Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way.

In this episode we discussed holiday-related boundaries. We talked about body and food-related boundaries, knowing our limits, and how to keep ourselves safe and honor our needs. For Liv, this has been one of the most painful lessons in recovery. Some of the challenges she has faced are well-meaning family members being overly focused on her body size and eating habits, and not understanding her needs as an empath and introvert. For Tiffany, her challenges are self-expectations: hosting the family and ensuring everyone gets everything they might want. Sometimes, she has pushed herself to the point of exhaustion, and eaten foods she wouldn’t otherwise in fear of upsetting others. This episode is packed full of hard won lessons, and potential solutions we can all use at this time of year. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, #anti-diet, #IntuitiveEating, #Dietculture, #whycantIstopeating, #helpwithovereating, #bingeeating, #binging, #lifeafter12steprecovery, #bodyattunement, #Disorderedeating, #eatingdisorders, #sugaraddiction, #Alcoholism, #addiction, #howtolivesober, #sobriety, #howtostopdrinking, #recoverypodcast, #sobrietypodcast, #whatisintuitiveEating, #bodyrespect, #HAES, #healthateverysize, #bodypositivity, #BoPo, #foodrecovery, #BreakingFreeRecovery, #BreakingFree#Podcast, #Breaking Free:Your Recovery.Your Way., #recoverypatchwork, #eatingrecovery, #recoveryboundaries, #eatingdisorderrecovery, #disorderedeatingrecovery, #TiffanyThoen, #LivPennelle, #Liv’srecoverykitchen, #OliviaPennelle, #LivandTiffany

In this episode, we talk about how self-expectation is so prevalent in our lives, especially as female entrepreneurs, and what we can do to be more realistic with our expectations of ourselves. The longer we’ve been in recovery, the more awareness we’ve gained around self-expectation. That’s not uncommon for women, as sexist and binary as this is. We’re often expected to have two roles: looking after the household, taking care of kids if we have them, and going to work all week. As business owners, we both have competing priorities. But we still experience a gap between what we think we can do and what we achieve. For Liv, she can then use that deficit in achievement as a reason to be critical of her abilities. For Tiffany, there are always so many things she wants to do and so many unreasonable expectations. As an antidote to high self-expectation, we discuss boundaries with ourselves and others, particularly our clients. We practice business efficiency where we can, and we try different ways to manage our time and our endless to-do lists more effectively. We talk about the importance of downtime, saying no, and listening to and honoring what our bodies need. We rang a bell for: Camp Yes Eat that Frog We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, #anti-diet, #IntuitiveEating, #Dietculture, #whycantIstopeating, #helpwithovereating, #bingeeating, #binging, #lifeafter12steprecovery, #bodyattunement, #Disorderedeating, #eatingdisorders, #sugaraddiction, #Alcoholism, #addiction, #howtolivesober, #sobriety, #howtostopdrinking, #recoverypodcast, #sobrietypodcast, #whatisintuitiveEating, #bodyrespect, #HAES, #healthateverysize, #bodypositivity, #BoPo, #foodrecovery, #BreakingFreeRecovery, #BreakingFree#Podcast, #Breaking Free:Your Recovery.Your Way., #recoverypatchwork, #eatingrecovery, #recoveryboundaries, #eatingdisorderrecovery, #disorderedeatingrecovery, #TiffanyThoen, #LivPennelle, #Liv’srecoverykitchen, #OliviaPennelle, #LivandTiffany

In this episode we get real and share our journey in self-forgiveness. Tiffany shares why this topic is near and dear to her heart. She actually cries on air (might be a first, folks!). We discuss about what prompted us to be intentional in doing self-forgiveness work. You might be surprised!) We discuss barriers and how we can go about healing as laid out in an article by Beverly Engel L.M.F.T.: “One of the barriers to self-forgiveness …You may view self-forgiveness as ‘letting yourself off the hook,’ as if self-judgment is the only way to improve. But negative self-judgment and self-blaming can actually act as an obstacle to self-improvement. The more shame you feel about your past actions and behaviors, the more your self-esteem is lowered and the less likely it is you will feel motivated to change.” Beverly goes on to examine how we can go about self-forgiveness. Self-understanding Common humanity Earning your forgiveness: taking responsibility, apologizing and making amends Asking for forgiveness from your higher power We talked about the 5 apology languages. It's so important to know what is meaningful for you! Liv shares her approach to self-forgiveness through the lens of parenting a small child. Tiffany shares her favorite affirmations: Ho’oponopono prayer: “I love you, I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you.” And another that she adapted: “The person I was in that moment in time did the best that I could with the skills that I had. Forgiveness is a gift I give myself today.” We rang a bell for: Sarah Blondin Dr. Brene Brown Tara Mohr Nadia Ghaffari, at Teenz Talk We hope this episode has been encouraging and supports you in knowing that you are valuable and worthy of respect and you deserve forgiveness. If you are experiencing any barriers to self-forgiveness, we hope you will know you are not alone. Please, if you need it, get support! Suicide is discussed in this episode. If you or someone you love is suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.

In this episode we talk about the much-avoided topic: SHAME. We explore how shame has wreaked havoc in our lives and then look to the experts for their perspective. Dr. Brene Brown talks about shame in her work. We love her work and her books. She highlights the difference between shame and guilt. Guilt is I did something bad, shame is I am bad. According to Brown, “Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing we are flawed and therefore unworthy of acceptance and belonging ... Shame creates feelings of fear, blame and disconnect.” From the Habits for Wellbeing Blog: Shame has been associated with depression, grief, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and violence. An awesome article in The BMJ (British Medical Journal), that highlights the lack of research, and acknowledgement of the power of shame and its impact on health. Liv talks about her experience of shame — feeling as though she wasn’t accepted in many areas of her life and working through it. We know that this work is an ongoing process. Tiffany shared how shame has shown up in her life, including in her relationship with food, in behaviors like numbing, overworking, and avoiding, and in feeling like she wasn't good enough and trying to make up for it. We rang a bell for: J.F. Benoist’s book: Addicted to the Monkey Mind. Nadine Burke’s book: The Deepest Well. Liv’s article on diet culture and shame, soon to be released by The Fix. We also dive into what to do about shame, such as recognizing it and increasing awareness (knowing what it feels like in our body), speaking it, and sharing our story. Last but not least, we work on self-forgiveness. Be sure to listen to our next episode on self-forgiveness! We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  #diets #dont #work, #anti-diet, #Intuitive Eating, #Diet culture, #why #cant #I #stop #eating, #help #with #overeating, #binge #eating, #binging, #life #after #12 #step #recovery, #body attunement, #Disorderedeating, #eatingdisorders, #sugaraddiction, #Alcoholism, #addiction, #how #to #live #sober, #sobriety,#how tostopdrinking, #recoverypodcast, #sobrietypodcast, #whatisntuitiveEating, #bodyrespect, #HAES, #healthateverysize, #bodypositivity, #BoPo, #foodrecovery, #BreakingFreeRecovery, #BreakingFreePodcast, #Breaking Free: Your Recovery.Your Way., #recoverypatchwork, #eatingrecovery, #recoveryboundaries, #eatingdisorderrecovery, #disorderedeatingrecovery, #TiffanyThoen, #LivPennelle, #Liv’srecoverykitchen, #OliviaPennelle, #LivandTiffany

Show notes: In this conversation we talk to Irina about Latinx culture and her experience of stigma that surrounds mental health. We also discuss what recovery looks like to her, what has been helpful in her recovery, and how to access support. Suicide is discussed in this episode. If you or someone you love is suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. Resources SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator Bio Irina Gonzalez is an editor and freelance writer covering Latinx culture, sober living, parenting, and all things lifestyle. Her work has been featured in Oprah magazine, Glamour, Marie Claire, and more. She's also an audiobook enthusiast and creator of the Self-Care For Writers newsletter. She lives in Florida with her husband and their attention-loving kitties and pup. You can find her writing on her portfolio site, http://irinagonzalez.com, or by following her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.

As we alluded to in our conversation with Lynn: The instance of trauma and adverse childhood experiences is high for people in recovery, with at least two-thirds of us having experienced some kind of trauma. We have a responsibility as members of the recovery community to be more trauma-aware so that we can support one another in getting the help we need, but also in being mindful of how certain behaviors could be triggering. Here are some of the ways we can be more trauma-aware: If leading a meditation, consider that asking someone to close their eyes to meditate might be triggering. Provide alternative options Consider leaving the door to a meeting open Don’t block the exits Do not silence or minimize others’ experiences Do not practice toxic positivity Accept differences Understand that the 12-steps or another mutual-aid program cannot “fix” an individual and that outside help is required If in a sponsor role, consider pausing when someone mentions a trauma and know your limitations. If unsure, refer to guidelines about the role of a sponsor Know that a meeting is not the answer if someone is exhausted, or feeling triggered Do not make someone stay in a meeting if they try to leave because they are feeling triggered Read books about trauma: Childhood Disrupted, The Body Keeps the Score, and Trauma and the 12 Steps Never suggest that a sponsee make amends to an abuser Do not shame someone, or suggest they do more research, if one method of recovery doesn’t work for them We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, anti-diet, Intuitive Eating, Diet culture, why cant I stop eating, help with overeating, binge eating, binging, life after 12 step recovery, body attunement, Disordered eating, eating disorders, sugar addiction, Alcoholism, addiction, how to live sober, sobriety, how to stop drinking, recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, what is Intuitive Eating, body respect, HAES, health at every size, body positivity, BoPo, food recovery, Breaking Free Recovery, Breaking Free Podcast, Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way., recovery patchwork, eating recovery, recovery boundaries, eating disorder recovery, disordered eating recovery, Tiffany Thoen, Liv Pennelle, Liv’s recovery kitchen, Olivia Pennelle, Liv and Tiffany

What is body attunement/interoception? Interoception is the science-y word for body attunement. Tiffany’s definition is being intune with/or connected to our body so that we have an increased awareness of our needs. Here are a few of the definitions we found in the medical journals in case you want to do some deep reading. On the origin of Interoception: What is generally agreed upon by most current scholars is that interoception is the perception of the state of the body. On Interoceptive Awareness Skills for Emotion Regulation- Interoception is the perception of sensations from inside the body and includes the perception of physical sensations related to internal organ function such as heartbeat, respiration, satiety, as well as the autonomic nervous system activity related to emotions (Vaitl, 1996; Cameron, 2001; Craig, 2002; Barrett et al., 2004). Much of these perceptions remain unconscious; what becomes conscious, i.e., interoceptive awareness, involves the processing of inner sensations so that they become available to conscious awareness Cameron, 2001.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5985305/ We discuss barriers to having body attunement such as: Adverse Childhood Experiences Untreated mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, physical pain, shame, and stigma Environmental, behavioral, and cultural barriers include “numbing,” screens, busy-ness, being shut down, being connected is not modeled Disconnected eating including having “shoulds” around food, food rules, and attempting appetite suppression Last but not least, we share what we can do to increase body attunement — listen in to learn how! We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Jamie Marich about trauma. We discuss how to approach trauma healing in recovery and how to support yourself, as well as how to incorporate creativity and mindfulness into your healing process. What we particularly love about Jamie — aside from her expertise on trauma healing — is her use of movement in trauma process, particularly dance, yoga, and martial arts. We talk about the use of those mediums to aid healing and enhance our creative abilities. Both Liv and Tiffany love her book, Process Not Perfection  Last, we talk about how trauma can be identified within mutual-aid settings and how we can all be more trauma-aware in helping others with their journey. More about Jamie: Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, expressive arts, and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. She is the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice (www.dancingmindfulness.com). Jamie is the author of five books, including the popular EMDR Made Simple and EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care (Springer Publishing in 2017), written in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Dansiger. Her newest title, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, was released in April 2019. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, anti-diet, Intuitive Eating, Diet culture, why cant I stop eating, help with overeating, binge eating, binging, life after 12 step recovery, body attunement, Disordered eating, eating disorders, sugar addiction, Alcoholism, addiction, how to live sober, sobriety, how to stop drinking, recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, what is Intuitive Eating, body respect, HAES, health at every size, body positivity, BoPo, food recovery, Breaking Free Recovery, Breaking Free Podcast, Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way., recovery patchwork, eating recovery, recovery boundaries, eating disorder recovery, disordered eating recovery, Tiffany Thoen, Liv Pennelle, Liv’s recovery kitchen, Olivia Pennelle, Liv and Tiffany

Boundaries? What are those? They are so helpful in recovery (and life in general). noun: boundary; plural noun: boundaries a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line. Not that kind of boundary, silly! Personal boundaries! Tiffany shares that for her, setting a boundary represents the ability to honor our needs and not try to fix others. This blog post on loveisrespect.org called “Love is Setting Boundaries: “What Are My Boundaries?” helps clarify what boundaries might look like in a relationship. Liv shares what boundaries mean to her, and introduces Tiffany and our listeners to the awesome Nedra Tawwab and her insightful posts on boundaries. We talk about problems that we had before we started intentionally practicing boundaries, such as resentment. Check out Melody Beattie’s book Codependent No More. We then dive into the how to’s of of setting boundaries, even in the middle of a conflict. We love what our friend Veronica Valli of Soberful says about boundaries: “Say what you mean, mean what you say and say it without being mean.” And again the fabulous Nedra Tawwab has an awesome post for us: We know it's not easy, so be gentle with yourself and tune in for the rest! We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, anti-diet, Intuitive Eating, Diet culture, why cant I stop eating, help with overeating, binge eating, binging, life after 12 step recovery, body attunement, Disordered eating, eating disorders, sugar addiction, Alcoholism, addiction, how to live sober, sobriety, how to stop drinking, recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, what is Intuitive Eating, body respect, HAES, health at every size, body positivity, BoPo, food recovery, Breaking Free Recovery, Breaking Free Podcast, Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way., recovery patchwork, eating recovery, recovery boundaries, eating disorder recovery, disordered eating recovery, Tiffany Thoen, Liv Pennelle, Liv’s recovery kitchen, Olivia Pennelle, Liv and Tiffany

In this episode, Liv and Tiffany interview Lynn Matti and dig into adverse childhood experiences and the groundbreaking ACE study. We explore how common trauma is in people with substance use disorder, and we examine the challenges individuals in recovery with a trauma history might face. We also look at how those challenges might be experienced in mutual-aid programs and the need for individualized recovery plans. Bio: Lynn Matti, MA, LPCC, is a person-centered and cognitive behavioral licensed counselor and recovery leader who mentors, counsels, and coaches online and in-person at the intersection of resilience, courage, and hope. With her expertise, authenticity, and commitment to life-long learning, she helps others find their truest self and learn the skills needed to build and sustain meaningful mental wellness. She brings tested, interesting, and fun practices and perspectives to her individual clients and group endeavors. In addition to a thriving private counseling/coaching practice in Peachtree City, GA,, Lynn is the creator and host of The SoberSoul Recovery Podcast, a top-rated addiction, recovery, and self-improvement podcast. Each week, Lynn tackles the many issues of life and recovery, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, relocation, divorce, empty nest, loneliness, substance overuse and abuse, and much more. The SoberSoul Recovery approach is to make quality therapy accessible for all who desire it. Contacts: SoberSoulRecovery.net The SoberSoul Recovery Podcast Facebook Instagram We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, anti-diet, Intuitive Eating, Diet culture, why cant I stop eating, help with overeating, binge eating, binging, life after 12 step recovery, body attunement, Disordered eating, eating disorders, sugar addiction, Alcoholism, addiction, how to live sober, sobriety, how to stop drinking, recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, what is Intuitive Eating, body respect, HAES, health at every size, body positivity, BoPo, food recovery, Breaking Free Recovery, Breaking Free Podcast, Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way., recovery patchwork, eating recovery, recovery boundaries, eating disorder recovery, disordered eating recovery, Tiffany Thoen, Liv Pennelle, Liv’s recovery kitchen, Olivia Pennelle, Liv and Tiffany

“Oh, you look great! Did you lose weight?” “Are you really going to eat that?” These are milder things people “innocently” ask, but there are so many more questions and comments that are even more harmful. In this episode we dive into how to set boundaries with friends and family around food and body comments. We love this Self article on the importance of ending body and weight loss “compliments.” Why are women's bodies and what we choose to put in our bodies up for discussion? It is nobody's business! This Fat Girl Flow article is brilliant and so needed. They point out that health is not a moral issue, and asks people to stop justifying comments with this cop-out. You can also check out Coach Tiffany’s blog on boundaries for more tips! Listen in to hear our take on how to set boundaries around these sensitive subjects. It's not easy, but we are here for you. Remember, together, we are breaking free! We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.

In this episode, we talk to Shannon Whaley about bodies — more specifically, about her journey towards body acceptance. We discuss the pervasiveness of diet culture, Shannon’s process of removing her breast implants and what she learned on that journey, and boundaries that Shannon has with others around her body. Bio: Shannon Whaley (she/her) is a certified storytelling and marketing coach as well as the head of admissions for Inner Glow Circle, the #1 Coach Training company for women. Shannon believes that if you're alive, you have a story and her mission in life is to help women heal themselves and the world through raw, honest storytelling. Shannon uses her coaching platform to bring attention to issues that are important to her and to educate her community so we can all do better. She is an American expat living in Italy with her husband, Stefano, and two cats, Niccolo and Kevin. You can find Shannon via her website: https://shannonwhaley.com/ We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, anti-diet, Intuitive Eating, Diet culture, why cant I stop eating, help with overeating, binge eating, binging, life after 12 step recovery, body attunement, Disordered eating, eating disorders, sugar addiction, Alcoholism, addiction, how to live sober, sobriety, how to stop drinking, recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, what is Intuitive Eating, body respect, HAES, health at every size, body positivity, BoPo, food recovery, Breaking Free Recovery, Breaking Free Podcast, Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way., recovery patchwork, eating recovery, recovery boundaries, eating disorder recovery, disordered eating recovery, Tiffany Thoen, Liv Pennelle, Liv’s recovery kitchen, Olivia Pennelle, Liv and Tiffany

In this episode, we zero in on body comparison. Liv and Tiffany share about beginning to compare our bodies to others as very young girls. We explore how our culture is hyper-focused on bodies, how it begins to appear early in life how it’s harmful, and what we can do about it. We ask: -How many times a day do you check your body in the mirror and then adjusting your clothes, and  try to make yourself look smaller? -What does your Facebook and Instagram feed look like? Do you see only small bodies? -How often are we body-bashing ourselves or listening to others comment on people’s bodies? We dive into this awesome article by Abby Langer, R.D. in Self. It explains in depth why even complimenting people on weight loss is harmful. https://www.self.com/story/we-really-need-to-stop-complimenting-people-on-weight-loss?utm_sq=g5hbx3uhyc&fbclid=IwAR3l0xEklfweb4GFbnI8mR9SxvHKoQgbITbxsItFYbMK554oX-xvpx8QZGw We also look at  this fantastic article by Fat Girl Flow on why our body (and our health) is nobody’s business but our own. https://fatgirlflow.com/afraid-youre-going-to-die-fat/ We are not JUST a body. We ring the bell for Lindsay Kite of Beauty Redefined/ Check out her great TED talk about being more than just a body: https://youtu.be/uDowwh0EU4w Tiffany talks about her passion for helping women that know their value and worth is not related to how their body looks or what they weigh. Tiffany’s Womanifesto: https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com/womanifesto.html We dive into one of our favorite Principles of Intuitive Eating — Respect your body. • Acceptance • Gratitude • Self-care • No longer commenting on bodies • Fighting fatphobia, starting within! We ring a bell for Michelle Elman at #scarrednotscared. We encourage you to read her post “Fat is not a Feeling”: https://www.instagram.com/tv/BxaiuTRBmI0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_lin We also share more about the Health at Every Size components: Respect Celebrates body diversity Honors differences in size, age, race, ethnicity, gender, dis/ability, sexual orientation, religion, class, and other human attributes Critical Awareness Challenges scientific and cultural assumptions Values body knowledge and lived experiences Compassionate Self-Care Finding the joy in moving one’s body and being physically active Encourages eating in a flexible and attuned manner that values pleasure and honors internal cues of hunger, satiety, and appetite, while respecting the social conditions that frame eating options Check out the Health at Every Size website here: https://haescommunity.com/ We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. 

In this episode, we discuss the nuances of sugar addiction. We ask: Does sugar addiction exist? Is it truly an addiction? What’s wrong with the argument that sugar lights up the same pathways as cocaine? Why is throwing around the phrase “sugar addict” harmful? Why do we experience sugar cravings? We talk about the neurochemistry, the role dopamine plays in sugar cravings, what the science is currently telling us, and why the data isn’t able to give us a full picture. We also look at the role that diet culture plays in this messaging. It is so important to consider where these messages are coming from. Who benefits from us thinking there is something wrong with us? Check out this awesome article by Imma Eat That on Sugar and Intuitive Eating. https://immaeatthat.com/2017/05/02/intuitive-eating-haters/ So, should we swear off sugar forever? No, because that actually increases the brain reward for sugar. What to do instead of restriction if you are struggling with sugar: Release judgement and get curious. Try other focusing on overall health. Increase sleep, see your doctor, try supplements, decrease stress, implement gentle nutrition by increasing consumption of veggie fiber, cooking at home, and eating enough throughout the day. Look at emotional eating (again without judgement). Learn new ways of coping. Increase pleasure in your life to help improve dopamine tone. If you need support around sugar and your relationship with food, reach out to Coach Tiffany at tiffany@coachtiffanyrn.com or visit her website at https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.

In this episode, Liv and Tiffany share their experiences with finding Intuitive Eating. Diving deeper, we look at the barriers to Intuitive Eating and how to get started.  Barriers:  Diet culture Rigid food rules growing up Poor modeling around food Parents who dieted Shaming messages Negative body image Childhood trauma Mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, PTSD Pain Getting started with IE: Reject diet culture, food “shoulds,” judgement and shame Celebrate awareness Honor your body, focus on body attunement Honor your hunger — IE encourages you to eat food, and experience fullness and satisfaction Body acceptance/respect (gratitude for our body, self-care, body comparison, self criticism) Honoring feelings without using food (how do I feel, what do I need?) Honoring your health: gentle nutrition, exercise because it feels good These are our bellworthy and noteworthy resources: The Ten Principles of Intuitive Eating:  https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/ Coach Tiffany’s self-paced Intuitive Eating course:https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com/course.html Grab Coach Tiffany’s hunger scale here: https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com/hunger-scale-opt-in.html Harvard’s take on the ACE test: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/media-coverage/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean/ Article: What Cookies and Meth Have in Common: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/30/opinion/sunday/what-cookies-and-meth-have-in-common.html Books to check out:  Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S and Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S, Fiaedp, FADA, FAND The Body Keeps the Score by Gabor Mate  We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.

Intuitive Eating is Tiffany’s passion. In her work as an Intuitive Eating coach, she helps people to heal their relationship with food. In this episode, Tiffany and Liv discuss what is and why it is awesome.  Intuitive Eating is essentially learning to let go of all of the “shoulds” around food. Judgement and shame around food keep us from gaining awareness, connection, and attunement with our bodies. By letting go of all the judgment, we can focus instead on building trust in our bodies and honoring our bodies’ needs. With Intuitive Eating, we give ourselves unconditional permission to eat by making feeding ourselves satisfying foods a priority while also being discerning about how we want to feel. These are our bellworthy and noteworthy resources: The Ten Principles of Intuitive Eating:  https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/ http://boldandbadass.com/the-principles-of-intuitive-eating/ Coach Tiffany’s self-paced Intuitive Eating course: https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com/course.html Grab Coach Tiffany’s hunger scale here: https://www.coachtiffanyrn.com/hunger-scale-opt-in.html Some of our favorite places to eat treats in Portland: Rawdacious Gem Kyra’s Wholism Fern Kitchen We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. 

In this episode, we focus on weight loss — why dieting doesn't work and why focusing on weight loss is actually harmful. Studies show that dieting to lose weight does not work long-term: while initially people often lose weight, if we zoom out and look 2-5 years past the diet, 85-95% of the time people gain back all the weight and often even more. Listen in to find out what to focus on instead.  The healthcare industry also contributes to harm by focusing on weight. When we focus on weight rather than health, people are not treated as thoroughly and are stigmatized.  Ellen Maud Bennett’s obituary, where her final message is her experience of fat shaming by the healthcare industry, is highlighted. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timescolonist/obituary.aspx?pid=189588876 In this article, Laura Fraser writes about her sister, Jan, whose symptoms were disregarded, likely due to weight bias while her cancer went undiagnosed: https://www.statnews.com/2017/08/15/cancer-diagnosis-weight-doctors/ These are our other noteworthy acknowledgements: Great article by the Intuitive Eating founders, Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S and Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S, Fiaedp, FADA, FAND, about risk of increasing weight from dieting referencing the twin study:  https://www.intuitiveeating.org/warning-dieting-increases-your-risk-of-gaining-more-weight-an-update/ Interesting article by Melissa Gerson, LCSW, on the conscientious objectors starvation experiment:   https://www.theprojectheal.org/healblog/impact-of-starvation-on-behavior The New York Times article focused on the biggest loser study by Sandra Aamodt, a neuroscientist - https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/why-you-cant-lose-weight-on-a-diet.html We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. 

In this episode we discuss diet culture: what it is, Tiffany’s take on it, and why it's harmful. Ultimately, we are all affected by diet culture. It is subtle and it is pervasive. Listen in to learn why it's time to reject diet culture and focus instead on building connection and trust with our body.  These are our bellworthy and noteworthy acknowledgements: A great article on how diet culture is related to social inequity: https://katebrowne.net/defining-diet-culture/ #iweigh: https://www.instagram.com/i_weigh/ by https://www.instagram.com/jameelajamilofficial/ to be reminded that you are more than a number on the scale.  Shilo George is the fat activist we mentioned who shared on another podcast about negative self-talk and “shoulds” being like invasive species. https://podtail.com/en/podcast/every-body-reclaiming-body-talk/ep-28-great-awakening-of-heart-and-spirit-shilo-ge/ https://www.sarahblondin.com/: Check out her meditations on loving and listening to yourself.  Tiffany’s favorite definition of diet culture: Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN is an outspoken leader in the non-diet, weight-inclusive movement, and her definition of diet culture has been widely quoted and referenced.  She says: “Diet culture is a system of beliefs that:

How many times have we heard the phrases:  “dry drunk,”  “recovery lite”  “sober but not in recovery?”  “chronic relapser” “they can’t get out of their own way” Then there are all the pejorative terms, “Junkie,” “Addict,” and “Alcoholic”  And unhelpful slogans: “Take the cotton wool out of your ears and put it in your mouth,” and “Our secrets keep us sick” How many of these terms do we use every day?  In this episode Liv and Tiffany explore how shaming this language is and how it can potentially impact people in recovery and those seeking it. We encourage everyone to think about the language they use and how they are contributing to stigma both directly and indirectly. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity. 

How many times have we heard the phrases:  “dry drunk,”  “recovery lite”  “sober but not in recovery?”  “chronic relapser” “they can’t get out of their own way” Then there are all the pejorative terms, “Junkie,” “Addict,” and “Alcoholic”  And unhelpful slogans: “Take the cotton wool out of your ears and put it in your mouth,” and “Our secrets keep us sick” How many of these terms do we use every day?  In this episode Liv and Tiffany explore how shaming this language is and how it can potentially impact people in recovery and those seeking it. We encourage everyone to think about the language they use and how they are contributing to stigma both directly and indirectly. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast, and tell us the ways in which you’re breaking free in our free Facebook community: Breaking Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakingfreecommunity.  #Recovery #Allpaths, #allpathways, #recoverypathways, #BreakingFree, #12steprecovery, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #alternativepathways, #alternativesToAA, #sober, #sobriety,  diets dont work, anti-diet, Intuitive Eating, Diet culture, why cant I stop eating, help with overeating, binge eating, binging, life after 12 step recovery, body attunement, Disordered eating, eating disorders, sugar addiction, Alcoholism, addiction, how to live sober, sobriety, how to stop drinking, recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, what is Intuitive Eating, body respect, HAES, health at every size, body positivity, BoPo, food recovery, Breaking Free Recovery, Breaking Free Podcast, Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way., recovery patchwork, eating recovery, recovery boundaries, eating disorder recovery, disordered eating recovery, Tiffany Thoen, Liv Pennelle, Liv’s recovery kitchen, Olivia Pennelle, Liv and Tiffany