#143: "What If I'm Just Uncomfortable Being Fat?" with Therapist Edie Stark and Fat Activist Sharon Maxwell
This is a free preview of this week’s bonus episode, and it’s not to be missed. It might be my favorite conversation we’ve had on this podcast.
This is the second part of a conversation with Therapist Edie Stark and Fat Activist Sharon Maxwell, and we’re answering a very important – very hard – listener question. The essence of it is: “I believe in body liberation and anti-diet culture. But what if I’m just uncomfortable being fat?”
To listen to the full conversation, you can upgrade to paid on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fullplate
“I'm really struggling to accept my own body as I do this work to unlearn weight bias in our culture. It's frustrating, because I do believe all bodies are worthy. What if I'm just uncomfortable being in a larger body? What if I just don't want to be fat? Is it possible to desire weight loss for myself while believing in weight inclusivity?”
This is a bonus episode! To hear the full conversation, upgrade to paid on Patreon (you’ll be supporting the show and receiving my undying love and appreciation).
Head over to Patreon to hear more about:
How and why Sharon relates to this listener, and moments where she's worked through this thought
How the Ozempic conversation impacts the desire for weight loss
What it means to practice self-compassion while living within systemic anti-fatness
Whether changing your body could change discomfort
Times when eating disorder thoughts creep in the most
Discomfort as a signal of something deeper
The role of mental discomfort on physical symptoms
Navigating the medical system when it blames body size for everything
SO much more!
About Edie:
Edie Stark, MSc, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Stark Therapy Group, a psychotherapy group practice specializing in eating disorders, trauma, and anxiety from a humanistic, fat-positive, and inclusive lens. She believes in the value of lived experience being met with clinical knowledge to create a collaborative therapeutic experience for all of the clients. Edie is passionate about Trader Joe's snacks– we talk a little bit about that–dismantling the US healthcare system, and the complete and total takedown of diet culture in no particular order.
Learn more at https://starktherapygroup.com/
About Sharon:
Sharon Maxwell (She/Her) is a mental health advocate and fat activist. She works as a weight inclusive consultant, providing education to treatment centers and healthcare providers on the immense harms of weight stigma. Due to her lived experience facing weight stigma, Sharon provides unique insight and offers practical tools to make treatment centers and healthcare settings safe and accessible for fat folks. Sharon is passionate about breaking down the stigma around eating disorders and working to eradicate societal anti-fat bias. When she’s not studying or engaged in her activism work, Sharon can be found exploring San Diego with her dog and her best friend.
Read "You Don't Look Anorexic" in New York Times Magazine
Connect with Sharon on IG: @heysharonmaxwell
Learn more about Sharon: https://www.heysharonmaxwell.com/
Support the show on Patreon: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at Patreon.com/fullplate
Join the Full Plate Patreon right here!
Group program:
Good news! Enrollment is open for Abbie's next group program:
Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching
Group membership:
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy
Podcast Administrative Support by Alexis Eades
Podcast Editing by Brian Walters
This podcast is ad-free and support comes from our Patrons on Patreon: Patreon.com/fullplate