What power lies in finding a community to be a part of when you're struggling with an eating disorder? Why should families be more careful with their words? How is seeking education about diet culture the best way to decrease its power over society? In this podcast episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with self-love blogger, Jenelle Carto about her journey with her struggle with body image and weight.

MEET JENELLE CARTO

Jenelle is a blogger who is dedicated to helping women improve their self-love and body image. She has spent almost 2 decades struggling with an undiagnosed eating disorder and hating myself and my body. Because of this, she has dedicated the last 4 years to learn to love herself, and she is extremely passionate about helping others do the same Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

IN THIS PODCAST

  • “Balance is the key to everything”
  • The danger of comments
  • Finding your people

“Balance is the key to everything”

I think that balance is the key to everything but everything we learn in diet culture is polarized. (Jenelle Carto)
Balance and moderation are the keys to health, understanding your body and finding ways to navigate our relationship to food is in sync with what our body needs, without starving ourselves or cutting foods out. When we start swaying too hard on one end of the scale, whether that is damaging our body by eating too much or too little, we lose touch with that balance and enter into a dangerous space where we are susceptible to diet culture influencing our ideas of health. Bodily health comes in many different forms. There is no one clear example of a “healthy body” because it varies from person to person. In this way when we practice balance that is integrated with what our unique bodies need, we arrive at the body we have when we are at health. That body does not need to look like anyone else’s.

The danger of comments

Often our families may try to guide us or help us, but their well-meaning comments can often have the opposite effect and may push people into eating disorders instead of encouraging them to love their bodies and provide them with nutritious foods. The comments that people make to others often reflect more about the way they feel about themselves than the person they are talking to, but it is difficult to remember that, and impressionable people can suffer from the offhand comments of others.

Finding your people

I felt deeply that it was so helpful and monumental for me … I didn’t care about what judgements I was going to get as long as there were still going to be people [that] I [could help] … [people] that would realize that they’re not alone [and] that they’re not broken, they’re not wrong. (Jenelle)
It is incredibly helpful for people in recovery to find people that they can share the journey with, and important for people who are still in their struggle to know that they’re not alone in trying to overcome the disorder. When people can connect with communities around them that they can draw support from, they feel empowered and safer knowing that there are people out there who can support them. The diet industry succeeds when people feel isolated and devalued, and in finding communities we come to understand that we are important and that we are valued. In this way, people also learn to find that value in themselves.

Books mentioned in this episode

Lindo Bacon – Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight

USEFUL LINKS

MEET DR. CRISTINA CASTAGNINI

I am a licensed Psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. While I may have over 20 years of clinical experience, what I also have is the experience of having been a patient who had an eating disorder as well. One thing that I never had during all of my treatment was someone who could look me in the eye and honestly say to me "hey, I've been there. I understand". Going through treatment for an eating disorder is one of the hardest and scariest things to do. I remember being asked to do things that scared me. Things I now know ultimately helped me to get better. But, at the time, I had serious doubts and fears about it. If even one of my providers had been able to tell me "I know it's scary, but I had to go through that part too. Here's what will probably happen...." then perhaps I would not have gone in and out of treatment so many times. My own experience ultimately led me to specialize in treating eating disorders. I wanted to be the therapist I never had; the one who "got it". I will be giving you my perspective and information as an expert and clinician who has been treating patients for over 2 decades. But don't just take my word for it...keep listening to hear the truly informative insights and knowledge guest experts have to share. I am so happy you are here!

THANKS FOR LISTENING

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