Mar 30, 2023Liked by Corinne Fay, Virginia Sole-Smith, Jessica Wilson
Thank you for letting all of us in on this conversation! As someone who teaches intuitive eating, but feels skeptical that any way of doing anything can be “perfect” for everyone (and it’s far from that), I loved this critique. There are so many ways in which intuitive eating falls short and has blind spots, and I wonder why so many dietitians who have been willing to find the pitfalls in so many aspects of the nutrition field (being anti-diet and talking about the issues in our degree programs and such) are unwilling to then also take a critical look at intuitive eating too. I guess it probably relates back to what you mentioned in the conversation about it being a part of personal recovery around disordered eating for many of us (myself included). I loved the discussions about identity and community being important pieces of the conversation. I think that especially for white dietitians like myself, we need to stop reflexively looking for answers to every difficult food/diet-related question within the confines of the intuitive eating book (I think it feels like a comfy place to hang out sometimes?). Appreciate both of you for pushing us to keep thinking harder about all of this!
Mar 30, 2023Liked by Virginia Sole-Smith, Jessica Wilson
First, this is amazing. Jessica, you are incredible.
I have to comment on Walter Willet. He's been my nutrition nemesis since the early 2000s. I work in ag journalism, and cattle farmers can't stand him because he's anti-beef (and pro-nut, take that as you will.)
I still remember an interview he gave to Cooking Light (ugh!) magazine back in the day and his bizarro recommendation on the ideal body weight. I won't repeat his advice, because triggering, but I'm still trying to unlearn it.
And Jessica's quote: "He’s got like a gazillion publications all about ... how we’re all basically going to die if we don’t start eating nuts." I'm laughing because it's true! I can't tell you how many times I've read nutrition articles where he recommends eating mixed nuts.
Mar 30, 2023Liked by Virginia Sole-Smith, Jessica Wilson
I loved this interview! I even listened instead of just reading the transcript. I read Jessica’s book when it came out and loved it.
As I listened to your conversation about Black women developing eating disorders to win rather than to be thin, I thought about Gloria Lucas’ work about eating disorder harm reduction. I don’t know if she does podcast interviews but I think your audience would be very interested.
I have been working as a therapist in the ED space for years, and this episode has done more to disorient, challenge, and inspire me than I just about any experience I can think of in my life. I can feel my entire clinical orientation shifting under my feet, and it honestly is both terrifying and exhilarating. I am incredibly grateful to you both, and rushing out to buy basically everything either of you have ever written.
I wish I could share a string of GIFs that might capture the emotional roller coaster of cognitive dissonance moments I experienced while listening to this episode! Such a great conversation, and I can't wait to read Jessica's book.
Confession: Even though I've had my share of beefs with IE (such as their recommendation that parents call certain things "play food"), I got super defensive about the discussion of the "cope with your emotions" principle because the revised edition calls it "Cope with your emotions with kindness" (rather than "without food")--but the whole chapter is essentially the same original advice about exploring/channeling your feelings (write in a journal! go for a walk!) in order to try to avoid emotional eating!! How did I miss that? Anyway, I was embarrassed for my pedantic white lady self.
In the discussion of eating disorder treatment, I really struggled at many points. Not sure I can articulate it well here. But I'll say it's really tricky to think about how life-limiting and life-threatening these illnesses can be while also recognizing that certain ED behaviors may make life easier and safer in other ways.
For anyone interested in additional mind-blowing discussions of eating disorder treatment outside of the usual white patriarchal paradigm, check out Dr. Jennie Wang-Hall. And I second the recommendation to follow Gloria Lucas and her work: https://www.instagram.com/nalgonapositivitypride/
Important and intriguing conversation. A long time ago I read a brilliant book called Drylongso by John Langston Gwaltney a black anthropologist. He talked to ordinary (his term) black people about all sorts of political things. One thing he and they taught me is the enormous variety of black bodies. True of all bodies but he and they argued more true of African-descended ones . Looking at and thinking of that variety makes any ideal seem
I have a lot to learn about the harmful aspects of intuitive eating that I, quite frankly, hadn’t thought about until now. Mostly because it sounds so nice right? Listen to your body etc. However I struggle with recognizing my own body cues so it puts intuitive eating principles outside my reach. Thank you for this episode as I jump into learning mode.
Thank you for letting all of us in on this conversation! As someone who teaches intuitive eating, but feels skeptical that any way of doing anything can be “perfect” for everyone (and it’s far from that), I loved this critique. There are so many ways in which intuitive eating falls short and has blind spots, and I wonder why so many dietitians who have been willing to find the pitfalls in so many aspects of the nutrition field (being anti-diet and talking about the issues in our degree programs and such) are unwilling to then also take a critical look at intuitive eating too. I guess it probably relates back to what you mentioned in the conversation about it being a part of personal recovery around disordered eating for many of us (myself included). I loved the discussions about identity and community being important pieces of the conversation. I think that especially for white dietitians like myself, we need to stop reflexively looking for answers to every difficult food/diet-related question within the confines of the intuitive eating book (I think it feels like a comfy place to hang out sometimes?). Appreciate both of you for pushing us to keep thinking harder about all of this!
First, this is amazing. Jessica, you are incredible.
I have to comment on Walter Willet. He's been my nutrition nemesis since the early 2000s. I work in ag journalism, and cattle farmers can't stand him because he's anti-beef (and pro-nut, take that as you will.)
I still remember an interview he gave to Cooking Light (ugh!) magazine back in the day and his bizarro recommendation on the ideal body weight. I won't repeat his advice, because triggering, but I'm still trying to unlearn it.
And Jessica's quote: "He’s got like a gazillion publications all about ... how we’re all basically going to die if we don’t start eating nuts." I'm laughing because it's true! I can't tell you how many times I've read nutrition articles where he recommends eating mixed nuts.
I loved this interview! I even listened instead of just reading the transcript. I read Jessica’s book when it came out and loved it.
As I listened to your conversation about Black women developing eating disorders to win rather than to be thin, I thought about Gloria Lucas’ work about eating disorder harm reduction. I don’t know if she does podcast interviews but I think your audience would be very interested.
I have been working as a therapist in the ED space for years, and this episode has done more to disorient, challenge, and inspire me than I just about any experience I can think of in my life. I can feel my entire clinical orientation shifting under my feet, and it honestly is both terrifying and exhilarating. I am incredibly grateful to you both, and rushing out to buy basically everything either of you have ever written.
This was a fantastic interview!! Thank you Jessica for your work and thank you Virginia for interviewing awesome folks!
I wish I could share a string of GIFs that might capture the emotional roller coaster of cognitive dissonance moments I experienced while listening to this episode! Such a great conversation, and I can't wait to read Jessica's book.
Confession: Even though I've had my share of beefs with IE (such as their recommendation that parents call certain things "play food"), I got super defensive about the discussion of the "cope with your emotions" principle because the revised edition calls it "Cope with your emotions with kindness" (rather than "without food")--but the whole chapter is essentially the same original advice about exploring/channeling your feelings (write in a journal! go for a walk!) in order to try to avoid emotional eating!! How did I miss that? Anyway, I was embarrassed for my pedantic white lady self.
In the discussion of eating disorder treatment, I really struggled at many points. Not sure I can articulate it well here. But I'll say it's really tricky to think about how life-limiting and life-threatening these illnesses can be while also recognizing that certain ED behaviors may make life easier and safer in other ways.
For anyone interested in additional mind-blowing discussions of eating disorder treatment outside of the usual white patriarchal paradigm, check out Dr. Jennie Wang-Hall. And I second the recommendation to follow Gloria Lucas and her work: https://www.instagram.com/nalgonapositivitypride/
Thank you for this episode! I just ordered Jessica's book and I can't wait to read it.
Important and intriguing conversation. A long time ago I read a brilliant book called Drylongso by John Langston Gwaltney a black anthropologist. He talked to ordinary (his term) black people about all sorts of political things. One thing he and they taught me is the enormous variety of black bodies. True of all bodies but he and they argued more true of African-descended ones . Looking at and thinking of that variety makes any ideal seem
I have a lot to learn about the harmful aspects of intuitive eating that I, quite frankly, hadn’t thought about until now. Mostly because it sounds so nice right? Listen to your body etc. However I struggle with recognizing my own body cues so it puts intuitive eating principles outside my reach. Thank you for this episode as I jump into learning mode.