Episode 6

Body Image & Health Pt. 2, ft. Travaris

Episode 6: Embracing Health & The Future

Welcome to The Mirror Project!

Alexandra and Christine here, and today marks the second part of our enlightening conversation with our guest Travaris. As a friendly reminder, this episode continues our discussions on body image, health, and related issues. If these topics might trigger sensitive feelings, feel free to skip this episode. However, if you're seeking uplifting conversations around these themes or wish to engage in open discourse, come join us!

Stay Connected

Before we kick off, hit that like, subscribe, or follow button on your favorite listening platform. Let’s journey together!

Reintroducing Travaris

Born in the Spice Girl era, Travaris feels it’s her mission to keep Girl Power Alive. When she is not plotting on how to make the world a better place for women, she enjoys reading and writing.

Health & Medical in the US

Gender Disparity & Health: Reflecting on the disparities in healthcare discussions concerning women's weight in comparison to men, including story from Travaris.

Personal Experiences: Sharing Christine's upbringing and experiences with doctor visits, emphasizing that a uniform approach to health isn't suitable for everyone. Sharing our experiences with menstrual products and the discussion of pricing differences. For more information about the Pink Tax check out Taking back the ‘pink tax’: How brands are joining forces to make period products more affordable article from thegrio.com. To submit receipts to the Tampon Tax Back Coalition check out their website.

Encounters with Professionals: Narrating personal interactions with medical doctors and nutritionists.

Weight-related Advertisements: Critiquing the advertising trends for weight loss services, supplements, and fast food industries.

Engage with Us on Socials

Join our community on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Let's continue these discussions together!

Our Hopes for the Future

Aspirations for Change: Individual visions for reshaping societal views and health narratives.

Observations of Progress: Examining whether there's noticeable progress toward these envisioned changes.

Social Media's Role Moving Forward

Revisiting Social Media's Influence: Continuing the discussion on social media's evolving role in body image conversations.

Influencers We Follow: Sharing insights on influential figures each of us follows, their perspectives on body image, and their positive impact. Including: Ashley Graham (@ashleygraham); Barbie Ferreira (@barbieferreira); Danae Mercer Ricci (@danaemercer); Sarah Nicole Landry (@thebirdspapaya); Olivia Nevill (@livlivinlife__); Sarah Catterson (@sarahcattersoncoaching); Abby Pollock (@abby); Maddie (@madfit.ig); Emma Arletta (@emma.arletta); Remi Jo Bader (@remibader); Marielle Greguski (@mariellegreguski); Natasha Polis (@tashapolis); Averi Camille (@avericamille); Dani DMC (@danidmc); Carmen Rene (@eatthecaketoo). *We have no affiliation with these creators, just enjoy their content.

Closing Thoughts

Christine wraps up, encouraging reflection and participation in these conversations. The list of influencers highlighted in this episode reflects our diverse perspectives and the positive messages they share

Support Our Journey

Help us continue these conversations by supporting us through Buy Us a Coffee! YYour contribution fuels our passion for this podcast!

Join Us Next Time  

Don't forget to like, subscribe, or follow on your chosen platform. Until our next enlightening discussion on The Mirror Project!

Transcript
Alexandra:

Hello and welcome to the Mirror Project.

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We're your host, Alexandra,

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Christine: And Christine.

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Alexandra: and we are so

glad you are joining us.

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Today we'll be continuing our

conversation from last week in

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the second part of this episode.

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We're so excited to welcome

back our guest, Traveris.

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Again, if you're currently dealing with

body image issues, weight issues, or

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eating disorders, these may be triggering

conversations and we completely understand

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if you want to skip this episode.

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However, if you are on the road

to recovery or know someone who's

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struggling with any of these, We invite

you into this conversation where we

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hope to create a safe space for open

discourse, whether we disagree with

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each other's thoughts and opinions.

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We plan for this one to

be a bit more uplifting.

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Christine: Before we dive into today's

topic, like, subscribe, or follow us

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on your preferred listening platform.

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Go ahead, pause, and do

it now before you forget.

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Don't worry, we won't

get started without you!

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I want to welcome back our guest Traveris,

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born in the Spice Girl era, it's her

mission to keep girl power alive.

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When she's not plotting on how to

make the world a better place for

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women, she enjoys reading and writing.

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Welcome back, Traveris.

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Travaris: for having me.

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Alexandra: welcome back.

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And so let's jump right into our

first topic of today's episode.

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So I know we covered quite a lot

of ground in the last episode.

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And today we wanted to move Hopefully in a

bit more upward trajectory, more hopeful.

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So and not starting there at the

moment, we're going to talk about

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health and medical in the US.

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So what have been our experiences with

Western medicine as it comes to weight and

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health and any kind of experiences that

we've had and contradictions we've seen?

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So I think Traveris, you had mentioned

an interesting story about a locker room.

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You want to share more?

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Travaris: sure.

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So I read something once

I was in high school.

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So this is like years ago.

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We won't say how many years, but

years ago I was reading this thing

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and they were saying that women were

more comfortable and undressing.

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In front of a man than they were

undressing in front of other women.

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Like, maybe in a locker room setting,

maybe they had to change clothes,

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maybe you're sleeping over at your

friend's house and it gets really

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awkward when you want to like, put

your shirt on or take your pants off.

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So I just found that very interesting

that, In media, women are supposed

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to be set for the male gaze, but we

are actually more afraid to undress

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around our female counterparts.

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So what do you guys think about that?

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Christine: It's really interesting.

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I think back to when I was in

school, I really didn't have any

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experience of like a locker room

setting until I was in high school.

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I was, I'm just trying to think back

on where my mind was at and get into

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the locker room and you want to just

get dressed as quick as you can.

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You don't want anyone to look at you.

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And just move on with your day.

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And for, at least for me,

freshman year was a year where

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my body weight fluctuated a lot.

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Like, what I came into that year

was different than when I ended

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that year So, you know, it it's

really interesting to think about.

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What about you, Alex?

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Alexandra: Yeah, I was thinking about

so I think I had a locker rooms for

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physical education, I think starting

as early as fifth year, right?

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So, because before that, we would

just do phys ed in Or uniforms.

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I went to a private school, so,

with the lovely jumpers, with the

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skirts, and the awful primary colors.

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But fifth grade was the year that their

locker room, so you had a locker, and I

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remember this weird conversation with the

female PE teacher, because there was four

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of them, I think, for PE, and she was

the only female, the others were male.

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And so she talked about, okay, so

this is a year that Many girls'

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bodies will start to be changing.

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It's important to use deodorant

like, and if you had some girls

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have their menstruation cycle, I

suggest keeping stuff in your locker.

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And I remember phrasing this, so this is

definitely one point to come back to about

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menstruation cycles, but she was always

like, if I'm not around and you have to go

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to the bathroom or like be excused to take

care of something and it's only one of the

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male teachers should just say you have a.

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a women's issue or something, so I thought

that was a weird, but then I remember

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in freshman year of high school I got

thinking about like the undressing in

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a room full of a lot of girls because

there were so many groups at one time,

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and we had swim that year, so like

trying to shower in your bathing suit

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and then like quickly, you know, it's

not, I don't remember it being uber

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fun, and I was More concerned about

what other girls might have thought.

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Travaris: but I would like to add,

like, maybe a positive spin on that.

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Cause I don't know, I was just thinking

about locker room, but I forgot that I

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was in the military so in bootcamp, you

like, there's no, you can be shy about it.

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You're literally sleeping in

a room with 80 other women.

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I think it was 90.

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And so there's like a locker room

style showering situation every day.

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And it was like, they had about

maybe six or seven shower heads.

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So six girls were under one

showerhead every time you shower.

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There was no such thing as

you get a private shower.

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Like, for eight weeks you were showering

with, I make a joke, like, I've

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seen more naked women than most men.

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Like, it was crazy, but it also taught

me that, like, that's the first place.

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I think I was 19 when I went to boot camp.

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I think that's the first place

that I learned that everybody's

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body did not look the same.

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And I don't mean in like

terms of like weight.

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I just meant in like the

way like things were shaped.

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Like I was like, Whoa, I've

never seen that before.

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Like, I didn't know a vagina

could actually look like that.

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And that was just like, it kind

of just made me think about.

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Like, I always thought, like, my

body was how everybody's body looked.

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Like, I'm a woman, that's a woman, so

under her clothes, she looks like me.

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And that was not the case,

and I just was like, wow.

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So it kind of just made me think,

like, in the, in for this conversation,

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that, like, we have this one size fits

all, but our bodies aren't even made

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the same in terms of our genitalia.

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Like, how we look in our

genital areas and It was

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wild because it's, it's also like, kind

of like, you don't want to be a creep.

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So you're like trying to like, not

look at somebody like showering or

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like, I'm admiring this like girl.

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I'm like, Oh, she looks really and

like, okay, like it's, it was a very

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awkward like situation, but it just

kind of made like the whole, like we

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didn't, we couldn't, we didn't have

the luxury of being embarrassed.

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Like you couldn't be embarrassed

because you had to wash.

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So you had to get in there.

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So.

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It was a very fun,

awkward, weird experience.

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So, yeah.

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Alexandra: Yeah.

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Because you know, and you bring

up the one size fits all, which

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makes a great point into like when

we go to doctor's office, right?

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Or at least here, it seems like, okay, if

you don't fall within this prescribed area

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of this metric, whether it be weight or

blood pressure, then you are too much or

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too little and you just need to fix it.

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And it's like, well.

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That may not be healthy for my body,

so this whole one size fits all

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mentality is, I don't know, almost

more damaging, I think, because you

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said, like, you think, oh, this is a

woman, I'm a woman, we'll have the same

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stuff, and you're like, well, that same

stuff can look very different, so why

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wouldn't we have that same approach

when it comes to, like, medical advice?

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Christine: right.

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Yeah, from the, the jump, when I

first started understanding what

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was happening when I go to like

physicals or the doctor and they would

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constantly, you know, I was, I was

overweight as a kid, according to them

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and constantly would talk about it.

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I remember the first time a diet

was brought up to me, I was, I

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don't even think I was 10 years old

which, you know, starting that young

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and already telling a kid that you

should start restricting what you eat

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It's damaging, I think more than a lot of people realize.

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And I always was so frustrated coming

out of a doctor's appointment because

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they would tell me everything I

was doing wrong, but that wouldn't

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help me understand how I can start.

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Making changes and doing what they

think is right, which is, I think, an

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ass backwards way of thinking about

a person's health, because you're not

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the one living in my body, I am, so I

should be dictating what is right for me.

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And, yeah, I, I do really give a lot of

credit to my mom, who, She was always

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there for me whenever we went into

those situations, really advocated for

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me before I was old enough to start

doing that for myself, and tried to help

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me as best she could, but It was just

the nature, and I think, I don't know,

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it's been a minute since I've been in

a doctor's office, like, as a teenager.

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But don't know, I just, I don't

know how much it's changed.

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I hope it has, but I don't

know if it really has, which is

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sad.

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Travaris: But also, you bring

up the D word, diet, and

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like, yes, we will not speak of it,

but I actually had an experience

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with that, self imposed I put on like

10 pounds, and I found out around

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Christmas, and I'm like, oh, only on

fruits and veggies, I can't eat anything

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else, and my girlfriend got involved.

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And we found out that the whole just

eating fruits and vegetables all day.

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I was nauseated.

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I can't do this.

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we got to try something else.

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And we got into fasting, the

intermittent fasting and I'm like,

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Oh, this is going to be great.

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So we did the 16, eight, fast

for 16 hours, eat for eight.

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And I'm thinking Oh, this

is, this is going to work.

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And.

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Last week, she brought

something worse than the D word.

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She brought a scale into the home.

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And I was like, like, and I instantly

got on it and I had gained weight.

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And my night was ruined and

I was just like, my God.

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And I'm like one o'clock in the

morning, she's trying to sleep.

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And I'm looking at my BMI, I'm

like, Oh my God, I'm overweight.

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And she's like, can

you please go to sleep?

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It is 2 AM.

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We'll talk about this later.

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I'm like, no, do you still love me?

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And it's just It kind of like when you say

they say diet and all these fasting and

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then they never educate people on how they

actually work or how the body works when

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you start to restrict food because With

the fasting yeah, you can fast but when

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your body is able to eat I was overeating

and I was like Cause I was, I was hungry.

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So it was like, Oh, I'm

doing all these things.

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And my girlfriend was just like, Hey,

when you get to the point to where you're

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hangry, your body is going to go into

overdrive when it's taken in calories.

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So it's just like, they say, Oh, just

get on a diet or Oh, restrict eating.

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But they don't, they don't really

educate people on how that might be

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actually causing more problems or

like putting you in a deeper hole

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then.

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You losing weight.

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It doesn't work like oh, I just

eat less and then it's it's

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okay like that doesn't work

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Alexandra: Right, because I also

don't think medical doctors, like

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MDs, have as much information about

nutrition and the body in terms

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of fueling it as they pretend to.

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So I remember being, like you said,

Christine, Oh, I didn't have support.

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They're just like, do this.

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And you're like, okay, so

then they'll send you off to a

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nutritionist or a bariatric medicine.

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their department for bariatrics

and I'm like, okay, not really.

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So I have experience

with that in high school.

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I was recovering ish from my eating

disorder and I was seeing somebody who

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was a longtime family friend and who

was a nutritionist and it was kind of

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cool to learn more about body and how

like BMI, which even my doctor has

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said recently that the BMI is total

bullshit, so don't listen to that.

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And I was like, well, that's great

that you still use that then.

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This nutritionist was, wanted me to eat.

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the way she thought was right and

in versus what was right for me.

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So what she thought was healthy, what

she thought was the right amount.

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And I think that just doesn't

account for how individual,

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because you talked about diet.

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That's the first thing we do.

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So instead of the question is

how are you fueling your body?

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Have you tried putting more

whole fruits and veg and.

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Quality proteins into it.

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It's like, no, just restrict.

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Well, restricting, like you said, can

send your body into, when you start to

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feel hungry, you overdo it because you're

going, hey, you've been starving me.

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I have to hold on.

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So it's.

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That's one of those things.

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It's like, why don't we take time

to learn what's best for our body?

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So I think when you're, if you're looking

for a nutritionist, it's finding one

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who will work with you and like what

you can reasonably do, not what's good

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for them, but it's, it's so difficult.

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It's like, you have to play.

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Doctor for yourself and you're like

most doctors don't really appreciate

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when you go into the office and go

hey I think I have all this stuff

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and I'd like to talk about it.

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Like you don't have a medical degree.

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are you doing?

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Christine: Right?

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But I'm living in my body, so I

feeling everything I'm feeling and.

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You don't have any right

to tell me otherwise.

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So,

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Alexandra: a PhD of my own

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Christine: exactly.

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Yeah, no, it's The, world of nutrition,

I think is still really under studied.

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and really, Your genetics

play a huge role.

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In how your body will react

to gaining or losing weight.

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And, you know, the one thing I

learned from my experience, like if,

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if you restrict your body, your body

is, yes, you're going to overeat,

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but your body will automatically

start changing how it stores.

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the food you're eating, because if

you're keeping, if you're depriving

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yourself, it's going to start storing

that and you won't lose weight.

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You'll just gain it or stay consistent

at whatever weight you're at.

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Alexandra: Yeah, because I don't think

our bodies have evolved past the you

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know Mechanisms that we've had for

thousands of years many thousands

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of years because it's doesn't evolve

that quickly the way our society has

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evolved around food and food production.

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So yeah, it is

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quite interesting.

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Travaris: Can I take like a little

pivot I mean, I hope I don't

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get too too far off the topic but

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in my You know my you know how I

was saying like the weight thing

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and dieting and stuff I stopped

fasting, but I realized that where

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I was gaining the weight, it was

going in all the, like, right places.

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So I have this, I have this, like, thing

where it's either I like the number on

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the scale, but I don't like how I look.

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I don't like looking like a 15 year

old girl below the waist, but when

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the scale says a number that I'm

like, Oh, this is a danger number.

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This is a panic number.

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I look a lot better.

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And I was, it made me think about

this thing that I had read a

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couple of years ago about a model.

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She says she went to Italy, like she was

shooting in Italy and working in Italy.

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And she said, I would

just eat pasta every day.

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And she's like, I gained 15 pounds.

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And she was like, I had never felt like

more than like of a woman than after that.

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And when I was thinking about

this and being on hard on myself

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and not eating, I was like, but

you like how you look like this.

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the only con, like only gripe you

have about it, it's the number.

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I was like, you, it's not like you see the

number and you're like, oh, I look gross.

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It's you like this, you

feel good, you look good.

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And I was just like, I wonder a lot

of times, is it, like if we didn't

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have that number, but of course

I'm not saying you know, just do

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whatever and don't be healthy.

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I was watching this thing the other

day and she was like your goal

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should be to be healthy, not skinny.

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And I was like, what if I could find

a way to incorporate working out to

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where my body starts to build muscle?

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And the weight, the number is going

to be bigger because muscle weighs

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more, but I look better, I feel better,

and I'm doing a lot better than I

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would if I was that 10 pound slider.

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So I wonder is the problem with what

we think about our weight versus like

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what that, like our actual weight.

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Alexandra: I would agree with that.

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I mean, I think at some point, some

numbers of weight do indicate a

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serious amount of unhealthiness, right?

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Because severe amounts of weight

can cause impact on your heart.

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But I do agree with you in the

sense of like, if a doctor's

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like, you need to lose 10 pounds

because this is the ideal number.

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For everyone but doesn't

take into account.

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What's healthy per person and

I think that you're right.

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It's finding out what's healthy

It's not let me get to this number.

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It's let me feel good in my body.

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Let me feel strong Let me feel like I

can move my body and my joints with ease

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so I think that's a really good point

to say and it's I know that I've seen

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worked really hard on that shift in

my own mentality because you know, I

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think I mentioned last episode I haven't

stepped on the scale or I haven't looked

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at the number on the scale in well

over a decade and a couple weeks ago

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started going to a new medical practice.

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That's more integrative, holistic kind of.

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Functional.

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And I saw the number on the

checkout paperwork, right?

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And I was like, saw it.

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I was like, I am so

unhappy with that number.

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Like, I am not happy about it, but

my mindset didn't go back into where

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I was as a teenager of the immediate

restrictiveness because I've worked on

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this for like six months mentally of my

relationship to food and diet and going

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okay Restricting has never worked for me.

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It doesn't sustain whatever

version of healthy.

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I'm trying to achieve How do I do that?

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So I think a week ago I stepped on

the scale again just to see how it's

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doing I actually looked at the number

on the scale myself and I was like,

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holy crap I mean that was a huge step

for me have not doing that myself

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in over 50 10 years, not quite 15.

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And still going, I'm not happy

with the number, but I'm happy

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with how, the direction it's

going and how I'm achieving that.

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Because it's like, part of me wants

to go, Oh my gosh, you have to go

322

:

back down to like less than 1200

calories, and you're like, no.

323

:

That's never worked.

324

:

Focus on putting good quality foods in,

and I think that's a huge part of it.

325

:

It's focusing on the foods that we do eat.

326

:

you know, necessarily cutting out things.

327

:

And for some people to lose weight,

they actually might need to consume

328

:

more calories than they are, you know?

329

:

And I think sometimes the medical

professional is like, just lose

330

:

weight, and you're like, but how?

331

:

Christine: And then there's a whole nother

experience I've never lived before, which

332

:

is people who struggle to gain weight,

who are underweight and struggle to, cause

333

:

their body just, I don't know the science

behind it, but from my understanding,

334

:

their body just burns whatever they put

in and It really comes down to how you're

335

:

feeling yourself and, and for me right

now, I see like every time you go to the

336

:

grocery store, there's the organic section

and then there's the regular section and

337

:

there's always a price difference, but

like, I really wonder, that's just a word.

338

:

They're slapping on there.

339

:

I mean, how do you really know if

it's truly like, what is organic?

340

:

Travaris: Yeah.

341

:

Alexandra: to have organic labeling,

you have to meet certain requirements

342

:

in terms of growing processes.

343

:

But words like natural, if you say

natural, have bullshit meaning,

344

:

like it does not mean anything.

345

:

But for the term organic, they have

to have certain growing practices.

346

:

They can't use certain

pesticides and stuff.

347

:

So there is a little bit of

difference, but you know, it's still

348

:

Christine: it's, yeah.

349

:

Alexandra: how we package and

350

:

Christine: Yeah, it's also just a

way to make people who can't afford

351

:

to eat healthy, quote unquote

352

:

Alexandra: Yeah.

353

:

Christine: And also, our

standards here in the U.

354

:

S.

355

:

versus standards around the world and

it's really like, really hard for you

356

:

to feel like you're set up for success.

357

:

Travaris: And Christine, I feel like

what you said about like the, cause I'm,

358

:

I'm totally with you on like the organic

stuff, like it's like, how do you know,

359

:

but I always, I also think like people

that buy that stuff, there, there has

360

:

to be a, the placebo effect has to kick

in because if someone's telling you,

361

:

okay, these 14 apples where it's grown

by some man, like on this, just this.

362

:

this pure soil, you're gonna,

you're gonna want to think that,

363

:

yeah, the 14 apples, because you're

gonna, you're gonna have to, because

364

:

that price difference on your

shopping cart is gonna make you feel

365

:

like, no, we need the 14 apples.

366

:

So I feel like you, I don't, I mean,

unless you know, no, but I just feel

367

:

like a lot of that is like marketing.

368

:

And

369

:

like, if I tell you it's better,

you'll, you'll believe it's better.

370

:

It's kind of like anything else

that we have in our society.

371

:

Like, The the 50 makeup palette

versus the wet and wild like

372

:

it's like, oh, this is better.

373

:

But you

374

:

know

375

:

Alexandra: I think it's a mix of facts

of what goes into it, but also quite some

376

:

good marketing brains behind that, right?

377

:

I mean, think about it.

378

:

Like, everything we see on TV, so Yes,

there's quite a price association with

379

:

organic and I think some of it is true

But like you said some of it is just

380

:

bullshit It's like if you can wash your

vegetables really well, you're probably

381

:

gonna wash off a lot of the waxes and

stuff But I think we had mentioned in the

382

:

last episode that it's almost when you

start eating quote unquote healthier more

383

:

like just vegetables or meats or with

less of the processed packaged goods of

384

:

like Cereals and whatnot then people will

think you're on a diet versus just eating.

385

:

And how that can be almost

prohibitively expensive.

386

:

So you're like, okay, so we're

eating not so great stuff.

387

:

Then our doctors are

telling us to lose weight.

388

:

So we go back for more medical stuff.

389

:

And we're just paying

quite a lot for achieving

390

:

nothing.

391

:

But as to Christine's point, yeah, there's

quite a few like chemicals or pesticides

392

:

that are not allowed in other countries

or like Europe on their foods that we

393

:

Just for like, yeah, here, have it.

394

:

Christine: Mm hmm.

395

:

Alexandra: It won't hurt you.

396

:

Even though there's plenty of

studies that show that they do.

397

:

Christine: Exactly.

398

:

And it's, it's almost like, you know,

the thought of, this just came to me,

399

:

like, the idea of organic, it's just

an excuse for them to slap a higher

400

:

price tag on it, and that correlates,

that was correlating to me, like, the

401

:

pink tacks that have, that we come in,

in contact with, with female products.

402

:

You know razors.

403

:

Menstruation pads and tampons and

things like that, it's really just

404

:

an for people to, know, make you pay

405

:

more.

406

:

Alexandra: segment of the market

407

:

Christine: Yeah.

408

:

That's, that's pissed up.

409

:

Alexandra: But you bring up a really

good point about period stuff, right?

410

:

And menstruation and the pink tax.

411

:

I think maybe over the past

Maybe not quite full year.

412

:

I have definitely seen a lot more

talk about women's menstruation cycles

413

:

and the cycles of our hormones as it

relates to our health and it's why is

414

:

it only now that we're really starting

to more openly talk about how much

415

:

this impacts our bodies and can affect

our health, our hunger anything.

416

:

And it wasn't talked about

when like we were teenagers

417

:

Christine: Mm

418

:

Alexandra: our bodies were changing.

419

:

Travaris: But I do think the reason one

of the reasons I believe is I don't this

420

:

isn't like factual I think a lot of it

is because the reason why they're just

421

:

now telling us or we're just getting

to the point where we're like, oh is

422

:

because for so long, people, like,

they didn't have, like, men thought,

423

:

like, a woman bleeding for a week.

424

:

They thought we were, like, witches

or, like, we were, like, some, like,

425

:

we were, like, they, it was all these

things I, like, read about, like,

426

:

prehistoric or, like, they thought,

like, it was something, like, the

427

:

women were controlling the weather

or they were making, like, crops die.

428

:

They really thought it was just

some, like, sinister, happening.

429

:

And I think They graduated

from that to believe like, Oh,

430

:

this just happens to women.

431

:

But I still feel like it's very taboo.

432

:

Cause like, so I was reading something

like three or four or five years ago

433

:

and they were like, we're still hiding

pads when we go to the bathroom.

434

:

everyone knows if you're like of

a certain age, you have a period.

435

:

And that happens once, once

a month for like a week.

436

:

So why are we like.

437

:

I have to take my makeup bag in

the stall with me or I'll stuff it

438

:

in my bra or like it because if I

don't have pockets that day, and

439

:

we're doing this around other women.

440

:

It's not like I'm like, this is a

male bathroom and I'm like, Oh, please

441

:

don't see my, I call them diapers.

442

:

But, but it's A thing that's dirty

or nasty or like, Hey, take care of

443

:

that in private, you know, so I think

the reason why we're not getting okay,

444

:

this is affecting how you show up every

day is because we've just gotten away

445

:

from the idea that we're still kind

of in the idea that, Oh, it's dirty.

446

:

Like, Oh, you know, make sure

you clean up after yourself or

447

:

don't have a scent about it.

448

:

Or like, you know, try to control

your emotions or Another thing,

449

:

it's a running joke with men.

450

:

Oh, you're really emotional today.

451

:

Is it that time of the month?

452

:

I remember reading, something about,

Roseanne Parr said she's, a lot of people,

453

:

hate their period, but she's, this is

the only time of the month that I feel

454

:

like I can totally be a total bitch.

455

:

And it's okay, because it's, like,

the, because even for myself,

456

:

sometimes when I'm on my period,

I'm, like, why am I crying about?

457

:

A Kraft cheese commercial and then I'm

like, oh, yeah, that's why so I just feel

458

:

like I'm sorry I went to get too far, but

I think we don't have all that information

459

:

is because no one's comfortable with

women having periods or women bleeding

460

:

Christine: Right.

461

:

Alexandra: that's a good point.

462

:

I remember when I first started, like,

my mom was like, Oh, you know, don't

463

:

necessarily talk to your dad about that.

464

:

It might make him uncomfortable.

465

:

And it was just not, it was kind of taboo,

like you said, and it's like, but why?

466

:

Or then you see videos Instagram of

guys being so embarrassed to go to

467

:

a market to get their girlfriend or

sister or mom, like pads and tampons.

468

:

And you're like, it's a

natural part of life, people.

469

:

You wouldn't be here if

a woman didn't have that.

470

:

So, I think I'm definitely coming,

becoming more comfortable with

471

:

talking about it more openly

because it's a part of our bodies.

472

:

It's a part of our health.

473

:

Christine: I definitely hit that back.

474

:

in high school, I was like,

why the heck do I have to be

475

:

delicate around this topic?

476

:

no, I have to experience it.

477

:

So everybody else does.

478

:

No, I'm kidding.

479

:

Alexandra: So you'll

share the experience with

480

:

Christine: But, you know,

I grew up with sisters.

481

:

So like in my household.

482

:

There was four women who

eventually were having periods.

483

:

So my dad just sort of was like, all

right, this is just, this is part of life.

484

:

And I really appreciate how.

485

:

Supportive he was, you know,

when he would go to the grocery

486

:

store, it was on the list.

487

:

He was like, all right, which,

product do you like best?

488

:

And was happy to buy it

and not be weird about it.

489

:

the only reason why this taboo

still exists is because people

490

:

are perpetuating this idea of

like, oh, let's not talk about it.

491

:

That's, it's weird or uncomfortable.

492

:

And it just doesn't have to be that case.

493

:

this is how our bodies work.

494

:

Travaris: I also feel like, to Alexander's

point, we're not really talking about what

495

:

the menstruation cycle does to a woman,

496

:

because up until recently, I

mean, I didn't really realize

497

:

that you're just one week.

498

:

That wasn't the only thing that

was going on like this one.

499

:

This was actually a male He was like

anyone that's dated or lived with a

500

:

woman should know that her body is in

under constant Change like this woman.

501

:

I was watching this really cool video

about this woman and how she divided

502

:

the woman a woman goes I don't know

you sent this to me Alexandra a woman

503

:

goes through no, I don't think so She

goes through four seasons every month

504

:

Alexandra: Mm-Hmm.

505

:

Travaris: So it's like the winter,

the fall, the the summer, and when I

506

:

started to think about it like that,

each week is a different season for you.

507

:

Cause I was watching a video the other

week about this woman said it's all

508

:

this hustle culture, hustle culture

and manifest this and work hard.

509

:

And she's like, that's a very

masculine way of looking at it

510

:

because she's like, our bodies do not.

511

:

Operate in the way of a man.

512

:

Can he's nothing's going to

change in a man's body in the

513

:

month that he's living Like we're

gonna go through so many changes

514

:

and our energy levels are different our

emotional levels are different Like it's

515

:

just so many things that are going on

and I and I've just recently learned

516

:

that and also a woman told me that our

Periods kind of like change every five

517

:

years so the way that I would menstruate

In high school, it was easy for me.

518

:

I popped one Advil and

I could run a marathon.

519

:

I'm fine now.

520

:

I'm praying.

521

:

I call him the blood goddesses.

522

:

I'm like, please, please

have mercy on my soul.

523

:

what did I ever do to you?

524

:

And just sometimes just, just.

525

:

The idea of just getting out of my

bed and walk into the kitchen is,

526

:

it's, and my body's changed into that.

527

:

I've, I'd never had that problem before.

528

:

So it's just like the

evolution of a woman.

529

:

I think it's actually

530

:

beautiful, but it's also,

531

:

Christine: is.

532

:

Travaris: we're not getting education

on it, but we're also, it also has

533

:

taught me though, to be more in

tune with my body and listen to

534

:

more of what she is saying to me.

535

:

Cause they always give us cues,

but it's like, I don't know.

536

:

I think we've been taught to ignore

it for so long, or just like,

537

:

this is just what you got to do.

538

:

So get through

539

:

Christine: Mm hmm.

540

:

Travaris: And I don't think

we should do that, you

541

:

Christine: No.

542

:

Alexandra: Well, and it's interesting

that you bring that up because I, I

543

:

think you either shared that video

with me or we had talked about seeing

544

:

something similar and honestly, like you

said, going through different cycles,

545

:

four different things every week.

546

:

I had no idea until

about a couple weeks ago.

547

:

I mean, I knew about

bleeding and ovulation.

548

:

Knew that.

549

:

I didn't know there was

follicular phase and luteal phase.

550

:

I was like, what the fuck are these terms?

551

:

So, you know you know as a woman I'm

just discovering this about my body and

552

:

I'm like this seems a little messed up

But like you said it's getting more in

553

:

tune with our body And I think that kind

of goes back to our health right how we

554

:

eat how much we eat what we eat how much

we work out, what we do with our body.

555

:

I think learning to better listen

to the cues our bodies are giving

556

:

us will really probably tell us

more about how to be healthiest

557

:

for ourself than maybe a doctor.

558

:

And I'm not talking about like, If

your cues are so messed up because you

559

:

can't hear them anymore, and that's a

lot of work, that's a separate issue.

560

:

That's like, definitely work on that.

561

:

But if you are pretty in tune

with your body, it'll tell

562

:

you exactly what it needs.

563

:

I need more water, I need meat, I

need less meat, I need more veg,

564

:

so.

565

:

I think that

566

:

makes a good point about

listening to our bodies

567

:

Christine: Mm hmm.

568

:

And also, just don't know who, who

we can demand, but this from, but the

569

:

medical, the medical world as a whole

has not properly studied women's bodies.

570

:

since the beginning, and I, I saw

something recently that it was only

571

:

last year that companies started testing

period products with actual blood,

572

:

Alexandra: Mm-Hmm.

573

:

Christine: is wild to me that here

in:

574

:

now properly testing these products

that we've been forcing, not forced,

575

:

we've been giving women for decades.

576

:

Maybe centuries, the heck?

577

:

Not properly equipped, like, testing this

stuff and just saying, all right, do.

578

:

Travaris: It works.

579

:

Wait,

580

:

Alexandra: why I think I'm a fan of my

my period cup, because even though it's

581

:

sometimes a bitch and a half to get out,

you know, , at least it's, it just, it

582

:

captures it and that I can deal with it.

583

:

Travaris: oh, you

584

:

use the cup?

585

:

I've never used that.

586

:

is that like your, out of all the

products you use, has that been, because

587

:

I don't know a lot of people that use it.

588

:

Has it been your favorite?

589

:

Alexandra: I've really hated

pads ever since I was a teenager.

590

:

I will do anything to avoid a pad.

591

:

It just, I don't like.

592

:

Feeling like you said, a

diaper in my underwear.

593

:

Like I just, you know, I just don't.

594

:

That's not for me.

595

:

So as soon as I learned to use

tampons, I was like, this is for me.

596

:

So I still have, I carry a couple

tampons around just in case of an

597

:

emergency and like I don't have

my cup with me, but I love the cup

598

:

also because you have to change your

pad and your tampon so frequently.

599

:

I forget.

600

:

I'm very, knock on wood, grateful

that I never got toxic shock syndrome.

601

:

Tox toxic shock syndrome.

602

:

Because I would totally leave it

in longer than the recommended

603

:

six to four four to six hours.

604

:

About hour ten I was like, oh

shit, I should go change my tampon.

605

:

So I do like that the cup you can

leave in for 12 hours and it's

606

:

fairly easy, particularly when you're

traveling you don't have to carry like

607

:

five or six pads and your tampons.

608

:

Plus it's more

environmental, which I like.

609

:

Weird fact, totally random, but I recently

learned this week that there's a company

610

:

that will take used menstrual products

like pads and I think maybe tampons and

611

:

somehow clean and cycle them as like a

circular economy type, no, circular Yes.

612

:

Economy to reduce, recycle, reuse,

limit waste going into the ground.

613

:

Don't know how it works

other than that it exists.

614

:

And I was like, this is so cool.

615

:

Christine: So, like, a

616

:

Alexandra: So, on that note.

617

:

Christine: Like, a reusable pad?

618

:

Alexandra: No, oh, no, no.

619

:

It was just they take used menstrual

products and figure out a way to clean

620

:

them, strip them down to products

and turn it into something else.

621

:

Christine: Oh.

622

:

Travaris: Oh,

623

:

Alexandra: no!

624

:

Travaris: messy.

625

:

But, okay, now

626

:

that makes me feel

627

:

I'm like, oh, I'm never

buying a pad again.

628

:

Alexandra: No, but I mean,

isn't that what, like, Thinx is?

629

:

Like, Thinx and some of the other period

underwear is, like, more reusable.

630

:

I mean, there are reusable

pads out there that you just

631

:

throw into the washing machine.

632

:

Christine: True.

633

:

I

634

:

mean,

635

:

Travaris: didn't know that.

636

:

Oh,

637

:

Christine: it's it's finding

what works for you, and it's

638

:

again, not one size fits all, so

639

:

Alexandra: Mm mm.

640

:

Christine: we just need to make

it more accessible for all women.

641

:

All around the

642

:

Alexandra: Yes.

643

:

If we can find, I know that there was

some group, it was a collaboration

644

:

between brands like Salt and a couple

other that if you submit, like,

645

:

your receipts for period products or

shaving, they'll send you back the,

646

:

the amount of pink tax that's on that.

647

:

So if we'll find that, we'll definitely

put that in our show notes for our

648

:

female listeners, because I thought

that was really cool that this kind

649

:

of collective of companies that care.

650

:

About like that.

651

:

I don't want to say injustice, but

discrepancy between the value that men and

652

:

women pay for products is willing to send

that money back to women who buy products.

653

:

Travaris: And not only just like

products, but just No one told me

654

:

being a woman was so expensive.

655

:

Like, just aside from like period

products, but just if you want to look

656

:

like a just a decent looking woman

the bills that you have just waxing.

657

:

I get my hair done every month.

658

:

it's just, men can get like a haircut.

659

:

And then that's it.

660

:

And then that's all.

661

:

I'm just like, why is it so ex No

one And no one sat me down as a kid

662

:

and was like, Okay, these are the

things that you're gonna have to do.

663

:

And like, sometimes you feel

like, Oh, these are extras.

664

:

But sometimes I'm like,

this isn't an extra thing.

665

:

And, and can we talk about how

people use the word self care?

666

:

I'm here to tell you, honey, a pedicure

to me is, there's nothing, like, can we

667

:

talk about how torturous a pedicure is?

668

:

First of all, you're sitting there

for you know, I remember in high,

669

:

school, like, it was a fun thing.

670

:

You're going to prom or your

mom, like, let you get your.

671

:

nails done.

672

:

Now, uh, an adult woman with a full time

job and like other things to do, I'm

673

:

like, ma'am, please slap the paint on.

674

:

Let me go.

675

:

And then they're like,

would you like extra lotion?

676

:

I'm like, listen.

677

:

Let's go.

678

:

Like, I gotta go and you're tickling me

and I'm uncomfortable, but I don't want

679

:

to say anything because this is your job.

680

:

the things that women have to go

through and then you pay for these

681

:

things and they're and then It's just

like why why didn't anyone tell me?

682

:

you can easily spend two hundred to three

hundred dollars a month just And grooming

683

:

because I don't think it's like self care.

684

:

It's not like a thing.

685

:

I'm like, oh, I feel great.

686

:

I'm at a spa like some woman.

687

:

It's like Slowly, I'm whispering

manifestations in my ear.

688

:

No, it's like No, you're removing extra

hair off my body and it hurts so bad.

689

:

. But I have to get this off 'cause they're

gonna look at me funny when my legs

690

:

are hair . It's like, it's just so much

691

:

Alexandra: and the judgment I have about

myself of what other people will think,

692

:

like, I haven't waxed my underarms in a

long time, but I try to, and the level

693

:

you have to let the hair grow out to for

them to wax, like, I was so embarrassed

694

:

when I would go, I'm like, I know this

is what I'm here for, but please don't

695

:

judge me for the hair that's growing.

696

:

Travaris: I would always give

my wax people a disclaimer.

697

:

I'm like, okay.

698

:

It's, you know, it's been a long time.

699

:

Okay, so don't it.

700

:

You can probably braid this

hair if you want it to like,

701

:

like please don't say anything.

702

:

Oh my

703

:

Alexandra: Well, I mean, I can

relate that to going back to

704

:

like a doctor for my physical.

705

:

I think I had to go get, you

know, the wet every other year

706

:

thing, a pap smear for women.

707

:

And I was like, I'm so sorry.

708

:

My feet kind of stink and I'm a

worried that my vagina kind of smells

709

:

because it's been at the end of the

day And I definitely just worked out.

710

:

So here we are.

711

:

I Apologize and she was like, I'm a doctor

you're fine And I'm still going and I'm

712

:

so embarrassed about my body because

like we've said we've seen all those

713

:

things that look you have to Look good.

714

:

You have to smell pretty

you can't be just you

715

:

Travaris: the fact, I think it's so

funny, like the, I was reading this

716

:

meme, I think I said this on the last

one, I can't remember, but like when

717

:

you have to undress for your pipe smear

and they give you like the little 10

718

:

seconds to like take off everything and

get under this, the little paper sheet.

719

:

And it's like this girl is like, I always

like rush so my doctor won't see me naked

720

:

right before she has to see me naked.

721

:

It's like, I'm like, why am I

running to this and this lady's

722

:

just gonna pull the sheet up and,

and do and look at it anyway.

723

:

Christine: Oh my gosh,

724

:

Travaris: you hear the knock

on the door, you're like, I'm

725

:

Christine: second!

726

:

It's almost like there should be a, like

a, a light that sits outside the door

727

:

that you flick on when you're, you're

728

:

not

729

:

Travaris: you're ready.

730

:

Like,

731

:

Christine: okay, you can come in.

732

:

Travaris: But to, to what you were

saying Alexandra, about like you

733

:

giving like your doctor disclaimer.

734

:

And it was funny, someone interviewed

a gynecologist and they were

735

:

like, How does it feel that you

have to look at vaginas all day?

736

:

And she's like, you know what?

737

:

I'm just looking at different haircuts.

738

:

Christine: There you go.

739

:

Alexandra: That's great.

740

:

Travaris: Oh, that one time I

went to the, to get a pap and the

741

:

woman's like, who's your wax lady?

742

:

She did a phenomenal job.

743

:

I was like, I'll let Carly know.

744

:

And like, she's like, that's probably

one of my favorite compliments.

745

:

I was like, yeah, my gynecologist

thinks you're really good

746

:

at your job, by the way.

747

:

She's like, Oh, really?

748

:

I'm like, yeah.

749

:

Yeah.

750

:

Yeah.

751

:

Alexandra: Preferred by a gynecologist.

752

:

Like, could you imagine that is like

your tagline if you were a waxer?

753

:

You're like, the preferred

specialist by a gynecologist.

754

:

Travaris: need to put

that on your website.

755

:

Alexandra: That's funny.

756

:

Okay, so I know that we've briefly touched

on some of this of like what we're, what

757

:

we're hoping will change in the future.

758

:

But do you guys have

any like ideas of how?

759

:

Something, one thing, or many

things could change to get better.

760

:

Can we continue on this

761

:

trajectory?

762

:

Christine: I think the first thing

is how we were saying, Let's not talk

763

:

about these topics like they're taboo.

764

:

let's just normalize it.

765

:

This is just our lived

experiences as women.

766

:

And it's all different.

767

:

but it connects us.

768

:

Because we our bodies

do function similarly.

769

:

They just look different.

770

:

Or they you know, things

happen slightly differently.

771

:

And just keep talking about it.

772

:

I think that's the

773

:

Alexandra: hmm.

774

:

Travaris: So, Alexandra, your question

is like, how, how do you think we think

775

:

things can change about like women and

how they show up with their weight?

776

:

Alexandra: Yeah.

777

:

Health, medical, anything.

778

:

What do we want to see

change going forward?

779

:

Travaris: I think it's really

helpful to see people in media.

780

:

That are not like the, Barbies and they're

actually happy because I think we do have

781

:

a market for women who are like, they

don't, they're not the typical skinny

782

:

girl, but I think a lot of it is really

rehearsed and that's also marketing.

783

:

But I think when we, when I see

a woman that I'm like, no, I can

784

:

tell she's very comfortable in

her body and she's not in any way.

785

:

In alignment with beauty standards,

that makes me feel really good.

786

:

Even if I don't look like the

woman, even if it's not a woman

787

:

that I'm like, Oh, you look like me.

788

:

So I'm it could just be someone that

I'm like, wow, she's very comfortable.

789

:

I think just confidence at any shape

or size to me, just, it just kind of

790

:

inspires me to feel that way about myself.

791

:

So I think just

792

:

Christine: Yeah.

793

:

Alexandra: I agree.

794

:

I'd also like to start looking at

people as a whole person, and how

795

:

different parts of us interact, right?

796

:

Because you think about, like, if I

go to a doctor, you go to this doctor

797

:

for this thing, you go to that doctor

for your vagina, you go to this doctor

798

:

just for your skin, and you go see this

person for your eyes, like, and certain

799

:

people will only look at certain parts

of you, but how integral is what we eat

800

:

to our health, and how integral is how

we think about food to our own health?

801

:

So, I don't know, I think I'd

like to see more of treating

802

:

people, the whole being, not just

803

:

a specific part.

804

:

Christine: Traveris, your point about

confidence, I think truly understanding

805

:

that confidence isn't a destination, and

that it'll fluctuate, and that's okay,

806

:

and we can take turns Being that example

for people around us and knowing that, you

807

:

know, what some one day I can be that for

you and the next day you can be that for

808

:

me and just truly, like Alexander said,

looking at the whole person and when it

809

:

comes to people you follow on social media

or people you see on TV or in movies, It's

810

:

okay if you start following someone and

you, over time, realize that you don't

811

:

really vibe with them anymore, or they're

not, they're not servicing you in the way

812

:

that you need, that you can unfollow, or

you can, like, move on and just continue

813

:

to, you know, search for people who truly

make you feel seen and inspire you, and

814

:

it's not necessarily, like, I think a

lot of people think, oh, if you unfollow,

815

:

there's, something wrong with that person.

816

:

No, it's just, It's not the

right space for me anymore.

817

:

And that's

818

:

okay.

819

:

That's that's growth.

820

:

Alexandra: Yes, that brings up a really

good point of like people who I used to

821

:

follow in college like health fitness

pages It was all girls who were very

822

:

skinny Looked very fit and i'm like who

I follow now Very different right like

823

:

very different and even those people I

follow today that they'll say a lot of

824

:

stuff I vibe with and i'm like, yeah, I

Would agree and then I'll say other things

825

:

I'm like, but not that but it's not like

worth an unfollow yet But there's been

826

:

some people that they've changed they've

grown and it's not the way that I've grown

827

:

like Chrissy was saying He'd just go.

828

:

Hey, I'm just gonna shush

this out of my space.

829

:

Christine: Yeah

830

:

Travaris: I also would like

to see a space for women.

831

:

Or more messaging about women getting

older, like you were talking about

832

:

what you might've like followed in

the past, yeah, that might've worked

833

:

for 21 year old you, but you as an

older, like the differences between

834

:

your early twenties and your late

latter twenties, or it's too different.

835

:

Like, I was, I thought I was

in two different, decades

836

:

and,

837

:

You know, turn, turn, and turn in

30 was just like, but I keep getting

838

:

this messaging that a woman's

good years are going to be over.

839

:

Your beauty is going to fade.

840

:

And I just keep hearing that.

841

:

And I have so much pushback on that

because I'm like, if you're telling girls

842

:

that their good years are behind them at

30, like think about how young they're.

843

:

I mean,

844

:

yeah, it's.

845

:

it's.

846

:

Alexandra: Yeah,

847

:

Travaris: Yeah, And God bless you.

848

:

You're going to feel so great.

849

:

The globe is going to be wonderful.

850

:

You're going to just.

851

:

30's gonna be the best thing that's

ever happened to you, I tell you this.

852

:

But, I just was like, why would you tell

somebody that your best years are gone?

853

:

And, cause I feel like to be honest,

the 20's, that's like the worst decade

854

:

anyone could live through.

855

:

Like,

856

:

Christine: yes

857

:

Travaris: then you're supposed to

tell me that's when I was gonna

858

:

be at my peak, but I felt like

the older I get, the better I get.

859

:

I kinda have this analogy in my head

about 30 is when I start to turn.

860

:

I, I started my wine era, 2020 was very

much juice but if you think about it,

861

:

juice is like really easy to come by.

862

:

it's not gonna be that much of a

difference between a $6 juice and a a one.

863

:

Do like a a dollar a minute made carton

of like, that costs $2, but if you get

864

:

a $30 bottle of wine, it's gonna taste

different from the barefoot $5 wine.

865

:

So I was just like, why is this era

of me becoming more of who I am?

866

:

more of a woman, more confident,

more, I feel more beautiful.

867

:

Why is that what they're telling us is

like, Oh no, you got five good years,

868

:

you know, wrap it up, pack it up.

869

:

But then they don't only say that.

870

:

They're like, Oh, men get better.

871

:

Men get better with age.

872

:

Like they, they're, they're going

to look good in like 10, 15 years.

873

:

So I'm like, so there there's no

messaging like that for women.

874

:

So I'm just gonna turn into

a Hobbit or like, Quasimodo.

875

:

how, why, why is that

the messaging for us?

876

:

I need to hear more positive,

you're gonna grow more into a woman.

877

:

You're gonna be more of who you are.

878

:

You're gonna understand yourself more.

879

:

You're, because I think so many good

things happen with age, you know?

880

:

So.

881

:

Alexandra: Yeah, it's almost

like, hey, you've hit that yogurt

882

:

expiration date, now you've curdled.

883

:

To your point, Navaris, when you were

saying I want to see more women like

884

:

that it made me think of this woman I do

follow on Instagram, and her name is Lynn

885

:

Shabinsky, I hope I said that correctly,

and her handle is White hair wisdom and

886

:

she's an older woman and does her makeup

her like get ready with me like dresses.

887

:

I was like this I Love this because

this isn't what most people would say

888

:

is a female beauty standard And like

you said does not glorify getting

889

:

older, but her account really does

like hey getting older is beautiful

890

:

Being older with long white

hair and I still, you know, you

891

:

still do the things that you do.

892

:

So I love her.

893

:

If you haven't seen her, check her out.

894

:

She's cool.

895

:

And sort of on the topic of

social media, who are some people

896

:

that you guys follow now, days?

897

:

Where has the shift gone

and do you like them?

898

:

Christine: Why don't you start, Traveris?

899

:

Travaris: I feel like I'm kind of

phasing out of my Instagram era.

900

:

I feel like it's getting so overrun with

the TikTok, the Gen Z's are, they're

901

:

kind of pushing us out of the club.

902

:

So I think the things that I used to like.

903

:

Go after or look at they're kind of

getting washed out or like put to the

904

:

bottom, but I liked I follow Ashley Graham

905

:

She was I think I don't she was she

like the first plus I don't know She's

906

:

just amazing because I think one time

like she's over She set her weight

907

:

like she's like 220 or something and

she's just to me like she's a beautiful

908

:

woman Like I don't even think I would

like want to see her in a smaller body.

909

:

Like I just think But she's just

very inspiring because she, she

910

:

just like broke down so many walls.

911

:

Barb, Barbie Ferreira, I

think that's how you say it.

912

:

She was on Euphoria.

913

:

And she, even on her character

in Euphoria I think they

914

:

tried to cast her as the Duff.

915

:

And it just, like, she was to me one

of the most, like, I watched for her

916

:

storyline because she, I had never

seen a woman that what, like, had,

917

:

like, she was the bigger friend.

918

:

But she was totally, like,

liberated in who she was.

919

:

And it kind of looks like that in her,

well, it looks like that in her real life.

920

:

Like, that wasn't a fake person.

921

:

It was very much so who she is.

922

:

And I like seeing stuff like that.

923

:

So those are the people that I follow.

924

:

I try to stay off of IG because

it can get to a point where you're

925

:

starting to compare and contrast.

926

:

So I try to just, you

know, find my funny things.

927

:

Like, my little, you know,

something that'll make me laugh.

928

:

And then I'm, I'm off.

929

:

But those are good people to follow.

930

:

Alexandra: Yeah, Christy, what about you?

931

:

Christine: Yeah, so like Traveris,

Ashley Graham was the first person

932

:

that I really, who I guess we could

say is a contemporary of ours.

933

:

She's maybe, I don't

know, ten years older?

934

:

Who I, Saw looked like me, who was

having this success, who was on the

935

:

cover of Sports Illustrated, and was,

you know, just embracing herself and

936

:

her body and showing the world that,

you know, this is beautiful too.

937

:

So she was like the first person.

938

:

That really caught my attention back

when I was in high school college, but

939

:

since then, people on Instagram or

TikTok or YouTube, things like that,

940

:

that I find community with and see

myself in and I'll just name a couple

941

:

I, I found Emma Arletta this past year.

942

:

She's, beautiful plus size influencer

who's started modeling and she, you

943

:

can see her now on like fabletics or

She's doing these campaigns with these

944

:

designer brands and things like that.

945

:

And it just is so exciting to see that.

946

:

Another one, if you want

to laugh, Remi Jo Bader.

947

:

She New York based.

948

:

She's big on TikTok.

949

:

She's a bigger girl who does these,

like, realistic hauls of these brands

950

:

that don't necessarily Run bigger size,

so she'll do like a realistic Zara haul.

951

:

And she, her whole approach to it, it's

just to make fun and make light of it.

952

:

But also just, you know, embracing

who she is and being honest

953

:

and genuine with her audience.

954

:

So yeah, those are a couple

that I really have gravitated

955

:

towards within the last year.

956

:

How about you Alexandra?

957

:

Alexandra: So I think I tried to pick

a couple different when we were talking

958

:

about preparing for this episode.

959

:

So two people I really like are Denae

Mercer Ritchie and Sarah Nicole Landry.

960

:

Denae she Really draws attention

to how social media can be

961

:

changed and influenced, how easy

it is to edit pictures and pose.

962

:

So I like how she exposes a lot and

she'll go, hey, this is my body.

963

:

This second and now I look like

an Instagram model fitness person

964

:

just by posing your body or

lighting so I kind of like that and

965

:

Olivia Neville she is also good.

966

:

She'll talk kind of about the mental

headspace of how our bodies change and

967

:

I don't look like You know the Instagram

model, but in this moment I do and then

968

:

I'm natural this way or how your body

fluctuates throughout the day Some fitness

969

:

people I like now that I didn't, would

not have been drawn towards in the past

970

:

are Sarah Katterson, Abby Pollack and

Maddie, because they really do talk about

971

:

fitness and the different parts of it.

972

:

And whether or not you agree

with everything, I do like that.

973

:

It's much more open.

974

:

I would say Sarah Katterson is

definitely a coach focused more

975

:

on approach to weight loss.

976

:

And I like Abby Pollack because I've seen.

977

:

Through some of her YouTube

videos and Instagram content.

978

:

How, over from college, some

of it's changed, which is

979

:

kind of cool to see somebody's

journey and still align with it.

980

:

But I know that there's other male coaches

out there who are good with women's

981

:

fitness that I do follow, but I wanted to

focus mostly on female people I follow.

982

:

So those are kind of the people I've

been gravitating towards recently.

983

:

And then, of course, Lynn Schibinski,

The white hair wisdom account.

984

:

She's really cool.

985

:

Cause I would agree with Traveris.

986

:

I'd like to see more of that.

987

:

The I think there was a picture once

that was like, there's nothing as

988

:

beautiful as getting older or something.

989

:

And if I find it, I'll, I'll

have to share it with you guys.

990

:

Cause I should almost make it my phone

wallpaper because it is talks about the

991

:

beauty of getting older, which is awesome.

992

:

Christine: Well, I think

that's a lovely note to end on.

993

:

Is there any other points that

either of you want to share or

994

:

Alexandra: I think we've

really run a marathon

995

:

Christine: I mean, yeah, today's

episode, these two episodes, like.

996

:

Boy, oh boy.

997

:

And there's still more to talk about.

998

:

So we'll probably revisit this

conversation again, but I wanted

999

:

to just thank you all for joining

us for this two part conversation.

:

00:52:28,781 --> 00:52:31,611

And thank you to our guest

Traveris for joining us.

:

00:52:32,001 --> 00:52:34,591

We covered a lot of ground with

these two episodes and we look

:

00:52:34,591 --> 00:52:35,721

forward to hearing from you.

:

00:52:35,926 --> 00:52:38,866

We would love to hear what your

lived experiences have been.

:

00:52:38,966 --> 00:52:41,806

You can share with us in the

comments or on our social media.

:

00:52:41,966 --> 00:52:44,956

Hope you had a lovely February

and we'll catch you next time.

:

00:52:45,264 --> 00:52:48,364

Enjoying the conversations we're

having and the topics we're discussing?

:

00:52:48,794 --> 00:52:51,594

Consider supporting us through

our Buy Us a Coffee page.

:

00:52:51,914 --> 00:52:55,962

We greatly appreciate any help in

creating this podcast we love so much.

:

00:52:56,078 --> 00:52:57,718

Link in our show notes and link tree.

:

00:52:57,876 --> 00:53:01,326

Before we end, don't forget to

like, subscribe, or follow us on

:

00:53:01,326 --> 00:53:02,746

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About the Podcast

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About your hosts

Profile picture for Christine Borowsky

Christine Borowsky

Introducing our enchanting co-host Christine, a nostalgic soul with a creative spark and an infectious optimism. A devourer of books, a music aficionado, and a film buff, she's immersed in the art of storytelling. Nature is her sanctuary, from forests to oceans. Eager for adventure, she's a perpetual learner, finding growth in every experience. Family and friends provide her comfort and joy. Unafraid of uncomfortable conversations, she navigates them with humor, believing they're vital for understanding and growth. Join her and Alexandra on this podcast where creativity meets curiosity, and laughter blends with wisdom.
Profile picture for Alexandra Montross

Alexandra Montross

Meet Alexandra, the spirited co-host of this captivating podcast, where everyday topics transform into enchanting conversations. With an old soul and a knack for the eclectic, she weaves a unique blend of organization and quirky charm into each discussion. Alexandra's passions span from wellness to metaphysics and dive into the thrilling world of entrepreneurship. Tune in for her lively perspective and insightful takes, adding a touch of magic to every episode alongside Christine. Get ready for a journey where Alexandra's vibrant energy and depth of knowledge create an unforgettable podcast experience.