Dance instructors, yoga teachers, fitness instructors – are you looking for a space for ongoing community and support around creating inclusive, body-positive, non-diet movement spaces? Join Opal for this monthly virtual hangout hosted by Opal Dietitian Alyssa Davis, MS, RDN – a lunch time meet up for informal conversation and Read more
Opal’s Co-founder and Exercise and Sport Program Director, Kara Bazzi and fellow Exercise + Sport team speak about Exercise, Sport, Movement and Mental Health What I learned by handling eating disorders and RED-S poorly as a coach in Fast Women Running in Harmony: How to Tackle Food and Body Issues Read more
The Appetite Episode 97: Reflections on Netflix’s Cheer: Thoughts from the Eating Disorder Treatment World on Team Culture Did you tune into Netflix’s docuseries, Cheer? What did you think of the Navarro team culture portrayed? In light of all the tv-watching that’s been happening while sheltering in place, we decided Read more
The Appetite Episode 95: Exercise in the Time of Coronavirus: How to Move Through Your Grief How have social distancing and sheltering-in-place impacted your relationship to exercise? There is loss of all kinds during this time—there are relational and fiscal losses, losses of routine and identity, and of course, Read more
The Appetite 92: Why an Elite Runner Stopped Running to Recover True Health: An Interview with Tina Muir What might it be like to be a professional athlete—the symbol of health and strength in our culture—and to have a gut instinct that something is not well in your body? This Read more
The Appetite Episode 88: Sport Performance: Should Weight Ever be Manipulated? “Leaning out” and manipulating body weight have been widely accepted modes of performance preparation for elite athletes. But as the sports world wakes up to the harm that the emphasis on weight manipulation can have on athletes’ mental and Read more
The Appetite Episode 82: Good Coaching Matters: A Conversation with University of Washington’s Center for Leadership in Athletics What makes a good coach? With no agreed upon definition of a “qualified coach,” this is a question often ignored! Julie McCleery, PhD, of the Center for Leadership in Athletics at the Read more
The Appetite #79: Shifting Toxic Sports Culture: Reflections on Runner Mary Cain’s Story Does sport culture need to change? We say, absolutely—and especially around weight! Mary Cain was the fastest high school distance runner in the world until she joined the best distance running program in the country, the Nike Read more
Dear Coach, Let’s get re-acquainted. I know there’s been some tension in our relationship and I’m hoping we can clear the air by getting to understand each other better. This is what I assume about you: you are doing your best. period. I also assume that some days you probably Read more
Last week, the New York Times published a brave post by distance runner Mary Cain. She is boldly using her voice (and her justified anger) to advocate for change in sport culture. We are so grateful for this story and others that bring awareness to the harm that is Read more