“Diet mentality” is the collections of beliefs and assumptions you were taught about health, beauty, body size, more specifically, what it means to be a woman. These beliefs we have about what it means to be a woman influence how you feel about your body and ourselves in general. These thoughts we have about our bodies and ourselves then create the actions and behaviours we have, just like going on a diet.

Do you want to be in your power with food, or do you want to control food? Do you want to be in your power with your body, or do you want to control your body? My relationship to power and control has been different at different stages of my life. I spent most of my teens developing my power and being punished for it. In fact, I was labelled as a rebel because I was in my power. Over the years of being told over and over again that what I was being a daughter, a girlfriend, a young woman in her power wasn’t right, I started to doubt myself and my ways.

Do you have a black outfit in your closet? Do you perhaps have more than 1 black outfit… one piece for every type of clothes? Do you wear black clothes as often if not more often the bright colorful clothes? “The Black Outfit” title of this episode is really an analogy, an analogy for us not embracing our fullness. Yes, our fullness physically but also our fullness emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Embracing who we are as women, who you are in our strengths, our voice, our being… our body.

Do you remember being told to be a “good girl” when you were young? And praised for being a “good girl” and punished for not being a good girl? Although socialized very early on as women, to be a good girl this socialization is done with good intentions but it leaves grown-up women struggling and in pain. Are you ready to take back your power and let go of the good girl syndrome?

Why am I nervous about this new episode? A little background here: a few months back, I announced that I would take a summer break from podcasting so I can create the space to be creative. I shared that I was working on something special, revolutionary.As I was going through this summer break something else happened. I made a decision. It was long coming. I’m sharing this decision with you. We shall enjoy our bodies & lives is the vision that I’m holding for every woman. This is diet Culture’s worst nightmare…