The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

Today's episode is available in full for paid subscribers. You can upgrade right here. Thank you so much for your support!
This is Part 2 of my conversation with Leslie Schilling, and we get into the harder, thornier stuff—the cultural forces that make all of this so difficult to navigate, and the clinical tools Leslie uses to help people find their way through.
We cover:
— What weight suppression actually means, and why it has nothing to do with body size
— The physical toll of even "light" under-eating, and why it can feel like it's working until it suddenly isn't
— GLP-1 medications, informed consent, and what most prescribers aren't telling their patients
— The way exercise intersects with GLP-1s and why being told to work out more while your hunger cues are suppressed is a problem
— Muscle loss, sarcopenia, and why fueling your body matters more as you age
— RED-S and why it's not just for elite athletes
— "Weaponized compassion" and the way diet culture and the medical system dress up restriction as care
— How belonging and community drive so many of our behaviors around food, movement, and medication
— Body grief and the real, valid loss that comes with a changing body
— Why lowering the bar is not giving up
This episode is available in full for paid subscribers. Upgrade here to listen to the whole thing.
Part 1 is free and available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Find Leslie: Instagram: @LeslieSchilling Website: leslieschilling.com
Find Full Plate: Instagram: @fullplate.podcast Substack: abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com
About Leslie: Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDS-C, owns a Las Vegas-based private practice specializing in nutrition counseling for disordered eating and performance nutrition for professional athletes, performers, and military personnel. In her more than 20 years in the fields of sport nutrition, eating disorders, and strength and conditioning, Leslie has served in many settings, including as a performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil and the NBA, and as an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report. One of her favorite things to do is support registered dietitians, coaches, and other professionals working at the intersection of eating disorders and sport through professional supervision and mentorship in the Dietitian Development Hub Mighty Network Community. Check out Leslie’s latest book, Feed Yourself, about how diet culture shows up in our safest places, which is available anywhere books are sold.
Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group

In today’s episode, I chat with Leslie Schilling, a registered dietitian who specializes in working with athletes and disordered eating, about what it looks like when our relationship with exercise is no longer healthy.
We get into so much, including:
- what exercise dependence actually means (and why it’s often missed)
- why it’s not about quantity—but compulsion, rigidity, and fear
- the overlap between exercise dependence and eating disorders
- signs your relationship with exercise might need support
- why rest days can feel so distressing
- exercise as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, and discomfort
- the subtle difference between: “I want to move” vs. “I have to move”
- how body image, food rules, and weight concerns drive compulsive movement
- why most people are under-fueling (even when they don’t realize it)
- “if you fuel it, you can do it”—and what happens when you don’t
About Leslie: Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDS-C, owns a Las Vegas-based private practice specializing in nutrition counseling for disordered eating and performance nutrition for professional athletes, performers, and military personnel. In her more than 20 years in the fields of sport nutrition, eating disorders, and strength and conditioning, Leslie has served in many settings, including as a performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil and the NBA, and as an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report. One of her favorite things to do is support registered dietitians, coaches, and other professionals working at the intersection of eating disorders and sport through professional supervision and mentorship in the Dietitian Development Hub Mighty Network Community. Check out Leslie’s latest book, Feed Yourself, about how diet culture shows up in our safest places, which is available anywhere books are sold.
Find more on Leslie: https://www.instagram.com/leslieschillinghttps://schillingnutrition.com/https://a.co/d/0blRJV9z
Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
Support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

Abbie is joined by Shannon Kopp, founder of SoulPaws Recovery Project, to explore the role of the human-animal connection in recovery from eating disorders, substance use, trauma, and mental health challenges.
Shannon shares her personal experience with bulimia, depression, and loss—and how her relationships with animals became a turning point in her healing. They also talk about the science behind why animals can help regulate the nervous system and support emotional healing in ways that traditional approaches sometimes can’t.
This conversation is a deeper look at connection, safety, and what it actually takes to access healing.
Tune in for more on:
- Shannon’s recovery from bulimia and depression—and how animals became a turning point- Why shame keeps people stuck (even when they’re in therapy)- The frustrating gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it- How animals help regulate the nervous system and create a sense of safety- Why healing requires connection—not just behavior change or control- Powerful moments with Buster and Bella, and what they reveal about healing- How animals interrupt panic, dissociation, and harmful coping patterns- The neuroscience behind calm → connect → heal and why it matters- What SoulPaws Healing Circles are and how they support recovery- How the human-animal bond can build trust, connection, and access to healing- Simple ways to incorporate your own animal into grounding and recovery
About Shannon: Shannon Kopp (she/her) is the founder and Executive Director of SoulPaws® Recovery Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unleashes the healing power of the human-animal connection to support individuals recovering from eating disorders, substance use disorders, and other regulatory challenges.
She is also the best-selling author of Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman’s Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life and a national speaker on mental health, eating disorders, and animal-assisted healing. Her work has been featured in PEOPLE, NPR, CNN, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today.
Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
This podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.

Abbie is joined by adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Lauren Hartman to talk about what it really means to care for kids in a culture obsessed with shrinking them.
They explore the rise in eating disorders among younger children, the sneaky evolution of diet culture into “wellness,” and the complicated, high-stakes reality of GLP-1 medications in adolescence. At its heart, this conversation is about protecting kids from shame — and helping parents trust their instincts.
In this episode, we discuss:
* What adolescent medicine actually is — and why ages 10–25 (and even younger) require specialized, developmentally informed care
* The moment that shifted Lauren away from weight-centric medicine
* Why disordered eating is on the rise in young kids
* How diet culture has become more insidious under the branding of “health,” “wellness,” and “longevity”
* Early red flags parents can look for
* The impact of social media on both girls and boys — from protein obsession to muscle dysmorphia
* What happens when doctors dismiss parental concerns because a child’s BMI is “normal”
* A nuanced conversation about GLP-1 medications in adolescents
* How to repair harm — whether you’re a parent, provider, or educator
This is a conversation about growth — literal and emotional. About letting kids develop in bodies that are allowed to change. And about building systems of care that prioritize safety over stigma.
Dr. Hartman's book: https://www.aspengroveayam.com/copy-of-presentations-publications
Dr. Hartman is double board certified in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics. She is known for her patient-centered approach, and has dedicated her career to supporting teens, young adults, and their loved ones as they navigate adolescence.  She aims to focus on the strengths in every patient and nurture a sense of hope to help support them to live their most fulfilling and healthy lives.  
She has held numerous leadership positions, including the chair of adolescent medicine at Kaiser Permanente for Northern California, the director of the pediatric eating disorder program in the East Bay, and served as the West Coast Medical Director at Equip.  She also helped create programs and held leadership positions in multidisciplinary programs for gender expansive youth and pediatric autonomic disorders.
With more than a decade of dedicated practice, she has honed her skills in the specialized field of adolescent medicine, particularly in the realm of eating disorders in the hospital, outpatient and virtual settings. 
Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
 Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy
Podcast Editing by Brian Walters
This podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com

How do our attachment styles shape our relationship with food, body image, and disordered eating?
In this episode, I’m joined by therapists Vanessa and Kate to explore the powerful connection between attachment theory and eating behaviors—why food can feel like safety, control, or comfort, and how early relationships influence the way we cope today.
If you’ve ever wondered why your patterns with food feel so hard to change, this conversation will help you understand them with more clarity and compassion.
In this episode, we cover:
*What attachment theory is and the four main patterns: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized
*How attachment patterns are linked to disordered eating and body image struggles
*Looking as food behaviors through the lens of seeking safety and regulation
*The difference between comfort-seeking and numbing (and why both can show up in any eating pattern)
*How relationships and family dynamics can trigger changes in eating behaviors
*The impact of diet culture, GLP-1 medications, and social media on body image and food choices
*Why “rupture and repair” is essential for healing your relationship with food and your body
*Practical ways to build a more secure, compassionate relationship with eating
Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness 
Find Kate & Vanessa on Instagram: instagram.com/calmcounselingatx/
Vanessa Scaringi is a licensed psychologist based in Austin, Texas, working with adolescents, young adults, and adults. Through individual, group, and family therapy, she helps clients build self-awareness and recognize patterns that may be getting in the way of the life they want. Her work centers on creating a safe, collaborative space to explore difficult experiences, while integrating insight-oriented and evidence-based approaches to support meaningful, lasting change.
Kathryn Garland is a licensed clinical social worker, supervisor, and certified eating disorder specialist. Her approach is collaborative and grounded in curiosity and trust, integrating psychoanalytic, relational, and mindfulness-based frameworks. She works with adolescents, adults, and couples navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity, disordered eating, body image concerns, and chronic illness. Her experience spans foster care, community mental health, college counseling, and eating disorder treatment, including leading an adolescent intensive outpatient program.Her work focuses on helping clients move through barriers, navigate transitions, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy
Podcast Editing by Brian Walters
This podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.