It seems like every woman I speak with is struggling to lose weight, has a terrible relationship with food, or is confused about what food to eat or what exercises to do.
10-years ago I left the fitness industry because I was, I too, was confused, exhausted, and filled with frustration with my body. It took me another 6 years to break free of the toxic patterns I had. That is why it is my goal, as a female nutrition coach, to help you break your pattern of toxic self-talk, disordered eating patterns, and false beliefs about food.
Your body is a blessing, food is a blessing and our life is a blessing. We see that when we change the focus from an expectation of body weight to a realization that life is so much more than what we eat or drink.
Mind-Body Connection
Nearly 80% of women who struggle with weight/weight loss struggle in one of if not multiple areas related to their thought life. I struggled with body image for over a decade, but once I started working on these areas of my life – my weight stopped being such a fight.
Stress – When the stress response is activated digestion is suppressed so that your body can reroute its energy and resources to the fight or flight response. This is great when we are actually in danger, however, when in a chronic state of stress our body is continually suppressing digestion.
According to the National Library of Medicine, chronic stress may impair metabolic reserve. The body is designed to return to homeostasis following acute stress, but chronic stress is problematic. It impairs homeostasis, prevents positive behavioral changes, and contributes to chronic disease and gastrointestinal issues.
Pressure – This is a hidden stressor that many people carry. The pressure to perform and be perfect in multiple areas of life is an unspoken and sometimes unseen behavior among both young and old.
The weight we carry in our minds to be perfect increases that stress response and causes the mental load we carry to be reflected in the form of bloating, fatigue, and lack of nutrient absorption.
Low Self-Esteem – According to the National Library of Medicine, low self-esteem and weight loss are linked in a toxic loop.
Most women who long to lose weight have low self-esteem. They think they will be more confident if they lose weight and therefore more people will like them. So they weigh themselves daily, starve themselves, fall off the ‘diet’ wagon then hate themselves for it, and the cycle of no weight loss – usually weight gain increases.
The way to stop this cycle is to love yourself where you are today. Knowing that, as my favorite Peloton instructor Jess Sims always says, “you are a work in progress and a masterpiece at the same time.”
Successful health is speaking life over yourself, not constantly shaming yourself.
Shame/Guilt – The longer you carry something, the heavier it gets. Shame/guilt are some of the leading causes of stress among females. We tend to hold ourselves to a high standard and then beat ourselves up when we fall short.
If we learn to give ourselves grace – to expect to make mistakes and see them as learning opportunities not ‘signs that we are horrible’ we will have less stress, more internal peace, and much much better health – physically and mentally.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling to lose weight and keep it off it probably has a lot more to do with your mental food than your physical food.
Personally, I had to make some big adjustments to heal my mind and my body for a while. I had to increase my food intake, slow down my exercise, and increase my rest. During this time I learned to journal and renew my mind and this is what improved my health, my relationship with food, and my relationship with myself and the world around me.
Reach out today for support on your wellness journey.
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