About this episode
What if the fear of “looking older” isn’t really about wrinkles at all, but about relevance, visibility, and power? I welcome registered dietitian and author Deb Benfield to dig into internalized ageism and the subtle ways culture teaches us to distrust our future selves. We walk about how it gets tangled up with diet culture, wellness trends, and perfectionism. Together we unpack why compliments like “you haven’t aged a bit” keep youth on a pedestal, how patriarchy and ableism shape appearance pressure, and what it takes to build a truly age-affirming life. We talk about: Defining internalized ageism and why it starts early Separating facts of aging from fear-based stories Naming patriarchy, sexism and ableism in appearance pressure How wellness trends can trigger relapse and obsession Autonomy vs pressure in skincare, movement and food Her book's framework for untangling systems and mending body trust Practical steps to notice, name and unlearn ageist thoughts Choosing freedom and values over perfection Learn more about Deb's work :https://www.debrabenfield.com Order Unapologetic Aging : https://www.debrabenfield.com/book If you've loved today's conversation and found it helpful, please share it with a friend who needs to hear this and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts If you're ready to take the next step towards thriving in midlife, head to menopause nutritionist.ca to learn more about my one-to-one and group coaching programs, free resources, and where to get your copy of Eat to Thrive during menopause What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know! Ditch the food guilt for a more peaceful (and nourishing!) relationship with food. Grab my free Food Guilt Decoder here: https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/FoodGuiltDecoder 📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife. Looking for more about midlife, menopause nutrition, and intuitive eating? Click here to grab one of my free guides and learn what I've got "on the menu" including my 1:1 and group programs. https://www.easy.link/menopause.nutritionist