This upcoming year, let’s all resolve to trust ourselves. When it comes to food rules, the 2019 “plan” is to have NO PLAN! We do not need rules, restriction and deprivation to tell us what feels good in our bodies.
Body Image: Overcoming The Fixation To Change
Poor body image, and the constant desire to change our bodies, is a common problem among so many people in our culture. With that in mind, I thought I’d share some helpful body image-related mental exercises in this latest blog. Whether you’ve been battling with poor self-esteem and negative body image over a long period of time, or just having one of those “I feel gross” days, there are things we can all do to help adjust our mental state, put things in perspective, and, hopefully, give less power to the cycle of poor body image (and the various ways that often manifests – shame, eating disorders, chronic dieting, compulsive exercise, mood swings, avoiding social interactions).
The Fantasy of Being Thin
I work with women of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds. Some women have been “overweight” their entire lives. Other have gone through considerable (and in some cases perpetual) fluctuations in their size. And others have been, by any objective measurement, “thin” or “fit” for all or most of their lives. So, obviously, these different types of women all have dramatically different “issues” when it comes to food, fitness, and body image, right? Well, maybe that is not necessarily the case.
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor!
I am so excited to announce that I am now a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor! This makes me one of only seven counselors holding Intuitive Eating Certification in the Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA area (and the only Certified Intuitive Eating counselor practicing in Vancouver).
Intuitive Eating: A Journey Back to Basics
When I first read the book Intuitive Eating, it really spoke to me and my relationship with food. I thought to myself, of course this is how we should approach our relationship with food. Forget the rules, restrictions, and control. I wondered why I let so much of my life be consumed with dieting, and seemingly endless efforts to manipulate my body. But the truth is, as simple and straightforward as the basic concepts of intuitive eating my sound, applying them to your real life may still be challenging.
