The Body Grievers® Club

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews dietitian and certified diabetes educator Kristie Messerli (The Type 2 Diabetes Nutritionist) about type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, medication, and the shame and fear that often follow diagnosis. Kristie explains diabetes in lay terms, emphasizing insulin resistance as the underlying issue, genetics as a major driver, and the nuance beyond "cut carbs, lose weight, exercise more," especially for women already dieting and exercising. They discuss complications as largely tied to unmanaged diabetes, the reality that medication may still be needed as the pancreas becomes less efficient, and myths about reversal, prediabetes, and weight loss. Kristie also breaks down GLP-1s, cautions against CGMs for people without diabetes/prediabetes, and shares resources, including her Balanced Blood Sugar Method and provider training group.


03:19 Diabetes Explained Simply
06:14 Is Type 2 Your Fault?
12:54 Common Fears and Complications
17:56 Myth or Fact?
21:55 Hormones, Thyroid, and PCOS
29:36 Genetics Loads the Gun
31:45 Healing Trust With Food
43:03 GLP1s Explained
49:20 Medication Fear and Risks
55:58 Diabetes Shame and Culture
59:08 Resources and Next Steps
 
WANT MORE OF KRISTIE?
Connect with Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist/ 


WANT MORE OF BRI?
*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/
*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance
https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ  Club, Bri shares how receiving five perfectly fitting gowns from Sydney's Closet sparked a corrective experience that contrasted with her 2007 prom season, when a dream dress wouldn't zip and intensified shame, restriction, and a fixation on weight loss that later contributed to pursuing bariatric surgery. She reflects on being pre-diabetic at 16, the discouragement of dieting and being blamed for "not doing it right," and how clothes not fitting became a lasting scar tied to dating, food anxiety, and self-worth. As an eating-disorder-trained clinician with lived experience, Bri names anti-fat bias as stronger than capitalism, grieves exclusion and lack of choice in fashion, critiques the weight-loss-as-health narrative, and describes her current life at 35 as fat, healthier, and free from food obsession, while still navigating structural inaccessibility.
 
01:58 Flashback to 2007
02:53 Diet Plan and Pressure
05:16 The Prom Dress Dream
06:57 Prom Night Breakdown
09:37 Aftermath and Lasting Scar
11:09 Privilege of Choice
12:22 Sad Truths About Fashion
15:06 When Weight Loss Fails
17:09 Bigger Than Clothes
21:18 Healing Beyond the Scale
23:08 Letter to My 16 Year Old Self
26:11 You Are Worthy
 
EPISODE RESOURCES:
Stunning gowns designed exclusively for plus sizes at https://sydneyscloset.com/ 



WANT MORE OF BRI?
*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/
*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance
https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews anti-diet, weight-inclusive personal stylist Dacy Gillespie about clothing grief, style, and size accessibility. Dacy shares how styling clients revealed the need to address body feelings and how "flattering" advice often aims to make bodies appear smaller, rooted in white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism, referencing work by Sabrina Strings and Sonya Renee Taylor. They discuss real scarcity in plus-size clothing, including brands dropping extended sizes, and the grief and privilege tied to beauty standards. Dacy shares some of her practical tips for rejuvenating your closet through size changes, while still taking care of your own emotional wellbeing.
 
01:50 How Mindful Closet Began
03:58 Size Access and Hidden Grief
07:42 Unpacking "Flattering" Culture
13:34 Scarcity Mindset vs Reality
25:52 Client Clothing Grief Questions
30:19 Move Clothes Aside
33:02 Budget Shopping Tips
37:04 Unlearning Body Shame
44:30 Dream Your Style



EPISODE RESOURCES:
"Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia" by Sabrina Strings
"The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" by Sonya Renee Taylor
"Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness" by Da'Shaun L. Harrison
Episode 67: Being SEEN: picture grief with Lindley Ashline
Summer Support Anti-Diet Panel
Study on Women's Clothing Size


WANT MORE OF DACY GILLESPIE?
Join Dacy's newsletter at https://dacygillespie.substack.com/ 
"Mindful Closet" styling services with Dacy https://www.mindfulcloset.com/ 
Watch for Dacy's upcoming book, "Unflattering: A Radical New Way to Get Dressed"



WANT MORE OF BRI?
*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/
*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance
https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body Grievers® Club, Brianna interviews TikTok creator and author Allora Dannon, who describes herself as a plus-size "accidental late bloomer spokesperson." Allora explains how she reframed "late bloomer" to mean not dating or experiencing physical intimacy until her thirties, and she shares how growing up as the oldest of ten in a supportive religious family still left her feeling embarrassed, isolated, and "left behind" as her sisters married while she received little romantic attention.
Together, Bri and Allora discuss the cultural whiplash around sex and inexperience, the impact of fatphobia on dating, the desire to be wanted without tying worth to men's attraction, and how platitudes about dating can be more harmful than validation. 
 
TIMESTAMPS:
01:27 Meet the Guest: 'Accidental Late Bloomer' Allora Dannon
04:13 Her Background: Big Family, Faith, and Feeling 'Too Much'
10:25 Wanting to Be Desired Isn't a Moral Failing
13:16 Modern Dating Is Brutal: Apps, Anxiety, and Outdated Advice
21:12 Season of Bravery: Dating Apps, Rules, and Asking People Out
33:13 First Relationship After Late Blooming: Beautiful Firsts & Red Flags
36:14 A 'Season of Bravery': Dating Apps, One-Month Rule & Meeting Her Fiancé
40:31 Do It Scared, Not Traumatized: Nervous System, Anxiety Meds & Expanding Attraction
46:26 Intimacy as Healing: Sleeping Naked, Loving Your Shape & Protecting Your Progress
51:16 Ode to the Apron Belly: Body Dysmorphia, Moving Goalposts & Finding Neutrality
56:47 Closing Advice & Community: The Memoir Plug, Where to Start Healing, and Where to Find Her



EPISODE RESOURCES:
"Who Is She? A Late Bloomer's Survival Guide" by Allora Dannon 
"Thank You, More Please: A Feminist Guide to Breaking Dumb Dating Rules and Finding Love" by Lily Womble



WANT MORE OF ALLORA DANNON?
https://www.alloradannon.com/ 
@alloradannon On All Social Channels
 
WANT MORE OF BRI?
*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/
*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance
https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body Grievers® Club, Bri discusses the challenges of self-advocacy within the context of body image and core beliefs. She recounts a personal experience at the Sacramento Airport where she found herself struggling to ask for a wheelchair accommodation due to an injury. Bri explores the layers of body image distress, internalized ableism, and the difficulty of allowing oneself to ask for help. Through examining core beliefs and emotional triggers, she identifies a deep-seated fear of being perceived as a fraud by her clients and herself. The episode highlights the importance of understanding and reframing core beliefs, the role of emotional work in body image healing, and the necessity of compassion and patience in the journey toward self-acceptance. Bri offers practical advice on navigating distressful body image moments and emphasizes the value of vulnerability in the healing process.
 
00:53 Core Beliefs and Body Image
01:13 A Personal Story from Sacramento Airport
03:33 The Struggle with Asking for Help
03:45 Injury and Vulnerability
05:32 Unpacking Body Image Distress
11:58 Core Beliefs Worksheet: A Practical Guide
16:37 The Emotional Weight of Self-Advocacy
24:50 Reframing Core Beliefs
28:08 Conclusion: Embracing Vulnerability
 
WANT MORE OF BRI?
*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri

*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/
*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance
https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps