Why Reclaiming Your Freedom Is an Inside Job [feat. Erin Bahadur]

Reclaiming food freedom isn’t easy work, and it takes time. Join me in this episode as I chat with Erin Bahadur, who makes the argument that reclaiming food freedom and intuitive eating is what she calls an inside job! Erin is the owner of one of my favorite Instagram accounts which I have been following for years, and I can’t be enthused enough over how excited I am to have her on the podcast!

Erin is a mother of two, a mental health advocate, a recovering addict, and a certified personal trainer, and on top of all of that, she is someone who has found food freedom! Like so many of us, she began having issues with food and body image at a pretty young age – in middle school. She became obsessed about how she looked and how she could use food to try to control it. She ended up replacing one addiction with another, however, eventually turning to drugs and alcohol, and she is very candid about her story and her recovery process.

We also learn about how Erin now being a mother has affected her journey, and she and I discuss how important it is to be a model for your children and exemplify intuitive eating. We also discuss the intrusive and pervasive nature of diet culture and how it causes thoughts about dieting and looking a certain way – thoughts that don’t really ever truly go away. (We just build suits of armor to combat them and rewire our brains!) She also, as is tradition on the podcast, closes by providing a few actionable tips on how to improve our relationship with food and body image, discussing social media and recommending a book that she finds helpful!

I am so grateful for Erin for taking a little bit of time away from her little ones to have this discussion with me, and I am also very thankful for her being so willing to be so open and candid with me! I hope that you take some helpful information away from this episode, and remember that I absolutely love hearing from you, so screenshot this episode and let me know that you are listening! Feel free to also share the podcast with anyone whom you know might benefit from it, and I would love it if you would share with me what you took away from this episode and what was especially helpful! Be sure to subscribe to The SociEATy Podcast so that you never miss an episode!

Time Stamps

[1:15] – Colleen announces this episode’s guest – Erin Bahadur.

[2:35] – Erin gives us a little bit of background information about herself and the history behind her Instagram account.

[6:32] – Colleen enthuses over what Erin shares on her Instagram page.

[9:00] – Erin touches upon her relationship with food and body image.

[12:46] – Colleen asserts that diet thoughts don’t just go away but that we have to rewire our brains.

[17:24] – Erin reflects on how her relationship with food has changed since she became a mom.

[23:58] – Colleen reveals why she wanted to find food freedom.

[28:23] – We learn more about Erin’s history with addiction as a coping mechanism.

[31:40] – Erin reveals why she named her blog and her Instagram page Erin’s Inside Job.

[33:49] – Erin credits talking to people who had gone through similar situations as being what helped her the most.

[37:00] – We are treated to a few actionable tips to improve our relationship with food and body.

[39:48] – Erin reveals where she can be found online.

Links and Resources

Colleen Christensen Nutrition – Website

The SociEATy – Become a Member

The SociEATy’s Instagram Page

Colleen’s Instagram Page

Erin’s Instagram Page

Erin’s Blog

Intuitive Eating

Dr. Joshua Wolrich – Food Isn’t Medicine

Equilibria – Website (Use the code nofoodrules to get 15% off!)

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