Consilience: Recent Episodes
Shannon Beer
Discussing nutrition, health, science, philosophy, psychology, art & literature, mostly in an attempt to understand myself, others, and the world around us.
Working on your body image can be such an empowering journey when you're clear on what kind of life you're moving towards.
Here's how to go beyond simply picking some words off a list of values.
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Worried you'll let yourself go? Compassion is NOT about going easy on yourself, it's a more helpful way to hold yourself accountable. This episode discusses different models of compassion and how you can become the most helpful version of yourself.
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You're unhappy in your body and you want to make some changes. Here's how you can support yourself to feel your best and make healthy changes that actually last.
Coaches, you can enrol in BIF HERE and join us for the workshop on Overcoming Client Resistance!
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
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- Chat on instagram
Resistance is a normal part of change. If you're struggling to take steps towards your goals, or working with clients who aren't completing forms/check ins, this episode will help.
Learn what contributes to resistance, how we can reduce unnecessary resistance, and how we can move forward in spite of it.
If you're a coach who has been thinking about joining BIF, now is your chance before our next live workshop on the 13th Feb!
Develop your coaching skills, help clients move through resistance, and make a bigger difference in their lives.
Join BIF HERE.
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
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- Chat on instagram
Motivation is not a feeling. So how do we take action when we don't feel like it?
In this episode I share two evidence-based theories of motivation to help you understand what's really going on when you struggle, and the self-regulation skills you need to help you to take action.
Coaches, HERE is the self-monitoring spreadsheet I use with clients.
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What if I want to lose weight because I can't find clothes that fit? What if I genuinely prefer my body to be leaner?
In this episode, I talk about how to find strong sources of motivation and what it really means to embody your values.
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
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- Chat on instagram
In this episode I discuss why, for most people, macro tracking becomes redundant when you have strong self regulation skills.
I walk you through the 5 step process we use in coaching to help you make intentional food choices, develop confidence in your body and yourself, and manage your thoughts and emotions in ways that move you towards your goals.
This is a much more powerful approach that will give you the skills to show up as the person you want to be in all areas of your life.
CONNECT WITH SHANNON
- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
- Get coached by Shannon
- Chat on instagram
If you want to feel better about yourself, you don't need self-love. You need to continually choose to embody self-respect.
Here's the difference and how to do it.
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
- Get coached by Shannon
- Chat on instagram
You're feeling motivated right now but what about when that initial enthusiasm fades? That's where self-accountability comes in.
It's your ability to take action when you don't feel like it AND your ability to recover from setbacks that will determine whether you reach your goals. It's following through on the things you say to yourself because they're important to you and make your life better.
In this episode I teach you how.
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
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- Chat on instagram
If you want to make some changes next year but you're not sure where to start, begin with reflecting on this past year.
In this episode, I walk you through the process using my experience as an example.
Skipping the reflection will mean you'll end up repeating the same mistakes and spinning your wheels.
Taking the time to reflect will also help you be more intentional with the goals you do set, so they actually make a difference to how you feel.
Consider:
- What did you accomplish this year?
- What do you want to continue to do more of in the future?
- What do you not want to repeat?
- What are things you want to re-prioritise and put back into your vision for this upcoming year?
- How do you want to feel?
- What areas of growth will you focus on?
- What goals do you want to accomplish?
To develop the mindset you need to focus on your own growth next year, get on the waitlist for Crushing Comparisons HERE.
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How often do you compare yourself to others?
Whether it's your body or your business, you probably compare way more than you think.
And how does that make you feel about yourself?
Whilst comparisons can be inspiration, more often than not we use comparative information to judge ourselves and put ourselves down.
This just erodes our self confidence.
You can't just simply stop comparing yourself to others, but you can learn how to manage your mind and stop letting comparisons get you down.
To compare less and build your self confidence, get on the waitlist for Crushing Comparisons launching Jan 1st!
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
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- Chat on instagram
You're tired of being ruled by thoughts of food and you know that your fear of fat gain is keeping you stuck.
Yet it's not something you can just switch off.
This episode will help you understand your fear of fat gain and figure out the next step you can take towards a life where you feel happy in your body, at peace around food and fully engaged experiences with the people you love.
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
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- Chat on instagram
The productivity talk you didn't know you needed. Notice when you're making comparisons to businesses you see online and take a step back to look at what your business actually requires of you.
Get on the waitlist for Crushing Comparisons HERE.
If you're ready to overcome your mindset blocks and get some clarity and direction in business, I'm currently enrolling for VISION Mentoring to begin in January. Learn more HERE.
How big do your biceps have to be before you can consider yourself a real man? Join Shannon and George as they delve into the association between adherence to masculine values and muscle dysmorphia symptoms.
They discuss:
- George's personal experience with muscle dysmorphia
- What are muscularity-oriented psychosocial issues and how do they impact men?
- What has masculinity got to do with muscularity?
- What role does the fitness industry play in endorsing some of these masculine values?
- Why do men have a hard time talking about these concerns?
Find George here:
- Myominds
- Podcast
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Get coached by Shannon
- Get mentored by Shannon [for coaches]
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- Join the Empowered Edit newsletter
- Join the Beneath The Surface newsletter [for coaches]
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I have very high standards of myself and I bet you do too.
In this episode, I chat about:
- My personal experience with perfectionism
- The difference between healthy vs unhealthy perfectionism
- The relationship between unhealthy perfectionism and food/body concerns
- How unhealthy perfectionism holds you back as a coach
- How we can keep our high standards and actually achieve our goals, without the fear of failure getting in the way.
If you put pressure on yourself to be perfect, feel unhappy in your body, self-sabotage over failures and mistakes, often procrastinate, feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or you're tired of playing it safe and not taking any risks...
This one is for you.
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Time to get personal as Shannon shares about her experience with body image concerns, toeing the line between dedication vs disordered fitness practices and why she is passionate about helping people respect themselves, take care of their bodies and make the most of life.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Get coached by Shannon
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Training Program
- Get mentored by Shannon [for coaches]
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Listen to Shannon's journey from law school grad to developing a very unique skillset and carving out her own career in coaching and mentoring.
Including lessons learned from:
- Travelling the world for 5 years and building a career along the way
- Running a solo business for 4 years without a single 'business' investment
- Working alongside researchers and psychologists
And the number one most important thing to focus on if you want to grow.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the waitlist for the Body Image Fundamentals Training Program
- Get mentored by Shannon
CONNECT WITH SHANNON
- Join the Beneath The Surface newsletter
- Chat on instagram
Clients struggling to stay motivated?
Probably because they are driven by low quality motivation, like a desire to change their appearance.
Our role as coaches it to help our clients develop stronger forms of motivation that can be inclusive of, but are ultimately broader than, a drive to look better.
But how do we do that?
Well, that's what I have Chris Bell on the show to discuss.
Chris is a Doctoral Researcher at Brunel looking at the effects of fitness social media on body image and exercise motivation. In addition, he has a decade of experience working with clients in Personal Training and Nutrition and lifestyle consultancy.
In this episode we draw upon Self Determination Theory and unconditional self acceptance to find better ways to help our clients.
We discussed:
- Why do clients struggle with motivation?
- What distinguishes high quality motivation from low quality motivation?
- How might social media influence our exercise motivations?
- How can we develop internal motivations for change when our appearance concerns are really salient?
- What is unconditional self worth and why is it worth developing?
Find Chris Here:
- https://www.instagram.com/chris_bell_pt/
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the waitlist for the Body Image Fundamentals Training Program
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
'A client wants to lose weight desperately as she thinks this is holding her back from the life she wants. She has poor body image and often overeats. I cant seem to get through to her, that our priority should be working on body image not dieting, at least for now. She feels like she needs quick results. How would you approach this, Shannon? Thank you!'
I walk you through my RENEW process for having difficult conversations and helping clients see things from a different angle.
Want to ask a question for the next show? You can do so HERE!
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Many men are under pressure to not only look perfectly muscular and lean, but also to be successful providers and business men. What began as a conversation about masculine norms, and Dan's personal journey with health, fitness and body image, turned into a conversation around pressures in the fitness industry and implications for coaching.
Dan is health and wellbeing coach, and passionate mental health advocate. He has worked in the health and fitness industry for 18 years, with a wealth of experience as a personal trainer, strength coach and performance nutritionist.
We discussed:
- Dan's personal journey with his body image and fitness
- Unique pressures that men face when it comes to adhering to ‘masculine’ norms
- Changes we would like to see to the fitness industry
Find Dan here:
- Podcast
- Blog
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
'How do you overcome poor body image, when if feels impossible and ingrained!? Since the age of 15 I have always worn hoodies and baggy pants, 15 years later, I am trying to overcome this, but exposure to take off my jumper is so daunting, makes me feel vulnerable?'
Today I am answering this heartfelt question. Embracing body confidence is a courageous journey, and I hope this episode will inspire you to continue taking steps towards self-acceptance. Although I wish this wasn't the case, you are far from alone in experiencing this.
Often a negative body image feels ingrained because we start to act as if it's true. By hiding our bodies, we reject ourselves. We actively rob ourselves of the opportunity to be comfortable in our bodies.
In order to truly feel better in our bodies, we have to act as if. How would you carry yourself if you were happy in your body? How would you treat yourself if you respected your body?
With that said, you don't have to start right from the top. If taking your jumper off feels too overwhelming at this point, what would be a smaller step that you could take?
Ultimately, I stress the importance of finding social support. Body appreciation and self compassion are optimally developed in the context of supportive relationships.
If you want to read about other women's experiences of overcoming negative body image, you can find the paper I mentioned HERE.
Want to ask a question for the next show? You can do so HERE!
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
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CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
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DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
We're diving into a topic that's frequently debated in the fitness world: tracking food intake and physical activity. Is it always harmful, or can it be a helpful tool?
While tracking can enhance accountability and awareness, it might also lead to obsessive behaviours and a strained relationship with food and exercise. We'll unpack these aspects to help you make an informed decision.
I am joined by Erin O'Loughlin and Maryam Marashi.
Dr. Erin O’Loughlin, a researcher and coach, combines her expertise to foster healthy lives through evidence-based practices. With a holistic approach, she guides individuals in shaping habits that impact physical activity, nutrition, sleep, body image and confidence, relationship with food, and mental health. Currently, she collaborates on the Connect for Exercise study, addressing women beyond breast cancer and physical activity, and the PromeSS study, uncovering health promotion inequalities in schools. She's also a post-doc at the University of Toronto, researching youth physical activity, exergaming and body image. Outside work, she volunteers with Girl Guides, coaches her kids basketball and ringette teams, enjoys weightlifting, running and ringette, and organizes a women's annual Stronglifting competition to encourage everyday women to lift heavy.
Maryam Marashi is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on exercise and health psychology, with a particular interest in understanding the psychosocial factors that influence and are influenced by exercise and other lifestyle behaviors. Her doctoral work revolves around women's body image and strength training. Maryam also works as a fitness and nutrition coach, helping individuals in the general population to enact lasting lifestyle changes that enhance their overall well-being.
We discuss:
- What are the pros and cons of food and activity tracking?
- Is there a difference in outcomes between tracking with social support (e.g. a coach) vs doing it unguided?
- What’s the alternative? (e.g. intuitive eating/compassionate movement)
- Rather than blanket recommendations, what should we be taking into account to determine whether tracking is useful?
- What would you like to see more exploration of in the research?
Find out more about Erin and Maryam:
- Erin's Instagram and research
- Maryam's Instagram and research
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
If you're tired of constantly obsessing over what to eat and feeling frustrated by setbacks, this episode is for you.
Join me as I explore how cultivating self-compassion can help you manage stress, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and reduce the tendency to turn to food for comfort during difficult times.
Although it's often overlooked by the fitness industry, self-compassion enhances your ability to self-regulate, empowering you to control your responses and direct your behaviour toward your health and fitness goals. Rather than dwelling on perceived failures, self-compassion promotes productive self-reflection and growth, allowing you to make more progress.
🔗 Links mentioned in the episode:
If you want to give the practices a go, check out THIS article.
You can try the Compassionate Letter Writing exercise HERE.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
- Are you a coach? Get mentoring HERE.
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Is social media good or bad for our body image?
As you may have guessed, it's not that simple.
Join Shannon and her guest Dr. Darren Elliott, a Kiwi writer and researcher working to unravel the influences behind people’s everyday social media and body image experiences.
- The importance of conceptualising body image as a process, rather than static.
- In what ways does social media affect the way people experience their body image?
- What should listeners know about the political economy and ‘power’ of [social] media production?
- Why are communities an important part of developing a positive body image?
- How can we use social media to promote body image satisfaction?
Find Darren Here:
https://darrenelliottphd.net/
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Today's mentoring question is this:
'You are crazy productive: marketing, research, creating content, creating courses and more. How to be productive without putting pressure on yourself?'
It depends. What kind of pressure are we talking about?
Learn how to set high standards whilst accepting imperfection and adjusting your expectations when needed.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Think men don't experience body image concerns? You're wrong! With the rising rates of steroid usage and association of muscularity with masculinity, men are subject to body pressures too.
Learn more about the pressures men face, how to spot the signs of poor body image and how to support your health whilst protecting your self esteem in this episode with Dr. Olivardia and Shannon Beer.
Dr. Olivardia is a clinical psychologist and researcher specialising in body image and eating disorders in males. His work focuses on topics such as muscle dysmorphia, steroid use, and the psychosocial impact of body image concerns in men.
They discuss:
- How does body image in men differ from body image concerns in women, and what are some unique challenges that men may face?
- How have male body ideals evolved over time?
- What has masculinity got to do with it?
- Are there specific factors or risk factors that contribute to the development of body image concerns in men?
- Given that not all men who desire a muscular physique develop muscle dsymorphia, what protects the majority of men and how can the chances of developing MD be mitigated among those most at risk?
- In your professional opinion, what are the most pressing research gaps or areas that need further exploration regarding body image in men?
Find Dr. Olivardia here:
- Email: roberto_olivardia@hms.harvard.edu
- Book: The Adonis Complex
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
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CONNECT
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DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Welcome to a new series on the show, where I answer your questions and coach you through your food and body concerns.
Today I'm answering the question:
'How can improved body image help with my fat loss efforts?'
Although I don't advertise fat loss, I do support body autonomy and informed choices.
In this episode, I discuss how working on your body image can help you to settle at a body composition that will support your happiest and healthiest self.
If you want to be coached next, you can use THIS link to submit your own [anonymous] question.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
When we don't feel good about how we look, some of us avoid physical activity.
Why might that be the case?
I am joined by Vanessa Coulbeck, a researcher at Body Image and Health Research Lab, a Research group studying the body, self, and (mental) health at Western university in Toronto.
We explore the fascinating intersection of body image, self-compassion, and mental health among female adolescents.
Vanessa's research interests include body image, psycho educational practices and programming focused on female adolescent involvement in sport and physical activity. She is also interested in emotion regulation processes (self-compassion & mindfulness) to promote a positive and uplifting environment with hopes to improve physical activity adherence throughout girls lifespan, and a greater appreciation for being compassionate and mindful towards the self.
We discussed:
- Why might girls be more physically inactive than boys?
- What role does body shame and self-objectification play in young girls' physical inactivity?
- How can self-compassion buffer against the negative effects of body image threats?
- Advice for someone struggling with body shame
- Key areas that need further exploration and research regarding self-conscious emotions, body image and physical activity
Find Vanessa Here:
Email: vcoulbec@uwo.ca
Instagram: bihresearch
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
'I'm scared to work on my body image in case I let myself go. I don't want to gain weight. It's hard enough as it is.'
These are some common concerns that might be preventing you from improving your relationship with food and yourself.
Totally understandable if you're coming from a place of control and restriction.
In this episode, I talk about why working on your body image will actually help you to eat better and be more consistent with your movement behaviours.
When we're coming from a place of appreciation and self-respect, we actually want to do these things more because it helps us feel our best.
I also discuss how you can change your appearance and express your personal style in a healthy way.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
You know there's more to life than looking good. You want to be a good role model for others and you're angry with yourself for caring too much.
Here's what you need to know.
We all care about our appearance to some extent. It doesn’t make you vain or self-absorbed, it just makes you a normal human being.
In this episode I explain why this is the case and give some advice for when you're next feeling self-critical.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
We've all felt fat at some point. And we probably blamed our bodies, and resolved to diet to lose weight.
But it turns out that feeling fat has a whole lot less to do with our physical body size than we might think.
‘So why do I feel fat?’ I hear you ask.
Well, ‘feeling fat’ encompasses a range of factors, including physical sensations, heightened self-consciousness about your body, and negative self-image.
In this podcast, I will delve into the reasons why you may be feeling fat and provide guidance on how to address these experiences effectively.
Learn:
- 3 reasons you may feel fat that have nothing to do with your body size
- How to understand your unique feelings of fatness
- How improving your relationship with food can help reduce these feelings
- How to develop mind-body awareness
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Why do we care so much about how we look? Why is it so hard to regulate our eating behaviours in our modern day environment?
In this episode, we discuss the role of social comparisons, feelings of inferiority, shame & self-criticism in the role of eating pathology. You might be surprised to learn that our perceived need to control our appearance is a strategy to compete for social acceptance.
I am joined by Dr. Cristiana Duarte, a clinical psychologist whose research focuses on measuring and examining psychological correlates and determinants of eating behaviour, weight regulation, body image, and mental health and wellbeing. Her specific research interests include weight stigma, body shame, food insecurity, and psychological approaches for eating regulation and weight management.
We discussed:
- What is social rank mentality and how might it explain eating pathology?
- What is the impact of shame and self-criticism on our eating behaviours and wellbeing?
- What is Compassionate Mind Training and how can it affect our minds and bodies?
- How self-compassion can help us to develop the courage to face our difficult experiences and emotions
- How can we start to develop self-compassion?
Find Dr. Duarte here:
c.duarte@yorksj.ac.uk
Staff Profile
WORK WITH SHANNON
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CONNECT
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DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Many of us believe that self-criticism is necessary to hold ourselves to a high standard. In this episode I discuss the problem with self criticism and how it keeps you stuck in the binge - restrict cycle.
Developing self-compassion is a necessary step to break this cycle and achieve your health and fitness goals.
I give you some pointers on where to start.
THIS is the article I reference if you want to learn more.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Are you a high striving perfectionist who is struggling with burnout and the pressure you place on yourself to achieve your goals? This episode is foy uo.
Dr. Josie Perry is a chartered psychologist working with those in sport, on the stage and in business to help them overcome their barriers to success so they can achieve their goals.
We discuss what successful people have in common, including:
- What are the 10 pillars of success?
- How can we build confidence in our abilities?
- Why is it important to develop a sense of self outside of our achievements?
- Why is mental rest so important?
Find Dr. Perry here:
- Website
- BRAVE approach
- Books
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
What about clients who don't have body image concerns, but want to lose fat to feel better about themselves?
Why do our clients report feeling better in a smaller body, if it's not about body image?
In this episode I talk about the limitations of pursuing fat loss to boost our self esteem, and what the alternative is.
You can make gradual shifts in the service you offer, and become a better coach in the process.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the Empowered Edit weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Tessa Peters is the founder of charity Been There, a mentoring app for adults struggling with their body image.
Been There harnesses the power of connection, hope and shared experiences by providing individuals with real and relatable Mentors who support, empower and listen to those in need. Tessa’s mission is to encourage self-acceptance and self-worth in everybody.
Hear Tessa's story about how she overcame her body image struggles and is using her experience to help others - and how you can do exactly the same.
We discussed:
- Why do you do the work that you do?
- Tell us about Been There: what is it? What's the mission?
- How are mentors vetted?
- How to know when your food & exercise behaviours are unhealthy.
- What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were struggling?
MORE FROM TESSA:
Been There App
Been There Website
Apply To Be A Mentor
TikTok
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the EMPOWER weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
The fitness industry is largely a body-image focused market, frequently communicating messages about weight and shape.
We may be unwittingly perpetuating harm by promoting narrow appearance ideals.
This podcast episode discusses why this not only causes harm to our clients, but to our businesses as well.
You can read the full Sigma Statement HERE.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the EMPOWER weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Why is body image important?
Most coaches don't realise that a client's body image plays a large role in their motivations for changing their diet or exercise behaviours. The way we eat and the way we train can be considered the behavioural expression of our body image. If we are dissatisfied with how we look, and it's important for us to look good, we are at a higher risk of developing disordered eating tendencies. Macro tracking won't stop that.
This episode explains why.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the EMPOWER weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Disordered eating is a complex topic. There is no clear cut definition and the signs are hard to spot.
So how do we know if we are really helping our clients?
To help answer this question, I am joined by Michelle Carroll, an online nutrition coach and body image researcher. Her primary research interest lies in disordered eating and improving body image amongst fitness professionals.
We discussed:
- What is disordered eating?
- Why might coaches/pts be at risk of disordered eating?
- How can we reduce disordered eating in our clients?
- Your body is your business card - discuss!
- Why should we challenge the fit ideal?
MORE ABOUT MICHELLE
- Website
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Fundamentals Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the EMPOWER weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Our communication with clients is critical to their success.
Yet we often find ourselves unsure how to respond when clients are struggling, or afraid to say something our clients may disagree with.
I walk through an example of how to approach a client who is picking their body apart, discuss a recent conversation I found challenging, and share my plan for development.
WORK WITH SHANNON
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- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the weekly newsletter
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DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
Dr Kat Schneider is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research. Her research interests include body image, disordered eating and eating disorders, weight stigma, and the intersection between body image and movement.
We discuss:
- What is weight stigma and how does it influence one’s physical and psychological wellbeing?
- How is weight stigma associated with binge eating disorder? (Aetiology/maintenance/treatment/recovery)
- How can we address our own weight bias and practice in a way that supports those who experience stigma?
- Why more research is needed
MORE ABOUT DR. SCHNEIDER
- Research Profile
RESOURCES
- Appearance Matters Podcast
- Fitness Professionals Against Weight Stigma
- Health At Every Size
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How can we help fat loss clients with their body image?
How can we start integrating body image work when we're not really confident in what we're doing?
I outline the approach that I took and offer some suggestions to coaches new to this approach.
WORK WITH SHANNON
- Join the Body Image Course
- Get coached by Shannon.
CONNECT
- Join the weekly newsletter
- Connect with Shannon on Instagram.
DM Shannon directly to enquire about private mentorship.
What do we mean when we say flexible control and rigid control have shared variance?
Is it possible to promote flexible control without promoting rigid control?
If we don't promote flexible control, what do we do?
I cleared up these questions in today's episode.
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get my emails:
- https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
Fitness professionals often report pressure to look the part and many rely on their appearance to attract clients.
I speak about the limitations of this approach and how it can undersell your value as a coach.
What do you really want to help clients achieve?
How else can you prove that you can actually help?
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get my emails:
- https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
Fitness practitioners will often endorse flexible dietary control, which is generally considered a more adaptive and sustainable alternative to rigid approaches.
Yet research has not consistently supported the link between flexible control and positive health outcomes.
So what does it really mean to have a healthy relationship with food?
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get my emails:
- https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
Some people may report feeling better after weight loss, others may not. So what's really going on?
How do we actually learn to feel comfortable and confident in our bodies?
Can we still pursue weight loss?
I answer these questions in today's episode.
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get my emails:
- https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
What do we mean when we talk about discipline?
Many of us view discipline as a punishment, a way to hard-knuckle ourselves into doing the things we promised we'd do.
Turns out, this isn't the most effective way to achieve our goals.
I talk with Tobias Johnson, online coach and neuroscience nerd, about how we can become more disciplined.
We covered:
- What is discipline really?
- The difference between proactive and reactive self control
- What do values have to do with discipline?
- Why reducing friction is the key to more self control
- Balancing immediate gratification and maximising long term potential
Find Tobias here:
- https://www.instagram.com/tobiasjohnson_/
Build Body Confidence:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/build-body-confidence
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get my emails:
- https://coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
Our society tends to highly value discipline. But is it really what we need?
How can we truly take more consistent action towards our goals?
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get my emails:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
Today I am answering the question: 'I want to improve my relationship with myself but I don't know where to start. Can you help?'
I start by defining what a healthy relationship with ourselves is not.
It's not about loving every part of yourself or eradicating your flaws. It's not about achieving success or meeting external standards.
A healthy relationship with yourself comes from within.
Clarify Your Values:
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/blog/clarifying-your-values-how-do-you-want-to-live
Find Me Here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
Get My Emails:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/opt-in
Dr Emily Matheson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research who investigates the development and evaluation of body image and sports-based interventions for girls and coaches.
In this episode we discussed:
- Importance of role models & social justice
- Why a positive body image is not about loving every part of your body
- Reimagining what it means to be an athlete
- Redefining our relationship with exercise
- How a lack of education has led to coaches having a negative impact on their athlete's body image
- How coaches can remedy future damage by facilitating protective factors to enhance positive body image
- Addressing negative body talk
You can find Dr. Matheson here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-matheson/
Appearance Matters podcast:
https://soundcloud.com/appearance-matters
Center For Appearance Research
https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/centres-and-groups/appearance
Sign up for the Body Image Fundamentals Course here (use Podcast10 for 10% off):
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Find me here:
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxiPSmr4OcCV4P4nGGSaZCQ
There is a lot more to compassion to simply being kind.
You might think I'm nit picking but the distinction is important.
Compassion requires strength and courage whereas kindness may not.
The advice 'treat yourself kindly' is kinda vague and unhelpful. If you truly want to solve your problems and improve your wellbeing, you're gonna need compassion.
Learn why in this episode.
Download your freebies here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/free-stuff
Find me here:
- https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxiPSmr4OcCV4P4nGGSaZCQ
Holistic health and high performance are rarely spoken about under the same breath.
If you care about your health, you don't have what it takes to achieve great things - right?
Not at all.
To elucidate how we can chase high performance in sustainable ways, I sat down with Dr. Eric Helms.
Eric is a Research Fellow at the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand. He researches physique and strength sport, specifically training and nutrition, with an emphasis on long-term sport careers holistically integrated with life.
He is also a coach, athlete, author, and educator who is all about supporting lifting careers with sustainable methods.
We discussed:
- Obstacles to sustainable pathways to high performance
- Striving to be a holistic athlete
- Protecting our identity as we chase external rewards
- A modified intuitive eating approach for sports performance
- Reframing negatives into story of resilience, agency & choice.
You can find Eric here:
https://www.instagram.com/helms3dmj/
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/iron-culture/id1452114380?mt=2
https://3dmusclejourney.com/
Find me here:
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
You are listening to part 2 of my conversation with Mac and James discussing the costs of living up to masculine ideals.
If you missed the first part, you can check out the previous episode where we talked about mens body image, disordered eating and the difficulties of admitting ‘weakness’.
In this episode, we talk about improving the industry to mitigate risk, better help our clients who may be struggling and the need for interdisciplinary approaches.
Find Mac here:
https://www.instagram.com/mackenziebaker_/
Find James here:
https://www.instagram.com/james_walsham/
Find me here:
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Body image and disordered eating in men is a topic that doesn't get enough attention.
Yet a culture of muscularity has developed quite rapidly in the last decade, promoting the personal acceptance or internalisation of a muscular body as the male beauty ideal.
The population prevalence of eating disorder behaviour in males far outweighs the treated prevalence, suggesting that (a) males are particularly unlikely to seek treatment for eating disorder-related problems, (b) eating disorder problems in males are particularly unlikely to be detected by health professionals, or (c) both.
Clearly, this is something we need to talk more about.
I sat down with Mackenzie Baker and James Walsham to discuss:
- What does it mean to be a 'real man'?
- When do muscularity-oriented behaviours become problematic?
- Pressure to uphold alpha-status
- Fear of admitting 'weakness' and asking for help
- Striving for a life you actually enjoy
Find Mac here:
https://www.instagram.com/mackenziebaker_/
Find James here:
https://www.instagram.com/james_walsham/
Find me here:
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
I am joined by Hugh Gilmore, to discuss what really made the difference in our coaching practice.
We're sold the idea that the route to becoming a high-caliber coach is to learn more and more esoteric bits of information. The truth is, there comes a point when learning even more knowledge about training and nutrition has limited effects on client outcomes.
So what really makes the difference?
We discuss the importance of critical thinking, self-management and communication skills.
To get the free video series, sign up here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ctcs-video-sign-up
Find out more about Hugh here: https://podiumpsychology.com/
Enrol in our course here: https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/ctcs
Find me here:
- https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Dr Hannah Gilbertis a compassion focused psychotherapist with keen interest in how anthropology can inform and inspire psychotherapeutic theory and practice, and runs workshops on compassionate mind training and the therapeutic relationship. She works in charity development for the Compassionate Mind Foundation and is a lecturer in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy at the University of Roehampton in London. Hannah founded Compassionate Wellbeing in 2012, and in 2017 started a small publishing company called Annwyn House.
We discussed:
- How can anthropology inform psychotherapeutic theory?
- Why are we so self-conscious?
- How does Western culture encourage self-condemnation?
- When self-criticism becomes self-attacking
- What is a healthier way to relate to ourselves?
Find out more about Hannah here:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hannah-Gilbert-2
https://www.compassionatewellbeing.com/
https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/
Find me here:
https://coachshannonbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://coachshannonbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Free Body Image Coaching Workshop:
https://www.coachshannonbeer.com/body-image-coaching-workshop
We all want to be successful, help others and strive to improve. This is all well and good...but can sometimes manifest in rigid demands, pressure to be perfect, and never feeling quite enough.
Why do we fall into this trap? How can we pick ourselves up?
I am joined by Dr Hannah Wilson to discuss the importance modelling vulnerability within a culture that stigmatises being a normal, fallible human being.
Dr Hannah Wilson is a clinical psychologist chartered member of the British Psychological Society who has worked predominantly in eating disorder services and health psychology. Alongside her private practice, Hannah also works in digital mental health services. She practices from a compassion-focused lens and provides CFT teaching, training and supervision to professionals.
We discussed:
- What drew Hannah to CFT?
- How personal achievement and reward are strongly valued in our worlds, and how this has built an association between imperfection and failure
- Turning towards the critical parts of ourselves
- Being compassionate whilst striving to achieve our goals
- How compassion changes our relationship to others
- The importance of modelling vulnerability
- Our changing healthcare systems and how the internet may offer more opportunities to help
You can find Hannah here:
https://mediacitypsychology.co.uk/
https://uk.jkp.com/products/digital-delivery-of-mental-health-therapies
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/sarah-parry/effective-self-care-and-resilience-in-clinical-practice/9781785920707/
https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-self-compassion-app/id1553464180
Find me here:
https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Changing our habits is not easy. Our brains make sure of that!
Luckily, we can learn how to train our mindsets to drive automaticity and habit formation in psychologically safe and sustainable ways.
Casey Hughes is Vice President of Behavioral Design at Fresh Tri. As a behavioral scientist and seasoned health coach, Casey has deep expertise in both the art and science of behavior change. Using psychology, neuroscience and behavioral economics, Casey has designed human-centered behavior change solutions at Stanford, Apple, and Anthem, inc., helping thousands of people with obesity and chronic disease find healthier, more joyful ways to live.
We discussed:
- What is behavioural design?
- Core problems that make it difficult to achieve our health goals
- How performative messaging can trigger self-deprecation and shame
- Overcoming learned helplessness
- Developing an iterative mindset
- Figuring out where to start
Find out more about Casey and her work here:
https://freshtri.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.engagedin.freshtri&hl=en≷=US
https://www.instagram.com/fresh_tri/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyphughes/
Find me here:
Website: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
We all know that our mindsets can either help us achieve our goals, or hold us back. What's less clear, is it actually means to improve your mindset.
I'm joined by Dr Darren Britton, a Sports Psychologist and Performance coach using solution-focused practice and mental skills training to help people to be at their best when it counts, in sport, education, and life.
We discuss:
- What is a solution-focused mindset?
- What is resilience?
- How can we develop a challenge mindset?
- Why do we overlook our strengths?
You can find Dr. Britton here:
https://www.frontfootpsychology.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-darren-britton-47237696/
https://twitter.com/DrDarrenBritton
Find me here:
https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
There seem to be a lot of conflicting messages regarding whether fat loss improves health (and if so, for whom), whether fat loss is possible to achieve and maintain, and if so, how we might go about it.
In this episode Danny Lennon helps to clear up the confusion. Danny is the founder of Sigma Nutrition, an educational platform committed to providing objective, evidence based information on nutrition and health sciences.
We discussed:
- Does weight loss improve physical health? If so, for whom?
- Does weight loss improve psychological health?
- Is weight loss possible to achieve?
- Why is weight loss so challenging to maintain?
- What is the most helpful way to approach weight loss interventions?
- Considerations for weighing up risk: What framework can we use to make decisions about if and when to use a weight loss diet?
You can find out more about Danny here:
https://www.instagram.com/dannylennon_sigma/
https://sigmanutrition.com/
Find me here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Chris is a Clinical Psychologist with many years of experience working in the NHS. He is now co-director of Balanced Minds where he provides Compassion Focused therapy and training courses. He is the author of a number of Compassion Focused Books & co-creator of The Self-Compassion App.
We discussed:
- How CFT addresses the essence of the human condition and enables us to courageously turn towards suffering
- Why our minds get stuck in unhelpful loops of thinking
- How threat based emotions like anxiety and shame drive unhelpful behaviours
- Noticing when your threat system is overactive
- Adopting a compassionate perspective
- Mind-body practices
Find more about Chris here:
https://balancedminds.com
Self Compassion App
Self Compassion Workbook
Find me here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Ella is a sport and exercise psychologist in training who's passionate about supporting people to change their health and fitness behaviours. With a BSc in Psychology, an MSc in Sport Psychology and ongoing Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Ella is on a mission to support individuals through their psychological barriers to health and fitness behaviours.
We discussed:
- What makes a good coach?
- Where does the responsibility for change lie - coach or client?
- How might coaches contribute to a client's resistance?
- How can we create a healthy dynamic for growth?
- Common coaching mistakes
Find Ella here: https://www.instagram.com/thefitnesspsych_/
Access to the academy: https://thefitnesspsych.ac-page.com/thefitnesspsychacademy
Find me here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Dr Martin Turner is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University, UK. He is a researcher, chartered consultant psychologist (BPS, HCPC Reg., CSci) and book author. He is most known for his work examining the use of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) within performance settings.
We discussed:
- Beliefs that hold us back
- Healthy negative emotions
- Accepting ourselves
- Dealing with adversity
- Striving for meaning and purpose
Take the smarter thinking assessment here: https://smarterthinkingprofile.com/
Follow Martin's research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin-Turner-5
Find me here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
My colleague Dr Gabrielle Fundaro and I chat with Dr Mike Albert, the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Accomplish Health, a personalized metabolic wellness center delivering sustainable health, weight loss and wellness. Combining prescription medications, nutritional therapy & health coaching. Dr Albert is passionate about translating scientific evidence into practice. He does this by scaling evidence-based clinical models, using tech-enabled solutions, to address the growing public health problems of the 21st century.
We discussed:
- Is our weight our fault?
- Why willpower is misunderstood and overrated
- The limitations of behavioral & lifestyle interventions for weight loss
- Why might some believe that we can’t treat obesity & challenge weight stigma?
- How can we do both?
You can find out more about Dr Albert here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-albert-md-b73a8962/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelAlbertMD
Accomplish Health: https://www.accomplish.health/
Find me here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Jade Bailey is part of the team at the Body Image & Health Research Lab at Western University in Ontario, Canada. Her research interests are on the intersections of body image, mental health, and physical activity in adult female and LGBTQ+ populations. She is particularly interested in and passionate about self-compassion and intuitive movement interventions.
We discussed:
What happened to spark your transition from coaching to academia? How traditional ways of promoting physical activity may undermine the quality of women’s physical activity participation experiences. The impact of fat phobia Compassionate movement? Challenging our own weight biases
Follow the Body Image and Health Research Lab on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bihresearch/
Find me here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Roxy O’Rourke is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Her research is focused on sport and mental health in athletes with disabilities and people with chronic health conditions. Roxy is also the co-founder of One Athlete, an organization aiming to provide athletes with the education and tools to monitor signs of overtraining and relative energy deficiency syndrome (RED-S).
We discussed:
How can our environments foster unhealthy attitudes towards ourselves and our bodies Getting help with disordered eating How can we monitor the signs of overtraining? The importance of mental health in athlete development processes
You can find more about Roxy here: https://twitter.com/roxyhorourke
One Athlete: https://www.oneathlete.ca/
Find me here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Thomas is a registered dietitian and behavioural & cognitive psychotherapist. Having first studied Psychology and Nutrition, then Applied Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Thomas later completed his PGDip in Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy at Royal Holloway University, London. Tom is the director of the Body Image Treatment Clinic, in London, where he works with clients to treat a number of conditions relating to body image distress such as trauma and eating disorders.
We discussed:
- Why Thomas pursued dual qualifications in psychology & nutrition
- Relationship between body image, perfectionism & self esteem
- Balancing the drive, threat & soothe emotion systems
- Dealing with the inner critic
- Changing the need for self esteem
- Affirming your values
Find out more about Thomas here: https://thebodyimagetreatmentclinic.co.uk/
Find me here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Dr. Jessica Alleva, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Her mission is to help people develop a healthier relationship with their own bodies. Jessica’s research investigates novel strategies for improving body image, as well as the factors that can make us feel better (or worse) about our bodies. She is also an Associate Editor for Body Image, the leading scientific journal in the field of body image research.
In this episode we discussed:
- What is body positivity?
- Why accepting your body doesn’t mean resigning yourself
- Is Body-Positivity Really Contributing to Obesity?
- Thinking about what your body can do and who you are as a person
- How do our relationships influence our body image?
- Designing the ultimate body image intervention
Keep up to date with Jessica here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-your-body
Find me here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
David Brown is a first year PhD student whose research interests involve investigating the role of body image in various contexts, focusing specifically on the impact of body image concerns on sport and exercise participation, psychophysiology, and health.
David’s research examined psychobiological responses (i.e., cortisol, body shame, and body dissatisfaction) to, and recovery from, a social-evaluative body image threat in university men who were non-athletes and varsity athletes from non-aesthetic sports.
We discussed:
- Men’s body image & the muscular ideal
- Factors contributing to the development of body dissatisfaction
- The relationship between physical activity & body image
- Body Image in sports
- Psychobiological responses to body-specific social evaluative threats
You can find out more about David here:
davidmichael.brown@mail.utoronto.ca
Health Behaviour Emotion Lab
Find me here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/private-coaching
Mentoring: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/mentorship
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Dani is a Personal Trainer from Bristol who specializes in training for strength, health and mobility. In her coaching, she draws upon her experience, not just a trainer, but as a human. One who has also had her ups and downs, who didn't believe in her body, who saw it start to fail and become injured, who battled with and overcame bullying, bulimia and loss. By trying new things, allowing the right people by her side, and loving herself for what she can achieve, not what she looks like, she found her groove again.
In this episode, we discuss how she helps her clients to do the same.
Topics include:
- Dani’s experience and how she found herself again
- What does fitness and movement mean to Dani?
- Understanding your values, clarifying your message and finding the clients you truly connect with
- Going against the grain and offering a service that people truly need
- The mind/body connection and changing from the inside out
- Life outside of the gym
- Imposter syndrome
You can find out more about Dani here: https://danibtraining.com/
Find me here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: http://shannonlbeer.com/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Body Image course: https://courses.shannonlbeer.com/body-image-fundamentals
Dr Alicia Carter is a psychologist who works as a tutor and research assistant at School of Psychology, University of Queensland. She has facilitated compassion-based workshops at the Biomedical Institute of Yoga and Meditation and recently defended her PhD on "Compassion Focused Therapy for Body Weight Shame.
We discussed:
- What is Compassion Focused Therapy?
- An evolutionary functional analysis of emotion
- How does social rank theory explains body shame
- How shame impacts health-seeking behaviours
- The difference between shame and guilt
- Fears, blocks and resistances to developing compassion
- Improving health- engaging behaviours through compassion
You can find out more about Dr. Alicia Carter and her work HERE, or get in touch with her at a.m.carter@cqu.edu.au
Find me here:
Instagram/Website/Coaching/Mentoring
Dr Georgie Buckley is an accredited Dietitian from Melbourne who has extensive experience working with eating disorder population groups and in sports nutrition. Georgie is particularly passionate about eating disorder prevention and inclusive healthcare, specifically in healthcare settings where weight stigma and oppressive power imbalances are involved.
In 2021 Georgie completed her PhD at Swinburne University of Technology where she explored the conceptualisation of disordered eating in current and former athletes and advocated for the awareness of eating disorders in sporting cultures.
Her practice is grounded in feminist and social justice approaches to healthcare.
We discussed:
- The difference between DE and EDs
- Spotting disordered eating
- What does diet culture in sport sound like?
- How can coaches and trainers shape a healthier culture?
- Consequences of underfuelling
- Grieving for your former body
You can find out more about Dr. Buckley on Twitter (@georgiebuckley_), Instagram (georgiebuckley_dietitian) and The Body Confidence Collective (https://www.bodyconfidentcollective.org/). Find me here:
Instagram/Website/Coaching/Mentoring
Luke Tulloch is an online trainer and educator from Sydney, currently based in Gothenburg, who coaches people to feel strong, without the constant food stress.
Luke is all about figuring out how to fulfil your potential. He leads by example and seeks to live according to his values of progression, learning, challenge, freedom and independence.
In this episode we discuss:
- How can we set ourselves goals that actually work for us?
- Figuring out our intrinsic values
- Benefits of a 'subtractive' mindset
- How figuring out what you want to avoid in life (an anti-goal) can give you a unique goal-setting perspective
- Generalising & the principle of getting better
You can find Luke here:
https://www.luketulloch.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_luketulloch/
Find me here:
Instagram/Website/Coaching/Mentoring
Professor Phillippa Diedrichs is a research psychologist with an international reputation for creating evidence-based strategies to improve body image in community, business, and policy settings. At the Centre for Appearance Research, she leads a team of researchers investigating psychosocial influences on body image and the development of digital and face-to-face body image interventions.
She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and serves on the Editorial Board for Body Image: An International Journal of Research.
With a PhD in Health Psychology, she is passionate about working in partnership to create environments that accept diversity in appearance and support people to live free from the constraint of appearance concerns.
In this episode we discussed:
- What motivates Dr. Diedrichs
- In what ways can concerns about our appearance constrain us or cause us to disengage from life?
- Impact of fitspiration on body image
- Responsible social media use as fitness providers
- What does it look like to live with positive body image?
- Looking to the future: moving beyond the individual and addressing broader social systems
You can find out more about Dr. Diedrichs here: https://people.uwe.ac.uk/Person/PhillippaDiedrichs
Body Image journal: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/body-image
Find me here:
Instagram/Website/Coaching/Mentoring
Dr. Eva Pila is an Assistant Professor at Western University in the School of Kinesiology who directs the research team at the Body Image & Health (BIH) Lab. Their research focuses on understanding body image and body (in)equity as it relates to movement, mental health and well-being. A main goal of this research is to develop psychological interventions, currently centered on self-compassion, to promote the health and well-being of individuals in marginalized bodies.
Dr Pila's research interests include:
- Body image and mental health
- Emotions and motivation related to physical activity
- Self-compassion and compassion-focused interventions
- Conditions that disproportionately impact women’s health (e.g., weight stigma, eating disorders, breast cancer)
In this episode we discussed:
- An introduction to Dr.Pila's work and her role at the Body Image Health & Research lab
- Body image & mental health
- Role of self compassion in body image, common blocks & intervention strategies
- How vigilant self-monitoring may perpetuate experiences of disembodiment
- What are body-related emotions?
Learn more about Dr. Pila here: https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/kin/about/faculty/pila_e.html
Keep up to date with the BIH lab: https://bihlab.com/
https://twitter.com/bihresearch
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
I am joined by fellow MNU-certified nutritionist and Intuitive Eating coach Jeff Ash.
We discussed:
- How Jeff found a more meaningful direction in coaching
- Common misconceptions about weight neutral approaches
- The 10 principles of Intuitive Eating
- Giving yourself unconditional permission to eat
- Teaching the principle of gentle nutrition
- Tips for rejecting the diet mentality and honouring our health
You can find Jeff on instagram at @intuitive.eating.men and sign up to his newsletter at http://intuitiveeatingmen.com
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
I am joined by Josh and Hayley from LVL Health, an online directory, community, and network of qualified fitness professionals. LVL Health is on a mission to help change the health & fitness industries for the better by creating a directory, community, and network of qualified professionals that are on the same path of constantly learning and growing. They are working towards a future where people are able to find the right professionals to help them achieve their goals, rather than what will gain the most social media likes, follows, comments, and popularity.
We discussed:
- What Lvl Health is
- What makes a good coach/trainer
- What clients really want
- Community & continual development
Check out LVL health here:
https://www.lvlhealth.net/
https://www.instagram.com/lvl_health/
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
Josh is a personal trainer based in Denver, currently doing a thesis on contextual behavioral science and emotional eating.
He has created a skill based (not diet based) approach that allows people to create a new relationship with their bodies and with food, and get results that have previously never been possible.
Josh joins Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro and I to discuss:
- How the fitness industry has failed to serve 'regular' people
- Using a skills-based approach to create a new relationship with food/bodies
- Rules vs guidelines vs skills
- Using values to guide us
Find Josh here: https://joshhillis.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuahillis/
Buy his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Strong-Eating-Psychology-Workouts/dp/1931046409
Find Gabrielle here: https://www.instagram.com/vitaminphd/
https://www.vitaminphdnutrition.com/
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
I sat down with my client, Brianna, to discuss:
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How we improved her relationship with food
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Overcoming fear of fat gain
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Eating fear foods
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Learning to trust hunger and fullness
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Enjoying social occasions again
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Working on body image
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From unhealthy to healthy perfectionism
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Developing core self worth
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Pursuing fat loss post Intuitive Eating
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
Ashley is an award winning, registered dietitian consultant in Kenya with nearly 10 years of experience. She is a strong healthcare services professional skilled in weight loss coaching, chronic disease prevention and management, allergies and general nutrition with proven nutrition expertise in nutrition programing, recipe creation and execution, corporate wellness, staff management, strategic planning and meeting the goals of the greater organization.
In her spare time Ashley enjoys attending church, hiking in the forest, biking, enjoying nature while being active, cooking new and innovative meals and recipes, trying new foods-especially foreign cuisines, learning Kiswahili, grocery shopping, baking with her children, doing puzzles, having intellectual conversations over coffee, reading books of empowerment, personal blogging, and traveling.
We discussed:
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Implementing weight neutral approaches in practice
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What health and wellness really means
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How to help someone who is caught up in weight loss and scale weight
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Stronger motivation for change
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Living as an expat in Kenya
You can find Ashley HERE, or on instagram at: its.thyme_
Email: Ashley.Kibutha@gmail.com
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
Ffion Davies is a Welsh grappler and elite BJJ female competitor.
We talk about her journey from judo to BJJ, challenging social norms, body image struggles, appreciating what your body can do and the character traits that make a good role model.
Find Ffion on instragram: www.instagram.com/ffioneira3
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
I sat down with Siobhan O'Hagan, a personal trainer and online coach, to discuss:
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Her experience with her own body image after competing in a bikini competition
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Complimenting weight loss
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Dieting without restriction
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The difficulties in promoting the right message online
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How should we market ourselves as coaches?
Find Siobhan here:
Website
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
Jake Gifford is a personal trainer & doctoral researcher from Chesham, with research interests in physical activity, weight and health inequalities. He
looks at the broader social processes, barriers, and facilitators which impact health and well-being to better inform policy and reduce health inequalities across the population.
We discussed:
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Jake's interest in health inequalities
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Understanding biological, social and environmental factors influencing weight
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Why guilt, fear and shame are ineffective motivators
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Healthism and the moralisation of health behaviours
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Consequences of assigning individual responsibility for health
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Thoughts on the UK’s strategy to tackle obesity
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How we can practice inclusivity as coaches or practitioners
Find Jake here:
Website
Find me here:
Website
Coaching
Mentoring
Join myself and a mentoring client on a coaching group call as we discuss how we can work on our body image and feel better about ourselves.
Why do we care about how we look? Why does changing how we look do little to change how we feel? How can we actually feel good about our bodies, and help others to do the same?
If you want to learn more evidence-based strategies to improve body image, check out the webinar series here:
https://www.shannonlbeer.com/product-page/body-image-webinar-series
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Find me here: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/
Gabrielle and I discuss our plans for Comprehensive Coaching, the projects we are working on and what we are hoping to achieve in 2021.
About Comprehensive Coaching:
In an industry that glamourises extreme physiques and champions fads and quick fixes, we know what it's like to feel like you are the only coach who cares about helping your clients to flourish. Our industry is dynamic and complex, giving rise to subcultures and ideologies that sometimes appear at odds. It is our mission to facilitate shared meaning and understanding in order to evoke productive discourse for the betterment of clients and coaches.
Comprehensive Coaching aims to bridge the gap between health and fitness to help clients achieve long-term, sustainable flourishing health - whatever that looks like to them.
Links:
Comprehensive Coaching Community: https://www.btgcomprehensivecoaching.com/plans-pricing
Latest articles: https://www.btgcomprehensivecoaching.com/blog
Gabrielle: https://www.instagram.com/vitaminphd/
Find me here:
Shannon: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Website: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/
What can we learn about ourselves through introspection? Can it help us become better people?
Lyndon is an obsessive learner with an interest in understanding the world at a deep level. He believes that solving problems is the key to progress, and he endeavours to solve relevant and important problems through strong conceptual understanding and reasoning from first principles. His formal education background is in sport science, however, his intense curiosity and reading habit takes him through all kinds of information and research. Lyndon's thinking is strongly influenced by evolutionary biology, cognitive psychology and philosophy.
Website: ThereforeThink.org
Instagram: l.j.purcell
Email: lyndonpurcell23@gmail.com
Our article: https://thereforethink.org/2020/11/28/in-donversation-with-shannon-beer/
You can find me on instagram: @shannonbeer_
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package Music: https://www.bensound.com
What can meditating on death teach us about how to live our lives?
Ciaran O'Regan is a Conditioning Coach and a doctoral candidate with the University of Central Lancashire. He has a B.Sc. in Sport and Exercise Sciences from the University of Limerick. While his in-person coaching work is done in Cork Ireland, he does online coaching with Sigma Nutrition where he specializes in Combat Sports weight management and physical preparation. In terms of sporting hobbies, Ciaran competed from 2011-2017 in amateur Boxing and K1 kickboxing but now enjoys bouldering and mountaineering. In terms of intellectual hobbies, he is currently writing a book to be called Justifying Death, he publishes essays on a variety of topics across numerous sites, hosts the Quarrelsome Life Radio podcast, and co-hosts a Youtube show called The Axiom of the Infinite Unknown. All of his content can be found at his website QuarrelsomeLife.com and he is on Instagram @ctquarrelsome and Twitter @ctquarrelsome.
You can find me on instagram @shannonbeer_
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Hugh is an applied sports psychologist for British Weighlifting and British Athletics.
In this episode we discuss the importance of psychology and communication in behaviour change.
Find him on instagram @hughjohngilmore
Find his upcoming course here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harnessing-communication-for-performance-enhancement-tickets-122543648351
Check out the eightpercentmental podcast: http://www.eightypercentmental.com/
You can find me on instagram @shannonbeer_
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Mentoring: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching-package
Music: https://www.bensound.com
Today I am chatting with Dalton Franke, a good friend and fellow coach over in Brisbane, Australia. We discuss the things we get wrong about motivation and how we can find better sources of motivation when we're struggling to make a change.
About Dalton:
I have been in the fitness industry since 2015. I began as an in-person personal trainer before migrating to online coaching. Helping people from all over the world achieve their training and nutrition goals has led to my greatest sense of fulfillment.
It's no secret that the health and fitness industry is a saturated market with hundreds of coaches ready to help you with your nutrition and training. So why do we still have a society of people who struggle to reach their body composition or performance goals?
Because we are not robots. We don't want to eat less when we're stressed or train hard when we're tired. Finding motivation is hard.
As a coach, I look beyond the common tips and tricks flooding our social media feeds. You will still receive the nutrition and training plan you need to reach your goals, but the approach will be different.
By marrying Psychology & Physiology, we are able to identify your core values, strengthen your goals and determine the path of least resistance towards your new life.
Find him here:
https://www.daltonfranke.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Dalton-Franke-408476419748855
Find me here:
https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://www.shannonlbeer.com/
https://www.btgcomprehensivecoaching.com/
What follows is a discussion with a previous client of mine, Joshua Beggs, about his experience of overcoming his fear of fat gain, moving away from macro tracking, letting go of the idea of a perfect body and making room for other important things in his life.
Find me here: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
Coaching: https://www.shannonlbeer.com/coaching
Why is changing nutrition behaviours so difficult? What can we do as coaches to help promote positive change? Where does our scope of practice lie? How might someone identify with their eating behaviours, and how might that be problematic?
I discussed these questions and more with Joe O'Brien, a trainee health psychologist at Spectrum Mental Health.
Find more about Joe here: https://www.instagram.com/headfirst0/
You can listen to his podcast here: https://headfirst0.podbean.com/
Get in touch with me: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://www.shannonlbeer.com/
Miguel Blacutt is a neuroscience researcher and graduate student at Columbia University, as well as a researcher at the New York Genome Center. Miguel focuses on sensorimotor neuroscience and computational genomics in ALS and Huntington’s Disease. He is also a research collaborator with Yale School of Medicine and a graduate of McGill University. Aside from academics, Miguel is highly interested in existential philosophy and rationality.
I hit record during one of our conversations and we ended up discussing the importance of understanding yourself and questioning the intention behind the things you do. Many of us would be surprised to find that there is more to our thoughts and behaviours than meets the eye. If we take the time to really think about who we are, we may find ourselves more integrated, fulfilled and engaged with life.
Find Miguel here: https://www.instagram.com/mblacutt/
Find Shannon here: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://www.shannonlbeer.com/
Ben is a psychology student at Queenslands University of Technology and founder of Matter Athletica, a platform aimed at bridging the gap between psychology and elite performance. Ben talks to athletes to uncover the complexity of high level human performance and distil lessons that we can implement in our own lives.
This was a pretty wide-ranging chat covering:
01:00 Studying psychology & Matter Athletica
10:00 How do we set a goal that is meaningful to us?
22:00 Once we have a goal in mind, how do we achieve it?
30:00 The role of social environments
34:30 When does self-development become selfish?
45:00 The role of philosophy in meaning & goal setting
54:00 The importance of grit
60:04 How do we cultivate resilience?
Find Ben here: https://www.instagram.com/ben_mayfieldsmith_/
Check out Matter Athletica: https://www.instagram.com/matter_athletica/
Find Shannon here: https://www.instagram.com/shannonbeer_/
https://www.shannonlbeer.com/