If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS (and, let’s be honest: most other chronic conditions), chances are the first “treatment” you were offered wasn’t really a treatment at all.
It was weight loss, restriction, fear around carbs, and shame about hunger.
It was a subtle—or sometimes loud—message that your body was a problem to be fixed.
But what if you didn’t have to spend your life bargaining with your meals, blaming your body, or bouncing between guilt and exhaustion?
In this week’s episode, I sat down with Julie Duffy Dillon, an RD who has spent years supporting folks at the intersection of PCOS and disordered eating.
And we explore a different path. One that’s rooted in the truth that your body is not broken—and that real care doesn't require body control, food stress, or fear.
While I don’t have PCOS, I have other chronic conditions that once led me into an eating disorder. And I know how messy, isolating, and exhausting it can feel when your body isn’t doing what you want—and the only advice you’re given is to shrink or cut out foods.
As Julie says in this episode, “isolation and control, together — that’s the perfect quick start guide to an eating disorder.”
This is why so many of us fall prey to diet culture’s promises:
When we’re in pain, desperate for relief, and desperate for answers, the idea that someone—or some diet—holds The Cure feels less like a choice and more like survival.
If that’s been part of your story, I hope this conversation brings you some comfort, clarity, and maybe even a spark of hope.
Because we all deserve better than food becoming our enemy in our attempt to care for ourselves.
The truth is, living with PCOS—or with any chronic condition—can be messy.
Some days you might feel hopeful and steady. Other days you might feel frustrated, exhausted, or like you’ve “failed” again. None of those feelings mean you’re doing it wrong. They mean you’re human.
This is why conversations like this one with Julie matter so much. They remind us that healing isn’t about rigid rules or a perfect food plan. It’s about gentleness, curiosity, and support that honors your whole self—not just a lab result, a number on a scale, or a doctor’s checklist.
Tune in for more on:
What PCOS really is (fun fact: it starts in the brain)
Why it is misunderstood and so often mistreated
How diet culture sneaks into PCOS care and what it costs us
What it looks like to manage symptoms without restriction or weight loss goals
The grief, anger, and healing that come with letting go of shame
Julie’s favorite “first steps” to take with food when it comes to PCOS (yes, we get into protein without the diet culture nonsense)
What true support can feel like, especially when you're still figuring it out
Wherever you are in your relationship with food, your body, or your medical conditions, I hope this episode offers a breath of relief.
A reminder that your worth is not up for debate.
That nourishment doesn’t need to be wrapped in shame.
That peace is possible, even if you’re still finding your way toward it.
I’d love to hear from you, as always.
Do you live with PCOS or another chronic condition?
What do you wish you had known when you were first diagnosed?
