#312: Why Moms Deny Their Own Needs and What to Do About It with Elise Loehnen

"Doctor Mom" Podcast | Practical Tips to Be a Proactive Parent

Steph interviews Elise Loehnen, the author of the instant New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior and host of Pulling the Thread, a podcast focused on pulling apart the stories we tell about who we are—and then putting those threads back together. Steph and Elise discuss the ways patriarchy impacts how women see themselves and what they police in each other. They discuss how the seven deadly sins impacts moms. Elise shares how the fear of sloth, gluttony, and envy leads to burnout, lack of confidence, feeling guilty about rest, and our relationship with our bodies before,during, and after pregnancy. We begin to dismantle these negative beliefs and thought patterns to help moms feel more freedom and joy in motherhood.

Topics Discussed:

• Ways we subconsciously hide parts of ourselves.

• How to lean into using your voice and saying what you mean.

• Ways social media impacts motherhood.

• How to break free of the belief that you’re not doing enough.

• Navigating postpartum body image and envy.

Show Notes:

• Follow @eliseloehnen on Instagram

• Tweet Elise @eloehnen

• Check out Elise’s on Linkedin

• Visit Elise’s website

• Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!

• Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.

• Listen to today’s episode on our website

Elise Loehnen is a writer, editor, and podcast host who lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Rob, and their two sons, Max and Sam. She is the host of Pulling the Thread, a podcast focused on pulling apart the stories we tell about who we are—and then putting those threads back together. Ultimately Elise is a seeker and synthesizer, braiding together wisdom traditions, cultural history, and a deep knowledge of healing modalities to unlock new ways to contextualize who we are and why we’re here. She’s also the author of the instant New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good (Dial Press/PRH). The book weaves together history, memoir, and cultural criticism to explore the ways patriarchy lands in the bodies of women and embeds itself in our consciousness—and what we then police in ourselves and in each other. Regardless of our religious provenance, the self-denial implicit in each of the Seven Deadly Sins—Sloth, Envy, Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Anger—reads like a checklist of what it means to be a “good” woman. With awareness, we can begin to recognize these patterns of self-restriction, break the story, and move ourselves and each other toward freedom and balance.

Elise is a frequent contributor to Oprah, and has written for The New York Times, Elle Decor, Stylist, and more.

This Episode’s Sponsors

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INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!

@stephgreunke

@drelanaroumell

Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.