Speaking Of Hungry

Did you know there may be a connection between an ADHD diagnosis and struggling with disordered eating behaviors?  Studies have been examining possible connections between ADHD and disordered eating behaviors including binge eating, restrict-binge patterns, eating for stimulation (so not for physical hunger), and more.  I am fascinated. This is the second time I'm talking about ADHD on Speaking of Hungry and I definitely plan to talk about it more. In this episode, I chat with Aleta Storch, a Washington-based RD, therapist, and Certified Body Trust (R) Provider. We discuss:  Aleta's personal ADHD diagnosis and past struggles with food;  why people with ADHD struggle with interoceptive awareness and connecting to hunger and fullness signals; the top struggles for clients with ADHD and their relationship with food such as eating for stimulation, forgetting to eat, overwhelm when it comes to shopping and prepping food, meds that may suppress appetite, and more;  how emotional dysregulation causes ADHDers to see

In this last episode for 2021, I'm exploring the world of kids and snacking.  Crystal Karges and I dive into everything parents want to know about kids and snacks. We chat about the usual, "normal" snacking stuff that makes parents nuts and explore what to do when your child may be sneaking food.  What do you do if you want to raise an intuitive eater but it seems like your kid's diet is 90% Goldfish and cookies?  Why are our kids so drawn to snacks?  What is the building blocks to a "better" snack option, while also keeping in mind the things our kids love like cookies and candy?  How do you deal with finding hidden wrappers or witnessing your child sneaking food?  If our child is sneaking food, what are some of the top reasons this is happening?  How can we be proactive in preventing food sneaking and shame wrapped around the foods our kids enjoy?  So many of us have dealt with disordered eating most of our life. We don't want our children to deal with shame and guilt around food.  Yet we also have concerns

What are your core beliefs about food? About your body? About health?  Are your core beliefs getting in the way of healing your relationship with food? How are your core beliefs driving your decisions about what, when, and how much you eat?  Dr. Lara Zibarras joins me in this episode to discuss core beliefs. She breaks down common core beliefs that her clients tend to hold on to and how we can shift our thinking in order to move forward with recovery from diet culture.   It's difficult to heal from an unhealthy relationship with food when you are struggling to change what you believe about food and your body. First, we need to work on dismantling myths, breaking down unrealistic food rules, and challenging diet mentality. Then we can move forward with the actual steps toward healing.   Where to find Dr. Lara Zibarras:  Food Freedom Masterclass - to eat what you want, when you want, without stress, guilt, or shame. www.drlarazib.com  Instagram  YouTube * * * * * Are you looking for some simple advice to get st

If you haven't noticed already, I love talking about movement and exercise as a form of self-care and increasing body awareness.  Pilates was part of my recovery from a disordered relationship with food and exercise. When I found Helen Phelan, Brooklyn-based certified pilates instructor, I was excited to schedule a chat with her on the show.  Helen is a certified pilates instructor who believes movement's greatest benefit is its ability to change how you feel, not how you look.  And that is the exact reason I embraced pilates when I was trying to move away from forced, punishing exercise.  Helen and I chat about: 

I had a chat with Amanda Forman, a registered dietitian who specializes in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and women's health.  We talk about: What PCOS is and what's happening in the body; Why the advice of "cutting out carbs" doesn't help a PCOS patient;  What someone with PCOS can do when they are frustrated with the many symptoms such as weight gain and difficulty losing weight;  What PCOS patients can focus on to improve their overall health from an intuitive perspective vs another diet;  a brief review of women's hormonal health and what you should do if you're feeling like your hormones are "all over the place". Where to find Amanda: www.realyounutrition.com @themindbodysoul-dietitian * * * * * Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Heal Your Relationship with Food ***** If you love the show, please leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! Please go to iTunes and leave a rating and review!! ***** Would you like to work with me 1:1? You can schedule a  complimentary 20-minute Zoom with me to let me

In this latest episode I chat with NYC-based psychologist, Alexis Conason, about her approach to living diet-free that she writes about in her book, The Diet Free Revolution.  Alexis specializes in eating disorders in her private practice and is also the founder of The Anti-Diet Plan, a weight-inclusive online mindful eating program.  In this episode we chat about: the 10 steps outlined in her book to help free yourself from the diet on, diet off-cycle;  goals she sets with her clients that have nothing to do with weight;  how diet culture is punishing; what we can do to be more compassionate to ourselves and our bodies when we are less than thrilled with our body shape and size; how we can bring acceptance into our lives; using meditation as a coping strategy (and no, it doesn't need to be a perfect practice!); and more ... !! Check out this episode to gain more insight and clarity on how you can slowly pull yourself away from dieting.  Mentioned in this episode:  The Diet-Free Revolution The Anti-Diet Pla

Do you own a Peloton bike or treadmill? Or do you use the Peloton app to jump into a yoga, strength training, barre, pilates, or meditation session? I love my Peloton bike and all of the different forms of exercise the app offers. What a lifesaver during Covid!! BUT...  I know there are many Facebook communities that have formed for Peloton users to share their love of Peloton and other things like dogs, their kids, wine, and of course, dieting and weight loss.  Many of the Peloton-related groups on social media can be triggering for those of us who just want to get a good sweat or stretch and move the *F* on. Even if you're in a Peloton group for dogs or moms, there always seems to be someone asking about the latest and greatest diet or posting before and after photos. Sigh. In this new episode, I chat with Aisha Lubinski, founder of the Peloton HAES & Anti-Diet Community on Facebook. We discuss why a group like this is needed and how it's helping people to enjoy their Peloton workouts while shaking off

In this episode, I talk about my recent experience following a strength training calendar.  I started following it because I wanted to get more into a routine of lifting heavier weights and gaining strength. I also wanted to decrease my cardio to change things up and make time for strength training.  After several months of following this calendar, I realized something didn't feel right. I was truly enjoying the new challenge of heavy lifting but at the same time, I felt that ... pressure. That urge to follow everything on the calendar because if I didn't then I was "doing it wrong".  I was ignoring these urges to do more yoga and pilates for the sake of getting all the strength workouts in. Listen to this episode where I talk about my recent exercise discovery and how I realized I wasn't listening to my body!!  It's a reminder that no matter how far along we are in recovery, shit happens!  * * * * *  Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Di

Have you been navigating the world of intuitive eating but struggling with rules around alcohol?  Is alcohol acting as a barrier to you feeling your fullness? Or are you ignoring your hunger in order to "save up" calories to drink later on?  Do you know if your rules about alcohol are coming from a place of self-care? Or are they wrapped up in fear over calories? Is that glass of wine at night enhancing your dining experience? A way to socialize with friends? Or is it becoming a way to cope? I talk about all of this and more with NY-based registered dietitian and intuitive eating counselor, Brittany Modell. If you are questioning your drinking habits, you don't want to miss this episode! Mentioned in this episode:  brittanymodellrd.com Follow Brittany - @nofoodfears on Instagram Food Therapy Podcast  * * * * *  Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Ditch Diets!! ***** If you love the show, please leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! 

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Nicola Salmon, a UK-based fat positive fertility coach and trained acupuncturist. We're diving into wanting to get pregnant in a fat body, the diet culture that is wrapped up in the process, and how to use the research to get more weight-inclusive fertility care.  Nicola first walks us through her own story of being diagnosed with PCOS, living in a larger body, and being told pregnancy will never happen for her.  When she did end up getting pregnant, it caused her to take a closer look at how fat women who hope to become pregnant are being treated in the fertility world.  Diet culture is rampant when it comes to pregnancy. If you want to get pregnant while living in a fat body, the first line of treatment tends to be "lose weight". This can cause women more stress plus lost time as they struggle with dieting (that doesn't work) and weight loss. Nicola explains how weight loss DOES NOT need to be the focus to increase health and thus increase chances of becoming pregnant.

Welcome to Season 4 of the Speaking of Hungry Podcast!! After a summer hiatus, I am back!! I have some great discussions coming your way in the next few months. I'm kicking it off with today's episode featuring intuitive eating coach Victoria Evans. Victoria reveals her own struggle with an eating disorder that eventually led her to the ultimate rock bottom.  Victoria tells me, "I had the abs, I had the cut arms, I had everything I thought I’d ever want and need to be happy, and I was absolutely empty inside.” We talk about how she healed her own relationship with food and her body. She now uses a science-based approach to help women heal their relationship with food by optimizing their mindset for happier and healthier lifestyles. Mentioned in this show:  www.victoriaevansofficial.com INSTAGRAM:@victoriaevansofficial PODCAST: Weighing In On Happy FACEBOOK GROUP: Intuitive Eating Support Group For Badass Women   Christy Harrison's book, Anti-Diet   ***** Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and d

When we are so used to dieting and restricting food, the expected outcome is typically weight loss, a smaller dress size, a decrease in body fat percentage, improved health, or all of the above.  What can we expect when we decide to STOP dieting and to heal our bodies through an improved relationship with food?  That's what I'm talking about in this NEW episode.  If you are new to the show or a long-time listener, I've taken a hiatus in July and this will continue through August. Time to recharge my brain, brainstorm new ideas for the show, chat with some new experts in the non-diet field, and also focus on other projects!! A brand new season of Speaking of Hungry will be coming your way in September!!!  Until then, if you have a question or topic you'd like me to cover, shoot me a DM on Instagram or Facebook to @AlisonBarkmanRD. I love hearing from listeners and your questions and ideas help to fuel the show!!! * * * * *  Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free w

This is a replay of one of my top downloaded episodes on the Speaking of Hungry podcast! If you are struggling with regular binges and feel out-of-control, you definitely should listen to this episode! Please note: Speaking of Hungry will be on hiatus for July and August!! I'll be replaying older episodes over the summer as I gear up for a BRAND NEW season of Speaking of Hungry in September. So if you love the show, not to worry, I'm taking a brief hiatus in July and August to focus on my intuitive eating private practice, my pilates teacher training, AND lining up some great new episodes to be released in September with expert guests! About this episode: Jennifer McGurk is a NY-based registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and the practice of intuitive eating.  She explains what binge eating disorder (BED) is and why so many people try to “fix” this disorder with a diet or even bariatric surgery. The trouble is that these “fixes” rarely get to the root of why a

In this episode, I tell you my dieting rock-bottom when I attempted a three-day juice cleanse. Even in my most disordered eating days of restriction, weighing, and tracking every morsel of food that I ate, I remember thinking juice cleanses sounded ridiculous and extreme. I enjoyed CHEWING food, even if I wasn't eating enough of it.  When an eating disorder takes over your mind, it's pretty amazing how you start to rationalize and convince yourself that something you thought you'd never do may actually be what you need.  Listen to my personal juice cleanse story AND my thoughts about these "cleanses" and "resets".  Mentioned in this episode:  Maintenance Phase podcast: Celery Juice * * * * *  Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Ditch Diets!! GRAB THE GUIDE HERE! ***** If you love the show, please leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! Please go to iTunes and leave a rating and review!! ***** Would you like to work with me 1:1? You ca

My usual grocery shopping and browsing through the ice cream aisle inspired this week's episode!  I share my thoughts about "diet" foods such as keto and paleo versions of "forbidden" foods.  Why do they exist? Why are people buying them? Do they help us build a healthy relationship with all foods?  Listen to this week's episode if you're curious about whether "diet" foods do or don't help us in the long run.  I also tie in a random thought about six-pack abs, why we all salivate over them, and if we all really know the story behind a six-pack. * * * Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Ditch Diets!! GRAB THE GUIDE HERE! ***** If you love the show, please leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! Please go to iTunes and leave a rating and review!! ***** Would you like to work with me 1:1? You can schedule a  complimentary 20-minute Zoom with me to let me know what you are struggling with and determine if I am a good fit for you!

Last week I talked about 5 signs that your eating habits may be disordered.  One sign is food journaling. What is food journaling? Writing down every single thing you eat or entering meals and snacks into a food diary app. This also may involve weighing and measuring your food for accurate tracking.  This may start out innocently so that you can learn more about the nutritional value of what you're eating and help you reel in so-called  "bad" habits. But for many, this can turn obsessive, to the point where we can't eat without consulting our food diary app to see how many calories or macros we have left for the day.  Can food journaling ever help?  You may be surprised to hear that I use it sometimes with my clients. In this week's episode, I talk about when food journaling can be helpful in healing your relationship with food as well as what to look out for to avoid any triggers into disordered eating.  * * * Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook

Am I being healthy? Or are my eating behaviors becoming disordered? Have you started to wonder if you, or someone you know, are dealing with disordered eating behaviors?  It's very hard to tell in this diet-obsessed world we live in. Dieting, cutting out food groups, going hours without eating are just a few examples of what society considers "normal" behaviors in an attempt to lose weight and/or improve health. In this episode, I discuss five different signs that your eating behaviors may be disordered. If you are beginning to feel like all you do is think about food and worry about your weight, take a listen to this episode! I also provide insight on what you can do next to help you recover from disordered eating and not let it rule your life! * * * Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Ditch Diets!! GRAB THE GUIDE HERE! ***** If you love the show, please leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! Please go to iTunes and leave a rating a

Maybe you've heard of giving yourself permission to eat all foods and you're thinking, "But I can't have (insert food here) in the house or I'll eat the whole thing!" What does it mean when we say "make peace with food" and "give yourself permission to eat all foods"? Why do you think it may work for others but NOT you?  This process is not as easy as bringing home the donuts, eating one, and walking away happily satisfied without overeating or bingeing.  Nope. It's a messy process at first. You need to have worked on your food rules and diet mentality first before you can even get to this point.  I talk about my own experience when I gradually gave myself permission to eat everything. Also, I discuss tips on how you can slowly rid yourself of food rules, deprivation, and the restrict/binge cycle! * * * Need more resources to help with chronic dieting and disordered eating?  Grab my free workbook: 5 Steps to Ditch Diets!! GRAB THE GUIDE HERE! ***** If you love the show, please leave a rating and review on App

You are working on healing your relationship with food and recover from chronic dieting and disordered eating.  You are convinced that working on recovery is the right decision for you. Diets and restriction have taken up too much of your life.  BUT, you have friends or family members who disagree. They think you're being irresponsible and not taking care of your health if you stop trying to shed some pounds.  Or maybe they are so into their own dieting and weight loss that they can't stop talking about it in front of you.  Perhaps both are happening from the same person or a few people in your life. What do you do?  You need to know that you have the right to set boundaries. You do not need to listen to judgment. This is your decision and you're doing what you feel is right for your physical and mental health. Not everyone will agree with you. How do you deal?  That's what I'm covering in this latest episode of Speaking of Hungry! Check out the episode and let me know what you're struggling with when it come

Are you done with chronic dieting, trying to heal your relationship with food, AND trying to figure out how exercise fits into all of this?  Then you MUST listen to this REPLAY!! I'm replaying this interview with body-positive and weight-inclusive personal trainer, Jenna Jozefowski.   Jenna gives active women a tough love transformation to their approach to fitness. As a semi-retired professional dancer, Jenna first discovered yoga as a cross-training tool and has been teaching and coaching for over a decade. The best part of all, she loves to lift weights, loves training others, but it's NOT about shrinking your body or burning fat and calories.  Check out this episode and then come back next week as I dive into the exercise discussion more in an all-new episode!!  Learn how to work with Jenna and read her blog at itsjennaj.com. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by emailing her at jenna@itsjennaj.com. Looking for a body positive fitness instructor or personal trainer? First, you