The Bossticks - #121: Melissa Wood Pt. 2 - Understanding Eating Disorders, Vulnerability, Social Media Comparison, Productive Routines, & A Live Event Announcement

Episode Date: July 3, 2018

On this episode we sit down again with Melissa Wood Tepperberg aka Melissa Wood Health. This is Melissa's second time on the show and it is a very powerful episode. Melissa is raw, real, and extremely... vulnerable in this episode when she shares her journey with an eating disorder and what it was like to heal herself. She also shares information on how to talk to your loves ones, comparison on social media, and productive routines. This episode also has some exciting announcements for our first live event and information around the upcoming event.  To Attend the Live Event click HERE To connect with Lauryn Evarts click HERE To connect with Michael Bosstick click HERE Read More on The Skinny Confidential HERE To Call the Him & Her Hotline call: 1-833-SKINNYS (754-6697) For Detailed Show Notes click HERE   This episode is brought to you by THRIVE MARKET. We use Thrive for our online grocery delivery on a weekly basis. They provide the highest quality products and ingredients delivered straight to our door with unbeatable prices.  Be sure to grab our deal by going to to https://thrivemarket.com/skinny to receive $60 of FREE organic groceries from Thrive Market + free shipping and a 30 day trial!" Keep in mind that Thrive Market's  prices are already 25- 50% below retail because they cut out the middleman. And now they are offering $60 off free organic groceries!   This episode is brought to you by RITUAL Forget everything you thought you knew about vitamins. Ritual is the brand that's reinventing the experience with 9 essential nutrients women lack the most. If you're ready to invest in your health, do what I did and go to www.ritual.com/skinny  Your future self will thank you for taking Ritual: Consider it your 'Lifelong-Health-401k'. Why put anything but clean ingredients (backed by real science) in your body? 

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The following podcast is a dear media production. This episode is brought to you by ritual vitamins. So there are these vitamins that are vegan, sugar-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, and allergen-free. They also have this minty cap, so it makes the pills taste minty instead of like all chalky. They're made in the USA without any synthetic filters or colorants. And you guys should know that 95% of women do not get the vitamins and minerals they need on a daily basis. so Ritual created a smarter vitamin with nine essential ingredients that women lack most. Go to ritual.com slash skinny to choose clean ingredients backed by science.
Starting point is 00:00:40 Sign up now at ritual.com slash skinny. She's a lifestyle blogger extraordinaire. Fantastic. And he's a serial entrepreneur. A very smart cookie. And now Lauren Everts and Michael Bostic are bringing you along for the ride. Get ready for some major realness. Welcome to the skinny confidential, him and her.
Starting point is 00:01:09 It was, you know, it was like highs and lows, roller coasters of like maybe months not doing it and then just doing it for months. And it was like, I never thought I had an eating disorder. I just thought it was like this thing once in a while. It just happened. And then when I lived alone by myself is when it started getting really bad again. What up guys? Welcome back to the skinny confidential him and her show. If you're new to the show, thanks for joining.
Starting point is 00:01:40 So that clip was from our guest of the show today, Melissa Wood, also known as at Melissa Wood Health on Instagram. And on this episode, we're going to discuss addiction, overcoming eating disorders, and how to talk to your loved ones about eating disorders, comparison on social media, how to seek out help, and productive routines. We also have some exciting announcements to make around the live event space. For those of you who are new to the show, I'm Lauren Everett's. I'm the creator of the Skinny Confidential, a cheeky resource for women that's filled with beauty, wellness, and bossy tips. Of course,
Starting point is 00:02:12 you can also find me in the Skinny Confidential secret Facebook group or on Instagram and Instagram stories where I like to showcase the crazy BTS of my life in a way that hopefully brings you guys a ton of value. And I'm Michael Bostic. I am this lovely woman's husband and business operator and entrepreneur. I've specialized in brand building and direct to consumer marketing over the last 10 years, Recently, podcaster and now the CEO of a podcast network focused on female audience and female hosts called Dear Media and new kind of podcast network that is kicking ass. Michael, you're also sick. I'm surprised you didn't introduce yourself as, hi, I'm Michael and I'm sick.
Starting point is 00:02:47 Oh my God. I thought your name was sick today. Well, we spent all week in New York last week, just got back last night. And I think I was operating like, you know, at that, like adrenaline all the time. You mean cortisol? And I was running around with Paige, who works with me on Dear Media, and we had all these meetings. and meetings with you and interviews, and I was just refusing to feel sick. And I think after it all ended, my body just was like, whoa, dude, and gave out.
Starting point is 00:03:10 He was running around New York with his suitcase, with podcast equipment in it. His adrenaline was functioning at 800, the whole entire trip. And we literally worked from the second we woke up to the second we went to bed. We also had our parents in town. So it was like, it was a lot. It was amazing. It was like the best time ever. It was so, so fun to have our parents in town and take them to all our parents.
Starting point is 00:03:32 our favorite spots, but at the same time, it was like just nonstop 24-7. Well, imagine you go from working and doing high-octane stuff all day, and then you got to get the whole family bandwagon together, so anyone would be stressed. Yeah, but it was fun. Okay, guys, very exciting announcement. So we touched on this last week, and we're so, so excited to finally let the cat out of the bag. We are doing our first ever live event in L.A. The event's going to be at the Grove, which many of you know is a landmark location in Los Angeles, and it's only nine days away. Okay. The seats are limited, so we waited to announce it. The event is going to be completely free, no charge, and there's going to be major goody bags for the first 100 people to arrive. Also, if you miss a goody bag,
Starting point is 00:04:21 we're going to do three huge $1,000 giveaway, so you have a chance to win that. You can expect tons of Kopari, we love Kopari, lots of beauty goodies, and some health and wellness items. So here's the details. It's Thursday, July 12th, doors open at 6.30 p.m. and the show starts at 7.30 p.m. sharp. Our guests for the show will be a him and her twist with Emily Schumann and Jeffrey Fuller of the mega brand and blog, Cupcakes and Casimir. So you can expect fun conversation, lots of cocktails, candy, and macaroons. So, aka lots of Instagrammy moments. So if you're in the area, San Diego, Orange County, L.A., come by and bring a friend. We're also going to do a Q&A after the show, which should be fun.
Starting point is 00:05:08 To RSBP and get a spot to the event, go to Deeremedia.com slash live. Again, the event's free and there will be a lot of cool people in attendance. First 100 people to arrive get a festive, very TSC goody bag. Yes, and each week following that event, Deer Media and the Grove will host another live show. All of that information can be found as well. at DeerMedia.com slash live. We have a lot of great talent that will be at the Grove all month long. Looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Yeah, you guys, it's going to be so fun. Lots of cocktails, lots of macaroons, like we said, goodie bags. So come see us. Okay. With that,
Starting point is 00:05:43 we also have a massive giveaway that plays into this. Okay. Don't mean to brag, but this is the biggest giveaway ever. So we're giving away two round trip tickets, one for you and one for a friend with a hotel stay for two nights and guaranteed attendance to our live event. Okay. Michael and I will be paying for you and your guests, flight and hotel stay. All you have to do to enter is write a review on iTunes and leave your social handle on the review. Then you're going to screenshot your favorite TSC, him and her episode, okay? It could be any episode and post it to your Instagram feed for 24 hours. You can remove it after 24 hours, but we just need to see that you entered the giveaway. After you did that, just leave a comment on my latest Instagram, letting us know you reviewed and posted to your
Starting point is 00:06:33 Instagram so we can stock you. Again, we're giving away two roundtrip tickets, one for you and one for a friend with a hotel stay for two nights and guaranteed attendance to our live event. Michael and I will be paying for you and your guests, flight and hotel stay. All you have to do, like I said, is go to iTunes, leave a review, leave your social handle on the review, screenshot it, put it on your Instagram, and leave a comment, letting us know that you reviewed and posted on my latest Instagram. Super easy to enter guys. I cannot wait to meet the two winners.
Starting point is 00:07:03 They'll be out of towners. Aren't you excited about this? Yes, this giveaway was actually my idea learned. Oh, okay, okay. So, excited. You're sick and this was your idea. I know, I'm limiting my talk during the intro because I sound like garbage, but I'm agreeing and promoting everything that you're saying.
Starting point is 00:07:17 Maybe throw in some more silver spray. Speaking of your cold, you need vitamins real bad. No doubt. I am thrilled to tell you guys about. ritual vitamins. So I've been doing this challenge where I take two every single morning and you sort of keep track of it with these little yellow stickers. I love like recording stuff. You know what I mean? I'm kind of OCD like this. So I first found out about ritual when I was stalking the company on Instagram. If you haven't checked out their feed, you have to check it out. It's very aesthetically pleasing.
Starting point is 00:07:49 Then my girlfriend started raving about it. And then I actually heard about it while I was getting a double brow tint and a derma plane. And I just feel like you know. know a product's good when you overhear a girl blabbing about it during a beauty appointment. Anyway, I decided to try ritual and I immediately fell in love with the product. It's just so on brand for TSC listeners. And before I get into it, I want to tell you guys why it's on brand. So the benefits are endless, okay? The supplement fills in the gaps in your diet, and I personally very much needed this
Starting point is 00:08:20 while I was in New York stuffing my face with truffle pasta. I have a very big need for vitamin D. I've talked about this a lot, and ritual contains the perfect amount of vitamin D. You should also know it's a vegan, sugar-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, and allergen-free. It's also made in the USA without synthetic filters or colorants. And this is a big one. There's like this delayed release capsule, which is really important because it prevents nausea. But the best part is, I love a detail.
Starting point is 00:08:51 And there's a mint-scented cap, okay, within the bottle, and it's enriched with pure peppermint oil, so the vitamins taste good. Okay, so what you guys need to know, it's subscription-based, $30 a month delivered straight to your door, okay? Happiness guaranteed, no questions ask, and can be canceled easily at any time. And let's be real here, okay? 95% of women do not get the vitamins and minerals they need on a daily basis. Ritual created a smarter vitamin with nine essential ingredients women lack most. So go to ritual.com slash skinny. Choose clean ingredients, backed by science, sign up now at ritual.com slash skinny. Trust me, you'll smell like peppermint. Okay, so some backstory. We had Melissa Wood on episode 86. You guys can go back and listen if you want.
Starting point is 00:09:40 She was so vulnerable and raw and real and you guys just really loved her. She resonated with the audience. On that episode, we talked about smoothies, meditation, being a mother, and we briefly discussed her eating disorder. So after that episode aired, Michael and I saw that there was space to go deeper with this topic. And I started to really research eating disorders and found out that at least 30 million people of all ages and gender suffer from an eating disorder in the United States. I also found that every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and 13% of women over 50
Starting point is 00:10:22 engage in eating disorder behaviors. So I just felt like it was extremely important to bring the right guest onto the show to discuss this horrible illness. We felt that Melissa was perfect because she's not a doctor. So none of this advice feels clinical. It just feels authentic and it feels like she's sharing her journey. To me, this episode is beautiful. I think Melissa is just really a beautiful person on the inside and the outside and there's no one better to sort of talk about this disease. So I hope, Michael hopes, we hope that this episode can be impactful for anyone who's out there struggling with an eating disorder to know you're not alone. And now I'll introduce Melissa Wood-Tappenberg is a mom-wife, certified yoga and Pilates teacher, wellness coach,
Starting point is 00:11:11 meditator, and thriving on a plant-based diet. Her life wasn't always like this. Like I said, for years she struggled with severe anxiety, painful cystic acne, and an awful eating disorder. We'll discuss her journey in this episode. Her website contains tons of beautiful plant-based recipes, lots of low-intensity workouts, and raw, real conversations on her YouTube channel. Her goal now is to help people become their best self through movement principles, mindful eating, and meditation. She lives in New York City with her husband and son, and I should also note that she's pregnant and just so, so cute. With that, we'll be back with Melissa, after this break. So let's talk about one of our favorite brands, Thrive Market. We love
Starting point is 00:11:55 Thrive. You should love Thrive. And Thrive Market should love all of us here in the skinny confidential him and our community because so many of us are customers. So Thrive Market, if you are new to the show, this may be your first interaction with the brand. And if you're a regular listener, this will be a good reminder as to why you should be using Thrive if you don't already. I just ordered a bunch of stuff from my cold, including Silver Spray, and I'm waiting eagerly for it to get here. So if you don't already use Thrive, let me tell you why you should. Do you like doing things the hard way? Nobody does. And Thrive is your answer. It's easy and efficient. It's still amazing to me that in 2018 some people don't use this service. So Thrive. It's your one-stop online shop for
Starting point is 00:12:35 all things. Grocery, household supplies and supplements delivered straight to your door. It eliminates all of that aggravation of going to the store. If you know me, you know I do not like going there. Some do. But you don't want to go for your repeat products and have to scroll through the aisles and stroll around the grocery store, it's a huge pain. So if you have things on a regular basis, just get them through Thrive because then you don't have to worry about tracking them down in the store. So Thrive has so many products that Lauren and I both use, and everything on the site is priced below 25 to 50 percent below retail. So even if you don't like quick and efficient deliveries straight to your door, you can appreciate the price discounts
Starting point is 00:13:09 unless you don't like better pricing as well, in which case I can't help you. You can also shop by diet. So if you're vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo or a carnivist meat eater, like myself, Thrive has the goods for you. It breaks down items by preferred diet. They also have household supplies for babies and supplements. I get all my supplements on Thrive. For my cold, I just ordered a bunch of stuff, like I mentioned. They have everything, though, all your groceries, all your needs. So check them out. We place regular monthly orders and even had stuff delivered to New York while we're out there so that we didn't have to go to the grocery stores there because some of those hotel beverages and foods can get pretty expensive. So it's nice to have our stuff that we have at home
Starting point is 00:13:46 at the hotel. So Thrive is giving all Skinny Confidential, him and her listeners, $60 in free groceries and free shipping, which you can't beat when you visit Thrivemarket.com slash skinny. Again, that's Thrivemarket.com slash skinny for $60 in free groceries and free shipping. I know you guys hear this regularly on the show, but you wouldn't hear so much about this brand if we didn't love it so much. So check them out. This is the skinny confidential, him and her. So traumatize me. Yeah, traumatize them.
Starting point is 00:14:18 I mean, are you sure? Yes. When do you want to have kids? I want to anchor baby her pretty soon. You know what I mean? I got to lock her down. I love how you think you're going to anchor baby to me. I'm going to anchor baby to you.
Starting point is 00:14:29 I don't want her to get too far before she's like, wait, I don't need this guy anymore. And so I got to lock her down, you know. This is true. No, no. You're the best. So my, it was so rough. It was, I, I'm just one of those people who has challenging pregnancies. I don't, I don't want to say difficult, but so extremely difficult.
Starting point is 00:14:54 I was so sick in the beginning. I could, I mean, I was fully depressed. Couldn't function was vomiting, like projectile vomiting all day for, it was about a good 15 weeks. of like solid, yeah. And that didn't happen before? Not, I didn't vomit with Benjamin, but I was endlessly nauseous, which is, I thought was worse, but being endlessly nauseous and protectile vomiting all day is, it definitely took the cake.
Starting point is 00:15:28 So I can expect vomiting all the time, because I'm not, I, I, vomiting gives me a little bit of hebi-jee-jeebies. You know what Lauren actually faints and passes out when she vomits? Oh my God. Well, why don't we just like, so she has to. to lay on her side. I'm sure everyone that's really riveting. She has to lay on her side and just shoot the vomit out sideways because she literally passed out and she can not like I've heard her collapsed before in the bathroom because if she gets sick and then she faints because she's that was a
Starting point is 00:15:51 vaso vagal. Yeah. Is that how you say it? I don't know. You seem to know more about me than me. No, but so the doctor said she when she does that she has to lay because she could fall and like smack her head, you know. Right. No. You can't do that. Okay. So I mean it was. I mean it was, It was, yeah, it was, listen, I had one of the roughest experiences. I don't know too many people besides all of my sisters and my mom and I have four sisters. They were all sick like this. So is there anything you can do? Can you eat ginger and all that stuff or it doesn't work?
Starting point is 00:16:23 Honestly, I hated it. It didn't do anything for me this time until I was about probably like four and a half, five months. then I could tolerate it. What did I do? Oh my God. I mean, I think just the giving over to it was the hardest thing for me because it brought me back to a place of almost to that like limited way of thinking into like that limited belief. Like, you know, where. What do you mean by that?
Starting point is 00:16:56 So it brought me back to like the life I lived before I got into this space and. was meditating. So just thinking, like living through the negative, like thoughts and symptoms. And like I was, I couldn't get past it. It was like no matter what I did, I mean, in a way it was like I was feeling sorry for myself because I just felt like shit. There was nothing that made me feel better. And I could barely get out of bed.
Starting point is 00:17:29 I was like laying on the floor. Dylan would come in. and I would literally have to be, like, laying on the kitchen floor. I was so awful to be around. And I hated just being that, I hated that energy that, like, I felt and I felt I was giving off. But it was like, I couldn't break through. And then I think allowing myself, like, being gentle with myself, like, okay, like, I feel awful. I don't feel good.
Starting point is 00:17:57 I don't like the way that I look. it was just like an accumulation of everything and like giving over to that and allowing myself to feel that way was like almost a bit of a release. You've been obviously through something similar like you're saying, which was your eating disorder. Totally. So do you feel like it was bringing you back to that? 1,000 percent. That's like right where I was going with this.
Starting point is 00:18:19 I mean, I remember when I was like probably the sickest, this one day where it was just endless and I was laying on the kitchen floor and I just couldn't believe that I used to hurt myself like that and that I used to force myself to do that. So it definitely, it brought me back to a dark place in my life. I would think it would bring up the same exact feelings. Yeah, it did. Very similar. What kind of state of mind were you in when you were dealing with your eating disorder? Like what, what's a state of mind that you feel like you were constantly and was it angry? Was it sad?
Starting point is 00:19:02 How did you feel? Definitely sad. And just living in a place of comparison and really looking at everyone's life around me, I had just gotten into the modeling world, always wanted to be a model, and was told when I first signed with one of the top agencies that I had to lose 15 pounds, like, right off the bat. So it was like immediately I wasn't enough. So is your eating disorder already happening before this was told to you? Or like walk us through how like the timeline sort of? Yeah. So I
Starting point is 00:19:40 moved to New York about 13, 14 years ago. And I was living in this little apartment. And it was, I think just like growing up with so many siblings and a bit of chaos. My parents divorced early. And there was a lot of trauma young the second i like got behind closed doors like on my own i was like on my own it's when everything started to come up it was i was super anxious like every um just like every feeling of almost like being neglected as a child and things just started resurfacing for me and not having a lot of friends, not having a strong circle here, it was like, I just felt totally alone. Can you remember the first time that you did something that you look back on that was disordered with your eating? Yes. I was out late, like really late. I think I was at Marquis. Can I say that? I was at Marquis my first time.
Starting point is 00:20:50 and I took a taxi home and I just, I was drunk and I felt like totally out of control. I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and I got, I think like an egg and cheese biscuit or whatever it is. I ate that and then I lived next door to a Baskin Robbins, a pizza shop, like donut. It was like I had everything right there. I went in and I got ice cream. I ate that and went and I had two slices of pizza and then I went upstairs and just So it's like a binge and then get rid of it? Yeah, it was this, it was this idea of just like pushing all my feelings.
Starting point is 00:21:33 Is it like a control thing? Because it's almost like you can control like, okay, I can have all this and then I can control the outcome of having all this. Absolutely. So I think like one thing I want to say about sharing this experience is I'm not an eating disorder specialist and I hope I'm not triggering anyone else who has been through treatment and is in a good place. I'm simply just sharing my experience and what helped me overcome this. You know, it was a lot of things I had never dealt with as a child. And as soon as I was alone,
Starting point is 00:22:09 it really surfaced for me. All of these feelings of really, I think just like not feeling safe, not having security. I think when your parents divorce and there's always, it's just so rocky and you don't know if you're going to move to your mom's boyfriends this week or if you're going to switch school districts again.
Starting point is 00:22:28 It was like... You feel always in transition. It's chaotic. I was so much chaos. So being alone in a big city where I was like segueing into this whole new world with these perfect people,
Starting point is 00:22:40 I felt like, oh my God, like it brought so much up for me. So that was one night. It was like, it was so weird because I enjoyed it. I was like, oh, this feels so good. So was it like once you thought, oh my God, this feels so good, is it something that you say, okay, tomorrow I'm going to do it too, the next day?
Starting point is 00:22:59 Like, do you plan Monday, Wednesday, Friday? It's impulsive. Okay. So that's a really good question. So once I did that and then, you know, finished, if you will, and then woke up the next day, I felt awful. Like I felt really bad. I had a really bad headache.
Starting point is 00:23:17 But as soon as I would like step out into on the streets and like all of my anxiety came back, I knew that I could go back that route because it felt it was like I could handle what I knew what was going to happen. I knew the outcome. You can control the outcome always. I could control the outcome. So I never thought I would, I never thought I had an eating disorder. That blows my mind. Not at all.
Starting point is 00:23:45 But it's almost like an alcoholic. Yeah. It was like, this isn't. If you feel like you're in control of something, you don't look at it as a disorder. You look like, this is something you have power over. And I didn't do it every day. I mean, I shared this on the previous episode that I did with you guys. I, you know, it was like maybe I had a great week.
Starting point is 00:24:01 I did nothing. It was like, had a solid week. And then the following week was a lot of stuff came up. But, okay, let me ask you this. When you had a good week is a good week, is it, binging and purging? Or is a good week staying away from it? Not. Staying away from it.
Starting point is 00:24:15 So you knew that there was something. thing that was like, well, I knew because I was hiding it from my roommate and I didn't want anyone to know. And, and then I started, like, I started really getting into health, which is funny because I was doing all these awful things to myself. But I started getting just, you know, I was into like how many calories I took in and I was very careful. More like, I feel like that adds to the obsession. Totally obsessive. and I didn't have a healthy relationship with it. And then I think I also restricted myself from so much.
Starting point is 00:24:55 And like especially around people, I was like rigid. And then when I was by myself, it was like I could do whatever I wanted. Let's say I call you and I say, let's go out to dinner and you're in this space. What do you say? A lot of the time I don't go. Okay. But what if you do go? Are you drinking alcohol?
Starting point is 00:25:10 Like what is that feel like when you're out to dinner with a friend that really cares about you? and like are you ordering strange or is it just normal? No, I was so normal. None of my friends knew. I was going to ask you, did anyone know? I think one, at some point did anyone learn? I think one of my girlfriends caught on to me because when I had my, so this this went on for a good five years.
Starting point is 00:25:34 It's a long time. It's a long time. And it was, you know, it was like highs and lows, roller coasters of like maybe months not doing it and then just doing it for months. And it was like, back to, I never thought I had an eating disorder. I just thought it was like this thing once in a while. It just happened. And then when I lived alone by myself is when it started getting really bad again.
Starting point is 00:26:00 Did you move out on your own by yourself strategically? Because you knew that that was something that there wouldn't be anyone else in your space. No, I was really afraid. I had broken up with my boyfriend at the time. It just wasn't working. and I had asked, when I was at my lowest, lowest, lowest, I was still living with him. And we had like a wild night out, it was out all night. And then I was purging in the morning and just, it was like I had never felt worse.
Starting point is 00:26:32 What does he think? He just thinks, oh, she must be hung over. That's what I would think. I'd be like, oh, man, she's hung over. I definitely think he was aware that I had something, something that was weird. but I also had a really bad relationship with my family. So he just thought I had a fucked up family. And that brought a lot up for me.
Starting point is 00:26:54 But and I've never, I've never had this conversation with him and I wish that I did, you know? Like, if it's like kind of weird now because it's... Are you still friends with this guy? We're, I mean... Cordial. Yeah, totally.
Starting point is 00:27:08 If I saw him, I would say, I'm sorry that I never told that. You know, I just, I feel as if I, You think it was affecting the relationship or like maybe if he knew he could have been different? It's almost like you're dating someone else. It's like there's a third person in your relationship. What do you have to tell me, Lauren? When you got something weird?
Starting point is 00:27:23 Well, there was definitely, I hit a lot of things from him. Yeah, I was fairly secretive. It's hard to, you know, it's hard to navigate a relationship if you don't have the full picture. Right? Yeah, and he's just such a nice guy and such a nice person that I feel as if we've never had that place for me. to just go back and say that was really what was going on. I'm sorry you had to hear it through social media or a podcast. I think you make space for that when you see him if you see him.
Starting point is 00:27:52 Right. But, you know, that's all you can really do. Yeah. So, so you said this goes on for five years. You move out of your boyfriend's house into a place alone. Does the eating disorder escalate at this point? Or does it get kind of stagnant? How does it, how does it sort of rear its ugly head?
Starting point is 00:28:09 Yeah. So let me just say that when I have that, it was like I had this moment in life where it was like if I didn't do something I was things were going really bad like I was going downhill things were not going to end well for me and I called a therapist so I knew right then I needed help that's the first thing I think instead of having everyone come to you and be suspicious that something is wrong which no one ever did no one ever did that with me I had one friend say something to me one night. She called me the next day and she was like,
Starting point is 00:28:46 you have a drinking problem and you get like you're the most beautiful person. But when you drink, you're so ugly and you're, I don't want to be around you. Is it like anger? Yeah, I was very angry. I mean, I'm a recovering hitter. I'm like, I can't. I'm sorry.
Starting point is 00:29:01 It's so hard for me to imagine you like this because I see you in such a different like. Like hitting your friends, hitting your boyfriend, like punching or smacking? Oh, I would deck anyone if they just like didn't. No, I was like really bad. What? Like I've been in fights with girls. My sisters, boys. Let's talk about the fights.
Starting point is 00:29:19 I got to hear about these fights. Like what you mean like you would be in like a fist fight with a girl? I've been in fist fights, yeah. Really? Yeah. And not proud at all. I do not. Like I would never do that now.
Starting point is 00:29:32 I like can't believe. You are the most nurturing. Like I want to be like you when I'm a mom. That was how I don't even understand. I don't even understand. What was going on. Uh, that makes sense. It came out of violence.
Starting point is 00:29:39 What would trigger, like, if a girl... So let's go back to... So my eating disorder was my tool. That was my way of coping with anxiety for things that were coming up that I didn't know how to handle. And then hitting was another tool for me and drinking. And then... So what would trigger you is like somebody said something or if they look at you weird or what is the... No, it was more like if they kind of came at me.
Starting point is 00:30:09 I wasn't. Was this randoms or was your friends? Like you would lash out at your friends or this just could be anybody? It was like definitely an issue with the boyfriends. Okay. In the past. So it was like you guys getting a fight and then the way that. Like I like caught in X, like many Xs ago like doing cocaine and I punched him in the face.
Starting point is 00:30:27 Like I just like that was how he dealt with things. I mean I've thrown a remote at Michael if I'm being really honest. Yeah. Let's talk to you right in the face. No, I feel like every guy kind of gets like. But if it gets to the point where you're getting hit. a lot then you're going to figure it out. I like to flick his balls too sometimes when he annoys me. I'm dead serious. I know you are. That's why I'm dying. We're on the plane on the way over here and she
Starting point is 00:30:48 in front of everybody she keeps like I was making her mad and she kept grabbing over like trying to I like to flick them. There's something about a flick, you know this couple, this old couple behind us is looking at like what is going on here. It's like flick. Like a fly. Dylan, you do that too. A flick hurts. She's the creak. Girls, if you're out there, you're listening and your boyfriend knocks up, flick his balls. If you get the flick right. If you get the flick right. It hurts really bad. Thank you. I have a great flick.
Starting point is 00:31:12 I was more of like the punch in the face type, which is way worth. I'd rather have the punch than the flick. Good to know. No, did. Sorry, we got side check. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:31:21 And I was also abusing Adderall at the time. Okay. And like hiding. I want to talk about this. This is really, really important because there is so many women abusing Adderall right now. I'm talking to women. And I actually didn't even know this about you.
Starting point is 00:31:36 So I would love to hear more about this. So I'll be really honest. this is something I have never spoken about because I just it just wasn't the space. I went through like a very short period one summer where girls that I was cocktail waitressing with were it was like I worked all day and then I was cocktail waitressing and these girls had so much energy and I'm like what are like what do you guys do? And they're like we take Adderall. So one night I was like, what is this?
Starting point is 00:32:07 I've never taken this. took it, had the best night ever. I was like flying around the room. It was like I was on top of the world, woke up the next morning, ran for seven miles. I was so thin, but I was still in that disordered way of living and thinking
Starting point is 00:32:22 and felt as if like I wasn't good enough unless I was really skinny. So it was great and was like everything was working. And then when you say abusing Adderall, though, do you take it once and try, like what, like,
Starting point is 00:32:36 what, you're doing it every day? Is it just, when you cocktail. Like, what is, I really want to dive into what Adderall abuse looks like. Because so some girls would say, well,
Starting point is 00:32:46 I just take it on Saturday night. Right. So no, I got to the point where I was buying it off people, like paying for it and then taking it as long as I had a supply. And it was really to lose weight. Yeah. It was like to help me lose weight,
Starting point is 00:33:04 to make me feel up because I just did a, um, a video. with this girl, Vanessa Fitzgerald, who you would really like her. She just started sharing her Adderall detox. She was on Adderall for 15 years. Her story just like grabbed me because, I mean, obviously very different, but I love that she shared this. Netty talked about her, I think. Yes. And how it just, it like affected all her relationships negatively because you, like, especially, I mean, I am not a doctor. Some people are prescribed this. I think Adderall was.
Starting point is 00:33:38 was over prescribed and many people abuse it, even if they are prescribed. But when she shared that, I was like, I've never shared that. I've never really opened up about that. And I feel like it was a huge component in me, like, going through recovery and just healing myself. And, you know, that was another tool. It was another one of those tools that, like, made me feel up, up up, up. It made me feel confidently insecure. Like, or I always say like, like, insecurely confident. And you feel like you're like on top of the world, but you're so insecure. I've tried Adderall in high school. We used to take it sometimes for the SATs. And what I remember about it is that it takes you so high you don't want to eat. But then what I remember is the next day
Starting point is 00:34:30 I felt like I wanted to just lay in the street. Horrible. So that's why I can't handle that. But like, I remember feeling so low the next day for me. It's like to retake it again, it's just you're just kind of offsetting that feeling to come. Here's the thing. It's a methamphetamine. So like I'll tell you a story. I'm one of my best friends and I won't say his name. We were in college and he took it for a test.
Starting point is 00:34:53 And his dad got him a job like a corporate job for the summer. And they drug test. You said, yeah, sure, I don't take drugs. You took the drug test. And it came back positive for meth. Wow. And the guy's boss said, listen, we're not hiring you. You take meth.
Starting point is 00:35:05 And he said, we're talking about him. they went and told the guy's dad like, hey, your son's on meth. And he turned this whole thing. He wasn't on meth. He was taking an adoral. But it's a methamphetamine. And people don't realize, like, it's a speed. It's like legalized cocaine.
Starting point is 00:35:15 Yeah. And then there's another story. One of my best friend's brothers, he was prescribed to it his whole life. And when he graduated college, he said, okay, I don't need this anymore. And he got off cold turkey, went on a cruise and ended up getting pneumonia from being, like, extreme withdraws and ended up dying. That's so scary. It's a daint. Like, people don't realize, like, it could get that drug and get really.
Starting point is 00:35:36 dark. No, it can. And I've seen it happen in my life and it, you know, people very close to me. So once Vanessa shared that, I was like, you know, I never really shared that. And I feel as if, you know, I'm not trying to hide things. It's more so it just, I never felt the space. And now I feel okay with saying that. And like, it's a segue drug. Like, you want to do drugs. If you're not on that, you can't get that. And it can, you know, go into a bunch of. And you do lose weight on it. lose your appetite, but it's not, it's not sustainable. Have you ever seen those bodies? It's not sustainable.
Starting point is 00:36:10 I get in trouble for this. You ever seen those things where it's like, like, um, you can see when somebody's on it and they have like kind of like loose skin because they don't have the muscle tone because it's suppressing their appetites or they're not getting nutrients and they're not doing the workouts and I was like, yeah, I'm losing weight. I can tell in two seconds if someone takes out of it. It doesn't look good. I swear.
Starting point is 00:36:26 You can. With their pupils and just their behavior. Yeah. I was like super edgy and like when, when you're not on it, you're agitated and it's like, it's like it literally feels like cocaine like you're just like cracked out so so you're you're living alone you're taking adderall thank you for bringing us back no i just want i just want to i just really want to set the scene for anyone that's listening out there you're living alone you're taking at all you're you're binging and purging how do you like how do you get to being like okay this is
Starting point is 00:36:56 really there's something wrong here and i need to fix it and what is i want to know what that period between you recovering and you making the decision that you needed to get help because I think a lot of people don't talk about that space. Right. And there's a space I think, and we talked about it earlier, where you have to get so uncomfortable to get to the other side. Yes. So I had a girlfriend. I was like eating charios. In my mind, I was like going, I was like, I can't eat honeynut churios. Like I'm totally going to bench. I like bought these little packets late one night. I used to, that's what I used to do. I used to go and. I was like going. to like corner stores and like buy all this food and then go eat it and then get rid of it and I was
Starting point is 00:37:37 like feeling really anxious. What a lonely disease. It's so lonely. It's so lonely. It's so lonely. It gives me chills. No, no, it's so lonely. Because of drinking and drugs, you can go be social and do those. Yeah, that's why I didn't want to live alone because I was so afraid of what I would do. So I, I, I, this was like, this was like a early like Friday, like early evening and I was. And I I was like eating Cheerios. And then my friend came over and I got so nervous because I'm like, she knows I don't eat Cheerios. So I dumped them in the toilet.
Starting point is 00:38:10 Don't ask. I don't know. And then she came up and she had to be and she saw all the Cheerios. And I just remember her being like, she looked at me and I blushed and I was like, oh. And I was like, she knows. She's going to know. And that made me like I was like so afraid that I was going to be revealed that. it was just weird.
Starting point is 00:38:31 Like why, you know what I mean? Why did I dump them in the toilet? Like, it was just a weird situation. And I couldn't even come up with anything. It wasn't as simple as just taking it and throwing the box away. You like went deep down the rabbit hole.
Starting point is 00:38:43 Yeah. I was like, why did that make sense to me to cover it up? And it's just bizarre. And then I, so I was seeing a therapist. And at this time, I was,
Starting point is 00:39:00 I was pretty much in this. where like it wasn't really happening. It wasn't really happening. But I would still take Adderall every now and then. And then that was like it opened the floodgates. So if I went out late one night, took Adderall and then had a slice of pizza, I would want to throw it up. And like this first second I got. So Adderall sounds like it's actually triggering too.
Starting point is 00:39:24 Totally triggering. 100%. And, you know, it took me. I just remember like, sitting on the sofa and looking her dead in the face. And she would ask me, have you taken, did you take Adderall? And I would say no, and I would be on it. And I'd say, no.
Starting point is 00:39:45 And she'd say, like, okay, have you been, have you been, how have things been? Have you been feeling an urge? And I'd say no. And like, I literally, like, threw up the night before. And I just, I started lying because it just, I didn't want to. admit that I still wasn't well and you almost get romantic with your disease yeah like I knew I knew I wanted help and I wanted to stop this but it was like I was so addicted to it it was like that was my release and it and then one day I went in and I was on Adderall and she was the one who
Starting point is 00:40:29 said, you know, I just want to tell you that you have this insecure confidence and I know when you're on it. And I've been able, you know, I think there's been a few times that you've said you haven't been and I've, I felt as if you were and I was like, yeah, I am. I am and I just, it was like, it made me so uncomfortable that she called me out on that and I'd worked with her for five years. And then she asked me, have you been throwing up? And I said, yeah, I have. Like, I've said no to you so many times, and I have. And then she said something to me.
Starting point is 00:41:06 She said, what if, like, what would happen if when you get the search, what would happen if you didn't throw up? And I just, I looked at her and I said, I'd start crying. And I just, like, lost it. And so. At this point, is this more, is this about body at this point? Or is this like a mental block? Is this, like, how do you navigate it at that point once you're so deep into it?
Starting point is 00:41:37 Yeah. I mean. I see you're getting emotional about it. Yeah, totally. I mean, and we can stop if you have to stop. No, no, no. It's fine. It's pregnancy too.
Starting point is 00:41:44 No, that's okay. If you want to stop, just let me now, please. No, I'm okay. It's, I think that was the moment where I realized. I wasn't allowing myself to feel. And I was just blocking, blocking, blocking. And it was like I had that. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:42:04 Like that's what I've been pushing down is like, I've just wanted to cry. I've just wanted to be like that little girl who needed to let it out. Once you release that, were you able to break through it to get to the other? Is that a point where you look back and you had this epiphany where it's like, I'm ready? that was a huge turning point for me. And then she said, okay, and I just remember I cried. After all that time, too, holding you by yourself and then somebody, you have somebody to like share it with.
Starting point is 00:42:35 Yeah, it was like such a simple question too. And I had never like allowed that to. But it's so isolating and nobody's talking about it. And then after all this time, as you said like five, like five years or so and then someone finally you can share with it. It's a lot to hold in. It was a lot to hold in. And.
Starting point is 00:42:53 And then she said, okay, so if you cry, like, what happens? Cry. And I was like, okay. And I was like, I feel so much better. I feel like I can breathe. That felt so good. And then she said, okay, what if you call someone, like, if you have that one person in your life.
Starting point is 00:43:14 And at the time, it was, I mean, I don't remember. I think I called my mom. mom a few times just saying like oh i'm just having a bad day or like in a weird space and i didn't say like i want to throw up but it was helpful for me to like get it out and then doing um writing it out like journaling and writing down like i feel so awful today like i went on a casting and every girl was smaller than me and then realizing that it it got to the place that you where I realized my eating disorder was never about the food. It was never about the food. Yeah. It was my coping mechanism for childhood traumas and stressors and just the chaos.
Starting point is 00:44:10 And that was my way of... That's really powerful. Yeah. That's really powerful that you look back and you can realize. I think if anyone out there is struggling with an eating disorder to hear that, I would think, I've never been to through it, but I would think that that would be an epiphany. Oh my God. It really helped. And then I just remember it was like there on out. It was like, it's not as if it just uplifted and was gone. Yeah, this is what I don't understand. This is where I get confused. But I was developing
Starting point is 00:44:40 healthy tools now. Got it. So instead of going and abusing myself and doing things that hurt myself, I was finding ways to release in a healthy way that was safe still and made me feel so much better. And what were those tools? And I want you to get so specific, even if it was, like, what are the small, tiny little things that you did? Even if it's lighting a candle in the morning that made a difference overall. Because I really think that with success, it's always the little tiny things that make the big difference. Yeah. Instead of just saying, you know, a lot of people will say I went to therapy, but like what would, yeah, was it like really, like really get deep here. So for me it was as simple as waking up in the morning and not grabbing for my phone first thing and scrolling and looking at what everybody.
Starting point is 00:45:40 You got something in the throat? You got to clear it out. And just looking at what everybody else is doing and like starting on that. No. it's like your cortisol goes through the roof and you're already like, oh, God, she already worked out. You got to go. You're like, how did Charity do that? Like, just too kid, you know, it's like you get on this hamster wheel of just, oh, God.
Starting point is 00:46:01 So starting right there and then cultivating a meditation practice. So what does that look like? I mean, for me, it was like this was such a new world. So I do want to say, in addition to working with a therapist, I started working with a health coach. long before I knew what a health coach was. But my health coach helped me really develop healthier tools. So like the therapist was great. She helped me understand where this was coming from.
Starting point is 00:46:30 And then the health coach really helped me develop a practice that worked for me. So it just started with me just sitting for two minutes with my eyes closed and just breathing. Don't mean to brag, but after the other. I know. I have started meditating and it is really amazing. So go on. I just wanted to let you know that you inspired me to start meditating. I can tell. I could tell you obviously share it, but there's some, there's like a bit of a shift. Maybe Michael, can you, do you notice it? It's just because I've been so great lately and I'm just, she's just so happy with me and everything's just, no, I'm just kidding. Yeah, no, she's doing her. No, I'm not allowed to bother her in the morning anymore. I have to go.
Starting point is 00:47:14 No, no, no. Noah, like just now, he would like want to stop. I'm like, babe, I am finishing my practice. Like this is the most important thing for me to, I have to do that. It's like, I have to give that, give, create space for that. So once I started, do you want to wait, Michael? Yeah, he does. No, no, go ahead. No, go ahead.
Starting point is 00:47:35 I'm just watching the levels. No, go ahead. I'm going to keep it in. I'm going to keep it in. Someone needs to meditate. The, um, those are the sirens coming to take me away to the loony bin. I'm going to flick your balls while we meditate. Do you know how miserable that would be?
Starting point is 00:47:51 You could be meditating in a deep state and hits a movie flick. That would definitely bring you out. It would traumatize the meditation. Okay, let's keep on. And then, so I, coffee has always been something that, like, brings me back to, like, that place with my mom. I just remember, like, that was our, you know, when you have five kids, you don't have many moments alone with your parents.
Starting point is 00:48:13 So it was like, I just remember that being, like, such a warm, soothing things. So after I did my breathing before grabbing for anything, I would like sit on the couch and just have a cup of coffee and enjoy it. Where before I'd be like, is this bad for me? Everyone says I shouldn't have this. And I let go of the guilt of holding on to what everybody says about everything. And I allowed myself to enjoy things. Like as simple as like a coffee with almond milk and not worrying about the almond milk and the calories and like what I'm sweetening with and freaking enjoying it. And then, you know, I think just starting there, it was such a solid place just to have a little morning routine. And it wasn't long. And then
Starting point is 00:49:00 I just, I started, I was feeling called to go deeper. And I started going to, I studied Kabbala for a couple years and then I learned a lot from there but I felt I was still looking for something you know almost like my person and I went to Gabrielle Bernstein's spirit junkie masterclass loved her learned a lot from her and just just really about embracing who I am you love her you love her I remember that I do really no there was someone else so what's her name again I love Gabby no I need to buy the book I forgot to buy it no but there's another book but there's another book. And I feel like Gabby's better than ever. Like there's just, she just has, she's gotten better than her. You mean, you just like, yeah. She's just, you know those people who you're like,
Starting point is 00:49:49 whoa, whoa, whoa, she's just. But there was another woman. So Marianne Williams. She's a regular, they're both regular listeners, her and Marianne. So they'll, they'll hear this and hear the compliment. Will they? No. Oh, I was like, oh my God. I like to pretend that. Gabby. So Marianne Williamson, who was or still is, you know, Gabby's greatest mentor. So Gabby really learned a lot through Marianne. And then I started going to see Marianne speak. She speaks tonight.
Starting point is 00:50:22 7.39.30. Speaking of speaking, I wanted to go back a little bit. I wanted to go back a little bit because I was thinking, so you told your, your one friend at the time, and that was healing. Wait, the one with Cheerios. Yeah. I didn't tell her. I didn't tell her.
Starting point is 00:50:38 No, but you told someone else? Or the one that approached you. She said she called someone, but you couldn't remember who it was. Because I'm kind of trying to think about. So I never fully came out and said it yet at this place. But like I had a person, like I would call a friend and I wouldn't say what it was. But I would be like, oh, I'm just in a weird space. Or like, I need to talk.
Starting point is 00:50:59 But I wouldn't tell them I wanted to. Because I didn't tell anyone yet. I wanted to know the reaction of like of the other people when you started telling people. Because I'm thinking maybe someone's out there like I really, they really want to tell someone, but they can't. Like, what is the reaction you get once you actually start talking about it? What's the feedback? I would think compassion. Yeah, and shocked. Like, you know, I think one of the first girlfriends I told my friend Trish, who suffers from anxiety. She has a book called A Face of Anxiety because I felt
Starting point is 00:51:28 very safe telling her and she was telling me about, you know, we were talking about anxiety. And I think she was the first person I told. And, and then it just. And what do they feel like when you told her? Like what is it? Does it feel like a weight lifted? Do you feel like you can start growing? Oh my God. It was scared. No, I felt like a weight had been lifted off me. And she was so compassionate. She was. But so shocked to the point that I was like, I was so good at hiding it. Like, you really had no idea. I feel as if they're, so she, her dad actually said something to her, The girl that I told, her dad said she has an eating disorder. And her dad's like, they're Guatemalan.
Starting point is 00:52:14 I've been around them like not many times. And he picked up the energy. When you see, you said you can spot someone on Adderall, but when you see someone who's struggling with an eating disorder, is that something that you can see as someone who's experienced it? I feel as if I have a pretty good handle on being able to tell people who have So let me ask you this. Disordered eating.
Starting point is 00:52:39 You as who you are now has a friend that has an end disorder because maybe there's someone that's listening that has a friend that has one. Yeah. How do you approach it in a way that's compassionate? What's the right way to approach? Because I would not know how to approach someone. I think that's a really good question. And I wish someone did.
Starting point is 00:52:57 I wish someone asked me, is everything okay? Like I'm just sensing something seems off. And I don't think you, even have. have to mention the food part because that's when things can get. Sticky. Yeah, I think just making sure your friend is okay. Yeah, and sometimes even just asking that question, you can, I mean, it's almost like when my therapist asked me like, well, what would happen if you didn't do it?
Starting point is 00:53:24 Then you have a breakthrough. Yeah, and I was like, oh my, you know, and I think, you know, those days when you're not okay and someone's like, let me just give you a hug and you melt and you cry and, I think that's really what people are looking for is just to feel safe to be able. Is it having an eating disorder like my sister is an alcoholic. So every day, you know, she has to work at, you have to work at being sober. It's not something she wakes up and she makes a choice every single day. Right.
Starting point is 00:53:56 Is that how an eating disorder is where you have to check in with yourself every single day? So yes, especially during the, you know, when I made the choice. not to do that to myself anymore and like really make the choice like it wasn't well you always have that if I you know feel like I over ate at dinner it was like no I'm no longer doing that to myself because I'm hurting myself and you know I it's not as if I just it was like one day it just uplifted and was gone I had to really come back to the things that I was I was taught so you almost are channeling the energy that you put into hiding the disease towards getting better. You almost have to make a shift it sounds like with your energy.
Starting point is 00:54:43 I did. So, I mean, that's what really opened up this world for me. I like went for a weekend like meditation retreat just here in New York where I learned how to meditate myself. And instead of like listening to guides, which guides are amazing. And I think it's such a great place and I listen to them often. But to be able to bring yourself to this place of. peace and like learn how to live with ease in your body that's what has transformed me that's the number one thing and you know i share that i eat plant paste and like those are things that i love
Starting point is 00:55:21 but the most important thing is like i have created this foundation because i do think an eating disorder is a mental disease and i some people may argue that but i i don't know agree with you. Yeah, it was like I lived in my head and it was my way of not, I never, I didn't feel enough. So as soon as I got behind closed doors, it was like, that was my real, that was how I dealt with it. I would make an argument that most diseases start, they're mental. Totally. Like, there's not a lot of conversation in our society around, you know, there's a lot of medical things that you can do to try to figure, but people aren't getting to the root cause of, you know, why your, your mind thinks it's why your brain's telling you it's okay to act you same with you know alcoholics and
Starting point is 00:56:08 drug addicts there's something there's some kind of pain you're dealing with or numbing or numbing or trying to escape from or whatever i want to talk about something that i think is a huge issue right now that i'm seeing because i i have this facebook group where i can connect with women everywhere and i'm seeing that this is an issue social media so how do you sort of manage social media so it doesn't become triggering to you because i mean i've never had an eating disorder and i can see how it would be triggering. I mean, I've felt not triggered, maybe is the word for me, but it can ruffle your feathers. Yeah. So good. I'm happy that we're talking about this is on top of my list. Okay. So this, it brings me back to when I was at the spirit junkie master class four
Starting point is 00:56:54 years ago and I was like still in this space of like, you know, there were these girls who were in the wellness space and blogging and doing everything that I, I thought. I wanted to do, really. And I was like, oh, my God. Like, they have so many more followers in me. And, like, I just, it was like, I was so envious of them. And I was sending that energy to them. I was, like, looking at their stuff.
Starting point is 00:57:19 And then I finally, I deleted all of them with love. I sent them. That is love. Amazing. Because I didn't do in a way that I'm like, you, bitch, you have so many followers. They're like, ugh. every, you know,
Starting point is 00:57:35 look at you blowing up. I did, I like had, I was like, good for you and like what you've created and what you've built, delete. And there was like three or four of them.
Starting point is 00:57:46 And that, and follow them all now and like, I'm friends with them. Which is amazing. Because maybe, you can contextualize it better now, right? Yeah. And then it was like one day,
Starting point is 00:57:56 one of them commented on something and I was like, I can follow all of them. Like, I wasn't in that space of, looking at what they had and what I didn't. It took a long time to get there, though, because it's through the commitment of your practice where you'll have just, it's like just one day you're like,
Starting point is 00:58:19 even I had my sister and her kids here this weekend. And, you know, it normally would have brought up a lot of chaos for me and like maybe like bringing back ways of my childhood. And I was like, wow, I've grown. I was in such a peaceful place through the chaos and I enjoyed it. And it was like I felt the place where you're like, I've really grown. You know what I love about you? I feel like you're constantly working on yourself.
Starting point is 00:58:50 Even though you feel like you've recovered and you have this amazing house and this life and this amazing family and kids and friends and blog and you have it all, you're still, to me, as an outsider, you always seem to be trying to be better. And I think that's so important. It's like you never fully, and you're like this too. You're like this. You're always trying to progress and do better. I think that's important that you never really feel, and I feel like this, I never want to feel like this is it.
Starting point is 00:59:21 You always want to try to be better. I think what it is like all of us. You're making me cry. No, you're very imperfect. Thank you. Right? we're all imperfect, but you present your best foot forward. And so if you're, of course, on your own social media on these platforms, to the rest of the world, it looks like, oh, wow,
Starting point is 00:59:36 that's perfect. But you're constantly, like, there's a lot of things that I need to work on and being able to acknowledge that. You could start by putting the toilet seat down. I'm going to start by wearing a fucking cup. But yeah, and I think it's amazing that you come on here and be vulnerable because there's, you are one of those women now that other women will look at and say, oh, she has perfect life, husband, kids, everything, you know. beautiful, everything, and to show this kind of vulnerability, it can help people. I hope so.
Starting point is 01:00:05 I mean, that's, I, I never felt more fulfilled in my life through just touching people through social media. It's the craziest thing. And, you know, I built my entire business off being a recovering perfectionist because I, you know, my workouts aren't perfect. I don't film them professionally, and I put them out because I put them out with love, and I want it to help someone feel good in their body and exactly the way they are. And that's just the place that I constantly want to come from.
Starting point is 01:00:46 Don't you think it's powerful, though, that you can sit here after everything you've been through and help other people? I mean, I think that's pretty fucking cool. Yeah, that's, I mean, it's... Even if it helps just a few people. 100%. Yeah. Okay. I want to end on this. If someone is out there who's struggling or they know someone who's struggling, and I know you mentioned Gabby Bernstein, but is there a resource,
Starting point is 01:01:08 a podcast, a book? It could be a couple things that you just think are really transformative. Yes, 100%. Two books. You can heal your life by Louise Hay and a return to love by Marianne Williamson. I think I mentioned both of those last time, but I- still a good reminder swear by these books okay and you also um i've seen on your instagram story course and miracles yes so if you start with a return to love it is it's almost the cliff note version of a course and miracles a course and miracles can be a little heavy for some like some people get really overwhelmed by the text so i always say start i started with a return to love and it was like i was like i want more I want more. Listen to Marion Williamson's talks on YouTube, Gabby Bernstein's talks. And, you know,
Starting point is 01:02:04 if you feel like you really resonated with a return to love, then I say definitely pick up a course in miracles. And there's 365 lessons. So you have a lesson every single day. And it teaches you to shift your perspective about everything, about yourself. And that was, you know, the biggest thing that I think one thing one girl had asked me is, you know, now that I'm in this place, do I have any urges or triggers? And I don't because I've done so much work and I'm always doing work. But I have powerful tools that I always go back to that I know will only make me feel better. So if I'm feeling stressed when I was in the car with my sister and all our kids and her kids are crying.
Starting point is 01:02:54 I put on a guided meditation. It was silent. It was like the whole car. Everyone just took it in. And I always find, I think there's always space to do something that can bring more peace to your life. And that's, you know, just why I started sharing my workouts, bringing these slow-controlled, low-impact movements where you're not killing yourself and you feel good and easy in your body and sharing my meditations. and just in hopes to... Well, everyone's going to want to follow you.
Starting point is 01:03:26 And you guys, she's one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram story and Instagram. Like, tell us where we can... I mean, everyone follow her. You're the sweetest. I love you so much. I'm so happy that you, like, reached out to me and that we're now friends. I know. And you know where I found you?
Starting point is 01:03:41 I don't know if I told you this. No. Brow teak, I was getting my brows done. And I heard someone say, oh, my God, you got to follow Melissa Wood Health to her eyebrow lady. And I looked over and I think, I think I was. want to say they're twins so it's hard it was either ashley or loren um warcus of summerhouse really do you know who that is no i i think that i think that they just like were big fans of you i don't know so sweet i'll show you who they are they're adorable they're on summer house and
Starting point is 01:04:07 they were just raving about you that's so sweet so immediately i was like follow and that was that was when you had just started out i think just started yeah because when was the last time we did that when was the last interview it's like a year it was a year it was a year Yeah, you guys, if you want to listen to Melissa's first podcast, and we'll say this at the beginning, we podcasted with her before. We'll link it all. Yeah, we'll link it all in the notes. Thank you for sharing your story.
Starting point is 01:04:33 You're incredible. Thank you. Like really? Thank you. Guys, follow her on Insta. And if they want to see your blog, yeah, pimp yourself out. Okay. My website is Melissa Woodhalth, where I share all of my workouts.
Starting point is 01:04:46 I have free meditations there, plant-based recipes, and my Instagram. is at Melissa Wood Health. Is there anything I'm forgetting? Your workouts? Where can we find? My workouts are on my website. So not to confuse people because I used to share my workouts on an app. I no longer do that.
Starting point is 01:05:03 I share all of my workouts on my website. If you go to the workouts tab and create your profile, you can subscribe to me, and I have 12 workouts available to you at all times. I update. So every Monday and Friday, I bring up new workouts. they're always changing so you don't get bored. And you have amazing green juices on there. Yes.
Starting point is 01:05:26 Green smoothies. Yes. I have plant-based recipes. And those are all for free. The only thing you subscribe to is my workouts, which are $9.99 a month. Or you can pay for the year. It's $99. And is that the total?
Starting point is 01:05:40 I think, yeah, $99 for the year. And yeah, I just added a new bonus section where I share bonus free meditations and bonus workouts that I'm doing with people on inspired by. I love it. Yeah. Thank you for coming on. Thank you for doing this. Thank you so much. If you or anyone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. Okay, guys, for all the live event information, remember to go to dearmedia.com slash live. There's going to be a lot of fun stuff happening, okay? A lot of fun conversation, cocktails, candy, and macaroons. Goody bags to the first 100 people
Starting point is 01:06:21 and it's on Thursday, July 12th, doors open at 6.30 p.m. And the show starts at 7.30 p.m. And it's all free. It's all free. With Emily Schumann and Jeffrey Fuller of the mega brand cupcakes and cashmere. It is going to be a wild ride. Again, that's dearmedia.com slash live to RSVP. Also, don't forget, we're doing a major, major giveaway.
Starting point is 01:06:44 Okay? We're giving away two round trip tickets, one for you and one for a friend with a hotel stay for two nights. You'll get guaranteed attendance to our live event and Michael and I will be paying for you and your guest. To enter, write a review on iTunes and leave your social handle on the review. Then all you have to do is screenshot your favorite episode and post it to your Instagram feed for only 24 hours. You can remove it after that, but we need to see that you entered. Then go to my Instagram and let me know on the comment section that you've entered. So again, that's two round trip tickets, one for you, one for a friend, a hotel stay,
Starting point is 01:07:19 and you get to hang out with me and Michael. That's going to be fun, right? It's always fun. It's always fun. Also, we mentioned this last week and we see messages coming in. Don't forget the new Skinny Confidential him and her hotline at 1-833 Skinnies. That's 1-833 Skinnies. Go there, leave a message for a chance to be featured on the show.
Starting point is 01:07:37 All the directions are on the voicemail, which you're here. Ask us anything. Yes, ask us anything. This episode is brought to you by Ritual Vitamins, the vegan, sugar-free, non-GMO gluten-free and allergen-free of vitamin. It's made without synthetic fillers or colorants, and it has this minty cap that's infused with pure peppermint, so the vitamins taste good. Did you guys know that 95% of women do not get vitamins and minerals that they need on a daily basis? So Ritual created a smarter vitamin with the nine essential ingredients
Starting point is 01:08:09 women lack most, including D3, which I really need. So go to Ritual.com slash skinny and choose clean ingredients that are backed by science. sign up now at ritual.com slash skinny $30 a month delivered straight to your door. This episode was also brought to you by Thrive Market. Thrive Market is your one-stop shop for high-end, high-quality and highly discounted groceries, supplements, beauty products, and household supplies.
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