Falen, a well-known media personality from KDWB, has openly shared her evolving perspective on weight loss and body image. Her story resonates with many who experience the cyclical nature of weight management and the desire for a healthier lifestyle without sacrificing personal happiness. Falen's journey is not about achieving a specific size, but about finding a balance between health, happiness, and self-acceptance.
The Roller Coaster of Weight Loss
Falen candidly admits to a long history of weight loss and gain, a struggle familiar to many. "I've lost weight, and I gain it back," she confesses. She acknowledges the societal pressure to be smaller, yet expresses a growing indifference to conforming to a specific ideal. Like many, Falen finds it challenging to maintain consistency with her workouts and often indulges in less healthy eating habits, especially on weekends. "I usually do pretty good on the week days, but I'm a garbage troll on the weekends," she jokes.
A Shift in Perspective
After years of dieting and striving for an elusive "perfect" body, Falen has begun to question the sustainability and necessity of this pursuit. "I've been doing this since I was in high school. I don't want to still be doing this when I'm 60!" she exclaims. She emphasizes her desire to live a fulfilling life without constant restrictions. "I don't want to change my lifestyle either. I don't. I like my life. I have great friends and family, and that should make me happy."
Embracing Happiness Over a Number
Falen's new approach prioritizes happiness and overall well-being over achieving a specific weight. "SO I have decided I don't want to lose 20 or 30 or 10 or whatever lbs. I want to be happy," she declares. She recognizes the importance of healthy eating habits for feeling good, but also allows herself to enjoy occasional indulgences without guilt. "I want to eat healthy more than I eat like crap because I do feel better when I do. (FYI-I'm still pretty happy when I have a cheeseburger and pizza on weekends)."
Setting Realistic Goals
While Falen is content with not being a size 6, she acknowledges the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. "I am not unhealthy…but I could be healthier," she admits. Her goal is to find a sustainable balance that allows her to enjoy life while prioritizing her well-being. She focuses on making healthier choices more often, rather than adhering to strict and unsustainable diets.
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Avoiding Unsolicited Advice
Falen is firm about not seeking external solutions or quick fixes. "Side note: please don't send me the plan that worked for you," she requests. She emphasizes that her journey is personal and that she is not looking for advice or product recommendations. "I did that rant yesterday, and people tried to get me on a conference call to discuss their products. I'm not asking for help. I feel like I was pretty clear in the post. If you found something that works for you, awesome! I'm genuinely happy for you."
Acknowledging the Impermanence of Thought
Falen is aware that her mindset may evolve over time. "I am also wondering how long this thought process will last? I'm like a roller coaster, so I'll probably try to lose 10lbs before my wedding or something! ha!" she jokes. She recognizes the influence of external events and societal pressures on her body image, but remains committed to prioritizing her overall happiness.
Falen's Health and Wellness Approach
Falen Bonsett is all of us. Between her affinity for french fries, disdain for any and all treadmills, and goal of looking and feeling confident in her wardrobe, 101.3 KDWB’s morning co-host truly is the everywoman when it comes to health and wellness. And she’s not afraid to tell it like it really is-the good, the bad, and the bloated. “You know when you get to that point in your clothes where it's like, ‘I don't actually feel comfortable sitting down in these pants anymore’? I don't want to get to that point,” she says.
Of course I would like to lose weight, but with age I'm slowly realizing it's not as much about the number for me. There is that number-there's always one, right? You're like, "I wish it was around that number." I think for me, I'm not completely worried about health yet, which I realize sounds terrible. But realistically, when you are younger, you're more about physical appearance than you are about health. I don't have a set number, I'm not counting things like points or calories-I'm just tracking what I eat, trying to eat cleaner, eat at home more often, and drink more water.
I used to think it was all about cardio, and I hate cardio. I have a really good trainer at Lifetime, Jerome, and he really focuses on weightlifting. So many girls are so afraid to lift weights because they imagine they're gonna be this huge, bulky woman, and they're not looking for that. But that's not the case. And I always was the queen of trying every single new diet and quick fix. I don't do those anymore.
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Workouts
So that’s a 'no' to running on the track then. Are there other workouts that you do find at least a little bit bearable? I really do enjoy weightlifting-even though I complain the entire time [laughs]. My trainer would tell you that he probably has no one that whines more than me. I do actually enjoy spin, and I'll do yoga sometimes, but I can't do the intense yoga where it's with weights and heated. It feels like my soul is removed from my body when I do that.
Soul departure seems like it'd be a deal breaker, but are you able to motivate yourself to do some of those dreadful-but-good-for-you workouts regardless (cough cardio)? Yeah, there's no motivation for me. I just know that I have to. And people are like, "Oh, cover up the time on [the treadmill]." No. I'm watching every freaking second. They say, "Watch a movie, or watch a TV show.” OK, I can do that, but it does not make the 30 minutes go any shorter for me at all. I can go on a nice walk around the lakes in summer, and that's fine. That doesn't seem terrible to me, but that's also not running.
Food
Let’s talk food vices. We hear you’ve got a thing for a certain fried starch. French fries, yes, but I'm actually more sweet than savory. I'm a terrible cook, and I think that's another reason I like to eat out. I've been making [breakfast]-well, I shouldn't take credit, my boyfriend makes it. I'm never gonna get up super early, so I have to prep ahead of time-I already get up early enough. I try to prepare something that I look forward to in the morning. And I just finally fell into the Instant Pot craze. It took me awhile to get in on that, but my mom kept peer pressuring me, and so finally I did it. I've been looking for cleaner meats I can mix in with brown rice and pico de gallo. Less processed maybe? So I did a barbacoa that was super good, and then mixed that with rice and pico. I've been doing that for lunch all week. Not too shabby for a self-proclaimed terrible cook! I'm so bad at cooking. It just frustrates me, I don't look forward to the meal. I have cried over food many times. I've cried after I've spent an hour and a half cooking and prepping and the meal turned out like crap.
We're sure you're not alone, but not everyone opens up about it. I know that probably the large majority of people in this world have the same issues. So it's like, you're not alone, we all deal with this stuff.
Falen's Openness and Relatability
Falen has made a career out of talking, she’s also an astute listener.On the radio, Falen likes to bring listeners into the conversation circle, asking them to chime in to share, say, a time something made them feel old, or the rudest thing anyone has ever said to them. Parkey describes his on-air banter with Falen as nearly identical to what they’d have over drinks at a bar. (“But with a few less swearwords” he clarified.)Parkey explains Falen’s fearless, no-holds-barred approach to radio with a mountain-biking metaphor. Where other personalities might hesitate to jump into risky subject matter, he says, Falen’s willingness to fully commit to the bit enables her to stick the landing. “There isn’t any holding back, and it’s all just 100% honest.”That means Falen leans into awkward topics others would be ashamed to discuss, from intestinal troubles to thigh chafing. The warmth in her voice and her Kewpie-doll smile somehow make her expositions on plucking chin hair or blowing snot rockets almost charming. “What sets Falen apart,” Ryan notes, “is she can go there and still be relatable and palatable, even if she’s talking about her hemorrhoids.”Yes, while Oprah may open up about her weight loss, or Savannah Guthrie her miscarriage, Falen goes where other female public figures haven’t dared: straight talk on swollen veins in the nether regions. “There are definitely people who are experiencing the same thing, and they feel seen when she says those things,” Parkey said.
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The Queen of Flaws
Falen’s knocking herself off the proverbial pedestal makes listeners feel like she’ll never look down on them. And that they don’t have to pretend to be something they’re not.“With her beautiful imperfections, the audience didn’t feel intimidated by her,” Matheson said. “They saw themselves in her. And that is a connection that you cannot find or buy. You either have that or you don’t. You can’t be taught to have that level of no effs.”