Nope, That's Not Normal | Jessica Thiefels | Substack

Body Relationship Quiz: Find Your TV Couple Match

A silly little quiz for a silly little body image check-in and a few giggles.

Feb 12 • Jessica Thiefels

Most Popular

Balancing Health After Chronic Illness and Disordered Eating

Jan 15 • Jessica Thiefels

I’m Not Mad at Serena Williams, I’m Mad At All This

Aug 24, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

When Joy is Conditional On Your Body Size

Aug 7, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

When You Realize You Don’t Have to Love or Hate Your Body

Oct 16, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Rewrite the rules on food, body image and self-worth

Recent posts

The Non-Negotiables in My Relationship With My Body

I have the same relationship standards with my body as I have with my partner, loved ones, and close friends because my relationship with my body is…

Feb 10 • Jessica Thiefels

February BDG: Pausing Alcohol and Finding Peace in the Chaos

Health ignorance (no, you cannot tell how “healthy” someone is by looking at them), intentional alcohol pauses, and separating body control from peace.

Feb 5 • Jessica Thiefels

The Big Self-Compassion Guide We All Need

You know you should be practicing self-compassion, but are you? Here are some insights and real-life strategies for leveraging this healing tool.

Feb 3 • Jessica Thiefels and Deanna, LCSW

3 Questions I Ask When Getting Dressed

As we fight for change, we must still get dressed and if this little moment of the day can support your mental health or bring you a little bit of joy…

Jan 27 • Jessica Thiefels

I Started Exercise Classes Again and Was Happily Surprised

If you’re thinking of going back to the gym, here are some happy surprises I’ve discovered that may surprise you, too.

Jan 22 • Jessica Thiefels

Plus-Size Disappointments, Parenting, and GLP-1 Research

January Mid-Month Link Roundup

Jan 19 • Jessica Thiefels

Nope, That's Not Normal

Nope, That's Not Normal

Navigating life after diet culture with honest conversations and deeper healing insights.

Recommendations

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Weight and Healthcare

Ragen Chastain

Disordered Eating

It's Time to Befreind Your Food Noise

The Deeper Healing Series #3

Nov 6, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

What If I'm Obsessed With Food?

We CAN cultivate a healthier relationship with food—one that's based on self-trust and acceptance rather than fear and control.

Apr 16, 2025 • Kayla Jessop

The Missing Link in Your Food and Body Image Healing

Years—decades—of beliefs, behaviors, trauma, culture, and diet culture BS have shaped the way you relate to your body and food. And that shit needs to…

Apr 9, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

29:04

Cultural Foods and Food Anxiety

With Zariel Grullón, a Latina Non Diet Dietitian

Apr 7, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Body Image

Body Relationship Quiz: Find Your TV Couple Match

A silly little quiz for a silly little body image check-in and a few giggles.

Feb 12 • Jessica Thiefels

The Non-Negotiables in My Relationship With My Body

I have the same relationship standards with my body as I have with my partner, loved ones, and close friends because my relationship with my body is…

Feb 10 • Jessica Thiefels

If You’re Torn Between “Don’t Judge” and “WTF” Read This

Reminders for the days when your values and your visceral reactions aren’t matching because this sh*t is a lot right now.

Dec 3, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Your Body Is Not the Problem… Weight Stigma Is

Why redefining health means letting go of the scale and befriending your body

Oct 2, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels and Tomesha Campbell

Personal Essay

It's Not All in Your Head

A letter to our community during Weight Stigma Awareness Week.

Sep 25, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Grieving Old Versions of Myself and Creating New Ones

Saying goodbye, hey again, and oh, you’re new.

Jun 25, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Bikinis, Healing, and the Sneaky Return of Old Beliefs

I'm taking bikinis back this summer—but as we got our first big burst of warm weather, I've been noticing those old beliefs and habits creeping back in.

May 19, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

I Started Running Again—But This Time, Not to Control My Body

Here are some thoughts that have been bouncing in my mind during my runs, plus some takeaways if this resonates for you.

May 5, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Healthcare

The Fine Line Between PCOS Management and Disordered Eating and What To Do Instead

Here’s the secret: these two things don’t need to go hand-in-hand. Let’s talk about why and what the alternative looks like.

Jul 2, 2025 • Julie Duffy Dillon

20+ Ways to Say No to Weight-Loss Talk or Being Weighed at the Doctor’s Office

You’re allowed to say NO (but it can be hard to do). Save this post for your next appointment so you can feel confident advocating for yourself.

Jun 4, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Rethinking Diabetes Care: It’s Time to Throw Out the Scale

What if I told you there’s a different way to approach diabetes care—one that doesn’t revolve around your weight?

May 21, 2025 • Megrette Fletcher (She/Her)

Mindful Movement

I Started Exercise Classes Again and Was Happily Surprised

If you’re thinking of going back to the gym, here are some happy surprises I’ve discovered that may surprise you, too.

Jan 22 • Jessica Thiefels

20:19

Movement, Reclaimed: Letting It Be Enough

With Andrea DiMaio (she/they), a fat, queer hiker, backpacker, traveler, cyclist, camper, yoga teacher, and speaker.

Jul 10, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

14:14

Movement, Reclaimed: Being Explorative and Feeling Strong AF

With Keri Harvey, NASM certified personal trainer and a Pain-Free Performance Specialist

Jun 26, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

12:32

Movement, Reclaimed: Stop Buying Trendy, Matching Workout Outfits

Because they're holding you back in ways you might not realize.

Jun 19, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

Jess's Healing Journey

Balancing Health After Chronic Illness and Disordered Eating

Health is not a bad word, and you’re not disordered for wanting to take care of it. But it shouldn’t mirror the image diet culture has painted for us.

Jan 15 • Jessica Thiefels

When Joy is Conditional On Your Body Size

If I didn’t think my body was small enough or fit enough, joy was nowhere to be found.

Aug 7, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

I Genuinely Didn’t Believe This Relationship With Movement Was Possible

The energy is intense right now (do you feel it, too?), and intuitive movement has become a life raft in the most beautiful way.

Jul 14, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

5 Things I Did During a Really Challenging Body Image Week

Because, even after years of healing, they can still creep up—and they still feel scary and challenging to navigate.

Jul 8, 2025 • Jessica Thiefels

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