Do you ever wonder about how the fitness industry works?
Have you ever thought about gyms, health clubs, and gyms as an industry?
I love movement. I love that it's always been part of me. Over my life, I’ve been a dancer, cheerleader, fitness class teacher, personal trainer, kickboxer, runner, yogi, yoga instructor, and collegiate rower.
I believe that movement is sacred. I know it in my bones.
In my last blog (SoullessCycle: The Pack and The Pact), I wrote about my mixed experiences at a SoulCycle fitness studio. Over the last two years, I’ve done lots of embodied/somatic research for the book I’m writing about exercise addiction and the fitness industry.
Today’s blog describes my latest SoulCycle visit.
Ten years ago, I tried SoulCycle in New York City. In a dark studio with loud music, I got lost in the crowd for a rhythmic, freeing, and sweaty workout.
I liked the no metrics/no screens method and choreographed workouts, but was less fond of the cliques. I didn't like how SoulCycle promoted their instructors like products–or used celebrities to manufacture a reputation as the newest and coolest place to “trendercise.” Turned off after a few classes, I didn’t go back.
In our past blogs we have voiced our clinical opinions regarding the need for increased screening for disordered eating. Who should be screening? Primary providers such as pediatricians, therapists and dietitians come to mind. In the news this past week it was reported that there is no clear evidence at this time to recommend specific guidelines for or against screening for eating disorders (HealthDay, 2022).
A celiac diagnosis can turn your world upside down and totally change your relationship with food. Whether you were diagnosed as a child or later in life, it can take a toll on the way you interact with food. Feelings of scarcity, hypervigilance, and even greif are normal - but this doesn’t mean you can't have a healthy and enjoyable relationship with food!
Has being diagnosed with COVID messed with your relationship with food? You aren’t alone. Many people who have suffered from COVID experience smell and taste changes. Parosmia (a distortion of smell) and anosmia (a diminished sense of smell) can cause previously enjoyable aromas, like a warm cup of coffee or fresh flowers, to become unpleasant, intolerable, and even disappear altogether.
ED recovery is tough! Not only mentally, but also on our physical bodies. Gastro-intestinal upset is incredibly common in eating disorder recovery because our bodies are re-learning how to properly tolerate and digest foods. This often results in bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. And as abnormal as it feels it is normal in parts of the treatment and recovery journey!
Cooking for one is an important skill, especially in the year of 2020. As we have made adjustments to our lives due to the pandemic, many of us have spent more time alone at home than ever...and more time in our kitchens feeding ourselves. If you live alone or have different food preferences than those you live with, it can be challenging to navigate making food for only yourself.
This story starts centuries ago, driven by racist attitudes about body size as the slave trade brought African people into Europe. Beauty standards started to shift as African women, who were naturally more full-figured, were stigmatized. White European women were encouraged to lose weight in order to show their superiority and “self control” which they believed their African slaves lacked as evidenced by their larger bodies.
There is beauty in simplicity. The smell of fresh herbs, the juiciness of a perfectly ripe peach, the crunchy satisfaction of a warm piece of bread with butter. Food does not have to be complex to be delicious. In fact, when we strip away the bells and whistles, food becomes a lot more approachable.
Many of us like to stick to what we know. And while this has its benefits, it also has its downsides as well. Our go-to staple items are simple to make, low stress, and guaranteed to work out. But when we repeat the same meals over and over food tends to get, well... boring. The enjoyment factor decreases and food begins to feel like a chore.
Cooking is a language of love. Whether you are cooking for yourself or for someone else, creating something in the kitchen is an expression of care. The simple and yet powerful act of making food for yourself and taking the time to feed your body has a significant and positive impact on your relationship with yourself. In essence, cooking for yourself is cooking for someone you love-YOU!
Coronavirus has changed the way we live. We are staying inside, working, eating, and healing all within the confines of our homes. While many of us are blessed to have a safe place to ride out this storm, I would be remiss not to mention the added struggles this presents to those of us in the midst of healing our relationship with food.
Cooking oftentimes involves planning ahead, grocery shopping, prepping, and cleaning, and phew... it sure can take up a huge amount of time!
Well, I have the perfect solution. An easy and affordable one-pot wonder! This recipe requires very little prep, costs about $10 to make 6 servings (which comes out to less than $2 per meal), and cooks overnight as you sleep.
Traveling is one of the best parts of life, but eating disorders can make it a very difficult thing to manage. Traveling gives us the opportunity to explore other places and cultures and opens our lives to adventure. In my opinion, one of the best ways to truly immerse yourself in another culture is through the food.
