6: How to Create a More Loving Relationship with Your Body and Improve Your Mental Health

 
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The Leap of Faith

I am so excited to have Bekah Ellis on the She Be Red podcast. She is known to her tens of thousands of followers on Instagram as @fullbodiedbekah, and she is a business owner and body activist. And when I say “body activist”, what I mean is that Bekah is really trying to help everyone love their bodies just as they are. Her Instagram profile is a beautiful mosaic tapestry of photographs of her body, just as it is.

I have been following Bekah closely over the past few months, especially because I’ve been having trouble with my own body image. She has been so beautifully open about her journey and the things she feels can help others too.

In this episode, we talk about body acceptance, cultural expectations, and cultural limitations. Bekah provides some tips on what she thinks will help people moving forwards, as well as talking candidly about her own experiences with mental health.

When I first started planning this podcast, I created a vision board and Bekah’s was one of the first faces I put on there. She makes me feel soothed, she shares her confidence, and she brings joy and light to my day. I feel so honored that Bekah agreed to break her podcast duck with me for this very special episode on body acceptance and mental health. 

So, without further ado, let’s jump in!


What You’ll Hear Us Talk About in This Episode

  • Body acceptance and body image

  • The concept of “bravery” as a microaggression

  • Societal expectations

  • The difference between body positivity and body neutrality

  • The roots of the body positivity movement

  • Diet culture and the link with mental health

  • Health at Every Size (HAES)

  • Fat phobia and the medical profession

  • CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

  • Stigma surrounding mental health medication

  • Techniques for taking care of your mental health

  • Tips for those of you who are looking to develop a more loving relationship with your body


Main Takeaways from Bekah’s Experience

  1. Be aware that describing someone as “brave” can reinforce societal expectations and limitations.

  2. Diet culture is about so much more than food; it’s also about cultural conditioning and subliminal expectations.

  3. By acknowledging diet culture, you can learn from it and try to separate your life from the system.

  4. It’s really important to fight for yourself, look out for your own well-being, and advocate for how you’re feeling.

  5. You don’t have to deal with everything all at once.

  6. Breakdowns look different for everyone.

  7. There’s no time limit on accepting your body, so give yourself some grace.


Resources

  • @thebirdspapaya - Instagram account on life and loving your body after change

  • Rust and Roots - Bekah’s business website

  • “These ‘health and wellness businesses’ are not really caring about your health and wellness.” - quote

  • Bekah’s tees and totes

  • Reasons to Stay Alive - book by Matt Haig

  • The Midnight Library - book by Matt Haig


If you have any questions for Bekah, please feel free to reach out to me. Send me a DM @maddie_shebered, or email me at connect@shebered.com, and I’ll connect you with her. Otherwise, you can find her on Instagram @fullbodiedbekah.

If you liked this episode, it would mean the world to me if you would subscribe and leave me a review! Thank you so much in advance!

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