190: Postpartum Body Image, Disordered Eating, and Finding Freedom

Weight-loss struggles, eating disorders, endless dieting shame--we all know what it feels like to be stuck with these issues. None of these contribute to mental wellness, joy, and contentment. The problems are compounded for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. If you’re stuck in the shame cycle about your body shape and dieting failures, join us for today’s show. Catie Lynch is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in eating disorders, body image, and the postpartum period. She has two daughters, a three-year-old and a ten-month-old. She has made it her mission to help women stop dieting and find food freedom for themselves and their children. Show Highlights: Catie’s personal story of her struggle with body image, dieting restrictions, and eating disorders How Catie coped after her wedding with weekly therapy, dietitian appointments, and group therapy Catie’s first pregnancy and the body changes that felt to her like two years of weight gain How Catie felt pressure in the postpartum period to “get my body back” while caring for a newborn How girls and young women are bombarded with ideals about what our bodies should look like What Catie sees in her practice regarding women and body image: Wanting to be “perfect” Obsessing about clean eating Struggling when they don’t “feel” themselves How women can be triggered by their doctors’ views about food How “health” is assessed with weight and BMI, which aren’t always the best indicators of health What your “set point” is, where your body wants to be, and how your body protects itself Why it’s so difficult for women to trust their bodies and feelings Catie’s message to pregnant women who are worried about weight and body image Why Catie wishes she had done things differently in her pregnancy and postpartum, like trusting herself more, talking to others about it less, and focusing on her own needs Top concerns that women share with Catie during the postpartum period Behavioral warning signs that help women know when they need to seek professional help in the postpartum How the health and wellness industry markets dieting today as “lifestyle changes” Catie’s “health at every size” approach, which focuses on intuitive eating Catie’s hopeful messages for women: “Women shouldn’t feel bad about wanting to lose weight. Talk to a coach or therapist who is trained in disordered eating in the postpartum. You know what your body wants, so don’t let your brain hijack your intuition. You’ll be a better person and a better parent for it.” Resources: Catie Lynch LCSW Find Catie on IG: catielynchlcsw Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch