Note: I want to share why I’m offering my upcoming small Food Freedom Group Coaching program. This program will begin in the middle of April. You can find out more information here.
I was always a secret dieter. My mind was always filled with ideas of how to lose weight, but I rarely shared those plans with friends or family. So when I overate, ate the wrong foods, or binged, I just assumed that I was the only one failing so miserably.
Believing it was “just me” that couldn’t lose weight and keep it off was pretty crazy-making. I’d often reflect on what it was about me that was so wrong. Was it genetics? Was I not disciplined enough? Was it my childhood? Was I an addict?
On one hand, assuming I was wrongly unique made me feel like nothing could fix me and my eating issues. On the other hand, I couldn't stop trying to find a solution. I didn't want to believe that I had to live with my eating struggles for the rest of my life.
Juicing hadn’t worked, even though Kris Carr promised it would. Smoothie fasts didn’t work, even though wellness warriors told me I’d feel cleansed, clear, and energized.
When I found Intuitive Eating, I didn’t share that with anyone either. Quite honestly, I didn’t realize the incredible gift I had stumbled upon at the time. But, since I was trying anything and everything to stop feeling so out of control around food, Intuitive Eating was the next obvious choice.
I can only best describe my early intuitive eating journey as having one foot in and one foot out. Although I’ve never shared this with anyone, I even picked up a Keto diet book and started to follow the high protein low carb lifestyle while I was practicing intuitive eating. Just a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a home blood sugar monitor in my bathroom closet that I bought at the time to determine if I was In ketosis or not! That was a fun item to toss in the trash can.
I know now that if I had hired someone that knew about intuitive eating to help me along, my journey to food freedom would likely have been smoother and quicker. But, I also know that if I had, I may not have picked up all of the other tools and insights like transformational principles, yoga, energy healing, and mindfulness that I needed to help me along the way. My process was perfect because it led me to where I am now.
Which is why I can reflect back on my own journey and see what someone like you, who may be in the early stages of your food freedom journey, needs and could benefit from so you can move along your process with more grace and ease.
One of the most important things I believe folks need is a sense of community. We're steeped in diet culture, where dieting, restricted eating, wellness = weight loss, and intermittent fasting is normalized. Intuitive eating is a non-diet approach that allows you to tune into the sensations of your body to eat to the lovely feeling of satisfaction. While you’re practicing intuitive eating, you’ll likely hear co-workers talk about their latest diet, you’ll see calories on menus when you go out to eat, and you’ll see weight loss before and after ads in your Instagram feed. It’s so important that you surround yourself with people that are on the same journey you're on. You’ll find strength and solace in a safe group setting.
The other thing I think people need is space to practice and experiment in real-time. We live in a world with access to SO much information. If you have a question, you can find the answer within seconds on your phone. But, does information really move you to action? I often hear, "I know what to do, but I just can’t do it". You’re saturated with way too much information on food, nutrition, how to lose weight, and exercise. You need to unlearn what’s not helpful and take the time to practice.
And lastly, when it comes to food and your body, you need more space. When I was struggling with food, I was moving a million miles an hour. I wasn’t paying attention to my body, how I was feeling and what I was eating. Most of what I was doing felt like I was checking a box on my to-do list. This is really common among my clients too. We all have busy lives. Yet, most folks aren’t prioritizing how they care for their bodies. All of their other responsibilities like family and work come before their own basic needs.
In my upcoming Food Freedom Group Coaching program, I’m designing each of the 90-minute calls to include these three necessities; connecting with other people through sharing and supporting, real-time experiential practices, and mindfulness and grounding exercises.
If this program is coming to you at the right time on your food freedom journey, I’d love for you to join me. I’m accepting a maximum of 8 people. We start on Tuesday, April 12th. The cost is $250 a month for three months. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at tara@tara-whitney.com.