Christina Grasso Podcast Digitial Square KLEDC.jpg — Episode 44 - Bodies Aren't a Trend with Christina Grasso

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

This week we welcome Christina Grasso, also known by the nickname ‘The Pouf,” writer, digital creator, eating disorder advocate, and bad-ass woman. In addition to her professional roles, Christina is also the co-founder of the non-profit peer support network, The Chain. The Chain is aimed at women in the fashion and entertainment industry struggling with eating disorders and was partially inspired by Christina’s own recovery journey from anorexia, which she has dealt with for nearly 20 years.

SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

The heightened challenges faced for those struggling with an eating disorder in the fashion and entertainment industry.
The fear that an eating disorder is necessary to succeed and stay relevant within the industry.
How The Chain is responsibly addressing the heightened triggers that come with being in the fashion industry.
Answering the question of how to not let an eating disorder strip you of a fulfilling career.
Body diversity and the importance of young consumers seeing bodies that look like their own.
How recovery success rates increase when treatment is sought sooner rather than later.
The ways in which the notion of not being "sick enough" can transform into unhealthy eating disorder “goals.”
Challenging the barriers to recovery due to loss of structure and connection during the pandemic.

ABOUT CHRISTINA GRASSO :

Christina Grasso is a writer, digital creator, and eating disorder advocate. Over the past decade, she has worked with top fashion and beauty brands including Chanel, Cynthia Rowley, Dermstore, Oscar de la Renta, Reebok, Yves Saint Laurent, and more, and is currently represented by Wilhelmina Models’ influencer board.

In addition to her professional work, Christina is the co-founder of The Chain, a 501c3 non-profit peer-support network for women in fashion and entertainment coping with eating disorders. The Chain was partially inspired by her own recovery from anorexia, which she has dealt with for nearly 20 years.

Christina graduated in 2011 from Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, with concentrations in Communication and Italian. She lives in Manhattan with her cat, Stevie Nicks.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA GRASSO:

Learn more about The Chain peer support-network
Make a donation to The Chain
Follow Christina on Facebook and Instagram
Read Christina’s articles written for StyleCaster including:
Watch “Getting Frank About Eating Disorders Featuring Christina Grasso”
Find Christina and The Chain's press mentions below:
- "How Two Fashion Insiders Are Fighting Eating Disorders In the Industry" by Shape
- “The Founders Of The Chain Shine A Light On Eating Disorders In Fashion And Media” by Forbes
- “The Founders Of The Chain Get Real About Eating Disorders And Fashion Week” by Elle
- “Let’s Make the Fashion Industry a Better Place for Those Struggling With Eating Disorders” by Fashionista
- Click here for more press mentions

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. You can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center online to learn more about Karin and her center’s services. You can also connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.

KEEP LISTENING BELOW

LISTEN TO OUR OTHER EPISODES

BIPoC Eating Disorders Conference 2023 with Whitney Trotter and Angela Goens

May 22, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Whitney Trotter and Angela Goens, in, "BIPoC Eating Disorders Conference 2023."

“Black, Brown, and Indigenous People of Color have often been excluded from eating disorder treatment, employment, advocacy, and research. If treatment is able to be accessed it often leaves out the intersection of one’s identity, culture and trauma.”

Designed to disrupt and dismantle the status quo for eating disorder care, Whitney Trotter and Angela Goens will be hosting the second BIPoC Virtual Eating Disorder Conference July 19th through July 22, 2023, for Black, Indigenous, and any Person of Color (PoC).

May 22, 2023

Acting Towards Our Values with Kaitlin Shimer, MSW, LCSW

May 8, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Kaitlin Shimer, MSW, LCSW, eating disorder therapist at KLEDC, to the show for, "Acting Towards Our Values."

Join us as we explore the false belief that multiple treatment stays are an indicator of helplessness, the intersection of eating disorders, ADHD, and substance abuse, peer-to-peer healing, the complexities of eating disorder recovery and food allergies, the function of avoidance, “symptom swapping,” the benefit of Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), and much more.

May 8, 2023

Apr 24, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Kate Kendall, one of Australia’s most well-respected yoga teachers, to the show for, "The Space Between."

Join us for a discussion on the ways eating disorders weave through one’s life, little T trauma vs big T trauma, how shame can leave one imprisoned, the healing that comes with sharing shame, the difference between being “well” and being “healthy,” the innate need for support and connection, and much more.

Apr 24, 2023

Words to Eat By with Karen R Koenig, LCSW, MEd

Apr 10, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Karen R. Koenig, LCSW, MEd, psychotherapist, international, award-winning 8-book author, and popular blogger, to the show for, "Words to Eat By."

Join us for a discussion on courage and perseverance in recovery, external motivators and internal motivators, the notion of “wanting” and the challenges it can pose for those with eating disorders, the concepts of “reality” and “recall,” the importance of finding a sense of self in recovery, self-care vs self-caring and much more!

Apr 10, 2023

Dropping Into Your Body with Jessica Grosman, MS, RD, LDN, RYT-500

Apr 3, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Jessica Grosman, MS, RD, LDN, RYT-500, Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and Yoga Teacher, to the show for, "Dropping Into Your Body."

Tune in for a discussion on the shift from disordered eating to an eating disorder, the challenges that arise when disengaging from dieting, identifying disordered eating in a diet-focused culture, how yoga is more than a physical practice, the importance of self-compassion, the BYB model, and more!

Apr 3, 2023

Mar 27, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Emma Moody, eating disorder recovery coach, to the show for, "The Art of Untangling."

Tune in for a discussion on choices rooted in self-hatred and limitations versus choices rooted in healing, disambiguating your illness from yourself, self-empowerment goals, sifting through the messiness in recovery, how body standards create mistrust in ourselves, the entertainment industry’s body standards, acting and art in recovery, and more!

Mar 27, 2023

Mar 20, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Courtney Gioia, mindset and body image coach, to the show for, "Joyful Movement."

Tune in to learn the meaning of Loyobo, taking off the pressure of fitness, the ways poor body image messages are relayed to children, exercise as “punishment,” the notion that being smaller makes one desirable, defining body positivity, how movement is not “one size fits all,” and more.

Mar 20, 2023

Skin Hunger with Melissa A. Fabello, PhD

Mar 13, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Melissa A. Fabello, PhD, board-certified life coach specializing in sex and relationships, to the show for, ”Skin Hunger.”

Tune in for a discussion on the intersection of eating disorders and sexuality, how a woman’s sexuality is “stolen” from them, restricting sexuality, understanding the full-scope of sexuality in client work, the Five Circles of sexuality, touch at all ages, the concept of Skin Hunger, political values, and more!

Mar 13, 2023

The Intuitive Eating Mama with Jennifer DAmato

Mar 6, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Jennifer DAmato, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and coach, to the show for, ”The Intuitive Eating Mama.”

Tune in for a discussion on how diet culture imprisons society, the dangers of marketing healing as “health and wellness”, eating disorders and sex drive, raising intuitive eating children, the implications of the “clean your plate” method, allowing unconditional permission to eat, removing food and diet talk, especially around children, and much more.

Mar 6, 2023

A Recipe for Loving Yourself with Rachel Harvest, MS, RDN, CDN

Feb 27, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Rachel Harvest, MS, RDN, CDN, registered dietitian, behavioral health specialist, personal coach, and pilates apparatus instructor, to the show for, ”A Recipe for Loving Yourself”

Listen to a discussion on the four pillars of “self” that comprise The Harvest Method, the role of connecting to and understanding self on the healing journey, shifting from “not/either” to “both/and” to achieve balanced living, self-empowering through “I don’t know,” Project: Love, Me, one mindedness versus multitasking, growing up in ballet and the culture that comes with, and much more.

Feb 27, 2023

Eating Disorder Hope with Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC

Feb 20, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC, president, founder, and licensed therapist, to the show for, ”Eating Disorder Hope”

Listen for a discussion on finding meaning in suffering, what happens when one’s external image does not align with their internal sense of self, ways to feel “whole” even when others do not acknowledge it, treating eating disorders and substance abuse simultaneously, the changing family dynamic, how to recognize strides towards recovery, and more!

Feb 20, 2023

You Have the Right to Remain Fat with Virgie Tovar

Feb 13, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Virgie Tovar, author, lecturer, and leading expert on weight-based discrimination and body positivity, to the show for, ”You Have the Right to Remain Fat.”

Tune in for a discussion on fat discrimination and oppression from diet culture, dissecting the meaning of fat phobia, weight discrimination facts, the ways body size shapes gender roles and stigma, self-hatred as a barrier to finding self-love, recovering from fat phobia in a culture steeped in stigma, keeping hope of recovery in the face the limitations of society, behind-the-scenes of her 2018 TedX talk, and more!

Begin your healing journey with Karin and her team now!

Feb 13, 2023

Harm-Reduction Education Isn't Optional with Gloria Lucas

Feb 6, 2023

This week, Karin welcomes Gloria Lucas, eating disorder awareness activist and founder of Nalgona Positivity Pride, to the show for our newest episode, ”Harm-reduction Education Isn't Optional”

Tune in to for a discussion on how the BIPOC community is left out of ED treatment and access, the strategies of harm-reduction aimed to reduce negative consequences, how harm-reduction offers safety, challenging the realities of one’s political and values system, harm-reduction as a tool for radical love for and from the community, reducing the stigma of harm-reduction through medical literacy and advocacy, the Eating Disorder Harm-Reduction Course, and more!

Begin your healing journey with Karin and her team now!

Feb 6, 2023

Jan 2, 2023

This week, join Karin for Bite No. 4 where she speaks to listeners about New Year’s Resolutions.

Resolve, relapse, repeat, continue.
Sounds like an eating disorder, doesn’t it?

We also wanted listeners to know that we will be taking a break from new releases during the month of January. We will be returning with new episodes, great guests, more bites, beginning Monday, February 06, 2023.

Jan 2, 2023

Person-Centered Recovery with Andy Williams, LMFT, MBA

Dec 29, 2022

This week, Karin sits down with Andy Williams, LMFT, MBA in our newest episode, ”Person-Centered Recovery.”

Tune in to for a discussion on receiving care from a provider without lived-experience, the influence of a male provider, harnessing one’s inner power, finding balance in recovery, and human first, therapist second therapy practice.

Begin your healing journey with Karin and her team now!

Dec 29, 2022

Relational Ramblings with CALM Counseling

Dec 26, 2022

This week, Karin sits down with Vanessa Scaringi, PhD, CEDS and Kathryn Garland, LCSW-S, co-owners of CALM Counseling, Austin, in our newest episode (and first sprinkle), ”Relational Ramblings.”

Visit keepcalmatx.com and follow @calmcounselingatx on Instagram for more.

Begin your healing journey with Karin and her team now!

Dec 26, 2022

Dec 19, 2022

This week, Karin welcomes Imogen Barnes, social work student and advocate, to the show for our newest episode, “Empowered Recovery.”

Tune in to learn about the OCD and eating disorder “perfect storm,” social media triggers, the fat phobic messages regarding weight and medication use, ways to be an active participant in your recovery, finding wholeness outside of the vessel of an eating disorder, overcoming weight biases from a treatment provider, and much more!

Begin your healing journey with Karin and her team now!

Dec 19, 2022

Peeling Back the Layers of Suffering with Jules Xenakis

Dec 12, 2022

This week, Karin welcomes Jules Xenakis, transformational recovery coach, to the show for our newest episode, “Peeling Back the Layers of Suffering.”

Tune in to learn about how suffering can be a launch pad for personal growth, finding meaning in suffering, pressures to “grow up” in a competitive environment, allowing space and time to process difficult emotions, the use of psychedelics for healing and creating new neuropathways, and the importance of trust between clients and treatment providers.

Dec 12, 2022

Healing Journey(s) with Tamie Gangloff, MA, MFT

Dec 5, 2022

This week, Karin welcomes Tamie Gangloff, MA, MFT, marriage and family therapist and recovery coach specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, addiction and trauma, to the show in our newest episode, “Healing Journey(s).”

Tune in to learn about the intersection of eating disorders, trauma, chronic pain, and substance abuse, the freedom that can come with a diagnosis, sobriety’s role in eating disorder recovery, the importance of safe space to work through trauma, the difference between “body image” and “body image disturbance,” and more!

Dec 5, 2022

Nov 28, 2022

This week, join Karin for Bite No. 3 of her new Q&A series, “Behind the Recovery Bite,” where she addresses listener questions about recovery fatigue and long-term recovery.

Nov 28, 2022

Reclaiming Your Inner Rebel with Lizzy Cangro, MSc, MA, PGCE, ANutr

Nov 21, 2022

This week, Karin welcomes Lizzy Cangro MA, MSc, PGCE, ANutr, author, nutritionist, and wellness coach to the show in our newest episode of Recovery Bites, “Reclaiming Your Inner Rebel.”

Tune in to learn about the effects of categorizing food as good or bad, promoting “healthy eating” in school systems, how self-love allows freedom to express emotions, how abstaining from behaviors plays into recovery, osteoporosis, the importance of community in recovery, Lizzy’s book, “Reclaim the Rebel: 12 Rebellious Acts to Achieve Unconditional Love for Your Body,” and more!

Nov 21, 2022

A Journey of Purpose with Melanie C. Klein, M.A.

Nov 14, 2022

This week, we welcome Melanie C. Klein, M.A., empowerment coach, respected thought leader and influencer in the areas of body confidence, authentic empowerment, and visibility to the show for, “A Journey of Purpose.”

Tune in to learn about the role of societal power, what it means to have agency, autonomy, and sovereignty of one’s body, yoga and empowerment, body image resilience, media literacy, diversifying media’s narrative, making room for ageism and ableism, and more.

Nov 14, 2022

$Do Better with M Reim Ifrach, REAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC (they/them)$

Nov 7, 2022

This week we welcome M Reim Ifrach, REAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC (they/them), queer, trans, non-binary, fat, disabled Art Therapist to the show our newest episode, “Do Better.”

Tune in to learn why trans and non-binary people are at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder, the harm caused from traditional treatment centers, the importance of one’s “chosen family,” treatment equity and access, the differences between gender dysphoria and body image distress, why interviewing a provider is an important first step, ways to ensure a protected, safe space for healing, the role of art therapy, and more!

Nov 7, 2022

Oct 31, 2022

This week, join Karin for Bite No. 2 of her new Q&A series, “Behind the Recovery Bite,” where speaks about parenting after recovery and the therapeutic work that starts when behaviors stop.

Oct 31, 2022

More Than a Number with Sierra Bloodgood and Chris Harris of ClearStep

Oct 24, 2022

In this episode, Karin welcomes Sierra Bloodgood and Dr. Chris Harris to the show for, “More Than a Number.”

Join Karin, Sierra, and Chris for a conversation on blind vs open weights, accessible alternatives to care, shame as a silencing mechanism, the benefits of virtual treatment, the rise of food insecurity, Sierra’s recovery journey, the ClearStep numberless scale, and more!

Oct 24, 2022

It Was Never About the Cake with Teresa Schmitz, ACC

Oct 17, 2022

In this episode, Karin welcomes Teresa Schmitz, ACC, coach, blogger, and author to the show for, “It Was Never About the Cake.”

Join Karin and Teresa for a conversation on societal misconceptions of those living in a larger body, the role of internal and external validation, the harm of feeling like one “failed” a diet, why BMI is not an accurate health measurement, simultaneously moving through recovery and menopause, shifting one’s mindset away from traditional eating disorder diagnosis and stereotypes, Teresa’s motivation and process of publishing her first book, “It Was Never About the Cake,” and more!

Oct 17, 2022

On the Outside Lookin' In with Abby Anderson

Oct 10, 2022

In this episode, Karin welcomes back multi-genre, singer-songwriter Abby Anderson to the show for, “On the Outside Lookin' In.”

Join Karin and Abby for a conversation on Abby’s self-growth gained through journal and lyric writing, the ways readiness for recovery presented for Abby, shifting anger to include empathy, the freedom found in feeling emotions, internalizing when something feels right rather than convincing yourself that it is, how accountability can break the suffering of an eating disorder, “Sugar Spice," and more!

Oct 10, 2022

Oct 3, 2022

This week, Karin launches a new addition to the podcast with her first solo episode, “Behind the Recovery Bite.”

Join Karin as she speaks about fasting during and after recovery, religious obligation, trial and error, incorporating our listeners, and how you can be a part of the next Behind the Recovery Bite.

Stay tuned for more interviews with recovered individuals and more “Bites.”

Oct 3, 2022

Sep 26, 2022

This week, Karin welcomes back Dr. Moreen Rubin (also known as “Dr. Mo”), licensed clinical therapist, eating disorder and trauma specialist to the show for the newest episode of Recovery Bites, “Limiting Beliefs”

Join Karin and Dr. Mo for a conversation on how thoughts can create your identity, where our thoughts derive, creating new thought patterns, the difference between thoughts and beliefs, upgrading our core beliefs, values as an emotional state of being, finding meaning in our values, maladaptive coping strategies, how an eating disorder can “feel” like an identity, and much more.

Sep 26, 2022

Recovering For Our Lives with Megsy Recovery

Sep 19, 2022

In this episode, Karin welcomes Meg of Megsy Recovery, eating disorder recovery advocate, YouTuber, and mother, to the show in, “Recovering For Our Lives.”

Join Karin and Meg for a conversation on the focus of CBT-E vs. CBT therapeutic models, pushing past physical discomfort, Meg’s use of mantras to quiet the ED voice, mindfulness practice for slowing impulsivity, facing grief and suffering during the recovery journey, navigating body changes during pregnancy, the importance of understanding body diversity, and much more.