“I want to offer you a perspective shift when it comes to your inner a-hole voice. What if that voice and even your struggles with food are not actually the problem? What if they are trying to help you?”
We all have that relentless inner critic; the one that tells us to be better, try harder, and be more disciplined with food and our bodies. But what if that critical voice is actually trying to protect us? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jeanne Catanzaro, a clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with disordered eating and trauma. Together we break down where that inner chatter comes from, and how to finally respond to it in a way that’s actually compassionate.
Through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dr. Jeanne and I talk about the different parts we all have inside us, like the inner critic, the part that wants to diet, and the part that rebels against restriction. We explore why dieting can feel so safe and familiar, even when it’s making life harder, and how attempting to control food can be a coping mechanism in the face of deeper shame, fear, or “not good enough” feelings. Most importantly, we talk about actionable ways to get curious about your behaviors, rather than shaming yourself, moving you toward real change instead of keeping you trapped in the same old cycles.
So many Rebels tell me they’re walking around with a loud, critical inner voice and feel like a failure for it. My hope is that after listening to this episode, you’ll leave with a little more self-compassion and a lot more clarity about what’s really at play beneath the surface, so you can stop being an a-hole to yourself and start approaching food and your body with kindness you truly deserve!
What You’ll Learn:
- Where your inner critic really comes from, and why it’s so loud about food and body
- Why dieting and controlling food can serve as coping mechanisms (and what they’re trying to protect you from)
- How the tug of war between food freedom and restriction happens inside, and why it actually makes sense
- Steps to start responding to your inner critic with curiosity and compassion rather than shame
- What it means (and looks like) to approach your relationship with food differently, so you can finally break the cycle
Whether you’ve found yourself wondering “What is wrong with me?” or feeling frustrated that you keep falling into the same eating patterns, you’re not alone. This episode will help you see your behaviors in a whole new light, and give you guidance to start making peace with food, your body, and yourself.
Resources:
- Jeanne’s book, Unburdened Eating: An Internal Family Systems Approach to Healing Your Relationships with Food and Your Body
- Jeanne’s Website
- IFS Institute
- Episode 220, How Tracking Macros Turned Toxic for Jamie (and the food freedom she finally found!)
- Grab the Hunger & Fullness Scale Guide at DietCultureRebel.com/hungerfullnessscale and take your next step toward building trust with your body and food.
- Connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.
Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?
You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.
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