5 Tips for Summer and Body Image/"Out of Control" Food Struggles
Ah, summer—the time of year when the sun is blazing, the BBQs are sizzling, and the body image issues are... lurking.
If the thought of putting on your swimsuit and being invited to a pool party sends shivers down your spine, you're not alone.
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There’s an often misunderstood world of intuitive eating. Sure, it’s all about “all foods fit” and “no food rules,” but let’s get real—sometimes you need a bit of structure, especially when that party-size bag of chips starts whispering your name.
In this episode, I’m sharing tips on how to portion(hint: your plate is not bottomless!), wearing comfy clothes on “bad body image” days (bye-bye tight jeans, hello flowy dresses), and scheduling in those “fear foods” like ice cream, so you don’t end up binging in secret.
Whether you’re gearing up for a beach day or planning a day out with friends, this episode has practical, relatable advice to help you enjoy the summer season.
In this episode, I’m talking about:
Balancing intuitive eating with guidelines to feel in control.
Coping with summer body image issues.
The importance of wearing comfortable clothing when you are experiencing a “bad body image” day.
Enjoying summer activities despite body image concerns.
Improving your relationship with food to feel better and have more energy.
Scheduling your "Fear Foods" into your diet intentionally to avoid binging later and feel more in control.
Managing BBQ anxiety so you can enjoy your meal.
How to plan for an all-day outing.
Also as a little note - we have a new fun way for you to interact with the podcast! You now have the option to send us audio recordings! Just scroll down in the show notes to find the link. Tell us what you love, and what you hate, or just introduce yourself. Your voice goes straight to me, and hey, if you're up for it, we might even share it with the world.
Tweetable Quotes
"We do need some rules and one of those rules is the party bag or the serving plate is not your plate." - Rachelle Heinemann
"If you go and get a scoop or two of ice cream when you're out with your friends as your afternoon snack, that's a great way to teach yourself I can have the two scoops of ice cream and then move on and I'm okay." - Rachelle Heinemann
"First of all, still put on the bathing suit." - Rachelle Heinemann
"Fill your plate and eat it.” - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
Grab the Replay of the Resistance in Treatment Webinar
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Related Episodes
Episode 123. The Beauty Ideal with Nechami Tennenbaum, MBA
Episode 121. The Comparison Trap and Eating Disorders
Episode 119. Eating Disorders Don’t Have a Look
Episode 115. How To Recover When Everyone Around You Is Dieting
Episode 111. How To Eat When You Don’t Feel Like It
Episode 98. Body Stuff with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani
Episode 77. How to Accept Your Body
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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