#215: The Dark Side of Discipline: Exercise Dependence, Under-Fueling, and Why Rest Feels So Hard with Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDS-C
In today’s episode, I chat with Leslie Schilling, a registered dietitian who specializes in working with athletes and disordered eating, about what it looks like when our relationship with exercise is no longer healthy.
We get into so much, including:
- what exercise dependence actually means (and why it’s often missed)
- why it’s not about quantity—but compulsion, rigidity, and fear
- the overlap between exercise dependence and eating disorders
- signs your relationship with exercise might need support
- why rest days can feel so distressing
- exercise as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, and discomfort
- the subtle difference between: “I want to move” vs. “I have to move”
- how body image, food rules, and weight concerns drive compulsive movement
- why most people are under-fueling (even when they don’t realize it)
- “if you fuel it, you can do it”—and what happens when you don’t
About Leslie:
Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSCS, CEDS-C, owns a Las Vegas-based private practice specializing in nutrition counseling for disordered eating and performance nutrition for professional athletes, performers, and military personnel. In her more than 20 years in the fields of sport nutrition, eating disorders, and strength and conditioning, Leslie has served in many settings, including as a performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil and the NBA, and as an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report. One of her favorite things to do is support registered dietitians, coaches, and other professionals working at the intersection of eating disorders and sport through professional supervision and mentorship in the Dietitian Development Hub Mighty Network Community. Check out Leslie’s latest book, Feed Yourself, about how diet culture shows up in our safest places, which is available anywhere books are sold.
Find more on Leslie: https://www.instagram.com/leslieschillinghttps://schillingnutrition.com/https://a.co/d/0blRJV9z
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Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe
Group program:
Looking for more support and concrete steps to take to heal your relationship with food and your body? Apply for Abbie's next 10-week group program: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/group-coaching
Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership, which meets every other week: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group
Social media:
Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcast
Find Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness
Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy
Podcast Administrative Support by Alexis Glaubach
Podcast Editing by Brian Walters
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