In this unapologetically honest and deeply validating conversation, the Food Shrinks crew dives into one of the hottest topics in food addiction recovery: weight as a false measure of success. Why do some professionals in the recovery field still equate smaller bodies with deeper healing? And what happens when people in larger bodies feel excluded—even when they're abstinent and thriving?

Molly, Clarissa, and MP break down the damaging impact of internalized weight stigma, explore why body size is not a clinical marker of recovery, and call out harmful assumptions that show up even in professional spaces. They share real stories from their Sweet Sobriety groups, challenge toxic cultural messaging, and reclaim the right to define recovery on your own terms.

Whether you're in a larger body, a smaller one, or still figuring things out—this episode is a must-listen.

💬 Topics We Cover:

• Why weight is not and has never been a reliable recovery metric
• The harmful myth of the “right-sized” recovery body
• How professionals perpetuate weight stigma (even unintentionally)
• What it means to define your own recovery
• The danger of unprompted weight commentary from practitioners
• Recovery at every size: nuance, metabolism, and lived experience
• Why shame, not weight, is often the real barrier to healing
• The difference between health at every size and health at a lot of sizes
• How to protect your recovery from body-based judgment

🧠 Mic Drop Moments:

“Judging recovery by weight loss is like judging a house fire victim by how quickly they redecorated.”

“You do not owe the world an aesthetically pleasing body.”

“One person doesn’t get to decide what recovery looks like for someone else.”

📬 Have a Question or Topic You Want Us to Cover?

Email us at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com
We’d love to hear from you!

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The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this spontaneous and heart-forward episode, Molly C., Clarissa, and Molly P. crack open the resistance so many of us feel toward group work, and why that resistance might be precisely the sign we need more connection, not less.

Together, the trio explores why group healing matters, how co-regulation works, and what it means to feel seen, safe, and mirrored in community. From AA meetings to clinical groups to retreats full of “I-don’t-do-group” folks turned soul sisters, they share raw stories about belonging, shame, and the life-changing magic of not doing recovery alone.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t do groups,” this one’s for you.

What We Talk About in This Episode:
🌀 Why so many people resist group work—and what’s underneath that
🧠 The neuroscience of co-regulation and how groups help our nervous systems
💔 The loneliness epidemic and why isolation fuels addiction
✨ The healing power of being seen, heard, and mirrored
🙅‍♀️ How “my problems aren’t that bad” is a symptom of chronic invalidation
🐀 Rat Park, connection, and the real root of addiction
💬 Group doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful

Resources & Links:
🔗 Learn more about Sweet Sobriety and upcoming groups: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/
📬 Get updates and free resources: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/ and https://mollycarmel.com/
📲 Rate, review, and share this episode—it helps more than you know!

Join the Conversation:
💌 Have a topic you want us to cover? Send us a note at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

The Food Shrinks are back with a spicy, heartfelt conversation about one of the most polarizing tools in the recovery world right now—GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Wegovy). In this episode, they tackle the growing buzz (and backlash) around these drugs in eating disorder and food addiction spaces. Are GLP-1s a betrayal of “real” recovery, or can they be a supportive tool for healing?

The hosts spill some behind-the-scenes tea, share their personal and clinical experiences, and ask hard questions: Who gets to decide what recovery looks like? Why is there so much shame around using medication? And what if we stopped gatekeeping tools that might help?

If you're curious about how GLP-1s fit into a trauma-informed, shame-free approach to food addiction recovery, this episode is for you.

In This Episode:
• Why the GLP-1 debate is heating up in the recovery world
• The team’s take on healing vs. weight loss goals
• The difference between fear-based gatekeeping and client-centered care
• What should recovery support look like when trying a new tool
• The power of expanding your window of tolerance
• Why we need to make room for nuance, autonomy, and compassion

Key Quote:
"If a medication helps someone quiet the noise long enough to heal—why wouldn’t we support that?"

Resources & Support:
💻 Check out Sweet Sobriety to learn more about group programs and 1:1 coaching with Molly and Clarissa.
💻 Book a free Consultation with Molly Carmel
📧 Thinking about GLP-1s or bariatric surgery? Schedule a consultation with a coach who gets it.

If this episode resonated with you:
✔️ Subscribe
⭐ Rate & Review
📤 Share it with a friend who's curious about GLP-1s or exploring recovery options

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.