When Did Joyful Movement Become Exercise, Anyway?
Hopscotching
Swinging
Skip-it
Biking
Rollerblading
Swimming
Bug catching
Kite flying
Rope jumping
Treehouse building
I joined my first gym in response to being diagnosed with MS at 15. Rather, my family enrolled and incessantly encouraged my engagement. I probably went 10 times in the four years of high school. This wasn’t rewarding. I didn’t do it. Even though it was supposed to halt my disease. Also, child.
I found joy in running right before I lost my ability to run.
I used my first pedometer as part of my training to become a dietitian. Because counting steps makes me better at this job? Nope. But it makes a lot of folx obsessed with hitting some arbitrary number. Absolutely no joy in that.
I’ve never turned on the health app on my phone, but I’m sure that I’d never be given positive or kind input. I’d perpetually be under the step/stand/move (are those the categories?) recommendations.
If your gym is closed, please take this moment to rest. And if you’re in a place to safely move, please consider finding a method of movement that strikes joy.
THOSE are the activities you’ll go back to. Those are the activities that will result in you being called back into the house for food. (Remember that?) This is an opportunity to redefine your relationship with movement.
Make it feel good.
Don’t do it if it feels ungood.
Rest because you can, no questions.
Rest because stress is exhausting.
Rest because resting is part of a healthy relationship with movement.
#rest #exercise #fitness #training #fun #eatingdisorderrecovery #influencer #influencers #healthcoach #wellness #health #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #diet #dietculture #dietculturedetox #trainer #fitness #healthylifestyle #weightloss #carbs #protein #lifestyle #rdchat #thoughts #haes #antidiet #covid_19 #dietitiananna
The Quarantine Fifteen
Do you see what diet culture did there? ✨Made a rhyme? ✨That is super impressive.
And also a skill that is taught to children as early as age four.
I AM NOT IMPRESSED.
The quarantine fifteen not a thing. It is made up, fear-mongering, and fatphobic nonsense.
The worst-case scenario here is not weight gain.
Do not let diet culture suggest that it is.
Your body is the least interesting thing about you. And your earth suit might change in the coming weeks and months. You are a human. You are a living thing. Living things change. Please be gentle with yourself in this moment that requires the utmost gentle care.
Let’s play a game!
Comment below with your best anti-diet culture rhyme!
“#keto, oh no.”
#inluencer #influencers #healthcoach #wellness #health #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #diet #dietculture #dietculturedetox #trainer #fitness #healthylifestyle #weightloss #carbs #protein #lifestyle #rdchat #weight #thoughts #eatingdisorderrecovery #haes #antidiet #covid_19 #dietitiananna
I Am a Full-Time Disabled Person
I am a full-time disabled person.
I am a full-time dietitian&business owner.
I am a full-time human in need of assistance.
I am a full-time human of privilege.
I’m moving into a phase of illness that requires my asking for help. I’m fortunate to be connected to humans who are willing to step in. How lucky.
And as I’ve become increasingly disabled, I’ve distanced myself. For the sake of not inconveniencing, avoiding being seen as different, wishing to avoid a planet that is not designed to accommodate my needs, skipping hard feelings. And I’ve felt it.
Lonely. Less than. Should. Shouldn’t.
Lucky. Unlucky. Seen. Invisible.
I have missed events, for lack of sense of ability to navigate spaces. For requesting accessible hotel rooms and being put in rooms with steps. For not wishing to be seen as needy, while needing. Human.
And now events that have required physical attendance are being adapted to virtual. With challenge, to be sure, but it’s happening. And I wonder and hope that this reality will persist. And most of me assumes that it won’t.
So I’m taking social space. More than I have been. I’m leaving my house to take short walker walks and to get my monthly infusions. And that is it. My immune-suppressed body will take no chances. And because I live where I do, I can keep doing my job. I can eat with you. (And will have breakfast live on the weekdays until I’m back in my office.) I am lucky.
And I wish for the planet to make these accommodations permanent. And I’m saddened by the number of qualified disabled folx who have been sidelined. Because working from home wasn’t an option. Because maintaining certification requires in person conference attendance. Because ableism.
I started this career in an able body. I have the expertise I do because I could walk into eating disorder programs. I left my favorite job because I couldn’t. But I am lucky.
I don’t know how I came to be so fortunate as to have you here. I recognize that privilege is a big part of it.
I know what I know. I write well. I am white, thin, and with a nice face. I am also disabled & have a chronic illness.
So stand with me as I ask for access.
Now. Always. For me & those w/o my luck.
Unfollowing Is Your Superpower. Use It.
Truth #1: nothing you eat, no supplement you take, will prevent you from acquiring a virus.
Truth #2: no single food can boost an immune system. Eating regularly, getting enough rest, attempting to minimize stress enhances immune function.
Truth #3: the wellness gurus, licensed practitioners, and other influencers who are attempting to *sell* the idea that there is something that you can ingest/practice/manifest to prevent this illness are the same humans who have sold diet cures/weight loss miracles/cleansing nonsense. I promise.
Think of this as an opportunity to be selective about who you follow, who you give attention to. If they’re selling overt lies in the midst of the most frightening global event of recent history, they’ll keep doing so when the world is back to normal.
Unfollowing is your superpower. Use it.
Wash your hands.
Stay home if you can.
Practice safe distancing.
Seek out virtual connection.
We will get through this. TOGETHER.
And hopefully, with fewer influencers who willfully shatter ethical bounds. ✌️
#influencer #influencers #healthcoach #wellness #health #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #diet #dietculture #dietculturedetox #trainer #fitness #healthylifestyle #rdchat #manifest #thoughts #tgif #eatingdisorderrecovery #haes #antidiet #covid_19 #dietitiananna
C+ Effort & Results are Okay Right Now
If there was ever a time for extra self-compassion, now is it.
You don’t have to navigate this situation perfectly. There’s no such thing.
It is okay if you do less, if you parent differently, if you aim for self-preservation and little else.
This is a tough moment for the perfectionists among us. And while I appreciate that attempting to maintain standards may feel supportive, it is likely not realistic and not necessary.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for being part of this community.
Thank you for being you.
Be gentle.
#selfcompassion #intuitiveeating
#food #nourish #nutrition #nutritioncoach #dietitian #dietitiansofinstagram #rdapproved #rdchat #parenting #eatingdisorderrecovery #fearfood #allfoodsfit #healthcoach #trainer #exercise #fitness #edrecovery #mentalhealthawareness #edrecovery #dietculturedetox #diet #covid_19 #selfquarantine #selflove #dietitiananna
Eating Disorders are Chaotic
This moment feels chaotic. Because it is. And I appreciate that your eating disorder might be knocking on the door, promising relief from the chaos. And I would like to gently remind you that your eating disorder, in itself, is chaotic.
And your eating disorder is fibbing in suggesting that engaging in behaviors will make this moment feel less frightening. It can’t do that. Because this is a frightening moment.
I see you if you are struggling.
I see you if you have food in your home and feel overwhelmed by it.
I see you if you have been unable to access your safe foods or replacements for them, and are worried about access to food.
I see you.
Eating disorders are chaotic. They will not make this moment less so.
#food #foodhacks #eat #nourish #nutrition #nutritioncoach #dietitian #dietitiansofinstagram #rdapproved #rdchat #rd2be #wellness #eatingdisorderrecovery #fearfood #allfoodsfit #healthcoach #trainer #exercise #fitness #edrecovery #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #edrecovery #dietculturedetox #diet #covid_19 #selfquarantine #selflove #selfcare #dietitiananna
Virtual Connection is Connection
If you’re feeling scared, lonely, anxious, all the things, you’re in good company. These are difficult moments. And social distancing feels like a lot. For me. Maybe for you, too. I’m choosing virtual connection as an alternative.
On Sunday, I decided to offer an hour of weekly, free virtual connection. On Monday, an exceptional team of practitioners joined my Weekly Support effort. What a gift!
From now until the world goes back to normal, the schedule is as follows:
Monday: 3pm
@dietitiananna
TUESDAY: 3:15pm
@bodypositive_dietitian
WEDNESDAY: 1pm
@hgoodrichrd
THURSDAY: 3pm
@encouragingdietitian
FRIDAY: 10am
@bodyimagewithbri
ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
Follow everyone and tune in live - AND - as I learned yesterday, (shoot!) if you cannot tune in live, sessions will be available in stories for 24 hours.
Sessions will be held in Q&A format, and participation is encouraged. Likely, we won’t be able to answer all questions, but are eager to create community in this weird, unknown time.
Because my live time occurs around the time that I would usually have snack, I will use this opportunity to eat with you, while interacting with you. I would encourage you to join me in the eating part!
If your relationship with food or body or recovery is being tested OR if you are a clinician navigating supporting your clients in a new way, please, please, please join us. 🤍
PLEASE GIVE ME IDEAS OF TOPICS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADDRESS HERE! I’ll still answer questions live, but will spend extra time on themes if you help me prep here.
PLEASE TAG FOLX WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT & NEED TO KNOW THIS IS AVAILABLE.
#instagramlive #igsupport #bodyimage #eatingdisorderrecovery #virtual #free #freesupport #eatingdisorderdietitian #dietitian #therapist #nourish #community #covid_19 #covid #antidiet #mealsupport #food #foodcoach #edrecovery #diet #usnotme #haes #weightinclusive #virtualconnection #dietitiananna
PSA: Your Body Has No Judgment About Food
This is time.
And a time for a reminder that your body does not hold judgment about the food it is given. If you’re allergic to a thing, your body will respond accordingly, but that’s still not from a place of judgment.
If you’ve filled your kitchen with more non-perishable items, more packaged or prepared or preserved things, know that you’re doing this right. And that your body is made to handle foods of all kinds.
This is a moment in time in which #wellnessculture can back up. And exit.
Frozen.
Canned.
Dried.
Packaged.
Processed.
These are adjectives to describe food.
It provides nourishment, it is a good food. All food is good food.
Please give yourself permission to eat.
Sending big LOVE.
#food #foodhacks #eat #nourish #nutrition #nutritioncoach #dietitian #dietitiansofinstagram #rdapproved #rdchat #rd2be #science #wellness #eatingdisorderrecovery #fearfood #allfoodsfit #healthcoach #trainer #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #edrecovery #dietculturedetox #diet #covid_19 #selfquarantine #selflove #selfcare #dietitiananna
Take Care of Yourself
Right now is a lot.
My sympathetic nervous system is reminding me of just how well it works.
Fight. Flight. Freeze.
I felt this way before, but never quite like this. In the past, I didn’t have the resources to self soothe.
To breathe, functionally.
To slow down.
To calm down.
I am much better at living with the unknown than I have been. Living with a progressive disease, a chronic illness, means doing that, all the time. So in some ways, I’m good at this.
And I feel unequipped to manage this unknown thing.
So I’m doing what’s recommended. I’m taking space. I’m washing my hands. I’m realizing that every time I wash my hands, I need to also be thinking about sanitizing the handles of my walker. Judge me if you will, but I’ve never done that before.
But that is how I walk. With two feet and two hands. And I will keep walking.
If you are feeling unsure or unsettled or uneasy or terrified, I see you. No matter how you feel, you’re doing it right.
This weekend, please be gentle. Please take care of yourself. I am taking more time to practice deep breathing. To meditation. To snuggling my dog. To eating.
I’ll also be thinking of you.
#health #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #eatingdisorderrecovery #wellness #nutrition #selfcare #covid #covid19 #coronavirus #washyourhands #staystrong #staysafe #askforhelp #disability #multiplesclerosis #dietitiananna
Wellness Culture Is Not About Wellness.
Wellness culture is not about wellness.
It’s not your fault if you have fallen prey to the messages of wellness culture. They are strong. They are convincing. And they make promises without considering the ramifications.
One in four dieters will progress to develop an eating disorder. More than that will experience a disordered relationship with food. I cannot tell you how many humans have reached out to me to suggest that in the context of healing from and living with an illness, have gone on to develop a disordered relationship with food.
This should make all of us take pause.
Wellness culture, like diet culture, doesn’t care about your life, your experiences, your body knowledge. It cares about your vulnerability and your ability to be dependent on it to navigate the challenges of living on this planet.
It cares about your cash, not your well being. Am I saying that all of wellness culture is bad? Of course not. There are beautiful, health promoting things that, with access and privilege and time, would be lovely and good for all of us. But as someone who has fallen prey to wellness culture herself, I can confidently say that my reliance on the wisdom of experts has not worked in my favor, in most situations.
I WISH for you to feel good.
I WISH for you to feel connected.
I WISH for you to feel well in your body.
I WISH for you the ability to navigate diet culture, gently.
#Wellness #chronicillness #recovery #whole30 #keto #fitness #healthcoach #rdchat #rd2be #antidiet #eatingdisorderprevention