In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews dietitian and certified diabetes educator Kristie Messerli (The Type 2 Diabetes Nutritionist) about type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, medication, and the shame and fear that often follow diagnosis. Kristie explains diabetes in lay terms, emphasizing insulin resistance as the underlying issue, genetics as a major driver, and the nuance beyond "cut carbs, lose weight, exercise more," especially for women already dieting and exercising. They discuss complications as largely tied to unmanaged diabetes, the reality that medication may still be needed as the pancreas becomes less efficient, and myths about reversal, prediabetes, and weight loss. Kristie also breaks down GLP-1s, cautions against CGMs for people without diabetes/prediabetes, and shares resources, including her Balanced Blood Sugar Method and provider training group.

03:19 Diabetes Explained Simply

06:14 Is Type 2 Your Fault?

12:54 Common Fears and Complications

17:56 Myth or Fact?

21:55 Hormones, Thyroid, and PCOS

29:36 Genetics Loads the Gun

31:45 Healing Trust With Food

43:03 GLP1s Explained

49:20 Medication Fear and Risks

55:58 Diabetes Shame and Culture

59:08 Resources and Next Steps

WANT MORE OF KRISTIE?

Connect with Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist/

WANT MORE OF BRI?

*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri


*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance

https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri shares how receiving five perfectly fitting gowns from Sydney's Closet sparked a corrective experience that contrasted with her 2007 prom season, when a dream dress wouldn't zip and intensified shame, restriction, and a fixation on weight loss that later contributed to pursuing bariatric surgery. She reflects on being pre-diabetic at 16, the discouragement of dieting and being blamed for "not doing it right," and how clothes not fitting became a lasting scar tied to dating, food anxiety, and self-worth. As an eating-disorder-trained clinician with lived experience, Bri names anti-fat bias as stronger than capitalism, grieves exclusion and lack of choice in fashion, critiques the weight-loss-as-health narrative, and describes her current life at 35 as fat, healthier, and free from food obsession, while still navigating structural inaccessibility.

01:58 Flashback to 2007

02:53 Diet Plan and Pressure

05:16 The Prom Dress Dream

06:57 Prom Night Breakdown

09:37 Aftermath and Lasting Scar

11:09 Privilege of Choice

12:22 Sad Truths About Fashion

15:06 When Weight Loss Fails

17:09 Bigger Than Clothes

21:18 Healing Beyond the Scale

23:08 Letter to My 16 Year Old Self

26:11 You Are Worthy

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Stunning gowns designed exclusively for plus sizes at https://sydneyscloset.com/

WANT MORE OF BRI?

*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri


*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance

https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews anti-diet, weight-inclusive personal stylist Dacy Gillespie about clothing grief, style, and size accessibility. Dacy shares how styling clients revealed the need to address body feelings and how "flattering" advice often aims to make bodies appear smaller, rooted in white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism, referencing work by Sabrina Strings and Sonya Renee Taylor. They discuss real scarcity in plus-size clothing, including brands dropping extended sizes, and the grief and privilege tied to beauty standards. Dacy shares some of her practical tips for rejuvenating your closet through size changes, while still taking care of your own emotional wellbeing.

01:50 How Mindful Closet Began

03:58 Size Access and Hidden Grief

07:42 Unpacking "Flattering" Culture

13:34 Scarcity Mindset vs Reality

25:52 Client Clothing Grief Questions

30:19 Move Clothes Aside

33:02 Budget Shopping Tips

37:04 Unlearning Body Shame

44:30 Dream Your Style

EPISODE RESOURCES:

"Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia" by Sabrina Strings

"The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" by Sonya Renee Taylor

"Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness" by Da'Shaun L. Harrison

Episode 67: Being SEEN: picture grief with Lindley Ashline

Summer Support Anti-Diet Panel

Study on Women's Clothing Size

WANT MORE OF DACY GILLESPIE?

Join Dacy's newsletter at https://dacygillespie.substack.com/

"Mindful Closet" styling services with Dacy https://www.mindfulcloset.com/

Watch for Dacy's upcoming book, "Unflattering: A Radical New Way to Get Dressed"

WANT MORE OF BRI?

*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri


*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance

https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps