From teen years spent trying to fit in… to motherhood that reshapes not just your body but your identity — this new episode peels back the layers on how women’s relationships with their bodies evolve. 🩶
Co-host Judy Daghestani + Baraa El Sabbagh - a Dietitian and Adidas Athlete - open up about growing up between California + the Middle East during the era of Victoria’s Secret models and beauty pageants, cultural beauty pressures, and the unspoken weight of comparison.
They explore what happens when admiration turns into obsession — and how to find your way back to partnership with your body instead of judgment through structured, flexible eating habits.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt you weren’t enough, this one’s for you. 🪞
We dive into:
-Seeing your body as an object to treating it like a partner
-Generational + cross-cultural beauty trends that shaped our self-worth
-Body comments during family visits that stayed with them
-Pregnancy & motherhood as turning points for body appreciation
-Simple food structure that supports freedom, not fear
-Why our body is only 10% of who we are
-Reparenting themselves so their kids inherit a healthier narrative
00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Balanced Not Boring
00:29 – Guest Intro: Baraa Sabbagh’s Wellness Journey
01:15 – Understanding Body Image in Women
02:04 – Trigger Warning & Episode Overview
02:25 – When Body Image Awareness Begins
02:56 – Cultural Shifts & Body Comparison
04:05 – Puberty, Identity & Belonging
05:01 – Thinness Culture & Media Influence
05:42 – Victoria’s Secret & Unrealistic Beauty Standards
07:03 – Impact of Teenage Body Ideals
07:39 – How Early Conditioning Affects Women Today
09:02 – Shifting From Pressure to Body Respect
09:56 – Pregnancy’s Role in Body Acceptance
11:07 – Seeing the Body as Miraculous, Not an Object
12:05 – Mindful Nourishment During Pregnancy
12:40 – Fitness Extremes & Perfectionism in Our 20s
13:23 – When Healthy Becomes Controlling
14:21 – Perfectionism, High Standards & Self-Pressure
16:13 – Stress, Gut Health & the Mind-Body Connection
17:47 – Breaking the Cycle of Extreme Dieting
18:27 – Asking “Why?” Behind Your Health Goals
19:30 – Balancing Discipline With Flexibility
20:49 – Intuitive Eating vs Structured Eating
22:47 – Building Trust With Your Body
23:37 – Enjoying Food Without Guilt
24:55 – “Just Get Back On Track” Mindset
25:44 – Big Picture Thinking Around Health
26:25 – Accepting Natural Body Changes
27:15 – Emotional Eating & Mindful Awareness
28:33 – Breaking Unhealthy Eating Cycles
29:06 – Motherhood, Stress & Healthy Routines
29:56 – Glow With B: Supporting Women Holistically
31:40 – Why Meal Variety Matters for Families
32:10 – How to Raise Kids With a Healthy Body Image
33:01 – Food & Body as Only 10% of the Pie
34:02 – Embodying Balance as a Parent
36:04 – Body Comments in Arab Culture
37:29 – Disempowering Hurtful Comments
38:07 – Breaking Generational Conditioning
39:33 – Confidence & Protecting Your Peace
40:08 – Body Ideals Across Cultures
41:19 – What She Eats in a Day (Realistic Day of Eating)
42:09 – One Tip to Start Eating More Mindfully
43:12 – What Her Body Would Say Today
43:39 – Working With Your Body, Not Against It
44:26 – Practicing Real (Not Cringe) Self-Love
45:13 – Your Body as a Partner, Not an Enemy
46:06 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Baraa
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