Chew The Fat

Heidi and Shar continue to talk about Intuitive Movement and use points made by Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD to explore how we should be moving our bodies. This is not about exercising to burn calories or to push ourselves to the max. This is about enjoying the benefits movement gives our body, which has NOTHING […]

Heidi and Shar talk about Intuitive Movement and use points made by Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD to explore how we should be moving our bodies. This is not about exercising to burn calories or to push ourselves to the max. This is about enjoying the benefits movement gives our body, which has NOTHING to do […]

Shar interviews Angie Star, Internal Family System (IFS) Therapist and Coach, about how our brains process and organize information. How do we break old patterns and stop replaying the same loops? We all hope to have a healthy self-awareness, but where do we go from there? Angie talks about IFS and how we can work […]

Heidi and Shar question what loving ourselves really looks like. They delve into self-esteem and what characteristics you may see in someone with high versus low self-esteem. Additionally, they talk about a book The Five Love Languages which helps readers identify the way they need to be loved and how to express love to others. As always, […]

Heidi and Shar talk about the need to focus on progress vs. perfection. Diet culture and body image are forces to be reckoned with, but it can be easy to go too far the other way and think you have to perfect. How do we manage old ways of thinking while still being gentle with […]

Shar and Heidi talk about the fault in New Year’s Resolutions, always focused on goals and often centered around dieting. They offer a new approach of making a “Wants List” of things you want to experience in the upcoming year and looking for fulfilling experiences instead of specific goals. Despite 2020 being an incredibly difficult […]

Heidi and Shar had the opportunity to interview four men and get their insights on body image. They share their male perspectives on peer pressure, how they see their own bodies and how they feel the male body is represented in the media. So often, the conversation around body image centers on women, but we […]

Heidi and Shar had the opportunity to interview four men and get their insights on body image. They share their male perspectives on peer pressure, how they see their own bodies and how they feel the male body is represented in the media. So often, the conversation around body image centers on women, but we […]

This week’s episode starts with Heidi interviewing an 8th grade girl and her mom. They share their thoughts on body image, social media and peers. Many parents are teaching their kids right from wrong, but are they teaching their kids how to stand up when they see bullying? Having an open dialogue with adults and […]

Heidi and Shar discuss the stressors found in every day life that can lead to emotional exhaustion and how they process events differently. Shar processes information logically whereas Heidi tends to process information emotionally. They talk about recognizing when you are emotionally exhausted and what to do when you find yourself there. Both the ladies […]

Shar and Heidi talk every week about moving out of diet culture and toward true self acceptance, but it is not always easy to avoid those old pitfalls that tell us there is “bad food” or that our bodies need to look a certain way. The ladies share some of their own personal pitfalls and […]

Heidi and Shar talk about how setting boundaries is important, but not as important as continuing to do the work on your end. This is especially true when it comes to boundaries around your body. We live in a body-conscious world and it’s easy to tie our value solely into how we look. Real work […]

Shar and Heidi talk about filters on social media and what it is doing to our self-esteem. (Psst…it’s not just teenagers on social media filtering their pictures, it’s  happening with all ages.) So why are we trying to look “perfect” and is it truly about our looks or does it go deeper than that? The […]

Heidi and Shar talk about the need to celebrate eating, cooking and sharing recipes – it’s all good! They tell their own stories of eating what is deemed “acceptable” by others instead of listening to their own hunger cues. Some cultures are able to fully embrace dining and find joy in eating, so why do […]

Shar and Heidi talk about menopause and what it looks like for Shar. They talk about the importance of being present in each phase of life and accepting that your image of yourself shifts throughout. Self-care is important at any age and it looks different depending on what your body needs – friend time, journaling, […]

Shar and Heidi talk about intuitive movement and why it is important to find movement you enjoy. Both ladies agree that moving your body is important for a number of reasons (zero of which have to do with weight loss) and more about mobility, fun and investing in your future self. They talk about the […]

In episode 4, Heidi delves into her life experiences and why they have shaped her the way they have. She talks about her move from Germany to the United States and how that impacted her at a young age. Heidi talks openly about her struggles with an eating disorder and shares the binge cycle and […]

In this episode, we learn more about Shar’s life experiences and what makes her tick. She talks about being raised in an enmeshed family that struggled with alcoholism. Shar talks about the work she put in to break free of the family dysfunction to better herself and raise her son in a different way. Headspace […]

Heidi and Shar talk about the word FAT and why we should consider neutralizing the word, especially around kids. How do kids see their own bodies and other bodies? What are we saying and doing that teaches kids that FAT is a bad word? They go on to share body image stories from a child’s […]

Shar and Heidi are back for Season 3 and they start the episode talking about the elephant in the room: COVID-19. They share how they each responded to the virus and the highs and lows that came with it. Then they delve into body image as it seems to be a major concern on social […]

Heidi and Shar start off this episode talking about the word fat as a descriptor vs. an insult. Is it a word we can reclaim without negativity? They go on to talk about the “level of fat” acceptable by media standards or fat people being used as the weird characters on a show. Then they […]

Shar and Heidi talk about swimsuit shopping and beachwear as we approach spring break and summer. Regardless of body size or shape, some are intimidated by baring that extra skin as warmer times are ahead. They discuss being intentional on finding things you LIKE about yourself when you look in the mirror. It’s easy to […]

Heidi and Shar tackle anxiety this week. Anxiety can present itself in many different ways – isolation, overwhelming questions, irritability and even controlling behaviors. So how do we recognize it and how do we deal with it? If you have anxiety or suspect you might, this episode is for you. If you don’t have anxiety, […]

Shar and Heidi talk about the difference between advocating for yourself and simply complaining. They share stories of how they had to learn to stand up for themselves. Self-advocacy is not always taught when we are young and may not even my modeled by parents if they carried insecurities. They talk about placing value on […]

Heidi and Shar talk about “complimenting” people’s bodies. Should we comment on the appearance of others? Specifically, should we tell someone if we think they have lost weight? They discuss how accomplishments should never be tied to appearance and end the episode giving suggestions of how to respond when someone comments on your weight. You. […]

Shar and Heidi dig into feelings AGAIN because deal with them we must! They specifically talk about needing vulnerability to forge genuine relationships with others and especially in creating a healthy relationship with OURSELVES. Vulnerability can be uncomfortable and awkward, but it’s the real deal. The second half of the episode, they give suggestions on […]

Heidi and Shar share their experiences growing up that shaped their identity. They talk about the importance of living your life authentically and making your own decisions (even when it’s hard!) rather than filling the expectations of others. Food and weight play a role in this as it is often the one thing we feel […]

Shar and Heidi discuss the importance of forgiveness in self-healing.

Heidi and Shar talk about self-care and how that varies for each individual.

Shar and Heidi chat about the trials the holidays can bring, especially if you struggle with body image.

Heidi and Shar start this episode discussing how they did not always own their own feelings and opinions growing up.

Shar and Heidi talk about how rude comments and judgments about weight can cause body dissatisfaction, which has NOTHING to do with a person's actual weight, but on how we feel we are seen.

Heidi and Shar wrap up the last two principles of Intuitive Eating: Exercise - Feel The Difference and Honor Your Health.

Shar and Heidi delve into four more principles of Intuitive Eating: "Challenge The Food Police", "Feel Your Fullness", "Discover The Satisfaction Factor" and "Respect Your Body".

Heidi and Shar discuss the principles from a book called Intuitive Eating.

Shar and Heidi start the show talking about the importance of finding a good bra and embracing what your mama gave you. After the break they talk about breast cancer awareness, yearly breast exams and mammograms.

Heidi and Shar talk about emotional eating and what it looks like.

Shar and Heidi talk about childhood trauma and how it can lead to a myriad of addictions, including food addiction.

Heidi and Shar talk about the importance of moving your body in the right head space - it's not about losing weight or burning off that delicious pizza - but finding movement you actually enjoy.

Heidi and Shar wrap up Season One with a Q & A.

Shar and Heidi talk about why it's necessary to break old cycles and rewire our brain to let go of negative thoughts and self-judgment.

Heidi and Shar delve deeper into why body image is an important conversation to be having.

Shar and Heidi discuss the importance of choosing food that is right for YOUR body.

Heidi and Shar talk about the "fashion no-no's" that we put on ourselves and the importance of breaking out of that thought pattern so we feel good about our bodies and the way we dress them.

Shar and Heidi discuss the difficulties boys face with body image and the pressure they can feel to appear masculine or strong. After the break they are joined by Heidi's husband, Jason Gonzalez, as he shares his own views on male body image.

Heidi and Shar talk about the relationship they have with food and exercise.

Shar and Heidi have an interesting chat about the weighty issue of health care, with Masters in Public Health nutrition student and dietetic intern Ani Janzen.

This week Heidi and Shar talk about how they can sometimes limit themselves and why it’s important to step out of your comfort zone.

Shar and Heidi discuss the misconceptions that people have about being overweight and the difficulty they face fitting in.

Heidi and Shar talk about the pressures parents face in raising girls with a healthy body image.

Shar and Heidi talk about perfectionism being born out of a controlled upbringing.