Opal: Food + Body Wisdom: Recent Episodes
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Join us for a trip down psychedelic lane! Temple Morris, LCSW-C and Dr. Brian Pilecki, PhD throw down their expertise in conversation with Opal Co-Founders, Kara Bazzi, LMFT and Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD. Temple and Brian put to words what is often experienced as “beyond language” and help us understand the potential therapeutic value of psychedelics in “clarifying what matters” and fostering psychological flexibility. To name just a few of the topics we cover, we touch on qualities of the psychedelic experience, the importance of integration work, risks of psychedelic use, and, of course, how psychedelics may treat eating disorders and body image.
For more information on Temple and Brian:
Perspective Retreats
True North
Entropia
Brian Pilecki’s email: pilecki@gmail.com
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 136: Clarifying What Matters: An Overview of Psychedelics appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Mary Cain all share something powerful in common: they’ve bravely opened up about their mental health journeys, using their platforms as elite athletes to advocate for change. Their courage is paving the way for a healthier, more supportive sports environment—especially for those facing mental health challenges.
On today’s episode of The Appetite, Kara Bazzi, LMFT—co-founder and Clinical Director of Opal’s Exercise+Sport program—chats with Katie Steele, former Division I runner at the University of Oregon and now a mental health therapist and co-author of The Price She Pays. Together, they dive into Katie’s new book and the critical conversation about athlete mistreatment and mental health.
Links:
Katie’s book: The Price She Pays
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 135: The Mental Health Crisis in Women’s Sports: A Conversation with Author and Therapist Katie Steele appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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“Even within the male-centric model, women have accomplished incredible feats of athleticism, smashing long-held beliefs about what women can or cannot achieve. Imagine what would happen if everyone had access to better information and guidance.” These are the words of Christine Yu, in the introduction of her book “Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes”. In this episode of The Appetite, Opal’s Director of Exercise+Sport and Co Founder, Kara Bazzi, LMFT talks with Christine about her reflections on the intersection of sport and gender through the lens of her work as a journalist and author. Christine is working to disseminate much needed information (and highlighting the work that is still needed) to better understand gender differences in sport in an effort to support all athletes in their similar and differing experiences.
Links:
Up to Speed
The Price She Pays
Christine’s Instagram
Christine’s newsletter
Alyssa’s instagram
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 133: What Does Science Say about Women in Sport? An Interview with Christine Yu appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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Dr. Lisa Erlanger returns to the podcast for a conversation with Julie Church, RDN, CD on GLP-1 agonists, medications widely prescribed for weight loss. Through a weight-inclusive lens, Lisa explains GLP-1 agonists history, current use, and side effects with a special attention given to the unique considerations for individuals with current or past eating disorders. Spoiler alert— these medications are not game changers, bodies still need food and nourishment to thrive! Despite what the shiny marketing says about these being “miracle drugs”, safe and long-term weight suppression is not possible.
To find Lisa: Dr. Lisa Erlanger’s website
As mentioned on show: GLP-1 Agonist Medications: Informed Consent Resource
Medical Students for Size Inclusive Medicine
Dr. Lisa Erlanger’s Appetite Podcast interview, A Physicians Journey to Weight Inclusive Medicine
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 132: Weight Loss Medications: Are GLP-1 Agonists a Game Changer ? appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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Human stories are a powerful force in influencing the way we see the world and how we can expand or shift our perspective on any given subject matter. Rosalie Fish, a collegiate athlete and activist, has just that- an impactful story as a Native American distance runner who has used her sport to enact social change. Listen in as Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Opal’s Co-Founder and Clinical Director, and Rosalie talk about how Rosalie’s cultural identity has shaped her experiences as an athlete- from advocacy work with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, to how her cultural heritage impacts her relationship to food and mental health as an athlete.
Find Rosalie @rosaliefishx
Missing and Murdered Indigenious Women
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 131: Activism at the Heart of Sport: An interview with Rosalie Fish appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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Aleta Storch, MS, RDN, LMHC joins Julie Church, RDN to discuss how ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can lead to different feeding and eating challenges. Her personal story highlights the benefit of understanding how the brain works for everyone, especially those desiring to heal from disordered eating and eating disorders. Listen in for a sneak peek of a few practical tips from her model of care for ADHDers and expect this episode to give you a full dose of information about the brain, ADHD and neurodivergence.
To learn more about Aleta:
Website: https://www.wiseheartnutrition.com/
Membership: https://www.wiseheartnutrition.com/neurished
Free FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eatingwithadhdofficial
@the_adhd_rd
@wiseheart_nutrition
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 130: ADHD and Eating Disorder Recovery: A Conversation with Aleta Storch, MS, RDN, LMHC appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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Dr. Lisa Erlanger joins Opal’s Nutrition Director Julie Church, RDN to share the evidence and compassion that led her to evolve into a weight-inclusive physician. Lisa explains how the body is impacted by dieting (aka starvation) and emphasizes the importance of adequate nourishment as a strong focus of weight-inclusive health care practices within eating disorder treatment and beyond. She even gives some quick tips on how to help medical providers get out of their weight-centric trance and provide respectful medical care, regardless of body size. Wherever you are on your journey of weight-inclusivity, this is a must listen!
To find Lisa: Dr. Lisa Erlanger’s website
And to see what she is doing to advance education of medical practitioners go to:
Size Inclusive Medicine
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 129: Dr. Lisa Erlanger: A Physician’s Journey to Practicing Weight-Inclusive Medicine appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
Listen here!
Dr. Lexi Giblin, PhD and Kara Bazzi, LMFT, Opal Co-Founders, sit down with Poppy and Lily to do a self-inquiry double click on these two particular experiences of shame management. Poppy shares an encounter with shame and disgust where her response is to “mask everything and puff up” while wanting her “old body back.” A “deep, profound worthlessness” prompts an urge for Lily to work hard to be likable, meet others’ expectations, and “shrink” herself, not just physically. The group does their self-inquiry job and successfully hits on some angsty edges of learning for Poppy and Lily.
Connect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 128: Self-Inquiry Series: I Don’t Look Like A Runner Anymore and I Can’t Shrink Myself Fast Enough appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
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Fitness, movement and sport spaces continue to be saturated with diet culture rhetoric and belief systems that disrupt our innate connection, wisdom and joy to movement and our bodies. Diet culture is rooted in social justice issues where movement and sport spaces are not inclusive of all bodies and walks of life, particularly those who are most marginalized. Yet the story doesn’t stop here. More and more folks are recognizing the harmful messaging and practices and are doing it differently! Meng Wang, a dietitian and yoga instructor at Opal, and Ashley Davies, co-founder of Club Seattle Run Division (CSRD) are two of these change-makers– disrupting the “normal” practices in mighty ways! Listen in to this episode of The Appetite as Kara Bazzi, Opal’s Director of the Exercise + Sport program, has a conversation with Meng and Ashley that will give inspiration and encouragement that we can all make meaningful change.
Links:
Find Ashley Davies @dreambig_davies
Find Club Seattle Run Division @run_csrd
Book: Deconstructing the Fitness Industrial Complex (Edited by Justice Roe Williams, Roc Rochon and Lawrence Koval)
Book: The Body Liberation Project (Chrissy King)
Opal’s Stretch Your Learning is monthly for anyone who has a desire to create more inclusive movement spaces
To Learn more about Opal:
@opalfoodandbody
@opal.movement
www.opalfoodandbody.com
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 127: Changing the Script for More Inclusive Movement Spaces: A Discussion with Meng Wang, RDN, and Ashley Davies appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
Listen here!
Maddie Louder, Miss Washington 2021, joins Julie Church, Opal’s Nutrition Director, to share her personal experience of how participating in pageants was both empowering and detrimental for her relationship with food and body. Maddie shares how advocacy work through the Miss Washington platform was important for her eating disorder recovery journey and also unpacks how the crowns and glitter of achievement culture can have its downfalls. Maddie’s experience highlights the limitations of the “all good or all bad” binary and invites us to embrace the nuances of contest and competition. To reach Maddie: @maddielouder To learn more about pageants: www.misswashington.orgConnect with Opal:
www.opalfoodandbody.com
@opalfoodandbody
@Opal.Movement
Thank you to our team…
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
The post The Appetite 126: Behind the Scenes of Pageantry: Reflections from a Diet Culture Lens appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
Articles:“Are Some of your Well Intended Eating Habits a Problem” – Zoe Rom
“Why Eating Disorders in Athletes Often Go Unnoticed” – Justin Jackson
“Intuitive Eating Advice for Parents of Young Athletes” – Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson
“Signs of Exercise Addiction” – Hidaya Aliouche
“The Condition That’s Quietly Sidelining Female Athletes” – Christine Yu
“How RED-S Can Affect Male Athletes – Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport” – Cindy Kuzma
“The Inextricable Tie Between Eating Disorders and Endurance Athletes” – Nora Caplan-Bricker
“A Healthier Climb to The Top: Treating Eating Disorders in Sports” – Matthew Hastings
espnW Body Image Confidential
Articles specifically addressing exercise + marginalized groups:
How Running’s White Origins Led To The Dangers Of ‘Running While Black’ from NPR
Ahmaud Arbery and Whiteness in the Running World
Transgender Athlete Rights Are Human Rights
Your Black Teammate
Racing to Stay Alive: The consequences of racial bias have found their way into the running community.
Joe Gray Wants to Tackle Distance Running’s Diversity Problem
Speak Up, Speak Out: A Wish for U.S. Running From a Black Marathoner
Books:
The Exercise Balance: What’s Too Much, What’s too Little, and What’s Just Right For You! – Ron Thompson, PhD, and Pauline Powers, MD
Eating Disorders in Sport – Ron Thompson, PhD and Roberta Trattner Sherman
Deconstructing the Fitness Industrial Complex – Justice Roe Williams, Roc Rochon, and Lawrence Koval
Running While Black– Alison Mariella Désir
Up to Speed – Christine Yu
Opal Podcast:
The Appetite
Toolkits:
NEDA Toolkit for Athletes and Coaches
Eating Disorder Treatment Centers (with athlete focus):
Opal: Food+Body Wisdom, Seattle, WA
Walden GOALS Program, multiple locations, Massachusetts
EDCare Athlete Program, Denver, CO
The post Exercise + Sport Recommended Resources appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
Dance instructors, yoga teachers, fitness instructors – are you looking for a space for ongoing community and support around creating inclusive, body-positive, non-diet movement spaces? Join Opal for this monthly virtual hangout hosted by Opal Dietitian Alyssa Davis, MS, RDN – a lunch time meet up for informal conversation and […]
The post Join our Movement Teacher Inclusive, Body Positive Meetup! appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
Part 2 of a 3 part series: “Creating Social Change in the Sport World” Episode 2: Power of Writing– Diet culture messages pervade all media- from advertisements, to magazines, to Instagram and TikTok. It’s no exception in the sport world- harmful, antiquated messages pop up everywhere that perpetuate disordered eating […]
The post The Appetite 114: Power of Writing: An Interview with Elizabeth Carey appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
The “win at all costs” sport culture needs to retire and be replaced by the “whole person athlete” culture. In this episode of The Appetite, Opal co-founder and Clinical Director Kara Bazzi, talks with two coaches who are doing just that– actively working towards the “whole person athlete” sport culture. Listen as […]
The post The Appetite 113: Power of Coaches: An Interview with Marie Davis Markham and Robyn McGillis of Wildwood Running appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
Covid-19 Safety Protocols Given the current pandemic, we have made temporary changes to ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff. This includes: All employees and clients are being expected to follow CDC Covid-19 guidelines as outlined in our internal Opal Covid policy. For in person treatment, […]
The post Covid-19 Safety Protocols appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
We’re excited to bring you our conversation with Christy Harrison, author of Anti-Diet and host of the Food Psych podcast. Many of you might know of Christy’s work, but might not know what led her to shift her career from working as a journalist reporting on food sustainability to becoming […]
The post The Appetite 112: Christy Harrison: Path to Writing and Being Anti-Diet appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
“Food is fuel”. ” You are a machine”. “You look fit”. “You are what you eat”. These are all messages about food and our bodies that are commonplace, yet born out of diet culture. Opal Co-Founder and Clinical Director Kara Bazzi talks with dietitian and endurance athlete Maria Dalzot, RD about […]
The post The Appetite 111: Talking to Athletes From an Intuitive Eating Lens: A Conversation with Maria Dalzot, RD appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
We are going to take some time away from social media, allowing our time and attention to be solely focused on caring for clients and staff. We will be back. See you then. Hope you can also care for yourself, your community, and those you love in the ways you […]
The post Taking a break from Social media appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
About treatment at Opal: Given the current pandemic, we have made temporary changes to ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff. – As of January 31st, 2022 Covid vaccinations and boosters are required for staff and PHP and IOP clients. Medical and religious accommodations are honored. -We are […]
The post Covid Update: In-person and Virtual Treatment Options appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
What is the connection between weight stigma and eating disorders? You will be happy to bend your ear (maybe again) for this one! Julie Church, RDN and Carter Umhau, LMHC talk with Erin Harrop (now doctor Erin Harrop, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Denver) about healthism, the use of the […]
The post The Appetite 110: Dr. Erin Harrop, PhD on Weight Stigma and Eating Disorders appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.
What does eating disorder recovery have to do with the Biden-Harris inauguration ceremony? Take a listen to Opal Co-Founders Lexi Giblin, PhD, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, and Julie Church, RDN consider this question on the heels of the historic inauguration ceremony. They connect the dots through themes of learning to celebrate, divesting from […]
The post The Appetite 109: Eating Disorder Recovery and the Biden-Harris Inauguration appeared first on Opal: Food + Body Wisdom.