Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks with Courtney Gioia about her personal journey with body image, the impact of diet culture, and how she's helping women break free from societal expectations around body size and worth. Courtney is the CEO and founder of Loyobo, a certified fitness instructor, and a body image and mindful eating coach.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Courtney's background and the creation of Loyobo (Love Your Body)
  • The impact of body changes on relationships and self-worth
  • Diet culture's influence on perceived value in partnerships
  • The journey from disordered eating to body acceptance
  • Challenging societal expectations about women's bodies and aging
  • Redefining fitness and movement separate from weight loss
  • The importance of self-love and raising standards in relationships

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THE EPISODE:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Behind the Bite
  • 01:00 Today's Topic: Embracing Body Acceptance
  • 01:23 Meet Courtney Joya: CEO and Founder of Loyobo
  • 02:12 Courtney's Journey with Body Image
  • 02:56 The Impact of Diet Culture and Societal Expectations
  • 03:38 Navigating Personal and Professional Growth
  • 13:18 Challenges During COVID and Personal Transformation
  • 14:48 The Struggle with Self-Worth and Body Image
  • 17:33 Realizations and Moving Forward
  • 20:57 Empowering Women to Embrace Their Bodies
  • 44:39 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom
  • 46:04 How to Connect with Courtney
  • 47:22 Conclusion and Podcast Information

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

  • Body changes don't decrease a person's worth or value in relationships
  • Challenging ingrained beliefs about body size and worthiness is a process
  • Movement and fitness can be divorced from weight loss goals
  • Self-acceptance can lead to higher standards and healthier relationships

QUOTES:

  • "I needed to recognize that there were still some self expectations and judgments and thoughts about my body that I needed to let go in order to just give myself room to just exist."
  • "When you're able to fully let that go and fully embrace the body that you have now, that feeling of just looking at yourself in the mirror and truly liking who you see and truly feeling cute and feeling sexy and feeling desirable... it was well worth it."
  • "I want to see women living authentic, big, loud, messy lives where they just get to experience that freedom."

COURTNEY'S ADVICE FOR LISTENERS:

  • Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace - change takes time
  • It's possible to feel differently about your body and not accept less in life
  • Take small steps and know that support is available

HOW TO CONNECT WITH COURTNEY TO LEARN MORE:

For listeners interested in understanding their relationship with food better or wondering if they have an eating disorder, Dr. Cristina Castagnini offers a free 9-week e-course at www.behindthebitepodcast.com.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

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Until next time, remember, we're here to break down barriers, challenge stigma, and support each other on the path to a better life.

Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is given with the understanding that neither the host, the publisher, nor the guests are rendering legal, clinical, or other professional information. If you want or need a professional, you should find one to work with who can address your individual needs and situation.