Ep 73 with Alissa Rumsey

From Fixing to Growing, and Unapologetic Eating with Alissa Rumsey

In this episode I’m speaking with fellow Anti-Diet Dietitian Alissa Rumsey, whose new book Unapologetic Eating” has literally just hit the shelves. I was a lucky duck to be able to read the book before it hit the shelves and this is definitely one you'll want to read yourself, and be recommending to your clients. I found it an easy-to-digest read, broken up into sections from "what is broken" (hint: it's not you) to "how to grow into your unapologetic, full self and leave the BS behind." I've known Alissa for years now and this is someone truly committed to "the work." It was a pleasure to speak with you Alissa, and hope this is a book that really supports people in their healing process.

In this episode, Alissa shares her journey from dietitian to author, what it was like writing a book during 2020, how the title of her book ‘Unapologetic Eating’ came to be, she also warmly invites us into her book by stepping us through the main sections; ‘Fixing’, ‘Allowing’, ‘Feeling’ and ‘Growing’ and she also shares her wish for what she hopes the book will leave people with.

Listen to the Episode here:

Here Fi and Alissa speak about

How they were able to first connect through some amazing, in-person opportunities and getting to know each other more during a usual year.

What it was like writing books during 2020; the ups, downs, and neutrals.
Alissa’s journey; her lived experience with disordered eating, becoming a dietitian, repairing her relationship with food through the food scene, finding Intuitive Eating & doing the (on-going) work.
The title ‘Unapologetic Eating’; how it came to be and its significance.
Alissa’s warmly invites us into her thoughtfully crafted book by offering a summary of the four main sections, ‘Fixing’, ‘Allowing’, ‘Feeling’ and ‘Growing’;
- Alissa introduces the section ‘Fixing’ which explores the history of diet culture, the reasons why we diet, weight science, factors that can impact our relationship with food and body and much more.
- She then talks about the section ‘Allowing’ which addresses opportunities to sit with the discomfort of not fixing and the thoughts and feelings that may come with this. It also invites the practice of cultivating awareness and mindfulness. Intuitive eating is also introduced to include the importance of eating enough and moving from scarcity to abundance and so much more.
- Alissa then discusses the section ‘Feeling’ which brings together the two previous sections to address the idea of feeling more ‘into’ the body. The section acknowledges that this can brings up some scary stuff that we may have been trying to suppress for years and then presents self-care, self-compassion and support and coping skills. The section also talks about the roots of body positivity and the fat liberation movement.
- The section ‘Growing’ includes elements of Alissa’s own story and covers the long-term journey of living unapologetically and getting back to yourself which includes tools for self-discovery. There is also a chapter on becoming embodied and ways you can cultivate a mind body connection and how to step into your own power and so much more.
Alissa leaves us with the two things she hopes her readers will take away from the book and then Fi and Alissa discuss how the book (and other books) can be used to partner with people.