Answer honestly: Have you lost touch with the pleasure and joy you received from eating before you became inundated with diet culture’s messages? 

You know the messages I’m talking about right? The kind that leaves you feeling guilty or shameful for eating anything that isn’t a plant. Things like, “drop 20 lbs by following a plant-based diet,” “restore your health by reducing carbs,” or “drink this shake once a day and watch the weight melt away,” etc. There’s no limit to these kinds of diet culture messages, and they are taking up precious space in our brains.

A 2020 study found that we have nearly 6,000 thoughts per day, and 80% of those thoughts are negative whereas 95% of those thoughts are repetitive. And if you struggle with body image, I’m willing to bet a decent chunk of those thoughts are food related.

Did your head just explode too? I mean those are some compelling statistics!
 

How can we break the negative, repetitive cycle?

There are several ways, but let’s start with the simplest: Reconnect with pleasure and satisfaction during meal times. 

When we can mindfully attune to our senses under a variety of circumstances (stressful days, easy-going days, busy days, etc.), savoring our food and allowing ourselves the deep joy that comes with eating what truly pleases us becomes a liberating act. But as with anything revolutionary, it takes a little effort, time, and consistency. 
 

Teach me how!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to delve into a variety of flavors without preconceived notions, embracing the salty (like soy sauce), the sweet (like strawberries), the sour (like lemons), the bitter (like chocolate), and the savory, also known as umami (like a burger).

Choose one flavor to focus on for the day, and formulate a plan to bring this exploration to life (e.g., I plan to visit the supermarket after work to pick up x, y, z, intending to concentrate on this activity at dinner).

After savoring this flavor with all your senses, take some time to reflect on the experience. Write down any thoughts, memories, or emotions it evoked. Did it bring you pleasure, disgust, something else? Where did you feel it? Carry on with this practice for each flavor, one by one. Note any changes in the quality of your thoughts or emerging patterns.

When you aren’t working with a holistic wellness coach, your journal is the next best tool to help you recognize patterns of thinking that would otherwise go unexamined. 
 

Does it sound too good to be true?

Just observe the wonder and delight on a toddler’s face when they experience the taste of a sweet treat for the first time, and you’ll witness pure joy untouched by societal judgments. You can regain this food freedom using mindfulness, somatic experiencing, and consistency, and if that seems like a long shot, I would be honored to be your guide. 

I’m now booking single 1:1 sessions through November if you want to jumpstart this process and make it work for your lifestyle! Each 1-hour session comes with personalized goal tracking and voxer support for one week. 
 

Other ways to work with me: 

1 spot available for voxer coaching, starting in October (3-month commitment)
5 spots available for the three-month coaching package, starting in January 
1 spot available for the six-month coaching package, starting in January 

Tell me more about your goals here to get this party started 🎉🎉