Matt Van Der Laar is an online strength and nutrition coach who helps lifelong dieters conquer all-or-nothing thinking so they can sustainably lose fat without giving up their favorite foods. Matt joins us today, and shares how a family member’s health emergency brought him into the coaching world.

We chat about what the phrase “diet culture” means to us, exploring the dichotomy between the extremes of diet culture and the "no fat loss" stance, advocating for a balanced, mindful approach to dieting. We talk about using tracking as a tool instead of a lifestyle. We dive deep into the importance of mindful eating, where paying attention to not just what you're eating but how you're eating makes a significant difference. We explore the value of a food journal, a hunger scale, and the benefits of portion personalization. We discuss how to handle food pushers and food police, how to set boundaries with others at food-filled events, and how taking a pause has massive benefits in both eating and life, how to be mindful on the weekends or during vacation.

“Some of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your life is setting boundaries with family members. But if they can’t respect your boundaries, they’re an asshole. You need to be able to stand up for yourself. You need to be your own advocate.”

- Matt Van Der Laar

This week on Tater Talks: Two Bitches Talk Fitness:

·       How a family member’s health emergency brought Matt Van Der Laar into coaching

·       What does “diet culture” mean to us?

·       The dichotomy between the extremes of diet culture and a "no fat loss" stance

·       What is mindful eating?

·       How to handle food pushers and food police

·       How to be mindful at food events

·       How taking a pause has massive benefits in eating and life

·       Why having some structure is a good thing

·       How to handle weekends and vacation

Resources Mentioned:

·       Matt Van Der Laar on Instagram

·       Matt Van Der Laar on Facebook

·       Body and Mind Connection with Matt and Mel

·       Cut the Crap with Beth and Matt Podcast

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Tater Talks: Two Bitches Talk Fitness, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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