it everywhere! It is good to not feel alone.Find further details and how to sign up here.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work herehttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

Pam Goodman is an Eating Disorder and Addiction Specialist FDAP/UK/RNShe is a dedicated and compassionate Recovery Advocate with a profound personal journey through her own Eating disorder. Over the years, she has truly realised her passion and the potential to free individuals from the constant battel that is called Emotional /Binge Eating and Bulimia.Pam has worked in this field for over 30 years and pioneered one of the first second stage of treatment for Eating disordered individuals in South Africa, guiding clients to make positive behaviour changes instead of weight orientated goals.I am grateful to have had this conversation with Pam for the Joyful + Nourishment Podcast, which centres around her own lived experience and recovery journey.*** There are mentions of eating disorder behaviours in this episode, but there are also plenty of mentions of things that Pam have done for herself and tools she use with clients to support them on their recovery path. Please use your own discretion to decide if this episode will be helpful or not for where you are right now. ***In this episode we talk about:- Self disclosure- How much shame (and often secrecy) having an Eating Disorder brings to the person suffering- How sharing recovery stories can help people feel less alone, and hopefully less shame- That bulimia is more than just purging and vomiting- How food was comfort when her parents were absent due to working a lot- The beginning of her dieting journey at age 12- How eventually she hit rock-bottom and decided to pursue recovery- How Diet Culture and diet talk is everywhere all the time- Things that have helped on her own recovery journeyPast Podcast Episodes mentioned:From Self Objectification to Self Care with Anna StricklandUnderstanding Orhtorexia with Lynn McGovernBreaking Free from Chronic Dieting with Vania PhitidisArticle - Gaining Weigth Despite Calorie DeficitAre you looking to have a better relationship with food, eating and your body, but don’t know where to start?Are you struggling to navigate this journey on your own and feel isolated because everyone around you are still actively dieting or on weight loss drugs?Are you curious about Intuitive Eating / Attuned eating and want to feel free around food but don’t know how to get there?Then come and join me for an online group programme!Reclaiming Body Trust Starts 30th April - All Details Here.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work herehttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

There is a new podcast episode up! I am aware that the pace of producing new podcsats is so much slower than before, but I am still pretty determined to keep this project going so I hope you will stay with me.This episode is a gem, filled with a lot to chew on (pun intended). I feel grateful to be calling Vania both a friend, and a colleague. Enjoy this conversation we had exploring the topic of ‘Chronic Dieting’, something that I personally feel is not talked about, nor recognised, enough.Vania is a compassionate advocate for body acceptance and intuitive eating, guiding clients to break free from damaging cultural ideals around weight and beauty. With expertise in psychology, mindfulness-based eating awareness, and self-esteem mentoring, she helps individuals reconnect with their bodies, cultivate self-compassion, and embrace their unique power. Drawing from her personal journey and professional training, Vania fosters a world where kindness, equality, and authenticity thrive—empowering clients to create lasting change in their relationship with food, themselves, and life.In this episode we talk about:- Chronic Dieting, what it is, what might keep you there and how to move towards something else- Vania’s own dieting and body image story- How weight lost due to illness followed by positive body comment set the stage for her developing an eating disorder and how it morphed and changed over the years- How our culture can mask what is in fact problematic eating behaviours, because they have become normalised- That it is never to late to heal your relationship with food- One of my recent career highlights- How even when people recognise that dieting isn’t working for them, including controlling their weight, they are still looking for an alternative way to keep their weight under control- Emotional eating, and how we define it- Emotional “undereating”And much more. This is really a rich episode that I hope will resonate and perhaps give you an aha-moment, or two. Or hopefully, at least get you thinking.Vania has such a vast amount of insight and it was really lovely to have her be part of the podcast. She also made some valid, and different points, when it comes to joyful nourishment. That there are points of our lives where joy feels inaccessible, and where sustenance is as much as we can take in. Peace perhaps is what we are looking for.You can find Vania online here:Website www.peacefuleating.co.uk (where you can sign up for a free six part email course)InstagramFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work herehttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Wishing you a nourishing week, Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

I am back with a new episode of The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast after a hiatus. I didn’t necessarily plan to take a break in the middle of season, and since this is a self produced podcast, I decided to follow my own lead and take a decent break over the Christmas period. December was a bit hectic and looking back was starting to feel a little bit frayed around the edges, so stepping aside for a bit was needed.Before the holidays I also recorded a handful of new guest episodes for Season 5, so there is definitely more coming, though the pace of roll-out may be slower this year. I have committed to some ongoing work, which may mean that I can’t keep up producing and releasing podcasts every two weeks. Or maybe I will. Time will tell.Before we dive into this week’s podcast episode, I am letting you know that I have space for a few new clients, so if you are looking for some support with your relationship with food, eating and your body then check out what I offer and book in for a free 30 min call here.You deserve to feel at peace with food and your body, and having some support can make it easier.Now onward to today’s guest conversation with Peer Support Worker William Dwyer-Joyce (DJ)William Dwyer-Joyce is a peer support worker at Lois Bridges Eating Disorder centre with lived experience of food and body image struggles. William have experiences of mental services in Ireland both as a service user and staff. He is passionate about mutual support, reducing stigma for men experiencing mental health struggles and looking beyond symptoms and diagnosis.I was delighted when William agree to be a guest on the podcast as I believe we need to lift more male voices in this space. Not only do men struggle with eating disorders but they also struggle with body image issues.*CW Some brief mentions of substance use and self harm*In this episode we talk about:- The lack of representation when it comes to Eating Disorderd and men.- How for men athletics and sport settings can be the environment that triggers disordered eating.- How men are much more of a target now by the Beauty and Wellness Industries and the knock on effect of this on their body image.- That our bodies are not a project to be fixed.- The intersection of substance use and eating disorders and why the recovery process of abstinence does not work for eating disorder recovery.- A bit about his own journey with binge eating disorder, living in a bigger body and navigating recovery.- What Peer Support is and how a Peer Support Worker works with people.Find William D-J on InstagramFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work herehttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community hereOther episodes about with men and their relationship with food:SE4 - Ep2: A Personal Conversation with Dr Miguel Toribio-MateasSE3 - Ep2: From Crossfit to Body Positivity with Jonny Landels Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

Megrette Fletcher (She/Her) is a registered dietitian, diabetes care and education specialist, public speaker, and author. She is a mindful eating leader and co-founder of The Center for Mindful Eating and InclusiveDiabetesCare.com, a continuing education company for professionals working to improve inclusion and health equity in diabetes care. Her focus on decreasing stigma fuels her passion for weight-inclusive diabetes care, treatment, and prevention.Alongside all of her professional accolades, Megrette is also one of those warm, caring and wise people. I have had the pleasure of knowing her for almost 10 years now and have learned so much from her work in that time.It is an honour to share this conversation with you all, and I hope there is something there for you to take away, especially if you are worried about Type 2 diabetes or are living with it, and at the same time feel done with diets.In this conversation we speak about:- How she came to do work in Diabetes Care- Health inequity in Diabetes Care, meaning very few people actually get the care and support they need and deserve- How treatment for Type 2 Diabetes have changed over the decades- Type 2 Diabetes is about more than what you eat- That when we witness and affirm a positive behaviour it can help create space for lasting change- Black-and-White thinking and finding the middle ground- Compassionate curiosity- That it is possible to navigate Type 2 Diabetes without taking out the foods you love- The Force of Familiar- How mindfulness and mindful eating can help us lean into the unfamiliar- The difference between thoughts and feelingsAs you can see it is a jam packed conversation that I hope will be of benefit to many.Find more about Megrette Fletcher’s work here:Website https://megrette.com/ and https://inclusivediabetescare.com/Her Substack Newsletters: Inclusive Diabetes Care and No Weight Loss RequiredFind Me Over On:Straightforward NutritionMy 1:1 work herehttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Until next time, Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s solo episode I share the practice of “When/Then”, which is a tool of exploring how your current thought process may be keeping you from living in the present moment.Do you find yourself thinking; “When I have lost (x) weight, then I will do (insert what you are currently putting off due to your weight)?Or perhaps you’re not putting off things you want to do, but your sense of happiness and contentment? I used to say to myself before getting on the scales that “If/when the scales shows (magical number) then I will be happy.”In this podcast episode I will share with you a way to reframe this kind of thinking, and ‘try it on for size’, to feel into it, and to explore if it really is your weight that is holding you back from doing what you want to do.It might be your thinking that needs to change…I am also taking on new clients at the moment. I know it seems like a strange time to embark on this kind of journey, but I have found that it is not uncommon for people to reach out before the holidays, to get started and have some support to navigate what is often a particularly tricky time of year.If that is you book in for a free 30 min – no obligation – exploration call here.Until next time!Thank you for reading Joyful + Nourishment, a newsletter, podcast and online community with focus our relationship with food, eating and our bodies.I believe eating can be easy and that it is possible to find peace and freedom in how we relate to our bodies.Let’s explore together in community. You deserve to have this too.All posts are free. If you want to support my work please consider a paid subscription or sharing my posts & podcast with anyone you think might benefit.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

Michelle O’ Gorman is a Wexford native and a Master's Practitioner in Eating Disorders. She offers therapy for those struggling with poor body image, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and disordered eating. She has a unique insight into eating disorders, having first-hand experience, and her own journey brought her on the passionate road to helping others.She has over 15 years of experience working in the area of eating disorders in a holistic setting. Michelle works with people of all ages from all walks of life. She helps them to gain freedom on an emotional, physical, mental and spiritual level with their eating patterns and turns destructive behaviour around. Michelle brings to each session her own experience of recovery and much more. Sessions are available online and in personIn this episode we talk about:-          A bit about Michelle and her own journey of recovery from a restrictive eating disorder-          How recovery is possible but that it often takes time and isn’t a quick fix-          The importance of the therapeutic relationship-          That relapses are a normal part of recovery and that self-compassion can help-          How Diet Culture impacts how we feel about ourselves and our self worth-          The “rule of three”-          That it is never too late to get support, even if your behaviours have been going on for decadesAnd much more.I really enjoyed this conversation with Michelle and even though many of you may not be in Ireland, I have to admit that I like amplifying the professionals in this space that are based in Ireland, because it feels like we forget that are some amazing professionals in this country supporting people with their eating disorder recovery and finding peace with food, eating and their bodies.You can find more info about Michelle O’Gorman here:WebsiteInstagramFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here ⬇️⬇️ https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Wishing you a peaceful week ahead (it certainly has been a rough one in the larger world) Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This is the second part of my conversation with Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas. You can find the first part of it here, where we spent much of our time listening to his journey with food and nutrition, both personally and then how he trained in the field of first nutritional science and then on to neuroscience. The first episode with Dr Miguel has been really popular. Perhaps because he is fairly well known and also because he is such a lovely guy.In this second part we discuss:-          What the microbiome is-          How our gut bacteria communicate with the brain via the Vagus Nerve-          The intersection of Gut health and Mental health-          Some of the research he has done-          A few simple and accessible ways you can nourish your own gut microbes-          How stress can impact the gut microbiomeDr Miguel Toribio-Mateas, known affectionately as "The Creative Scientist," is a distinguished clinical neuroscientist and nutrition researcher in the UK. His expertise centres on the intricate gut-brain connection, drawing on a rich, real-world scientific foundation rather than purely academic pursuits. Dr. Miguel's academic journey includes degrees in Nutritional Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, culminating in a Doctorate focused on Mental Health and the Gut Microbiome. His doctoral studies coincided with a five-year Research Innovation Fellowship funded by the European Regional Development Fund, where he explored the profound effects of gut health on mood, cognition, and overall wellbeing. Today, he continues this important work as a Research Fellow at Cardiff University's School of Psychology.Find more of Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas here:WebsiteInstagramSubstackFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work hereBook in for a 30 min free initial session hereAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here I hope you enjoyed this one. Wishing you a lovely week ahead. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s podcast is a part one of a two part interview with Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas, whom is such a wonderful multifaceted human being.Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas, known affectionately as "The Creative Scientist," is a distinguished clinical neuroscientist and nutrition researcher in the UK. His expertise centres on the intricate gut-brain connection, drawing on a rich, real-world scientific foundation rather than purely academic pursuits. Dr. Miguel's academic journey includes degrees in Nutritional Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, culminating in a Doctorate focused on Mental Health and the Gut Microbiome. His doctoral studies coincided with a five-year Research Innovation Fellowship funded by the European Regional Development Fund, where he explored the profound effects of gut health on mood, cognition, and overall wellbeing. Today, he continues this important work as a Research Fellow at Cardiff University's School of Psychology.In this episode we explore:-          Miguel’s own journey of food, eating and body image -          How his desire for thinness spilled into other areas of his life-          Disordered eating patterns-          His journey into nutritional medicine in a professional capacity and how this impacted his relationship with food further-          How his body eventually said No, and how a burnout forced him to slow down-          The importance of questioning nutrition trendsAnd more!(CW: There are a lot of mentions of disordered eating behaviours in this particular episode, if that is not something that is helpful for you right now, then please skip this one.)The recording of this interview was a lengthy one and therefore I have split it in two.Stay tuned for the next part where we will discuss more about Dr Miguel’s professional experiences, looking at the intersection of digestive health / the Gut Microbiome and mental health and the intersection with ADHD and Autism.Dr Miguel offers personalised clinical consultations and has crafted a comprehensive course titled "Thrive with ADHD," available at drmiguelmateas.com/thrive-with-adhd-course. He is also the author of a forthcoming book by the same name, set to be published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in late 2024 or early 2025. To discover more about his transformative work and offerings, visit drmiguelmateas.com or connect with him through social media for further insights.Find more of Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas here:WebsiteInstagramSubstackFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work hereBook in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here See you next week! Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast is back. A little bit of a break that I had not anticipated, but here we are with the first episode of Season 4 (!)As someone who don’t consider myself very consistent, I am so happy that this podcast project is now entering in to the second year of production, and I hope that you are enjoying it so far. Please feel free to share it with anyone you think may benefit.In this first episode of the new season I speak with Briana McAnteer.Briana is a Life Coach, TEDx speaker and bestselling author who has helped hundreds of women around the world to finally heal their relationship with food.She weaves her passion, endless curiosity and contrariness to get to the heart of what is TRUE versus what is conditioned, helping women to break-free from the oppressive patriarchal, diet-culture narrative that’s kept decades of women stuck on the restrict-binge-shame cycle.In this episode we speak about:-          Briana’s own lived experience of the Restrict-Binge Cycle-          Causes and effects of restricting and bingeing-          How thinness did not give her what she wanted-          How so often our disordered relationship with food is not about food at all-          The archetype of “Mother” and how this relate to our ability to nourish ourselvesAnd more!Find Briana https://www.instagram.com/briana.mcateer.coaching/I have several guest episodes lined up for this season and I am hoping to compliment it with some informative solo episodes. If there are some specific topics that you would like me to cover, please let me know, because it is always fun to create content that people are looking for and that helps.Until next time.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here Book in for a 30 min free initial session hereAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

I am back with another solo episode this week to conclude Season 3. I am using this episode as a way to reflect on almost thirty episodes posted and one year of podcasting. I couldn’t remember when I actually posted the very first episode of The Joyful Nourishment Podcast, but turns out it was on Aug 25th, 2023. So that means we are very close to the one year anniversary(!)In this episode I reflect on:* My initial intentions for this project* Some of my learnings throughout the first year of podcasting* Some of my favourite conversations* What seems to have been the most popular episodes so far* Some past episodes that think deserves some more attentionTo make it easy for you to navigate to the various episodes that are mentioned they are linked here:Top solo episodesSE2 – Ep 9 The Magic of Giving yourself the permission to eat All foodsSE 3 – Ep 3 – Let’s talk about food rulesSE 2 – Ep 3 How to navigate the holiday seasonSE 1 – Ep 1: My StoryTop guest episodesSE 2 – Ep 5: The impact of Social Media with Nadia FelschSE1 – Ep 4: Understanding Binge Eating with Emma MurphySE 2 – Ep 2: The importance of Family in ED recovery with Deirdre ReddanSE 2 – Ep 7: Understanding Orthorexia with Lynn McGovernSE 3 – Ep4: From Self Objectification to Selfcare with Anna StricklandMy Personal FavouritesSE 3 – Ep4: From Self Objectification to Selfcare with Anna StricklandSE3 – Ep5: From Weight Loss to Weight Inclusive Care with Michelle TubmanSE3 – Ep2: From Crossfit to Body Positivity with Jonny LandelsEpisodes that deserves a bit more attentionSE 2 – Ep4: When Trauma is at the table with Melanie HargravesSE1 – Ep 5: The Many Facets of HungerSE1 – Ep 8: The path to body acceptance with Shauna FarrellSE3 – Ep 7: Widening the lens of nutrition with Vincci TsuiThank you as always for listening!If you are looking for 1:1 Support, book in for a free inital 30 min chat hereAnd if you are not currently subscribed to my weekly newsletter do so here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week I speak with my friend Mirin Mooney who is just such a delightful person.Mirin Mooney is a mental health coach and mentor. Having struggled with her mental health in the form of depression, self-harm, and bulimia, and finding that traditional treatments were ineffective she has dedicated the past decade to travelling the world and learning from different cultures and their approaches to healing and mental health.She combines the ancient practices of Ayurveda, Shamanism, and Energy Healing with her education in modern psychotherapy, mindfulness, coaching, and creative therapies to deliver her workshops, programs, and one-to-one services on topics such as mindfulness, past trauma, emotional intelligence, self-love, and the use of art and the body in healing. She specializes in empowering young women to overcome their insecurities and unresolved issues from the past so that they can love themselves unconditionally, express themselves fearlessly and create the deeply fulfilling life their soul craves.In this episode we talk about:- How the challenges in expressing herself as a young person translated into eating disorder behaviours- How being a human who feels big and deeply is part of who you are and doesn’t need fixing but learning to navigate it helps living life to the fullest extent possible.- How art and creativity helped her healing as well as self expression- Boundaries what they are and how to use them- That setting boundaries doesn’t tend to be easy and can have different consequences- Resentment- The importance of self-love and self-acceptanceCW: We do speak in the beginning of this episode briefly about mental health struggles with self harm and ED bulimia behaviours.You can find more about Mirin here:WebsiteInstagramFind me:Find me over on Straightforward NutritionMy 1:1 work hereBook in for a 30 min free initial session hereAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community hereThanks for listening! Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I explore breaking up with the Scales. I know it isn’t as easy as it sounds…Diet Culture teaches us that our worth is tied to our weight, and weekly or even daily weighing is a big part of dieting, disordered eating and in eating disorders.Letting go of the Scales is not easy work, but it is often worth it if when you are on a path of recovery and want to have peace with food, eating and your body.In this episode I’ll explore:-          What is your current relationship with the Scales? And what would you like it to be like?-          How weighing your body is part of dieting and intentional weight loss pursuits-          The harm and disconnect that continuous weighing can cause-          How we hand over our power to the Scales-          How looking for happiness in a number is based on an illusion-          A couple of reflection questions for you to exploreOther episodes that are mentioned in this one or that may be of benefit when you are exploring this topic:SE1 – Ep1: My StorySE3 - Ep3: Let’s Talk About Food RulesSE2 - Ep7: Understanding Orthorexia with Lynn McGovernSE3 - Ep4: From Self Objectification to Selfcare with Anna StricklandArticlesHow weight gain can happen despite calorie restrictionWhy am I so afraid of gaining weight?Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work hereBook in for a 30 min free initial session hereSign up for my newsletter on https://linnt.substack.com/  Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speak with Registered Dietitian Vincci Tsui about a wide range of themes as it relates to food, nutrition and health.Vincci Tsui (she/her) is a registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor based in Mohkíntsis/Guts’its’i/Wîchîspa, or what is now known as Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from McGill University, where she completed the integrated dietetic internship program. Vincci is the founder of Weight-Inclusive Dietitians in Canada (WIDIC) and author of The Mindful Eating Workbook: Simple Practices for Nurturing a Positive Relationship with Food.This conversation has a wide span where we talk about:-          Vincci’s professional journey from working in a bariatric surgery clinic to embracing weight inclusive care.-          What weight inclusive care is-          Some of the challenges with Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating-          The importance of food in connecting with one’s own culture of originAnd more… I hope you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did recording it.Find Vincci Tsui here:WebsiteInstagramWeight Inclusive Dietitans CanadaThe Mindful Eating WorkbookFind me over on:https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

Being in our bodies can be hard. And being kind to our selves when life is challenging can be difficult. In today’s podcast episode I want to share with you a Body Scan meditation practice that focuses on sending kindness to our body.I am aware that this may not be an easy practice, but I encourage you to give it a listen all the same.With a Body Scan practice the emphasis is on being comfortable, so make sure that you sit or lie down with all the cushions and support you need to make your body comfortable during the guided meditation, which is about 20 minutes.If you want to skip directly to the mediation it starts at:05.09.20 (Set up)08.08.02 (Start of guided mediation)What are your thoughts on this practice? Whas it helpful?Did anything come up during it?How can you take some body kindness and some self compassion into your everyday life?I would love to hear from you.May it be of benefit.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode I speak with Canadian Dr Michelle Tubman about her personal and professional move from coaching for weight loss, to instead offering weight inclusive care.Body acceptance advocate Dr. Michelle Tubman is the founder of Wayza Health and host of the popular podcast Thrive Beyond Size. Her coaching programs are designed to liberate women from the dangerous diet culture dominating their lives ever since they were old enough to understand a world in which their weight determined their worth.In this episode we talk about:* The harms of diets* How weight centric training is at the core of medical (healthcare training)* What implicit weight bias looks and sounds like in action* How much Michelle’s relationship with food, her body and her life improved when she stopped dieting* How there are many, many ways that you can support your health that has nothing to do with pursuing intentional weight loss.* Clues that your relationship with food might not be that healthy* What Weight Inclusive Care can look likeMichelle is a lovely, sympathetic person and I personally feel hearing her story and journey, especially being both a medical Dr and a woman in a larger body, brings a nuance and context to this challenging topic of weight and health.I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did enjoy recording it!You can find Michelle’s work here:WebsiteInstagramPodcastOther resources mentioned:Harvard Implicit Weight TestCan you lose weight without dieting?Ragen Chastain’s health advocacy cardsFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment communityHave a lovely week! Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode is a real gem, if I do say so myself. If you are someone who struggles with body image then this episode is for you. And if you know someone who might benefit from this week’s episode, please feel free to share it with them too.Anna Strickland is an empowerment coach, photographer and circus expert with a strong focus on social justice.She finds creative solutions to help people reclaim their bodies, their energy and their time.As photographer HeardinLondon, as a coach in SelfCareSchool.co.uk and as a community organiser for Survivors of gendered abuse with True You, she combines her passion for creative solutions with a drive for radical intersectional solutions at their core.HeardinLondon centres people in marginalised bodies to allow them to feel seen, valued and like they deserve to take up space.Self Care School.co.uk offers radical life coaching and mindset tools for people in an accessible format with free spaces for folks who need them.Anna is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration through her different professional and lived experiences and brings a fresh perspective to how we look at ourselves. Not just in the mirror but also through photography and on our phones.In this episode we talk about:-          How taking selfies first seemed like an empowering thing to do, but then turned into another self oppressive tool-          Self objectification aka. viewing our bodies as objects-          The potential harms of using face tune filters-          Turning down the Inner Critic and humanise yourself in the images you see-          The intersection of body image, self care and social justice- How you can move from self objectification to self careThere are so many gems and helpful guidance throughout this episode. I hope you enjoy it as much I did recording this episode with Anna.Find Anna Stickland’s work here:HeardinLondonSelfcare SchoolAnna’s Podcast - Spamfilter for your brainFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am back with a solo episode were I will be exploring Food Rules.What is a “food rule”? Well it could be a lot of things. But basically it is anything that tells you what to eat, how much and when. Calorie counting.Are there benefits of having food rules?Yes for sure. There are reasons we feel drawn to them. I explore this in this episode.Where do we learn these food rules? And are you questioning if it is true?Lots of food rules include cutting out foods or entire food groups. When and where did you learn that this was something that you were supposed to do?Many food rules are learned through family, society, diets. Do we question if it is true? Lots of nutrition information is contradictory.What are some of the challenges of having food rules? Are your rules having negative unintended consequences?Let’s take a look at this shall we?Rules vs structure.What is the difference? In this episode I will explore how you can move from food rules to structure that can also support your relationship with food.And finally… If your rules aren’t working for you anymore. How do you let them go?Previous podcast episodes that will support this episode, if you are trying to have a better relationship with food:https://linnt.substack.com/p/se1-episode-5-the-many-facets-of-hungerhttps://linnt.substack.com/p/se-1episode-7-tuning-into-fullnesshttps://linnt.substack.com/p/se2-ep9-magic-full-permission-to-eatAnd these blog posts may be helpful too:https://straightforwardnutrition.com/diet-deprivation-binge-cycle/https://straightforwardnutrition.com/structured-eating/https://straightforwardnutrition.com/how-do-i-stop-bingeing-on-food/Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

I am delighted to be back to you with an episode that really centers the male experience around food, eating, weight, dieting and body image. I hope you will enjoy this episode that I had with Jonny Landels as much as I did.We don’t talk about enough how disordered eating and body image issues show up for men, which is why I feel this is a very valuable conversation to have had and to have the opportunity to share.Jonny Landels is a former diet-culture-obsessed fat loss coach turned intuitive eating coach and HAES advocate. He spent years fighting his own body and believing he just needed to be more disciplined and motivated to maintain weight loss long term.A couple of years ago he started learning about disordered eating and intuitive eating, and then slowly pivoted his coaching and re-trained, and has not looked back since! Jonny now help clients break free from food and body obsession and end their constant mental battle with food, while using strength training to help them fall in love with exercise again.In this conversation we talk about:·       How Jonny transitioned from being a fat loss coach to an intuitive eating coach and even when he was on board with rejecting Diet Culture, fat loss was still seen as a goal for another while.·       His own personal journey with his body, fitness culture and moving towards a more peaceful relationship with food and his body.·       How society’s messages can have an impact on a young man’s view on himself and what he needs to do and look like to be accepted.·       Weight cycling·       Binge Eating and calorie tracking·       The stigma around eating disorders·       Disordered eating in the fitness industry and more…Where to find out more about Jonny Landels:https://nextstepnutrition.co.uk/Podcast: Beyond The MirrorIG: @nextstepnutritionltdFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/Work with me 1:1 Book in for a 30 min free initial session hereSign up to my newsletter & online communityI hope you find this podcast episode valuable and please feel free to share it with anyone you think may benefit. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am trying something new. Well, if you’ve been reading my newsletter for a few years, you will know that I have shared videos before. But I have not added a video to it, since end of 2022 I think. Or at least not since I moved to the Substack platform.In this video I will introduce you to the HALT chart which may be a useful tool, to bring some more awareness to what might be underneath, or triggers for a binge eating episode. I talk about deprivation driven eating, which is a part of the diet-deprivation-binge-cycle. But the HALT chart also invites you to pause and check in what emotions are present when you are reaching for food. Are you physically hungry? Great. Then food will be the best choice. But what if you are not hungry? What are you feeling? And what need are you hoping that food will help you meet?It is really common to eat when we are tired, or anxious or angry, or lonely or bored. And food may be a great choice in the moment. But it is also as one of my clients said: "That is a lot of pressure to put on food to expect it to meet all of those emotional needs!”. I would agree. We might need other tools, practices and ideas to support us in meeting those emotional needs. But first we need to know what it is we want food to do for us.That is where the HALT chart can be useful.When we bring curiosity to the table, and to our eating experience, it is much easier to try and figure out what is underneath our desire to eat. Rather than shaming yourself for lack of willpower, can you get curious?There are a few previous podcast episodes that fit nicely with this video “tutorial” too. Check them out if you haven’t already.The Many Facets of HungerTuning Into FullnessThe Magic of Giving Yourself Permission to eat ALL foodsIf you have questions, or any issues with accessing the handout so that you can use the tool, or if you want to share what you learned from using this tool, please do!I think it is so helpful for all of of us when we share our learnings and insights with others.Finally, I want to let you know that I currently have space to take on some new clients. If you are thinking about support for your relationship with food, eating and/or body image. Get in touch! Or book your intial exploration call here.Wishing you a lovely week ahead. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

We are starting Season 3 of The Joyful Nourishment Podcast with a very informative episode around Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA) , with nutritionist Shannon Western.Shannon is a nutritionist and therapist. She is the founder of Ease Nutrition Therapy, a disordered eating non-diet clinic. She supports all relationships with food so people can feel more comfortable with food, their emotions, and their bodies.In this podcast episode we explore what HA is, what the signs and symptoms of Hypothalamic Amenorrhea is, and also the risk factors involved in not having a period. Especially if it is missing for months or even years. HA is common in people who have a disordered relationship with food. And it is not talked about enough.Shannon takes us through a high level understanding of how the various hormones interplay in the body for the menstrual cycle to occur and you will learn what often drives the development of HA and missing periods.Towards the end we will discuss ways you can support yourself and your body to recover from HA.And you can also read the blog on my website that Shannon wrote. https://straightforwardnutrition.com/hypothalamic-amenorrhea/There is so much valuable information in this episode, so please feel free to share it with anyone you think may benefit.Find more about Shannon Western and her work here:WebsiteInstagram: @ease_nutritiontherapyPodcast: The Ease With Food PodcastFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session herehttps://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpI really hope you enjoy this episode and I can’t believe that we are starting Season three of The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast! Thank you for coming along with me on this venture. I have more exiting guest conversations lined up for this season and some topics for my solo episodes that I am hoping will be helpful too.Join the Newsletter here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

For the final episode of Season two I am sharing with you my conversation about movement as path to body acceptance and moving our bodies with love, that I had with Pilates and Yoga Teacher Ana Stefan.Because movement and exercise can become so bound up in weigh loss pursuits, which often affects our relationship with moving our body, speaking with someone who take as different approach to this felt very important.Ana Stefan, aka The Aligned Body Coach, helps women to see how truly amazing their bodies - and full selves - are, through mindful and aligned movement. She combines her wisdom in Pilates, Yoga, Meditation, Myofascial Movement and Breathwork to take a mindful approach to movement that supports women in attaining their Aligned Body.In this episode we talk about Ana’s own journey with movement and exercise and how approaching it with functionality in mind, rather than weight loss set her on both a new career path, but also towards body acceptance and gratitude for her body.I am also delighted to find out that Ana is a big foodie and get a lot of pleasure from food, just like me!Enjoy this conversation.Find Ana Stefan – The Aligned Body Coach hereWebsite https://www.anastefan.ie/Instagram: @thealignedbodycoachPodcast: Another MindBody StoryEpisode from Ana’s Podcast that is mentioned:My ability to do the splits was affecting my mental health - from hyper mobility to facia revelation with Susan ChurchFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work  https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

I am back with another solo episode, this week. This time on the topic of making peace with food, through the practice of giving yourself unconditional permission to eat ALL foods.I am calling it a practice because it is something we often need to do intentionally for awhile before it becomes second nature. This is something that can be, and often are, pivotal to anyone healing from disordered eating and repairing their relationship with food, eating and their bodies.For me personally, letting go of any arbitrary food rules and working my way out of the internalised food morality and guilt has been very freeing. And I have seen it work countless times for my clients too.In this episode, I share about what we actually mean when we are taking about the idea and practice of giving yourself unconditional permission to eat ALL foods.We will also look at some of the barriers to making that happen and the places where you might get stuck along the way.I believe that this practice is one of the most fundamental to engage in on your path to a more peaceful relationship with food, especially if you are trying to heal from binge eating.Further episodes and reading that might be helpful:SE1-Ep5: Exploring the many facets of hungerSE1-Ep7:  Tuning into FullnessThe Diet-Deprivation-Binge Cycle https://straightforwardnutrition.com/diet-deprivation-binge-cycle/Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work  https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

The last week of February is ED awareness week, so even though this podcast is a little bit early but still very much relevant for the #edaw2024 theme of: Eating Disorder Recovery and Beyond, Respecting Individuality and Identity.With this in mind, this week’s podcast episode is a conversation with Mirte Kaan who shares kindly her own lived experience of having had an eating disorder.Mirte Kaan has a Bachelor’s in nutrition and health and  is a Holistic Dance Yoga Teacher. She developed and Eating disorder in her late teens/early twenties and subsequently developed all kinds of health issues because of that later in life, as a result of undernourishment.She has worked in a lot of different fields, from management to recipe development and was a FODMAP specialist with her own company. A burnout caused her to lose everything and forced her to stop, and look at her life and life on this planet in a different way. Rebuilding into a totally new way of being.  Now on the healing journey for over 10 years and wanting to share her story with others and help people to get comfortable in their own bodies with holistic dance yoga.Next to that she is on a new career path to help people look at their personality and talents through the ITTI method, so they can see what will truly make them happy and 'tick' both professionally and personally. In this episode:We talk about what she feels contributed to the development of her struggles.How she felt when she was in the middle of it.And how the road of recovery looked like for her.I feel this conversation is a good representation of the many layers that both the development of an ED or disordered eating have but also the layers and nuances that the journey of recovery takes.I am very grateful to Mirte for so generously sharing her experiences and journey of recovery and it is mine (and Mirte’s also) hope that by sharing our stories we can inspire others hope for their recovery journeys.You can find Mirte on Instagram here: @mirte_kaanAnd more details of her ITTI work that we mention can be found here https://essentive.eu/en/home-english/Furhther links for Eating Disorder Awareness Week:https://www.bodywhys.ie/eating-disorders-awareness-week-events-2024/And past podcast episodes that also include lived experiences:SE1 – Ep1: My StorySE1 – Ep2: Moving from Head to Heart with Louise GeorgeSE1 – Ep6: Intuitive Eating with Sinead CroweSE1 – Ep 10: Food As an Ally with Anne RichardsonSE2 -Ep1: Owning my Story with Kristi KoeterFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work  https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this podcast I speak with Lynn McGovern on the topic of orthorexia. This is a type of eating disorder, without an official diagnosis, but that cause a lot of distress and suffering to the person experiencing it. Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy eating.Lynn is a newly graduated psychotherapist MSc in Applied Psychology and much experience working with eating disorders. She has previously published research on orthorexia and has just conducting another study on the topic. Lynn has previously volunteered with Bodywhys and has also worked in the areas of youth mental health, domestic violence, and disability. You can connect with Lynn on Instagram @lighthousetherapy_Ireland.We also ended up talking about another type of eating disorder called Atypical Anorexia, which is more common than you might think. It is important to remember that eating disorders don’t have a look. People of all ages, genders, body size and ethnicities can experience and live with eating disorders.Other topics we discuss is: The difficulty in accessing a diagnosis (if this is something you want, or if this will help you access care). How eating disorder care is underfunded, under diagnosed and how many healthcare practitioners lack education on this topic. Which further exacerbate the situation.I have linked to the research studies Lynn mentions below.One thing that I want to mention is that whether someone has a diagnosis or not, if you are struggling with your relationship with food you deserve support so things can get better. Because it can.*CW some mentions of stigmatising language in the episode*You can connect with Lynn further on Instagram: @lighthousetherapy_irelandLinks to research mentionedErrin Harrop’s work https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/46576Lynn’s previous research on Orthorexia https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342403473_The_experience_of_orthorexia_from_the_perspective_of_recovered_orthorexicsLooking at the intersection of Ob*sity and Eds https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073367/ (CW Stigmatising language)Other previous episodes from Season 2 that speaks directly on Eating Disorders:SE2 – Ep1 with Kristi KoeterSE2 – Ep2 with Deirdre ReddanFind me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work  https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.php Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

I am back with a new solo episode this week. Full disclosure here… I do find these solo episodes vulnerable to make, especially when I include personal anecdotes and opinions. Some of the content may resonate and other stuff won’t. And that’s ok.And, it still makes me feel, I don’t know, raw?In this episode I share with you some of my thoughts and experiences when is comes to goal setting and how my take has changed over the years from very All-or-Nothing to a much more flexible approach. Something that I think (and hope) will serve me better long term.What is your approach to setting goals or intention?What happens when you can’t stick to them?Do you abandon them altogether, or do you eventually find your way back, if it really matters to you?I also share some simple tips on habits that I picked up from a resent workshop that I attended.Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.I still have a few spots left for new clients, so if one of your intentions this year is to have a better relationship with food, eating and your body please connect by booking in for a free initial 30 min call.Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work  https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community https://linnt.substack.com/Wishing you a great week ahead. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speal with the lovely Nadia Felsch.Nadia Felsch, BHSc (she/her) is a nutritionist, intuitive eating counsellor, feminist and fat activist. She is a white, thin, woman living on unceded Gadigal Country in Sydney Australia with her partner and two miniature dachshunds named Toast and Avocado. Her work is underpinned by the great unlearning of, and healing from the the typical narratives we all hold about food, health and our bodies. Nadia supports folks to re-connect with and trust their innate body wisdom, to find what works for them in how they care for and relate to their bodies - smashing norms along the way!The conversation go wide and look at topics such as the impact social media and the content we consume there can have on our relationship we have with food.We talk about the intersection of Diet Culture & Wellness Culture and how easy it can be to get sucked into following the wellness guru in pursuit of health (and possibly thinness and happiness).Both Nadia and I have been on Instagram since the early days (over a decade) and both our work, how we think about ‘health’ has evolved over the years and we discuss this too.There may be some points in this conversation that feel controversial, this is what Nadia means when she talks about the “unlearnings”. I would love to know what you are currently learning and unlearning about nutrition, health and wellness.You can find more about Nadia’s work:On her websiteOn InstagramOr on her own podcastIf you enjoy this episode, please feel free to leave a comment, or share this episode with a friend!.....Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work  https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Hargraves.Melanie (she/her) is an experienced, curious and compassionate dietitian interested in the way trauma can impact eating and body image. Qualifying over 10 years ago, she blends her lived experience with this expertise to provide pragmatic and practical support for anyone struggling.You can find her on instagram at @whentraumasatthetable. This conversation focuses on exploring what trauma is and what we mean by Big T and Little T. Melanie also shares some of her own experiences around food and we dive into how the experience of trauma can show up in our relationship with food, eating and body image.It is a really powerful conversation and I hope you will get a lot from it.Some other useful links on Body and Trauma:Book: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma a book by Bessel van der Kolk. (bookshop.org)The Mindful Dietitian Instagram accounts: @nalgonapositivitypride @bodyjustice.therapist @traumaandco Find me over on Straightforward NutritionBook in for a 30 min free initial session here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode is a solo one with me. I wanted to put together something for everyone who missed the online workshop I did with Kristi last week. This time of year can be particularly challenging if you are trying to move away from dieting or are in eating disorder recovery. There are typically lots of food, social events (centred around food & alcohol) and we might spend more time with family than what we normally do.This can amplify all of the typical challenges you have around food, eating and body image. So to give you some suggestions for how to navigate this I made this episode.I am also answering two listener questions. If you have a question you would like me to answer anonymously just drop me an email to [email protected] with the heading QUESTION.And I leave you with another question to ponder.Finally thank you for being a supporter and listener to The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast. It is inching closer to 1000 downloads. Not that numbers matters but to me it means that there are people out there how are listening and hopefully it is making even a little difference in how you navigate food and body image stuff.The last episode of 2023 will be live on the 29th of Dec and it is another guest episode, not to be missed!Previous podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: (SE1 - Ep7  & SE2 - Ep2)I am not taking on any new clients this year but if you want to book in for a free 30 min call to explore getting some support in the New Year you can still do that here. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s guest episode, I speak with Deirdre Reddan from Supported Families.Deirdre Reddan is an Eating Disorder Coach and Parent Coach. She works with both parents and individuals and jointly runs online group programmes for parents affected by eating disorders (She is also an associate instructor with Youth Mental Health First Aid Ireland.Deirdre is passionate on the topic of disordered eating and eating disorders, and the importance of educating and raising awareness around this complex and often misunderstood area.She is also passionate about supporting parents, who are often the untapped superpower when a person is unwell. She has delivered numerous workshops and webinars to both sporting and large commercial organisations, and to healthcare professionals.What Supported Families bring to the families (parents, siblings and partners) of people who are struggling and on the road to recovery from an eating disorder is invaluable.In this conversation we speak of Deirdre’s lived experience as a parent of a child with an eating disorder and also what support you as a loved one can give if you are close to someone living with an eating disorder.This episode will be beneficial for anyone who is a parent, friend or partner of someone on their recovery journey. Because it can be a bewildering and often lonely journey, not only for the person who struggles but also for those around them. We discuss early warning signs, where to turn to if you are concerned that something isn’t right and much more.Join their free video series for families (or anyone) supporting someone with an ED hereYou can find Deirdre (and Zuzanna’s) work hereAnd follow on Instagram: @supported_familiesLinkedInOther resources mentioned:  Book - Skills-based Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder: The New Maudsley MethodBodywhys - The National Eating Disorder Association in IrelandArticle on the importance of aiming higher for weight restoration------Find me over on Straightforward Nutritionhttps://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session  https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome the Season 2 of The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast. From now on the pace will be a little slower and you can expect a new episode every other week instead of weekly. I am honouring the space of enough right now, and this is the pace it takes when it comes to the podcast.We are kicking off this season with my conversation with Kristi KoeterKristi is a marketing and communications leader with 20 years of experience as a journalist, writer, and editor. She is the mother of two children who have been diagnosed with and treated for eating disorders. She is co-author of the book Show Your Work and writes the newsletter Almost Sated, about detoxing from diet culture. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her mountain biking, hiking, or spending time with her family in Austin, Texas.Kristi is my Substack friend and her excellent newsletter Almost Sated, where she chronicles her own journey and experiences in moving away from a lifetime of dieting and body loathing, is well worth subscribing to. She also has an interview series over there where others share their stories of moving away from dieting too and it has been interesting to see how each person’s story is somewhat different, but also similar in many ways.In this conversation we talk about her experience as a parent to two daughters who developed anorexia at a young age, and how when her 2nd daughter was in recovery this became a catalyst to look at some of her own long held beliefs and rules about what she “should” eat and how her body “should” look like.She is over a year into her own process at this stage and shares candidly about the ups and downs of it all, so far.This episode is helpful for anyone who is a parent or relative of a child or young person in recovery from and eating disorder. And I believe it will also benefit anyone how are on their own journey of recovery and food freedom.Read Kristi’s newsletter Almost Sated here.Find me over on Straightforward NutritionMy 1:1 work hereBook in for a 30 min free initial session hereAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speak with Anne Richardson who is a registered nutritionist who exclusively works with disordered eaters whether they have received a formal diagnosis or not.She focuses her work more on restriction, so her clients tend to suffer with anorexia, orthorexia and bulimia mostly. She is also currently doing a diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy and this is reflected in her practice which blends nutrition with CBT. Anne mostly work online from her home in Devon.Anne graciously shares her own personal story with a restrictive eating disorder, how she initially decided to *not* work in the nutrition space nor with people struggling with eating disorders, but eventually ended up doing so when she was looking for a career change.We talk about the challenges with healing from a restrictive eating disorder, the importance of including nutrition and a nutrition professional as part of the team. Food itself is an ally in recovery and healing and not the enemy that the eating disorder is trying to make it out to be!I think anyone who is struggling, has been struggling or is caring for someone with a restrictive eating disorder will find some gems to take away from this conversation and Anne’s wisdom and knowledge.You can find Anne here:Website: https://www.theeatingdisordernutritionist.co.ukInstagram: @theeatingdisordernutritionist You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode I talk about body image, partly what it is and especially the influences our society and culture have on how we think and relate to our feelings about our bodies.I will touch on different concepts that we hear about when we talk about body image, such as body love, body acceptance and body neutrality.When did you first learn that your body was a problem? And what if it wasn’t a problem to be fixed? What if the only thing we have to “fix” is how we think about bodies, our own as well as other people’s bodies.I’ll talk a bit about weight discrimination and how it affects us all even though it proportionately hurts people in larger bodies.Finally I’ll also share a couple of simple tips that can help get you started on your own journey of feeling more at ease with your body.You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I speak with Shauna Farrell.I loved speaking with Shauna and how she so generously shared her own journey from chronic dieting towards intuitive eating and body acceptance. She talks about the experience of weight stigma and body comments and how this had an impact on how she felt about her body.As a health psychologist she also speaks about how most trainings in healthcare are in the typical weight centric model and how she has shifted her own beliefs and values around health and weight both personally and professionally in the past number of years. She now practices from a non-diet weight inclusive lens.We also talk about how difficult weight gain can be as part of this healing journey, but that it can also be something that is both necessary and healthy.Shauna shares with all of us some of the practices that has helped her along to find body acceptance and a new found freedom around food.Shauna is a Psychologist, Wellbeing Specialist and Intuitive Eating Counsellor. She has an MSc in Health Psychology and experience working with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Shauna became interested in Intuitive Eating around 4 years ago when she read the book Just Eat it by Laura Thomas. The IE principles really resonated with her due to a past history of dieting and disordered eating. Shauna then began her instagram page wellbeing.with.shauna in an attempt to connect with people from the IE community and help them to ditch diet culture and improve their body image. Find out more about Shauna hereIG: @wellbeing.with.shaunaTikTok @wellbeing.with.shaunaWebsite https://wellbeingwithshauna.squarespace.com/You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode I’ll talk about exploring fullness. In this episode I talk about: * What is comfortable fullness?* Is fullness and satisfaction the same thing?* How eating enough food can feel grounding and helps establish a sense of safety in the body. * Some of the reasons why it might be difficult to stop eating, even if you think that you are eating enough * How overeating or binge eating is often a result of restriction or deprivationThis episode is a little bit shorter than previous ones, apparently I didn’t have as much to say on this topic as I thought. However, I still think you will get some useful insights out of it.You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am speaking with the fabulous Sinead Crowe from @intutive.eating.irealandSinead is an Intuitive Eating Counsellor, a Nutritional Therapist and a Perinatal Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is also the mother of 4 children.Sinead shares with me candidly her own dieting journey, how she found Intuitive Eating and how moving away from dieting towards non-diet weight inclusive practice has both changed her own relationship with food after more than 20 years of binge eating and yo-yo dieting but also why she is now so passionate about spreading the word.If you are new to non-diet practices and are curious about what Intuitive Eating is, and what it isn’t and how to move forward if you think this might be for you, then this week’s episode is for you.I am so grateful to Sinead and the advocacy work she has done in the past 4 years for highlighting the concept and framework of Intuitive Eating in particular but also non-diet approaches to health in general.You can find Sinead here:IG: @intutive.eating.irelandwww.intuitiveeatinghub.comProviders in bigger bodies that are offering weight-inclusive care:The Mindset NutritionistVinny Welsby - The Fierce FattyMore resources at the end of this post too.You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we will explore the many reasons that we are reaching for food. I’ll talk about the Diet-Deprivation-Binge Cycle (which you can also read about here), and we’ll look into physical, emotional, and spiritual hunger.What are your different hungers and how can you feed and nourish them in a supportive way?There is so much to say on this topic and it is something that I find incredibly fascinating with this work. There are so many layers of nuance, complexity and symbolism that our relationship with food, eating and our bodies can reveal.A question that I will leave you with is this: What is your favourite comfort food? That food or dish that makes you feel cared for, supported and nourished?(Please leave a comment below - if you are reading this on Substack!)You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session hereAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode I speak with Emma Murphy.We really dive deep into the different aspects of binge eating and emotional eating such as personality type (which might make you more vulnerable to developing disordered eating), trauma and dieting.You will learn what the risk factors are, when people typically tend to seek help, what help to look for if you are struggling and what the benefits of seeking out professional support are.It is a jam-packed episode with so many gems from Emma’s years of experience in this field.Emma Murphy is a Psychotherapist specialising in disordered eating. She worked in private practice as an Eating Disorders Specialist for over 11 years, and has extensive experience of working with both individuals and groups on all parts of the disordered eating spectrum. Emma is a recognised expert in disordered eating and regularly speaks internationally on this topic at  conferences and summits. She is an accredited trainer and all her trainings are approved continuing education programs. Credentials: BA(Hons) Psychology, PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy, FETAC Trainer, HSE approved Group Facilitator, Eating Disorder Specialist Psychotherapist (NCFED UK).Find out more about what Emma offers here:Website: www.eatingfreely.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmamurphypsychotherapist/IG: @eatingfreelyprogrammeYouTube: @help-for-emotional-eatingThe organisations that Emma mentions in the episode as it relates to sexual abuse and sexual assault.https://www.oneinfour.ie/Dublin Rape Crisis Centre https://www.drcc.ie/You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here Joyful + Nourishment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s solo episode I will explore with you what Diet Culture is, how it tends to show up everywhere and that is does have an impact on everyone but that people who are living in larger bodies and are fat are disproportionately harmed more than people who are thin.I also invite you to get curious and reflect on where you are noticing Diet Culture and diet talk showing up in your own life. And come over and share your experiences in the Substack community so that we can all learn and support each other on this different and radical path.What exactly is Diet Culture? And how does it impact our relationship with food, eating and our bodies? Diet culture refers to a rigid set of expectations about valuing thinness and attractiveness over physical health and emotional well-being. Diet culture often emphasizes “good” versus “bad” foods, focuses on calorie restriction, and normalizes self-deprecating talk. Diet culture is toxic, and it can be a risk factor for body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and other mental health issues.(From Shelby Gordon’s presentation on Weight Stigma in Health Care June 2023)Diet Culture has roots in racism, colonialism and eugenics. Body hierarchies are imbedded in our cultural fabric and it is everywhere.I believe that disordered eating and eating disordered eating are not mental health issues alone, but are biopsychosocial disorders, meaning that there are also both cultural influences as well as physiological influences on our mental health, and our relationship with food and our bodies.You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode myself and Louise talk about her own journey of recovery, how she got into counselling and subsequently also became a yoga teacher.Louise is a wealth of wisdom, with a great big heart and in this interview she shares with us all how it is possible to move from just living in the head, with anxiety and having a feeling of simply dragging her body along to a place of feeling embodies.We talks about embodiment and how it relates to a felt sense of safety and what this have to do with how we relate to food and eating.Louise also shares with me what Joyful Nourishment means to her.“Louise is a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor, Senior yoga teacher and certified mobility specialist. Louise utilises a holistic approach to dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues, and is particularly interested in combining tools from yoga into therapy sessions as a means of improving nervous system regulation. Louise offers group yoga classes and one to one yoga sessions, as well as individual therapy sessions and workshops. Louise’s specialist area of interest for therapy is eating disorders and she has over 20 years of experience working in this field. Louise is also a coach for “Eating Freely” - delivering 6 month programme for people with emotional eating issues.  www.eatingfreely.comFind Louise George here:IG @yoga_with_louise or @counsellingconnected FB: Yoga with Louise Georgewebsite: www.douglasyogacentre.ie or www.yogaconnected.ieYou can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.phpAnd sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast!This is the very first episode of this initial 10 episode podcast series, hosted by Linn Thorstensson, Nutritional Therapist and Body Image Coach.I envision this podcast to be a space for conversations and explorations around all the things that gets in the way of having a kind, compassionate and peaceful relationship with food, eating and body image. You can say that it is an eating disorder recovery podcast as such.Together with my guests I will explore how to move away from dieting toward body acceptance, healing binge and emotional eating, what intuitive eating is and much more.In this first episode I wshare with you my own personal story around my relationship with food, eating and my body, as well as my professional journey from my early days out of college to becoming an weight inclusive non-diet nutritionist who specialised in helping people heal their relationship with food, eating and their body, which I do today.You can read more about my work here: https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session https://eatingfreelycallwithlinn.as.me/schedule.php You can listen to the Joyful Nourishment Podcast right here in your inbox, or on the Substack App.It is also available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsJoyful + Nourishment is a reader-supported newsletter and podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

The Joyful + Nourishment Podcast is about exploring all the things that gets in the way of us having a kind, compassionate relationship with food and eating and our bodies and how we can find our way back to Joyful Nourishment in our everyday lives.The full Season 1 will launch on the 25th of Aug 2023, with 10 full episodes of guests and solo shares. Make sure that you Subscribe so that you don't miss an episode!And if you fancy having some conversations around what came up in an episode. There are some great conversations, that was has with my guest, promise, join the conversation hereThis short “trailer I share today is what the podcast is about in a little more depth and also how you support this project going forward by subscribing and liking the show.All the previous short “voice notes” that has already been published can be found there now too. Listen back if you’ve missed some or if something is catching your eye.These are the places you can listen to the podcast:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts My Substack NewsletterAnd anywhere else you typically listens to podcasts!Thank you as always for being on this journey with me.With blessings,Linn----------------------------------------------------------------------------You can read more about my work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/My 1:1 work here https://straightforwardnutrition.com/eating-disorder-support/Book in for a 30 min free initial session here And sign up for my newsletter and join the Joyful + Nourishment community here https://linnt.substack.com/ Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

I wasn’t entirely sure if I would send a newsletter out this week or not. But here we are.In this voice note I am pondering how do we know when it is the right thing to push through, or when it is the right thing to pause and rest?This is a theme that came up this week both for me personally and also in conversations I’ve had we peers and clients recently.As someone who is both struggling with consistency and who is also practicing tuning -in to what my body wants and needs, alongside a self-compassion practice.Oh yeah and rebelling at productivity culture… Leaning into what feels right is a practice.How do you make a choice? Feel free to share by commenting belowIn other news… Here are a couple of podcast recommendations that I’ve recently enjoyed (if you are into that kind of thing)I recently listened to this episode with Niamh Orbinski, from Food, Body & Beyond. Here she is talking to Louise McSharry who graciously share about her own lived experience with dieting and weigth stigma. A powerful listen.I also loved this conversation between Laura Thomas and Virginia Sole-Smith around some of complexities that are ultra processed foods.And I think I’m on a Virginia Sole-Smith crush atm, reading her latest book Fat Talk, which is so good!.I haven’t listened to this podcast episode yet around gardening and seeing gardening as a metaphor for the intersection of Diet culture and productivity culture. But it is next on my list.This article from my Substack buddy Kristi from Almost Sated is an excellent read on how perfectionism shows up.And if you some how missed last week’s lengthy article on my top 5 Non-Diet books, you can find it here.With blessing, Linn Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe

On the 1st of June I deleted the IG app off my phone for a planned month long break from the platform. I think it might only be my second such break ever since joining in 2011.In this week’s Voice Note’s from Linn I am sharing:* How I felt about it* What I enjoyed about it* What I missed* What I am hoping to do next when it comes IG and social media.What are your thoughts on SM today? Are you using it in the same or has it changed?Are you taking breaks from it and if so, how are you finding it?I would love to hear and keep the conversation going.Please leave a comment using the button below.And this is the previous Voice Note I mention in the episodeAnd you can find out more about the book Fat-Talk by Virginia Sole-Smith here.Joyful + Nourishment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Joyful + Nourishment at linnt.substack.com/subscribe