When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of flowers, chocolate, couples and most of all, love! Although we are typically thinking of our love for another person, Valentine’s Day can also be a good moment to reflect on the love we have for ourselves. Body acceptance can be a difficult topic to navigate because…
To begin, let’s quickly review what ACT means… ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It is an evidence-based model that helps us understand and explore the experiences that have shaped us into who we are today. It allows us to identify our values and help direct our time, energy and resources toward goals that…
The holiday season is known as a time where family and friends gather, exchange gifts, drink and feast. While many people may anticipate this time of year, others may not want to participate because of the stress and anxiety that it brings. With a season so heavily focused on big meals, cookies, cakes, and more,…
How to pushback against diet culture: Now that we understand the power of the diet industry, the pressure of diet culture, but also the negative effects it can have on you, here are some ways that you can contribute to pushing back against diet culture, when situations around you seem to encourage it. If diet…
In Part 1 of this blog series, we discuss the insidious nature of diet culture that falsely glorifies losing weight at all costs. We explored several ways that diet culture seeps into our mindset and how very early on in our childhood, we are told that being fat is bad. We learn that messaging early…
2020…a year that we will likely remember for a very long time to come. I’m certain no one anticipated the challenges, the grief, the lessons and the experiences that 2020 offered us. While I recognize that my 2020 was filled with similar themes to others, 2020 also represents the year that a vision, a…
The holiday season is said to be the “best time of the year”. It is a season meant to be filled with joy, happiness, and celebration followed by traditions that often revolve around food. However, the large emphasis placed on the food can also amplify any personal struggles with disordered thoughts and behaviours. Attending a…
Thanks to diet culture and all the ways it glorifies thinness, dieting can feel like unlocking new levels in life. The chase to achieve thinness can be exhilarating, especially when rewarded by praise. The privilege offered to thin people leads to the belief that one must pursue thinness in order to feel truly liberated…
Before you start reading, take a wild guess at how many decisions you think you make about food. Think about the first hour of your day when you wake up- do you think about what to eat? Whether to eat at all? Should you have a coffee or a tea? With milk? Iced or hot?…
In the midst of uncertainty, emotions are prominent and avoiding them feels challenging. Some choose to respond by “shoulding“ and suggesting that we take this “down time“ to become healthy, fit, lose weight and live our best lives. I’m not part of this camp. You can’t run away from emotions because you’re a human and…