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In This Issue:
Featured Wellness Message: Step into Embodiment
Recommended Resource: Raising Body-Positive Teens
My Psychology Today Article: 5 Tips for Talking to Kids About Weight and Eating
My Featured Post: Eating Disorders: FAQs Part 2
My Recent Blog Post: What a New Study from the American Psychological Association (APA) Tells Us About Stress Since COVID-19
Step into Embodiment:
Learn to be at home in your body
Spring is here… and so are all the fad diets and workouts that promise weight loss by summertime. Sadly, too many of these programs are misleading and unhealthy. Worse, they often come from a place of negativity that can magnify a shame cycle, reinforce restrictive eating, dismiss the gifts in our genes, and disconnect us from a sense of who we are as whole, complex, soulful beings.
Rather than criticize your appearance, practice becoming unapologetically comfortable with being in your body. This season, step into being embodied. Here’s how:
Savor your sensations by becoming aware of scents in the air, the ground under your bare feet, or noises near and far. Actively listen to what your body illuminates about yourself, such as your felt experience of positive and negative emotions.Connect with your authentic self, especially in the presence of others. Practice stillness by surveying your internal landscape with curiosity.Stay grounded by turning off intellectual, judging, or comparing modes of being.
What is one experience of being embodied that stands out to you? What are your favorite body affirmations?
Reply to this email and share your go-to embodiment strategies and affirmations for mention in our next newsletter.
“Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going on inside ourselves.” ―Bessel van der Kolk
Raising Body-Positive Teens
Lead by example and foster a nonjudgmental environment
Body image isn't something that just adults grapple with. In fact, more than ever, kids are exposed to harmful messages about how they should look on a daily (or even hourly, with the advent of handheld devices) basis. Without guidance, children and teens can develop negative thoughts about their appearance, body shape, and weight, and learn unhealthy habits involving food.
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Fortunately, a new book is helping parents promote a friendship with food. Raising Body-Positive Teens teaches parents how to minimize the risk factors for eating disorder development while giving them strategies for endorsing food, exercise, and body image in healthy ways. According to the authors—a therapist, dietician, and adolescent medicine physician—the key is for caregivers to learn to lead by example and foster a nonjudgmental environment.
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Says coauthor Wendy Sterling, “Kids hear confusing messages about food and exercise from such an early age. Eat less! Burn off your holiday food! Diet messages tell kids that something is wrong with their bodies, increase body shame, and teach them to fear foods. It also quickly takes the joy and fun out of movement.”
Be a barrier against the diet mentality with more tips from this book.
5 Tips for Talking to Kids About Weight and Eating
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers important, evidence-based help
If you’re a parent of a child or adolescent, it’s likely that food, eating, exercise, and body size are part of your daily conversations. You may insist that your child eat all their vegetables before leaving the table or regularly mention your cross-training class. These conversations may happen without much thought.
Yet, how you and the other adults in their lives have these discussions can influence their behaviors around food and their opinions of their bodies. We know that positive associations with food and weight can lead to greater body satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and balanced eating. Likewise, negative associations can lead to unhealthy habits or even to an eating disorder.
Fortunately, the American Academy of Pediatrics shares 5 tips for parents who want to have helpful conversations about food and weight. Read my full Psychology Today article to get the lowdown.
Want to share this content?
Raising Body-Positive Teens
Lead by example and foster a nonjudgmental environment
Body image isn't something that just adults grapple with. In fact, more than ever, kids are exposed to harmful messages about how they should look on a daily (or even hourly, with the advent of handheld devices) basis. Without guidance, children and teens can develop negative thoughts about their appearance, body shape, and weight, and learn unhealthy habits involving food.
​
Fortunately, a new book is helping parents promote a friendship with food. Raising Body-Positive Teens teaches parents how to minimize the risk factors for eating disorder development while giving them strategies for endorsing food, exercise, and body image in healthy ways. According to the authors—a therapist, dietician, and adolescent medicine physician—the key is for caregivers to learn to lead by example and foster a nonjudgmental environment.
​
Says coauthor Wendy Sterling, “Kids hear confusing messages about food and exercise from such an early age. Eat less! Burn off your holiday food! Diet messages tell kids that something is wrong with their bodies, increase body shame, and teach them to fear foods. It also quickly takes the joy and fun out of movement.”
Be a barrier against the diet mentality with more tips from this book.
​
Eating Disorders: FAQs Part 2
Find answers to the most common questions about EDs
Full recovery is possible. Whether you are concerned for a friend, family member, or yourself, know that treatment is available—and early intervention is key.
Because I receive so many inquiries about eating disorders, I wrote this post (and Part 1) to offer brief answers to some common questions about eating disorders. No matter how you are feeling today, sharing what’s going on with someone you trust, taking positive action, and staying hopeful makes all the difference.
In Part 2, I answer:
How can I help a friend who has an eating disorderHow do I know if I have an eating disorder?What are the physical symptoms of an eating disorder?
Click the link below for answers—but know they are not meant to be exhaustive. You can find reputable websites, books, and emerging research for in-depth exploration.
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What a New Study from the American Psychological Association (APA) Tells Us About Stress Since COVID-19
80% of those who accessed mental health services found it beneficial
As we all know, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the past two years have been particularly stressful. Whether it’s due to isolation from loved ones, fear of illness, disagreements over vaccines and masks, losing your job, or having to head back into the office after working remotely, COVID-19 stress seems to have infiltrated all of our lives in one way or another.
A recent study by the American Psychological Association (APA) in partnership with the Harris Poll looked into the impacts that the past two years have had on individual stress. Concerningly, 63% of adults said their lives had been forever changed by the pandemic. Many reported negative effects on their mental health, activity level, and sleep quality.
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However, the vast majority of those who sought professional mental health support found that it was beneficial. If you are in need of support, please try to reach out to someone. If you're not able to, read the full blog post for three important things you can do to help yourself better manage your stress load.
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