In this deeply honest and powerful episode, Leslie Draffin joins us to share her 20-year journey living with an undiagnosed eating disorder and the lifelong impact of societal pressure around body image and weight. We unpack the harmful misconceptions tied to the BMI scale, explore the prevalence of disordered eating in women, and discuss the silent struggles many face when they “look healthy” on the outside.

Leslie also opens up about healing from sexual shame after receiving an STI diagnosis, the emotional toll of hiding her truth, and the transformative power of working from the inside out. This conversation is a brave exploration of what it means to reconnect with your body, confront past wounds, and step into radical self-compassion.

💬 Trigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorders and sexual health. Please take care of yourself while listening.

Primary Keywords

• Eating disorder recovery

• Disordered eating

• Body image issues

• Women's mental health

• Overcoming eating disorders

• BMI and health misconceptions

• Self-love and body acceptance

• STI stigma

• Sexual shame and healing

• Mental health podcast

  
  

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• ANAD Eating Disorder Helpline: 1-888-375-7767

• STI Info: CDC STI Treatment Guidelines

Ways to Engage: Challenge yourself to look at your health in a different way. If you’re constantly checking the number on the scale, start looking at how much water you drink in a day or how many steps you get in. If you feel like you don’t have any time for yourself, start carving out small amounts of time to let yourself breathe, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. A fresh perspective allows for different results and new ideas in your journey.

Blog Excerpt: Leslie speaks openly about her past with an eating disorder, and I truly believe that even if it isn't categorized as an eating disorder, so many people, women especially, suffer from disordered eating.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:04 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:44 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 17:43 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 41:04 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 50:08 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 59:45 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 1:06:05 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:13:37 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:19:34 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:20:20 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#EatingDisorderRecovery #BodyPositivity #MentalHealthPodcast #SexualHealthAwareness #LeslieDraffin #SelfHealing