36 - Childhood, Eating Disorders, and Dysfunctional Families with Elizabeth Oates

How our childhood affects our relationship with food and our bodies is an important discussion. It's no secret that for many of us, childhood is where we first heard words that our bodies weren't good enough or that we couldn't trust ourselves around food.  And it can be more paramount in families with other "dysfunctional" elements and brokenness. This week I'm talking with my friend, Elizabeth Oates. Elizabeth is an author, speaker, and mother of 5 who is passionate about helping women ditch the guilt and embrace freedom. After growing up in a broken family herself, she found real freedom beyond her childhood pains and wants to now spread that same truth to others. She wrote the book, Mending Broken Branches: When God Reclaims Your Dysfunctional Family Tree, and she is also podcast host of the show, Asking for a Friend.  In this interview, we discuss: What Elizabeth's definition of "dysfunction" is How Elizabeth's dysfunctional childhood affected her relationship with food and her body How her lack of a father figure affected her childhood How her spiritual life transformed her healing The differences between shame around food and shame with exercise---> some really interesting lightbulb moments for ya here! How she speaks to her own children regarding food What Dr. Reinold thinks of FitBits, counters, and tracking devices and so much more! It's Not About the Food.... SO, WHAT'S IT ABOUT?>> Free mini-class sign up here. CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH: Instagram: @elizabethoates_ Podcast: Asking for a Friend Book Mentioned in this Episode: Mending Broken Branches: When God Reclaims Your Dysfunctional Family Tree  Collab Conference for Writers CONNECT WITH DR. REINOLD: Show Notes: www.stefanireinoldmd.com/036 Instagram: @stefanireinoldmd