Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD Nutrition & Body Image Counseling

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating and were told you’re fine because you aren’t orthostatic, medically unstable and/or underweight, that is not fine. You deserve better. . And if you were orthostatic, medically unstable & at an unnourished weight for YOUR body & were told you’re fine, that’s not fine either. You deserve better. . It breaks my heart to see individuals with eating disorders get dismissed by practitioners (or told they’re fine) because the practitioner isn’t fluent in eating disorder care & the mental, emotional & medical complications that go along with them.

On average, I spend 15-18 hours a week talking with individuals about their relationship with food, body & movement. And one thing that I can assure you is we all want safe, caring, judgment-free environments where we’re not thinking (or talking) about food, body size, weight worries, exercise, calories eaten, etc. In fact, this mental preoccupation with food & body size is one thing every client of mine wants to get rid of. Quite simply because feeling like you’re spinning... about this stuff really stinks! And because there are SO many more valuable, life-giving things that most people rather be thinking about and doing. . One big collective thing you can do to help change our cultural dialogue is to change the conversation. To not comment on foods eaten, how bodies look (including yours!) and to instead bring to light what’s giving you life (that new painting class? The new season of Shrill?). And trust me, what’s giving you joy is NOT using MyFitnessPal, obsessively exercising, talking about your body size or others, or eating only fruits and vegetables. See more

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating and were told you’re fine because you aren’t orthostatic, medically unstable and/or underweight, that is not fine. You deserve better. . And if you were orthostatic, medically unstable & at an unnourished weight for YOUR body & were told you’re fine, that’s not fine either. You deserve better. . It breaks my heart to see individuals with eating disorders get dismissed by practitioners (or told they’re fine) because the practitioner isn’t fluent in eating disorder care & the mental, emotional & medical complications that go along with them.

On average, I spend 15-18 hours a week talking with individuals about their relationship with food, body & movement. And one thing that I can assure you is we all want safe, caring, judgment-free environments where we’re not thinking (or talking) about food, body size, weight worries, exercise, calories eaten, etc. In fact, this mental preoccupation with food & body size is one thing every client of mine wants to get rid of. Quite simply because feeling like you’re spinning... about this stuff really stinks! And because there are SO many more valuable, life-giving things that most people rather be thinking about and doing. . One big collective thing you can do to help change our cultural dialogue is to change the conversation. To not comment on foods eaten, how bodies look (including yours!) and to instead bring to light what’s giving you life (that new painting class? The new season of Shrill?). And trust me, what’s giving you joy is NOT using MyFitnessPal, obsessively exercising, talking about your body size or others, or eating only fruits and vegetables. See more

Eating disorders are brutal. They affect the individual suffering, their family, loved ones and ultimately your day to day life and mental freedom. Feeling preoccupied by food & body sucks! There’s no eloquent way to put it. Well, there likely is but not for me in this moment. . One thing I’ve been sharing with clients this week is just how ironic eating disorders are. Because the very thing that is so anxiety producing is the very thing that’s needed to help you heal - food.... And this is the same for all eating disorders! I’ve yet to see an eating disorder that doesn’t have restriction as a core element. And yes, this is true for binge eating as well. Where there are binges, there is restriction - in foods chosen, amounts eaten, thoughts around food, I.e., I shouldn’t eat that... . So just know that if recovery feels hard that’s because it is. And also know that for most you need to eat appropriately for your body to feel better, you usually can’t wait to feel better to eat appropriately. Food. All food. Is good food. Eat. . Sending love & strength xx . See more

Eating disorders are brutal. They affect the individual suffering, their family, loved ones and ultimately your day to day life and mental freedom. Feeling preoccupied by food & body sucks! There’s no eloquent way to put it. Well, there likely is but not for me in this moment. . One thing I’ve been sharing with clients this week is just how ironic eating disorders are. Because the very thing that is so anxiety producing is the very thing that’s needed to help you heal - food.... And this is the same for all eating disorders! I’ve yet to see an eating disorder that doesn’t have restriction as a core element. And yes, this is true for binge eating as well. Where there are binges, there is restriction - in foods chosen, amounts eaten, thoughts around food, I.e., I shouldn’t eat that... . So just know that if recovery feels hard that’s because it is. And also know that for most you need to eat appropriately for your body to feel better, you usually can’t wait to feel better to eat appropriately. Food. All food. Is good food. Eat. . Sending love & strength xx . See more

I’ve been back at work fully for a couple weeks now, since having baby #2, which I’ve been fairly private about because it just feels more aligned with where I am right now. And life is crazy and messy and day to day and also really full and beautiful. The newest thing I will share since having our 2nd is my BO. For real. You read that right. I have never had BO in my life and this? Man. With deodorant, showers, etc. it doesn’t let up. But as I share with my clients, bodies c...hange! Especially as we move through different ages, stages & phases of life . One thing since coming back to my practice that I’ve hugely noticed is the affect of TikTok on my clients. I don’t have personal experience with the platform (and don’t plan to) but what I hear is just so unhelpful and usually pretty harmful for those in the recovery process. . I’m sure there is some helpful stuff on there, just like there is on any platform, but I know there’s also many messages that exacerbate disordered eating and racing thoughts. . If you relate to this, delete the app. Remove it from your phone You’ll likely feel weird for the first few days, but you will ride that wave and eventually it’ll feel less & less weird. Deleting this and any sort of calorie counting health app are two things you probably don’t want to do or might feel scared of or like you’ll miss or maybe you might think you’ll lose control. I totally hear you. And it’s pretty hard to recover if you subject your personal device and world to messages that are the exact opposite of what you need to hear.... Food for thought. . Have you deleted TikTok or any other unhelpful app? Would love to hear what helped for others in the comments! Also I get that it’s ironic that I’m saying this on an app... . P.S. I post pretty irregularly here nowadays and that feels really good. So there is no point to me sharing that beyond a FYI I encourage you to do what feels most healing for you too xx . See more

I’ve been back at work fully for a couple weeks now, since having baby #2, which I’ve been fairly private about because it just feels more aligned with where I am right now. And life is crazy and messy and day to day and also really full and beautiful. The newest thing I will share since having our 2nd is my BO. For real. You read that right. I have never had BO in my life and this? Man. With deodorant, showers, etc. it doesn’t let up. But as I share with my clients, bodies c...hange! Especially as we move through different ages, stages & phases of life . One thing since coming back to my practice that I’ve hugely noticed is the affect of TikTok on my clients. I don’t have personal experience with the platform (and don’t plan to) but what I hear is just so unhelpful and usually pretty harmful for those in the recovery process. . I’m sure there is some helpful stuff on there, just like there is on any platform, but I know there’s also many messages that exacerbate disordered eating and racing thoughts. . If you relate to this, delete the app. Remove it from your phone You’ll likely feel weird for the first few days, but you will ride that wave and eventually it’ll feel less & less weird. Deleting this and any sort of calorie counting health app are two things you probably don’t want to do or might feel scared of or like you’ll miss or maybe you might think you’ll lose control. I totally hear you. And it’s pretty hard to recover if you subject your personal device and world to messages that are the exact opposite of what you need to hear.... Food for thought. . Have you deleted TikTok or any other unhelpful app? Would love to hear what helped for others in the comments! Also I get that it’s ironic that I’m saying this on an app... . P.S. I post pretty irregularly here nowadays and that feels really good. So there is no point to me sharing that beyond a FYI I encourage you to do what feels most healing for you too xx . See more

When you haven’t been eating enough & then you start eating an appropriate amount, it’s pretty normal to experience GI discomfort - bloating, early satiety, constipation, stomach pain, etc. Not fun, but normal. . Some things that can help ease discomfort after eating: A hot water bottle on your tummy after meals, a hot bath, gentle spinal twists, & whatever calms your nervous system, lying on the floor, a body scan meditation, a short stroll while listening to an audio book..., calming music, etc. . The good news is that with time, getting to your body’s natural weight (which usually means gaining some weight), continuing to eat 3 meals & 2-3 snacks a day & with continuing to eat enough at those meals & snacks, the discomfort usually resolves. . It’s also important to note that if this is where you are in the recovery process, you’ll likely also have early fullness & feel like you have to eat a lot. Early fullness is normal when you were eating so little before. You’ll need to nourish your body anyway & eat more, even if you feel full . And you’re going to have high nutrition needs in this phase of nutrition rehabilitation, again, not fun, but so important to meet those needs and eat and to keep eating so you can get back to a healthier GI system. And so you can actually recover & begin to feel better. . If you had GI pain in recovery, I’d love to hear what helped you? . . . . . . #bodyimage #allfoodsfit #permissiontoeat #disorderedeatingrecovery #edrecovery #haes #healthateverysize #nondiet #antidiet #bedrecovery #eatingdisorderdietitian #nutritiontherapist #eatingdisorderwarrior #edwarrior #anorexiarecovery #intuitiveeating #bulimiarecovery #eatingdisorderrecovery #dietculturedropout #nutritionrehabilitation #edrecovery

If you find yourself still thinking about food, after eating a meal or snack, even if you’re not physically hungry, you most likely need more food. If you find yourself in this place, experiment & nourish your body more. And if by chance you feel like this led to a binge, that’s usually just a sign your body (or mind) is really deprived. Adequate consistent nourishment & eating what you actually want is the key here. And lots of gentleness with yourself along the way. #feedyourself .

I strongly believe that having a good relationship with your body (or positive body image we can say) is largely about learning how to kindly be w/your body (& self) in hard moments. Moments where you really don’t like your body and don’t feel comfortable in your body. Because for most, those are normal moments of having a body (unfortunately) in our culture (and even more normal to have in recovery). Most people I know don’t wake up loving their body every day. In other words, positive body image doesn’t mean you never have negative body image. Just like feeling happy doesn’t mean you never feel sad. Rather, it’s about how do you respond to hard body moments? And eventually, with time, what do you need to not think of your body so much? So you can live life. What you’re really here to do

If you are hungry beyond your meal plan in recovery, eat! And if you are hungry and not on a meal plan, still eat. Your body being hungry is - in fact - a sign to feed yourself. So the next time you feel that hunger, make the seemingly small but really big, powerful, healing decision to nourish your body with the amount of food it actually needs How did you honor your hunger today?? .

When you haven’t been eating enough & then you start eating an appropriate amount, it’s pretty normal to experience GI discomfort - bloating, early satiety, constipation, stomach pain, etc. Not fun, but normal. . Some things that can help ease discomfort after eating: A hot water bottle on your tummy after meals, a hot bath, gentle spinal twists, & whatever calms your nervous system, lying on the floor, a body scan meditation, a short stroll while listening to an audio book..., calming music, etc. . The good news is that with time, getting to your body’s natural weight (which usually means gaining some weight), continuing to eat 3 meals & 2-3 snacks a day & with continuing to eat enough at those meals & snacks, the discomfort usually resolves. . It’s also important to note that if this is where you are in the recovery process, you’ll likely also have early fullness & feel like you have to eat a lot. Early fullness is normal when you were eating so little before. You’ll need to nourish your body anyway & eat more, even if you feel full . And you’re going to have high nutrition needs in this phase of nutrition rehabilitation, again, not fun, but so important to meet those needs and eat and to keep eating so you can get back to a healthier GI system. And so you can actually recover & begin to feel better. . If you had GI pain in recovery, I’d love to hear what helped you? . . . . . . #bodyimage #allfoodsfit #permissiontoeat #disorderedeatingrecovery #edrecovery #haes #healthateverysize #nondiet #antidiet #bedrecovery #eatingdisorderdietitian #nutritiontherapist #eatingdisorderwarrior #edwarrior #anorexiarecovery #intuitiveeating #bulimiarecovery #eatingdisorderrecovery #dietculturedropout #nutritionrehabilitation #edrecovery

If you find yourself still thinking about food, after eating a meal or snack, even if you’re not physically hungry, you most likely need more food. If you find yourself in this place, experiment & nourish your body more. And if by chance you feel like this led to a binge, that’s usually just a sign your body (or mind) is really deprived. Adequate consistent nourishment & eating what you actually want is the key here. And lots of gentleness with yourself along the way. #feedyourself .

Please support your loved one (or your clients) in eating disorder recovery by having respect & care for all body shapes & sizes. Please also understand that the job here is to nourish our bodies enough & then see where our body lands. No one can determine the size of ones body! And if you’re saying you can or promising someone they won’t gain weight, then you’re fueling the very fear they’re trying to recover from & fueling the very culture that supports the development of eating disorders & eating problems. .

A gentle reminder Please remember that if you’re navigating a romantic relationship that it’s not just about if they like you, it’s about if YOU like them and if you feel safe, valued & respected .

I strongly believe that having a good relationship with your body (or positive body image we can say) is largely about learning how to kindly be w/your body (& self) in hard moments. Moments where you really don’t like your body and don’t feel comfortable in your body. Because for most, those are normal moments of having a body (unfortunately) in our culture (and even more normal to have in recovery). Most people I know don’t wake up loving their body every day. In other words, positive body image doesn’t mean you never have negative body image. Just like feeling happy doesn’t mean you never feel sad. Rather, it’s about how do you respond to hard body moments? And eventually, with time, what do you need to not think of your body so much? So you can live life. What you’re really here to do

If you are hungry beyond your meal plan in recovery, eat! And if you are hungry and not on a meal plan, still eat. Your body being hungry is - in fact - a sign to feed yourself. So the next time you feel that hunger, make the seemingly small but really big, powerful, healing decision to nourish your body with the amount of food it actually needs How did you honor your hunger today?? .

Please support your loved one (or your clients) in eating disorder recovery by having respect & care for all body shapes & sizes. Please also understand that the job here is to nourish our bodies enough & then see where our body lands. No one can determine the size of ones body! And if you’re saying you can or promising someone they won’t gain weight, then you’re fueling the very fear they’re trying to recover from & fueling the very culture that supports the development of eating disorders & eating problems. .

Unlike what diet culture would like us to believe, we don’t get to choose the size & shape of our body. Please be gentle with yourself & the body you have .

A gentle reminder Please remember that if you’re navigating a romantic relationship that it’s not just about if they like you, it’s about if YOU like them and if you feel safe, valued & respected .

Being a human means experiencing moments of pain, suffering & just being gosh-darn uncomfortable. For many, eating problems, compulsive exercise & intrusive body thoughts are the symptoms of not feeling well and of wanting some moments of solace and some opportunities to feel better, although these behaviors are not a long-term solution or a way to recovery. . So while feeding your body enough & appropriately is essential to recovery so is learning skills to cope with moments of despair & of handling intrusive unhelpful thoughts, which is why a multidisciplinary approach to recovery is so needed typically with a dietitian, therapist, medical doctor & often a psychiatrist for medication. No shame in the healing game .

How to Handle the Fear of Overeating in Eating Disorder/Disordered Eating Recovery... https://corinnedobbas.com/how-to-handle-the-fear-of-overea/

Unlike what diet culture would like us to believe, we don’t get to choose the size & shape of our body. Please be gentle with yourself & the body you have .

Being a human means experiencing moments of pain, suffering & just being gosh-darn uncomfortable. For many, eating problems, compulsive exercise & intrusive body thoughts are the symptoms of not feeling well and of wanting some moments of solace and some opportunities to feel better, although these behaviors are not a long-term solution or a way to recovery. . So while feeding your body enough & appropriately is essential to recovery so is learning skills to cope with moments of despair & of handling intrusive unhelpful thoughts, which is why a multidisciplinary approach to recovery is so needed typically with a dietitian, therapist, medical doctor & often a psychiatrist for medication. No shame in the healing game .