My “Why”
January always feels exciting to me. I think of all of my goals and I get really excited for my work with you. It is truly my pleasure to be by your side as you learn about Intuitive Eating and how to practice it in your life.
In my practice as a nurse I have a background in oncology and hospice. If you learn one thing in that line of work – it’s that we cannot take our health – or our time on earth – for granted.
As a health coach, prior to practicing Intuitive Eating I just felt this rub. I felt like people were coming to confession to tell me about what they did right or wrong, asking for forgiveness and feeling guilty if they got “off track.” No fault to them mind you – that is the model that is traditionally set up around health coaching- which I followed. Then one day I listened to a podcast featuring Evelyn Tribole, one of the authors of the Intuitive Eating book. It instantly clicked for me.
After lots of research and continuing education (as well as my own questioning of everything that I know about health and nutrition – let’s not forget that small point) I learned that we have all been duped by diet culture. We are told that if we eat a certain way and exercise like crazy that our bodies will change – and the weight will come off. Well, surprise, your body is smarter than that. When we restrict our food intake we are biologically driven to eat. AND our body recognizes that food was restricted and so it stores extra calories as a protective measure in case that restriction happens again. So in effect you may lose weight but you will likely gain it all back and more.
The good news is that when you practice Intuitive Eating – really listening to your own body, acknowledging and dismissing the unhelpful diet culture and food police voices in your head – you are able to really free up space to live your life. Let me say that again. You get to LIVE your life. And this – for me – is where it comes full circle. You can make peace with food. You can learn how to respect and accept your “right now” body. Your weight will eventually normalize to what is right for you. Think about it. What would you do with that extra time and energy?
Life is too precious to obsess and worry about every little thing that you eat, how much you weigh, and if you got the exact right amount of exercise. You have other options and I’m here to help you figure it out!
For more information about Intuitive Eating please visit www.intuitiveeating.org. Or you can check out the book or audiobook from your local library.
