I know what it's like to feel anxiety, guilt and shame around food and weight, because that was me for over two decades. I'd be 'supergood' with food for weeks, then I'd eat everything that I thought I 'wasn't supposed to eat' in one go, for days at a time. I lived in a constant state of tension regarding what to eat, when to eat and what exercise to do to to achieve a certain look and be as healthy as possible.
I was scared of losing control around certain foods, like cake, biscuits and ice cream, so I avoided them as much as possible and had lots of 'rules' around when and how much of them was OK for me to eat. Eventually I'd give in and eat them all to the point of feeling sick. I tried nutritionists, elimination diets, intermittent fasting, I even asked to be tested for coeliac disease, thinking that was causing my cravings and digestive issues.
Nothing worked. That's because I tried to fix the problem by focusing on what to eat, when in fact I needed to focus on improving my relationship with food, my body and myself.
Now I feel free and relaxed around any food. I keep chocolate and ice cream at home without worrying whether I'll binge on them. I have some when I want and then I move on. I eat a balanced diet without obsessing over every bite and I've gone from fearing cake and ice cream to enjoying them without any guilt. I now make decisions about what I eat and how I treat my body from a place of love rather than a place of fear.
My energy and effort is now put into the things that matter to me most: My family, walking and swimming outdoors, reading and good movies.
I can help you do the same. You can learn to free yourself from rigid, obsessive ways with food and exercise. No more restriction. No more feeling scared you'll binge on the foods you try most to avoid. No more 'diet starts tomorrow.'
Instead, experience what it's like to feel free around any food and be more accepting of your body so you can enjoy life to the full and devote your energy to what matters most to you.
I was scared of losing control around certain foods, like cake, biscuits and ice cream, so I avoided them as much as possible and had lots of 'rules' around when and how much of them was OK for me to eat. Eventually I'd give in and eat them all to the point of feeling sick. I tried nutritionists, elimination diets, intermittent fasting, I even asked to be tested for coeliac disease, thinking that was causing my cravings and digestive issues.
Nothing worked. That's because I tried to fix the problem by focusing on what to eat, when in fact I needed to focus on improving my relationship with food, my body and myself.
Now I feel free and relaxed around any food. I keep chocolate and ice cream at home without worrying whether I'll binge on them. I have some when I want and then I move on. I eat a balanced diet without obsessing over every bite and I've gone from fearing cake and ice cream to enjoying them without any guilt. I now make decisions about what I eat and how I treat my body from a place of love rather than a place of fear.
My energy and effort is now put into the things that matter to me most: My family, walking and swimming outdoors, reading and good movies.
I can help you do the same. You can learn to free yourself from rigid, obsessive ways with food and exercise. No more restriction. No more feeling scared you'll binge on the foods you try most to avoid. No more 'diet starts tomorrow.'
Instead, experience what it's like to feel free around any food and be more accepting of your body so you can enjoy life to the full and devote your energy to what matters most to you.
Qualifications and Experience
- Certified Coach, The Life Coach School
- Body Image Coach Certification Program with Summer Innanen
- Masters in Psychology, University of St. Andrews
- Masters in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, London Metropolitan University
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Teacher Development Programme Level 1, Dr. Patrizia Collard
- 10 years' experience as a CBT Therapist in private practice and for the U.K. National Health Service
- Mother to three small humans who are the biggest challenge and biggest joy of my life